Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1477

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.5 linear_foot (2 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Edward Rhoads Longstreth grand tour photograph albums, 1891, Ms. Coll. 1477, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania.

Date:

1891

Form:

Photograph albums and Photographs

Abstract:

These two photograph albums contain over 450 photographs, postcards, and other printed material documenting the European grand tour of Edward Rhoads Longstreth in 1891.

Edward Rhoads Longstreth was the ninth child born to prominent Philadelphia Quakers William C. and Abby A. Longstreth on January 31, 1871. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Haverford College in 1890, where he was on the class football team. After graduation, Edward set out on a grand tour of Europe in 1891. He married Helen Champlain Loomis on October 16, 1900. They had three daughters: Emily Taylor (1903-1903), Anne (1905-1991) and Mary Underwood (1908-1950). Edward was a secretary of the West Laurel Hill Cemetery for the majority of his career. He was a vestryman at Christ Church in Media, Pennsylvania, a member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew and the Kiwanis Club of Philadelphia. Edward died on September 28, 1944.

Resources: Ancestry.

These two photograph albums document Edward's grand tour of Europe in the summer of 1891. Primarily landscape and landmark photographs, postcards, engravings, and etchings, these images provide a visual itinerary of Edward's journey through Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. A majority of the souvenir photographs were purchased, but it appears Edward acquired a camera while in France and took his own photos. There are a few cartes-de-visite of famous Europeans, such as Queen Victoria, Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, etc. Images are identified and dates are provided in the smaller album (box 1). The larger of the two albums (box 2) was gifted to Edward by his mother and has a pencil inscription from her on the front endpaper. It is unclear if Edward traveled alone or with family or friends.