Imperfect History Blog – The Library Company of Philadelphia

Imperfect History Blog

The Imperfect History blog will share insights and progress about a project that provides an essential, illustrated chapter in the history of a centuries-old American institution that exists to empower and ideologically challenge the citizenry through knowledge acquired by visual works and printed words.

Photo-Illustrators, [Interior of a medical clinic], ca. 1930. Gelatin silver print. — Exploring Racism in Medicine through LCP Graphics
November 13, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

Interior of Library Company of Philadelphia, Locust Street Branch, ca. 1885. Platinum print in Library Company of Philadelphia scrapbook, ca. 1865-ca. 1971. — Upstairs, Downstairs at the Library Company of Philadelphia
October 2, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

Marriott Canby Morris, Midway Plaisance-Dahomans, 1893. Lantern slide. — Seeing Double
October 2, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

“The Irrepressible Conflict” or the Republican Barge in Danger (New York: Currier & Ives, ca. 1860). Lithograph. — One Lithograph, Two “Readings”
August 24, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

Miss Barton, Unidentified landscape, early 19th century. Watercolor. — Women Makers and Caretakers
July 22, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

Joseph Pennell, Water Street Stairs (Philadelphia). Etching. Two shadowy figures stand at the top of an alley stairway in background, alley has many bills posted, man in sailor outfit in the bottom foreground. — My Beginnings at the Library Company
July 17, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

Edward Williams Clay, The Smokers (New York: H. R. Robinson, 1837). Lithograph. — Wanting to Kick Myself: My First Days in the Graphic Arts Department
June 16, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

John L. Magee, Death of George Shifler in Kensington. Born Jan 24 1825. Murdered May 6 1844 (Philadelphia: William Smith, after 1850). Hand-colored lithograph. — Working with Graphics is Not Just Fun
May 28, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

Invitation to A Walk on the Wild Side exhibition, 1993. — My Library Company Beginnings
March 11, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

Kinaya Hassane, Curatorial Fellow — Henry Luce Foundation Funds Graphic Arts Department Curatorial Fellow and Two-Year Project Imperfect History: Curating the Graphic Arts Collection at Benjamin Franklin’s Public Library
February 26, 2020/by Tristan Dahn

Imperfect History is supported by the Henry Luce Foundation.