Call Number:

07

Repository:

The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute

Extent:

16.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

late 19th century-early 20th century

Creator:

Pancoast, Charles R., 1854-1931

Abstract:

Charles R. Pancoast (1854-1931) was a photographer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania active from the 1870s to 1922. In his shop, Pancoast developed his own photographs as well as those of other photographers. He enjoyed traveling and captured many images from foreign locations. Charles R. Pancoast lantern slides, late 19th century-early 20th century, consist of over twelve hundred slides taken by Pancoast in Philadelphia and during his travels throughout the North America, Asia, the Middle East, and South America.

Charles Rodman Pancoast (1854-1931) was born in 1854 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Joshua and Anna (Paxson) Pancoast. Charles worked as a photographer in Philadelphia, active from the 1870s to 1922. He owned a shop where he developed his own photographic images as well as those of other photographers. He also traveled in the United States and all over the world, capturing images in various Asian countries, Hawaii, and other exotic locations. In 1922, Pancoast retired and sold his business to Milton R. Holmes, E. Richard Deats, and Robert F. Carels. Holmes and Deats took over the production of photographic images, while Carels took charge of the stereopticon and motion picture machine, which Pancoast had used to establish a successful business projecting and illustrating lectures. Pancoast was a member of the Photographic Society of Philadelphia and the Photography Section of The Franklin Institute. In 1893, Pancoast married Phebe Bartram (1868-1956), the daughter of Isaac Newton Bartram and Helen Dartley Winan of Connecticut.

Bibliography:

Chambers, Frank V. "As We Heard It." Bulletin of Photography 30, no. 772 (May 24, 1922) : 667.

Charles R. Pancoast lantern slides, late 19th century-early 20th century, consist of over twelve hundred slides taken by Pancoast in Philadelphia and during his travels throughout the North America, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Subjects depicted in the slides include historic Philadelphia, Spanish-American warships, portraits, "natives au natural," Napoleon series, construction of roads and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia, and other topics. There are also images of people and locations in Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, India, the Middle East, South America, Canada, and various U. S. states, including New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Each slide measures 3.25" x 4" and many have been colorized. A partial inventory is available on-site.