Portraits of American Women Writers

Fifty-nine portraits that appeared in print before 1861, together with short biographical sketches of the women.

Left image detail: "A Reading Party," in Godey's Lady's Book 33 (1846): plate opposite p. 145. Click here for larger view.

Wainwright Lithograph Collection

Features 285 of the lithographic prints described by Nicholas B. Wainwright in his book Philadelphia in the Romantic Age of Lithography: An illustrated history of early lithography in Philadelphia with a descriptive list of Philadelphia scenes made by Philadelphia lithographers before 1866 (Philadelphia: The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1958) held by the Library Company.

Left image detail: C.C. Kuchell after Thomas M. Scott, Northern Liberties & Spring Garden Water Works, chromolithograph, Philadelphia: P. S. Duval & Co. 1852. Click here for larger view.

The Crisis of the Union: An Electronic Archive of Documents About the Causes, Conduct, and Consequences of the US Civil War

This collection is comprised of pamphlets, books, broadsides, cartoons, clippings, paintings, maps, and other print memorabilia about America from circa 1830 to 1880. Items are drawn primarily from the collection of the Library Company of Philadelphia. Links to other catalogs and collections are also available from this site. The contents were first identified for inclusion in the Library Company's Exhibit, "The Origins of the Republican Party," Phillip Lapsansky, curator, Robert Francis Engs and Randall Miller, historical consultants.

Left Image Detail: Abraham Lincoln. Platinum Print, 1895, by George B. Ayres, from 1860 negative by Alexander Hesler. Click here for larger view.

Philadelphia Architects & Buildings Project

The Philadelphia Architects and Buildings database provides authoritative information on three centuries of Philadelphia buildings and designers incorporating data and images from the collections of more than 25 Philadelphia-area repositories. The Library Company contributes records for and digital images of selected Library Company architectural and graphic materials. To view only the Library Company's collections select the Library Company in the "collections" section. For comprehensive information on a particular place search by the "project / building" or "location."

Left image detail: D.S. Quintin, United States Hotel Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, lithograph, Philadelphia: P. S. Duval, ca. 1842.Click here for larger view.

Places in Time: Historical Documentation of Place in Greater Philadelphia

This website was developed to disseminate information about historical and architectural resources available at local institutions relating to the five county Philadelphia region. Currently features several significant graphic collections from the Library Company’s collections documenting Philadelphia street scenes in the last half of the 19th century including watercolors by Benjamin Evans (fl. 1857-1891) and photographs by John Moran (1831-1903), Robert Newell (1822-1897) and Frederick de Bourg Richards (1822-1903). Inventories of the Library Company's commercial street panoramas, the Brightbill postcard collection and the Aero Service Corporation aerial photographs are also available on this site.

Left image detail: Robert Newell, Girard Avenue Farmers’ Market, albumen photograph, ca. 1886. Click here for larger view.