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Philadelphia Water Department lantern slides, circa 1885-1925

Extent:

5.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the first city in the United States to provide water as a public utility and was known for its advances in water distribution technology, such as using a centralized distribution system and employing the use of hydropower for pumps. The Philadelphia Water Department (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) traces its roots to 1799 when the Joint Committee on Supplying the City with Water (known as the Watering Committee) was established by the city council in response to pressure from the city's residents to provide them with clean water for drinking, fire fighting, and cleansing the streets following a series of yellow fever epidemics. The Philadelphia Water Department lantern slides, circa 1885-1925, consist of two hundred and ninety-four lantern slides depicting images of documents, machinery, and other subjects related to the Water Department's research and operations.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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Journal of The Franklin Institute lantern slides, 1881-1921 (inclusive)

Extent:

3.5 linear feet

Abstract:

Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1824, in honor of America's first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most important science institutes in the nation. Its mission is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. Journal of The Franklin Institute lantern slides, 1881-1921, consist of about two hundred and fifty lantern slides depicting images used during lectures at the Franklin Institute that were based on articles published in the Journal of The Franklin Institute.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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Harry A. Hornor lantern slides, circa 1900-1920

Extent:

3.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Harry A. Hornor (1874-1939) was an electrical engineer who lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and worked for the New York Ship Building Corporation in Camden, New Jersey. Hornor published several papers in prestigious science and engineering journals related to electrical engineering on ships. The Harry A. Hornor lantern slides, circa 1900-1920, consist of two hundred and thirty-five lantern slides depicting images of ships, as well as their construction, launches, interiors, mechanics, equipment, and other aspects. There are also images of diagrams, drawings, and schematics related to the electrical engineering aspects of ship building.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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American Temperance Society lantern slides, circa 1880-1920

Extent:

1.5 linear feet

Abstract:

The American Temperance Society, also known as the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance, was established in 1826 in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the first formal national temperance movement in the United States. The American Temperance Society and other temperance movements would hold events and write literature warning people of the dangers of alcohol. American Temperance Society lantern slides, circa 1880-1920, consist of approximately ninety lantern slides, including slides that depict the sad stories of those who give in to the temptation of drinking alcohol, as well as slides of temperance related poems, sheet music, and cartoons. Many of the stories and other slides were intended to inspire guilt among those feeling tempted by alcohol.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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Henry R. Heyl papers, 1876-1917 (inclusive)

Extent:

1.25 linear feet

Abstract:

Henry Renno Heyl (1842-1919) was an inventor active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Heyl was a longtime member of The Franklin Institute and is best known for creating the phasmatrope, an early simulation of moving pictures, and receiving the first United States patent for a stapler. Henry R. Heyl papers, 1876-1917, consist of numerous patents, drawings and explanations of Heyl's inventions. There is a large amount of materials pertaining to his paper milk bottle and wire book sewing machine inventions. Also included are some photographs and a glass plate negative, a scrapbook, correspondence, graphs, diagrams and blueprints, notes, reports, notebooks, manuals, and books.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute stereoscope card collection, circa 1873-1914

Extent:

3.5 linear feet

Abstract:

Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1824, in honor of America's first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most important science institutes in the nation. Its mission is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute stereoscope card collection, circa 1873-1914, consists of small amounts of stereoviews depicting various scenery from the United States and locations in Europe and Asia. Also in the collection are images related to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia, PA and Coleman Sellers's Kinematoscope.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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George W. Hewitt glass plates, circa 1908-1911

Extent:

7.0 linear feet

Abstract:

George Wattson Hewitt (1841-1916) was an architect active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was involved in the design of several well-known buildings, including the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, the Philadelphia Bourse, and the Library of the University of Pennsylvania. He worked with noted Philadelphia architect Frank Furness from 1867 to 1875, when they dissolved their partnership. From 1875 to 1878, Hewitt worked on his own and then opened a new firm in 1878 with his brother, where he remained until he retired in 1907. Hewitt passed away in 1916. George W. Hewitt glass plates, circa 1908-1911, consist of approximately one thousand glass plate positives and negatives from Hewitt's travels in Europe.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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Welsbach Gas Light Company lantern slides, postcards, and bulletins, circa 1890-1911

Extent:

13.5 linear feet

Abstract:

Welsbach Gas Light Company was in operation in Gloucester City, Camden County, New Jersey from the late 1890s through 1940. The company had the exclusive manufacturing and selling rights for the Welsbach mantle, an incandescent gas mantle used for street lamps, invented by Austrian scientist and inventor Carl Auer von Welsbach (1858-1929). Welsbach Gas Light Company lantern slides, postcards, and bulletins, circa 1890-1911, consist of images showing the production of gas mantles and fixtures, various rooms in the Gloucester City factory and laboratory, and employees; a series of postcards, 1908, showing black and white images of the factory, its equipment and laboratories, and its employees at work; and company bulletins.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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Oliver Wolcott Gibbs papers, 1847-1910 (inclusive)

Extent:

4.2 linear feet

Abstract:

Oliver Wolcott Gibbs (February 21, 1822-December 9, 1908) was an American chemist who is best known for his work in inorganic and analytical chemistry, specifically with the cobalt-amines, platinum metals, and complex acids. He is also known for performing the first electrogravimetric analyses and serving as president of various national science organizations. The Oliver Wolcott Gibbs papers, 1847-1910, consist largely of correspondence and other papers relating to scientific matters and Gibbs' roles in various organizations, especially the National Academy of Sciences. A significant amount of printed matter, such as pamphlets, reprints of articles written by Gibbs, Gibbs' speeches/addresses, and obituaries of him; a few photographs and objects; and a small amount of other materials are also present in the collection.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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Howard Pusey lantern slides, circa 1884-1909

Extent:

10.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Howard Pusey lantern slides, circa 1884-1909, consist of over six hundred images depicting various locations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, Europe, and the Middle East. The images are primarily of scenery, buildings, and sculpture, but there are some portraits and other images featuring people.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]