In keeping with our series imagining how historic artists in their collection might “takeover” our social media platforms, we’re featuring Moses Williams, an early African American artist who lived and worked in Philadelphia. 

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“Today I’m sharing with you all a silhouette of myself from the early 1800s. I grew up in the home of Charles Willson Peale, and like his many children, I was trained to work at the Peale Museum as a silhouettist. My dexterity with this artistic process became so profitable that I was able to marry and buy a home after gaining my freedom. In addition to bringing large crowds to the museum, my silhouettes have both provided me with freedom, independence, and an outlet for my creativity." 

Moses Williams, Cutter of Profiles, ca. 1803. Silhouette.  

Showing off my latest baked creation like… 

A. Maron, 1612 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia (Paris : Lith. F. Appel, 12 R. du Delta, ca. 1885). Chromolithograph. 

Image depicts two girls gathered around a table picking at a large plate of sweets.    

Have all of your starched cuffs become toys for the cat? Ours too. Today is National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day, but come now, let’s not kid ourselves. Today is National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day 24.  

Image: A. Heinman men’s furnishing goods. [Poughkeepsie, N.Y.]: George Perry, ca. 1883

Today we’re highlighting a blog post by Curator of Graphic Arts Erika Piola which reflects on some of the acquisitions she made at paper fairs in recent years, including this trade card which depicts a scene from Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Read more about it here: https://librarycompany.org/2020/04/08/fairs-past/

Time to settle into that favorite chair (if a certain someone hasn’t already taken it!)

Marriott Canby Morris, [Dog Jet on chair, probably Sea Girt, NJ], ca. 1880-ca. 1900. Glass negative.

Image depicts Jet, a small black dog wearing a collar with a bell, sitting on a wooden chair on a porch. A barrel stands behind the chair with a window the the left. 

This sitter and his pup are really raising the bar for the #wfhoutfit challenge! 

Parlor Gallery, [Unidentified African American man with a dog], ca. 1880. Albumen on cabinet card. 

Image depicts a full-length portrait of a man wearing a riding coat, standing in front of a backdrop adorned with an ornate window. He holds a walking stick and leans on a balustrade on which a top hat rests. A dog lies in the foreground.  

Today, we’re drawing inspiration from Musée d'Orsay’s series imagining how historic artists in their collection might have used social media. As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we thought it might be fun to speculate how pioneering artist Violet Oakley might “takeover” our social media platforms. Enjoy! 

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“I’m excited to give you all a sneak peek of my latest #wip at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. I’ve been working on a series of murals pertaining to the history of the Commonwealth. To create these murals, I am drawing a lot of inspiration from the life of William Penn and my own beliefs in the Quaker values of pacifism. I have a long way ahead of me, but I’m excited to take on this challenge! 📷: Mathilde Weil” 

Mathilde Weil, Violet Oakley at work upon the panel of “International Understanding and Unity” for the Senate Chamber, Capitol of Pennsylvania, ca. 1913. Gelatin silver mounted on paper.

Can’t think of a better time to break out some puzzles!

[Lithographic puzzle depicting the Fairmount Waterworks] ([Philadelphia]: [Thos. S. Wagner’s lith., 38 Franklin Place], ca. 1858). Hand-colored lithograph mounted on wood.

Image depicts a Reading Railroad Co. train with passengers in the foreground and the Fairmount Waterworks and Wire Suspension Bridge from the west bank of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia in the background. Includes spectators surrounding a hot air balloon behind the train and rowers and a steamboat on the Schuylkill River.

Happy #MorrisMonday! We hope your #socialdistancing has been as relaxing and cozy as this scene looks!

Marriott Canby Morris, Interior of Joseph Walton Cottage, Buck Hills Falls, ca. 1905. Glass negative.

Image depicts a view of an interior constructed from rustic wood beams at Joseph Walton’s Cottage. Three women, including Marriott C. Morris’ wife Jane Rhoads Morris, sit in chairs near the hearth reading or doing handiwork. Three small American flags adorn the mantle and lanterns hang from the ceiling.
    

For today’s #HometownHeroes #LibrariesofInstagram challenge we’d like to thank all of the medical professionals and health care providers who have worked tirelessly to keep our city and our citizens safe, now and always.

Pennsylvania Hospital was conceived in 1751, and the first wing on Pine Street between 8th and 9th was built in 1755, making it one of the oldest established hospitals in the United States. 

Image:  Wild, J. C. (John Caspar). Pennsylvania Hospital. [graphic] Philadelphia: Published by J.T. Bowen at his Lithographic & Print Colouring Establishment, c. 1840.