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Start Over Repository Philadelphia History Museum Place Philadelphia (Pa.) Language English

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Benjamin Ridgway Evans prints, circa 1849-1890

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Benjamin Ridgway Evans was an artist and draftsman active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the mid- to late 19th century known for producing watercolors of the city's buildings and streets. The Benjamin Ridgway Evans prints, circa 1849-1890, consist of 125 artworks, mostly prints of drawings, but also a few watercolors, showing detailed views of buildings and streets in Philadelphia.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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WPA Museum Extension Project photographs of Philadelphia, circa 1940

Extent:
2.75 linear feet
Abstract:
The Works Progress Administration was a "New Deal" program established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to employ out-of work Americans on public works projects and arts and culture initiatives. The WPA of Pennsylvania started a Museum Extension Project to employ out-of-work artisans and historians in creating visual education aids for classroom use. The WPA Museum Extension Project photographs of Philadelphia, circa 1940, consist of almost 500 photographs of sites and streetscapes in Philadelphia.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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Sol Mednick photographs, circa 1920-1968 (bulk 1940-1968)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Solomon "Sol" Mednick (1916-1970) was a photographer active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York from the 1940s to the late 1960s. After becoming a successful freelance commercial photographer, Mednick took a position teaching photography at his alma mater, the Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts), in 1951. While there, he established the school's photography department, helped to nurture the Philadelphia photographic scene, and maintained his freelance business. The Sol Mednick photographs, circa 1920-1968 (bulk 1940-1968), consist of photographs, photograms, color transparencies, and a few negatives taken by Mednick during his career as photographer. The collection contains images that were used in Mednick's work as a commercial photographer, as well as non-commissioned, more artistic photographs, many of which depict images of Philadelphia.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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Neil Benson photographic collection, 1970-1992 (bulk) 1965-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:
50.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Neil Benson is a Philadelphia-based photo journalist whose photographs were featured in local and national publications, both alternative and mainstream, such as The Drummer, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Time, and many more from the 1970s to the 1990s. Born in the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia in 1953, in 2000 Benson shifted his focus to creating works of art from found objects and recycled materials. The Neil Benson photographic collection, 1965-2005 (bulk 1970-1992), largely consists of photographs in various formats taken by Benson during his career as a photo journalist from the 1970s through the 1990s. Tear sheets from and issues of publications in which Benson's work was featured, as well as some ephemera and office files are also present in the collection. The collection is organized into seven series: Series I. Negatives; Series II. Contact sheets; Series III. Slides; Series IV. Prints; Series V. Publications; Series VI....(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia History Museum local history collection, circa 1682-2014

Extent:
150.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was founded in 1682 by William Penn. Because of its central location among the American colonies, Philadelphia became a gathering place for American revolutionaries during the Revolutionary War era and served as the temporary capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800. In the 19th century, Philadelphia became a major hub for railroad transportation and home to a variety of industries. As of 2014, Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, known for its arts, culture, and parks. The Philadelphia History Museum local history collection, circa 1682-2014, consists of a wide variety of paper materials from, or relating to, the Philadelphia region from the late 17th century to the 21st century. The collection is particularly strong in visual documentation and in printed materials, although there are also a large quantity of manuscript and other written documents. An extensive number of individuals, families, businesses,...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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Reeves Wetherill scrapbooks, circa 1800-1989 (bulk 1935-1985)

Extent:
3.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Reeves Wetherill (1912-1992) was a Philadelphia socialite who served as the Vice President for Public Relations at Wanamaker's department store from 1960-1987. He descended from Samuel Wetherill, a textile manufacturer involved in founding the Free Quakers during the American Revolution, and Christopher Wetherill, an early settler in Burlington County, New Jersey. The Reeves Wetherill scrapbooks, circa 1800-1989 (bulk 1935-1985), consist of about a dozen scrapbooks that document the activities of members of Philadelphia's upper class, including the lives of Reeves Wetherill and his wife, Sally Ann, as well as a small amount of 19th century documents relating to Reeves Wetherill's ancestors.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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Harold E. Cox transportation photograph collection, 1915-1950 (bulk) 1901-1950 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.25 linear feet
Abstract:
The Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (PRT), founded in 1902, constructed subway and elevated train lines and managed public transportation in Philadelphia for nearly half of a century. In 1940, the Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) was established, absorbing PRT and taking over all of its functions. PTC was purchased by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in 1968. The Harold E. Cox transportation photograph collection, 1901-1950 (bulk 1915-1950), consists of approximately 800 gelatin silver print photographs, about 50 film negatives, and a few PRT and PTC company newsletters, ephemera, and programs from employee events. Depicted in the photographs are Philadelphia street scenes, maintenance and repair work, vehicle interiors and exteriors, and employees from PRT and PTC.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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William W. Matos papers on the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition, 1920-1928 (bulk) 1831-1928 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet
Abstract:
William Warder Matos (1872-1935) owned an advertising company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 20th century. He was heavily involved in planning the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926. The William W. Matos papers on the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition, 1831-1928 (bulk 1920-1928), primarily consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and ephemera relating to the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition. Other materials in the collection include some personal papers of William W. Matos and a scrapbook documenting Women's Committee fundraising tea parties for the 1876 Centennial Exposition.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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Aachen Printing Company sample books, circa 1945-1985

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Aachen Printing Company was a commercial printing service owned by William R. Turner and located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, active from about 1946 to 1986. The Aachen Printing Company sample books, circa 1945-1985, consist of 16 scrapbooks that seem to include a copy of every item printed by Aachen Printing Company such as wedding invitations, company letterhead and memos, and other printed materials. Many items in the sample books are for prominent client Columbia Records.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service mugshot books, circa 1895-1911

Extent:
4.4 linear feet
Abstract:
In 1841, a police department directed by the Mayor was created in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, replacing the daily and nightly patrol that had been in place since December of 1830. One of the major factors driving the Consolidation Act of 1854 unifying the various municipalities within Philadelphia County into the City of Philadelphia was the need for a unified police force, which was established around that time. The Detective Division, later known as the Detective Service, was established in 1859. The Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service mugshot books, circa 1895-1911, consist of 12 volumes of identification photographs, also called rogues' galleries, of criminals and suspected criminals in Philadelphia. In addition to the individual's name, there is often other personal information listed with the photographs.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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