The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Taylor.

Title: Views of Philadelphia

Dates: 1861

Call No.: Fol. 268

Acc. No.: 75x47

Quantity: 57 drawings in 1 volume

Location: 6 J

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Taylor was an artist, who worked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at least between April and September, 1861. He was most probably James E. Taylor, who was a newspaper illustrator during and after the Civil War. James E. Taylor was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1839, graduated from Notre Dame, and briefly served with the 10th New York Infantry. He then became a newspaper illustrator and was particularly noted for the work he did in the American West after the Civil War. He died in 1901. An initial attribution of the volume to Frank Hamilton Taylor has been shown to be erroneous.

A “title page” for the volume indicates that the views were bought at the Ferdinand J. Dreer sale at Davis and Harvey’s auction room in 1913. In fact, the drawings were offered in an auction conducted by Stan V. Henkels at the auction rooms of Samuel T. Freeman & Co. on June 6, 1913. The auction catalog identifies the artist at J. Taylor, but gives no other information about the artist or where Dreer acquired the drawings, although it has been suggested that the drawings were done for Dreer. The unknown purchaser of the drawings seems to have been the person who had them bound, as his initials (J M F) appear on the front and back covers.

Ferdinand J. Dreer was born in Philadelphia in 1812, the son of Frederick Dreer and Augusta Frederica Nolthenius. Ferdinand Dreer was apprenticed to a jeweler and also learned how to assay metals. He established businesses in partnership first with John Annan and later with George Hayes. Dreer acquired quite a fortune and used part of it for various charitable projects in Philadelphia. He also became an enthusiastic collector of autographs (his collection is held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania), paintings, engravings, and historical artifacts. Dreer died in 1902. With his wife Abigail Dickinson, he had two sons. Two auctions were held in 1913 to disperse his collections of books, paintings, engravings, historical artifacts, and other items, including the drawings in this volume.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Consists of fifty-seven detailed pencil drawings of Philadelphia buildings, signed by an artist, Taylor, in 1861. Shops and businesses, a church, a cemetery wall, taverns and hotels, residences, and schools are depicted. Each is labeled with the building's name and location. Many show scenes of people, including African Americans and Union soldiers, engaged in various activities in front of the buildings. The drawings have been mounted on album pages. The drawings are dated 1861, but the captions were added at later dates, noting when buildings were torn down or rebuilt. Original captions were written in pencil, but these have been erased; in some cases, the erased captions seem to have given more information than was recorded in the inked captions.

ORGANIZATION

The drawings have been mounted onto album pages.

PROVENANCE

The Downs Collection purchased the volume from George MacManus & Co.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Dreer, Ferdinand J. (Ferdinand Julius), 1812-1902

Topics:

Buildings - Pictorial works - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Commercial buildings - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Dwellings - Pictorial works - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Church architecture.

Hotels - Pictorial works.

Taverns (Inns) - Pictorial works.

School buildings - Pictorial works.

Pencil drawing.

African Americans in art.

African Americans - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Soldiers in art.

Philadelphia (Pa.) - Pictorial works.

United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865 - War work.

Sketchbooks.

Drawings.

Artists.

Additional author:

Taylor, James E., 1839-1901.

INDEX TO THE VOLUME

The following list divides the drawings by item depicted: businesses, cemetery, church, hotels and taverns, residences, schools, statues and miscellaneous.

Businesses, alphabetically by name:

Anderson Southern Tea Warehouse - p. 16

Tea warehouse;

Northwest corner of Lombard and 5^th

Alter, Solomon - p. 24

Wines, liquour

713 Market St., north side of Market west of 7^th

[note: only first name appears in drawing, but caption gives full name]

Bailey & Co. – p. 11, 12 (different buildings, or back and front of same building, are depicted in the 2 drawings)

Manufactory of silverware and jewelry

Library St., entrance on 136 Chestnut St.

(caption: present site of post office and U.S. Court, 1864)

Barber shop – p. 45

244 Spruce St.

Bernhart, F. – p. 45

Men’s clothing altered and repaired

240 Spruce St., southeast corner of Spruce and 3d

Broadbent & Co. – p. 11

daguerreotypes

Library St.

Brown, C.A., & Co., -. 46

Bookstore

Northwest corner of Arch and 4^th

Burton, Edwd. – p. 45

American & Emigrant Office, Intelligence Office; insurance(?); real estate

246 Spruce St., southeast corner of Spruce and 3d

Castine [?] – p. 8

Coal shipper, 133 Walnut, northeast corner of Walnut and 2d

Colton, John – p. 47

Plane manufactory, hardware, cutlery and tool store

247 2d St., east side of 2d, near Spruce

confectionary – p. 27

southeast corner of Lombard and 5th

Corson, Robert – p. 8

Coal dealer

133 Walnut, northeast corner of Walnut and 2d

Cowgill, C., & Co. - p. 8

Gravel roofing

133 Walnut, northeast corner of Walnut and 2d

Dungan - see Harris & Dungan

Evans, T. – p. 23

Poster advertising dress goods sale at 518-520 Chesnut

Northwest corner of Pear and Dock

Family Coal Office – p. 33

See Lehigh & Schuykill

Families Oysters – p. 32

429 4^th, northeast corner of 4^th and Lombard

Farson, E. S. – p. 23

Furniture merchant, etc. (furniture is depicted on the sidewalk)

Northwest corner of Pear and Dock

flowerpot manufacturer – p. 25

1727 Market St., north side of Market between 17^th and 18^th

Also garden urns, earthenware (pots depicted)

[appears to have a name, but not legible]

Geyer, Wm. B., & Sons – p. 35

Leather store

Southwest corner 3d and Lombard

Hallowell, Edward M. – p. 8

Coal dealer

133 Walnut, northeast corner of Walnut and 2d

Hambleton – p. 1

Hair stain, etc.

228 Spruce, south side of Spruce, above 2d

Harris & Dungan – p. 31

Undetermined business, but seems to be related to that of Wetherill & Co. (q.v.)

Southeast corner of Arch and Front

Henry, C.W. – p. 15

Whitewash and wall colorer

Acorn Alley off Locust St.

Herriges, J. – p. 32

Tobacco, snuff, cigars

431 4^th, northeast corner of 4^th and Lombard

[includes a cigar store Indian; two African American children play outside the store]

Horticulture Warehouse – p. 18

Market St., south side, east of 8^th

Hughes, A.P. – p. 18

Manufacturer of Carharts Improved Melodeons

Market St., south side, east of 8^th

ice cream saloon – p. 15

814 Locust St., southeast corner of Locust and Acorn Alley

Keen, John R. – p. 31

Commission merchant and dealer in country produce

Southeast corner of Arch & Front St.

Krider, John - p. 8

Gun manufacturer: pistols, rifles, shot guns

135 Walnut St., northeast corner of Walnut & 2d

Lamberti, Joseph - p. 23

Cap manufacturer

Northwest corner of Pear & Dock

Landell,[Washington I.] – p. 46

Dry goods; merinos

Northwest corner of Arch and 4^th

Lehigh & Schuylkill Coal – p. 33

Also Family Coal Office

432 3d St., northwest corner of 3d and Lombard

Levy, L.J., & Co. – p. 11, 12 (different buildings, or back and front of same building, are depicted in the 2 drawings)

Staple and fancy dry goods; importers, jobbers, retailers

426 Library St.

(caption: present site of post office and U.S. Court, 1864)

Martin, Thomas – p. 33

Real estate agency

Northwest corner of 3d and Lombard

Men’s hats and briefcases – p. 29

Next to 256 South 2d

Mersch, C. B. - p. 47

East side of 2d near Spruce

[partial view only; identified in caption]

Morgan & Son – p. 18

Men and boys clothing

258 Market St., south side of Market, east of 8^th

Mullikin, Charles – p. 24

Plumbers’ materials

719 Market St., north side of Market, west of 7^th

Petitfour/Charcutier de Paris

Meat market

816 Locust St., southeast corner of Locust & Acorn Alley

Petry Brothers Restaurant – p. 42

North side of Walnut, west of 3d

[see also p. 43 – same building, but depicted as a private residence, not as a business]

produce stand – p. 31

southeast corner of Arch and Front Street

Riley, Thomas – p. 6

Oysters, provisions, ice, etc.

1427 Chestnut, northeast corner of Chestnut and 15^th

(caption: torn down 1871)

Sharp, George; Sharp & Bro. – p. 12

Silver

427 Library St., north side of Library

(caption: present site of post office and U.S. Court)

Somers, J. B. – p. 1

boot and shoe maker (as indicated by pictorial sign)

230 Spruce St., south side of Spruce above 2d

Sullivan, M. J. – p. 27

House and sign painter

Southeast corner of Lombard and 5^th

Thomas, M. & M. – p. 29

Milliner

252 2d, south 2d St., west side

Tracy, Michael – p. 24

Confectioners

717 Market St., north side of Market, west of 7^th

Union 8 House – p. 45

Oysters, ale, beer, saloon

301 3d St., southeast corner of Spruce and 3d

Watson, James – p. 49

Porter, ale, cider, mineral water establishment

786 South Front St.

Wetherill & Co. – p. 31

Drugs, paint, glass (window, coach, and picture), white lead, oil, chemicals, dye stuffs, surgical instruments, varnishes, etc.

Southeast corner of Arch and Front

Wheeler, John H. – p. 44

Wines, pickles, and tea (on sign), but apparently also sells brooms

501 3d St., southeast corner of Lombard and 3d

Williams, Isaac S. – p. 18

Tinware: planished, japanned and plain tinware manufactory; table cutlery, tea trays, woodenware, baskets, housekeeping hardware

236 Market St., south side of Market, east of 8^th

Businesses without names:

p. 3 – west side of 12^th above Chestnut, corner of Clover St.

awning with 5/dry goods/trimmings;

“Glazing” written above basement door

p. 19 – 513 and 515 Spruce St, north side of Spruce, west of 5^th

signs illegible

p. 20 - Southwest corner of Spruce and 4^th

appears to be dry goods business: hoop petticoat, corset, brooms, buckets, etc.;

possibly two businesses: one selling clothing, the other selling brooms, etc.

p. 25 – 1723 Market, north side of Market between 17^th and 18^th Streets

no sign, boxes on sidewalk, next door to flower pot manufacturer but appears to be separate business

p. 29 – 256 Second Street

seems to have drawings in the window; next to a men’s hat store

p. 47 – 249 2d St., east side of 2d near Spruce

one poster with flour/beans/peas/potatoes; another with butter, eggs

Cemetery:

Jew’s Burying Ground – p. 28

North side of Spruce near 9^th

[note: just see gate and wall surrounding the cemetery, not a view of the graves; name Duponceau appears on a nearby building – probably street name]

[this is Mikveh Israel Cemetery, the oldest Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia]

Church:

Formerly Potts Presbyterian Church; in 1860: African Church; now 1864 occupied by German Catholics (information from caption) - p. 2

5^th and Gaskill

[note: this location was the site of the Fourth Presbyterian Church from 1802-1842; the congregation split in 1842, with the name Fourth being applied to another church]

Hotels and Taverns:

Buck Hotel – p. 36

Franz Herrman, lager beer

Northwest corner of Coates St. near Fairmount

Commercial Hotel – p. 22

Southwest corner of Lombard and 5^th

Cully(? possibly Cullin), William – p. 38

Hotel (sign with crossed keys)

Southwest corner of Lombard and 2d

Dining saloon/refreshment saloon during the war – p. 14

No address

[see also p. 13]

[note: soldiers appear in this drawing]

Harding Hotel (name in caption), Upper Ferry Hotel (sign on building) - p. 10

Over Wire Bridge; torn down 1869

Kings Hotel – p. 34

west side of Schuylkill [River], opposite Fairmount

[view includes a boat]

Mooney’s Tavern (from caption) – p. 37

715 11^th St., southwest corner of Sanson and 11^th

Naylor’s Hotel - p. 39

B. Naylor’s Hotel, selling Smith Ale

Northwest corner, Spruce and Dock

Petry Brothers Restaurant – see under Businesses

Union Refreshment Stand – p. 13

Washington Ave. entrance

[see also p. 14]

[note: soldiers, some in Zoave uniforms, appear in this drawing]

Upper Ferry Hotel – see Harding Hotel

White Hall Hotel/Andrew Osak(?) – p. 24

North side of Market, west of 7^th

[caption: present site of J.B. Lippincotts Book Store]

Residences:

Belmont – see Judge Richard Peters

Boston Row – p. 5

1207-1215 Chestnut St.

(caption: present site of Chestnut Street Theatre)

Chauncey, Charles – p. 42, 43

87 Walnut, north side of Walnut, west of 3d

[on p. 42, the Chauncey residence is depicted as the Peetry Brothers Restaurant]

Ely, Ezra Stites (The Rev. Dr.) – p. 29

Once home of the Rev. Dr. Ely

254 2d St., south 2d, west side

Everly, Adam – p. 51

Mantua, country seat of Adam Everly, 1835,

fronting on the Schuylkill River and Haverford Road,

from a drawing made for Ferdinand J. Dreer in 1861

Miller, J.G. – p. 48

now German School House; once occupied by J. G. Miller, organist to German Church, 1830

135 North 4^th, above Arch

Mantua – see Everly

Ord, George – p. 49

784 south Front St.

Peters, Judge [Richard] – p. 53-56

Belmont estate [now part of Fairmount Park]

[p. 55: telescope on piazza]

Stodar, J. Clements – p. 21

Country seat (house supported by timbers while digging out clay to make bricks)

Federal St., near 18^th

White, Bishop – p. 42, 43

89 Walnut St., north side of Walnut, west of 3d

Whittal family – p. 57

Near Battlefield Red Bank; Count Donap died in this house now owned by Whittal family

[Battle of Red Bank fought in what is now National Park, Gloucester County, New Jersey, on Oct. 22, 1777. Site now a Gloucester County park, and the Whittal house still stands.]

Wilkinson, General J. – p. 23

Northwest corner of Pear and Dock

[note: James Wilkinson lived 1757-1825; he lived only a part of his life in Philadelphia]

Residences without names:

103 Chestnut St., north side west of Front – p. 4

[note: a business seems to be next door, but the sign is not clearly recorded]

north side of Walnut, west of 21^st – p. 7

caption: torn down Feb. 1868

south side of Arch, west of 20^th – p. 9

northwest corner of Walnut and 21^st – p. 17

517 Spruce St, north side of Spruce, west of 5^th - p. 19

[includes business at 513 and 515]

corner of Ann and 18^th near Spruce – p. 26

east side of 5^th between George and Poplar – p. 30

northeast corner of 4^th and Pine – p. 40

south side of Arch, west of 21^st – p. 41

northwest corner of Ridge and 32d – p. 50

farm house on Sedgley, near Fairmount Park – p. 52

[house has gothic-style windows]

Schools:

German School House – p. 48

135 North 4^th, above Arch

Goodfellows School (from caption) – p. 16

505 Lombard, northwest corner of Lombard and 5^th

Parochial School entrance – p. 49

South Front St.

Statues and miscellaneous:

Headless statue of a woman on a pedestal – p. 53

“On this pedestal during the War of the American Revolution was a leaden statue of life size which by order of Judge Peters then proprietor of the Belmont Estate was melted for bullets for the use of the American Army.”

[Judge Richard Peters (1744-1828) lived on an estate called Belmont, which is now part of Fairmount Park.]

Tree – p. 54

“Chestnut tree planted by Washington at Judge Peter’s farm”