Historical Society of Pennsylvania Digital Library

The Mystic Oracle…Mysterious, Amusing, Mystifying, Baffling!

This “dissolving picture” postcard was printed in Germany and was signed on the back “With love & many happs - Priscill.”  It is part of the Allen family papers (3126)  https://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/collections/3126

Deborah Norris Logan (1761-1839) was a wealthy Quaker and prominent Philadelphian. While she is renowned for her historical musings, especially her annotations on the Penn-Logan correspondence, she is best known for the seventeen volumes that make up her diary. Her writing provides a window into post-Revolutionary America, and highlights the political events and day-to-day happenings of domestic life. Deborah was considered by her friends as the epitome of the Revolutionary mother, and was an antiquarian who accumulated historical artifacts and books. Some of the clippings and antique graphics she collected were inlaid into her diary, and are featured below. The diary has been digitized as part of the In Her Own Right Project, which highlights primary source material related to women thinkers, abolitionists, and suffragists, leading up to the nineteenth amendment.

In memory of Stephen Hawking, we post this letter written by Sir Isaac Newton in which he writes "if I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."  RIP Stephen Hawking, whose shoulders will surely support countless scientists for generations to come.

This letter from Thomas Paine to Daniel Clymer dated September, 1786, includes the quote, “The proceedings of the Legislature for these two years past are marked with such vehemence of party spirit and rancorous prejudice, that it is impossible any country can thrive or flourish under such manifest misconduct.”  A staunch advocate for American Independence, Paine goes on to express his doubts about realizing the dream of an independent American country.  To read more of Thomas Paine’s correspondence, visit https://digitallibrary.hsp.org and search “Paine.”

Happy Halloween from the HSP Digital Library!  These pages are from the illustrated manuscript of The Witchcraft of Dame Darrel of York by Charles Godfrey Leland [1824-1903]. Leland presents the book as an account of witchcraft practiced by Dame Darrel, "the Wise Woman of York," in medieval England, though the work is primarily based on Leland's own research and imagination. The majority of the manuscript catalogs various types of fairies, elves, goblins, and other spirits in alphabetical order, but there are also stories and descriptions of spells.  Follow the link to view the full book at your own risk!

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th to October 15th), we chose to highlight some images from our collection that represent the history of Philadelphia’s Hispanic community. These photos, taken in 1944, show Mexican railroad workers engaged in various leisurely activities during a brief respite. The first photo displays the workers writing letters home to Mexico, while the second highlights a game of checkers. The third photo shows the workers perusing their Pennsylvania Railroad safety manuals.

The Second World War had a direct effect on the American workforce, and labor shortages affected many companies throughout the United States. In order to increase manpower, the United States and Mexico agreed to a series of laws and diplomatic arrangements, known as the Bracero program. While at the time controversial, the program, which lasted from 1942 to 1964, was in theory meant to alleviate labor shortages in the United States (especially in agriculture) while providing the temporary workers with minimum wage, adequate and sanitary lodging, and fairly priced meals. In this instance, 93 Mexican workers were recruited and contracted to work for the railroad in Philadelphia.

John Wintersteen, Jr. raises the American Flag in front of William Penn Charter School.  Penn Charter was founded in 1689 by William Penn. Penn Charter is the oldest Quaker school in the world and one of the first schools to open its doors to all students no matter their religion, race, or gender. Today, Penn Charter is home to hundreds of children from all cultures, faiths, and means.

Foundations of Genealogy: Getting Started and Doing It Right the First Time

Wednesdays,…

The George Inn, located at the corner of 2nd and Arch Streets in Philadelphia.  This is a copy of William Birch’s print depicting the inn as it was in 1784.  The inn was kept by Nicholas Scull in the year 1700.  His son, Nicholas Scull II, became the Surveyor General of the Province of Pennsylvania and, prior to that, the Sheriff of Philadelphia County.  What I love about this image is that the inn was located in what is now the Old City neighborhood, a vibrant area of restaurants, stores, and galleries. As can be seen in this image, in 1784 it was basically out in the country.  How times have changed!

http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/291

--Mark

Despite his preference for unpredictability, we know exactly what President Trump will be discussing on June 14: The American flag. The occasion? A day dedicated to the Stars and Stripes.

If you’re caught unawares, don’t get wrinkled. Flag Day comes up short in the holiday hierarchy. It’s that “runty stepchild among American national holidays,” according to the New York Times.

We don’t get off…

Photography in Philly before the selfie

Every day 95 million new images enter Instagram’s torrent of selfies, camera-friendly cats, and food portraiture. This snapshot surge is not without precedent. Consider the story of the stereograph, America’s earliest mass-produced photograph craze.

First, some background.

Photography is a French invention, developed by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre and officially recognized in early 1839.

Newspap…

A very interesting pocket diary from the Civil War, the year 1863 in particular. Stephen A. Beckwith (1837-1903) was a sergeant in Company H, 37th New York Volunteers. While in service from 1861 to 1863, he participated in the first battle of Bull Run, the Peninsula Campaign, and the battle of Chancellorsville, among others. The diary is in excellent condition; it could be used today if the dates were correct!  In the diary, Mr. Beckwith writes about enemy activity; the weather; mail received and sent; orders received (for movements, picket duty, and drills); visitors from other units; and a "bargain" he made with another soldier to not drink whisky while in service. In the back of the diary, he also included the lyrics to a popular song at the time entitled "Kitty Wells." A real treasure from a tumultuous time in our history!

http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/13979