On display now is this watercolor Plan of Springland, William Birch’s Pennsylvania country home near Neshaminy Creek in Bucks County.

Birch envisioned an impressive arrival for visitors to Springland. A path to a circular drive would lead guests arriving by water or land to the front of his residence and the adjacent “Green Lodge,” the building housing his extensive art collection. A grove of trees would surround his nearby painting studio. The plan incorporated practical features of a working rural residence, including a granary, hen house, and pig sty along with more picturesque elements such as “Neptune’s Garden” with a grotto.

Birch sold the property in 1805, continued to dwell on the grounds, and repurchased the estate in 1813.

See this painting and more on view in our main gallery as part of our current exhibition, William Birch, Ingenious Artist: His Life, His Philadelphia Views, and His Legacy, through October 19, 2018.

William Birch, Plan of Springland, near Bristol, Pennsylvania, ca. 1800. Watercolor, ink, and pencil. Library Company of Philadelphia.

Word to the wise, if you go on a hike be like this group, and bring snacks.  Hanger should be avoided at all costs. You see? The two ladies holding food are the happiest.

Keith, John Frank, 1883-1947, photographer. Two men and three women picnicing in wooded area, Philadelphia. ca. 1915.  1 photographic print : gelatin silver on postcard mount ; 14 x 9 cm. (5.5 x 3.5 in.)

Raise your prolegs if you’re craving mulberry leaves! We love this circa 1880 trade card showing a silkworm, its cocoon, and transformation to silkmoth.  #TradeCardThursday #Chromolithographs

John D. Cutter & Co. manufacturers of pure silk threads & fabrics. [graphic] :  [New York] [ca. 1880] 1 print : chromolithograph ; 7 x 12 cm. (2.75 x 4.75 in.)

We are excited to join the Special Collections of the University of Texas at San Antonio, the Labor Archives of Washington, and Northwestern University’s Transportation Library in the September #NotHiddenLabor challenge! Each week this month we will be sharing items from our collection that document various aspects of the American labor movement, trade unions, and American workers in general. 

This Charles Pancoast photograph from our World War One Photograph and Ephemera Collection shows members of the National League of Workers taking a break from gardening at Little Wakefield in Germantown. Founded during World War One in 1917, the National League of Workers was formed by a group of women as a national organization geared toward the standardization of work of the women of the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it quickly became a nationwide force with a particularly large division in Pennsylvania. 

Pancoast, Charles R., b. 1858, photographer. [Group of National League Workers at Little Wakefield]. 1 photograph: gelatin silver (6 X 8 in.).

**UPDATE: Registration is now full for this event, but we are still adding names to the waitlist!***

Registration is open for William Birch and the Complexities of American Visual Culture: A Symposium Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Visual Culture Program, taking place Friday, October 5, 2018 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM EDT at the Library Company of Philadelphia.

This free symposium will explore the visual, cultural, and social themes elicited from the work of Philadelphia artist William Birch (1755-1834). The one-day symposium in collaboration with our current exhibition, William Birch, Ingenious Artist: His Life, His Philadelphia Views, and His Legacy aims to promote broad discussions on the continual resonance in American visual culture of the work of this premier enamel miniaturist, aspiring gentleman, and artist of the first American viewbooks.

Register here.

We love this trade card for its modern looking design. It could be the color palette, but it is giving us nostalgic vibes for the 1970s.

This trade card is one of a collection advertising Clark’s mile-end spool cotton. The verso shows a handy calendar of July - December.

Donaldson Brothers (Firm), printer.  [Clark’s mile end spool cotton trade card]  [United States] [ca. 1885]  chromolithograph ; 6 x 10 cm. (2.5 x 4 in.) or smaller.

This beautiful chromolithograph with hand-coloring has the autumnal feels, we we are here for it. The landscape view depicts the Erie Railroad train crossing the Starrucca Viaduct Bridge in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania. Can you spot the hidden wet nose(s)? 

Dreser, William, artist. [American autumn, Starucca Valley [sic], Erie R. Road]  Printed exclusively for members of the Crosby Opera House Art Association. Wm. Dreser fect ; J.F. Cropsey 1865.

We are excited to present a new Interactive Chart, the newest addition to our Portraits of American Women project. #WomensHistoryWednesday

This circa 1882 #TradeCard for Wm. F. Simes & Son proves there are never too many #HatsintheLibrary, soggy or otherwise.

[Wm. F. Simes & Son trade cards] [graphic]. [Philadelphia?] [ca. 1882]