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Philip H. Ward collection of theatrical images
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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Philip Henry Ward, Jr. was born on November 26 or 28, 1886 in Washington, D.C. to parents Philip Henry and Ida Harner Ward. He was educated at George Washington University and worked at Walker Electric Company in Philadelphia. He founded and served as president of Ward Electric Company in Philadelphia, retiring in 1930, "in order to devote more of his time to his collections of stamps, coins and autographs," (Collection of Coins of the World). He wrote a weekly column in MeKeel's Weekly Stamp News for more than thirty years and was integral to the foundation of the American First Day Cover Society in 1955.
He married Ruth Coke MacNamara (1890-1964) on June 4, 1913 and they were the parents of Virginia, Eleanor, and Philip Henry, III. He died on August 23, 1963.
Works consulted and cited:
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Numismatic Biographies, "Ward, Philip Henry, Jr.," accessed 2020 July 28.
"Philip H. Ward, Jr. Collection of Coins of the World," accessed 2020 July 28.
This collection consists of photographs, drawings, and engravings of more than 100 identified actors, actresses, and other performing artists. The actors and actresses include names such as Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923), Joseph Jefferson (1829-1905), Adelina Patti (1843-1919), Ada Rehan (1857-1916), and Ellen Terry (1847-1928). Photographers include Aimé Dupont (1841-1900), Nadar (1820-1910), Napoleon Sarony (1821-1926), and W. & D. Downey, to name only a few.
The collection, housed in volumes, is arranged alphabetically by performer, and lists the type of image (the bulk are black-and-white photographic prints/cabinet cards) and the photographer or artist when known. A great many of the images are undated, but almost all fall between 1880 and 1910, with a small number from as early as circa 1859.
Researchers can view these images online.
Gift of Philip H. Ward.
- Publisher
- University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
- Finding Aid Author
- Holly Mengel (processed before 2013)
- Finding Aid Date
- 2020 July 28
- Access Restrictions
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This collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.