I'll be presenting on my #StephenGirard #research at the Alliance Française de Philadelphie on March 27th! Follow this link to learn more: www.afphila.com/event-rsvp/b...

#research #writing #materialculture #materialtexts #Frenchhistory #French #bookhistory

When purchased from the Girard estate by George Howland for whaling use, the pious Howland had the ROUSSEAU's figurehead of Jean-Jacques Rousseau removed (and decapitated!), replacing it with this billethead.

#maritimehistory #Rousseau #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #whaling #materialculture

One of my favorite photos of the whaling bark ROUSSEAU (left) with the DESDEMONA at New Bedford, ca. 1893. The photo is by Edwin Hale Lincoln and titled "Their Last Port." New Bedford Free Public Library, 2010.007.012.019j.

#NewBedford #maritimehistory #StephenGirard #whaling #PortraitofaCitizen

New Bedford Harbor, seen here at the end of the 19th century. The whaling bark ROUSSEAU sailed out of New Bedford for decades following the death of #StephenGirard. This photo is from the collection of the New Bedford Free Public Library.

#maritimehistory #NewBedford #whaling #PortraitofaCitizen

There are times I feel I've gotten to know #StephenGirard a bit too well. Behold Stephen's stockings! These are wonderful survivals, notable because of the darning on them, indicative of the multiracial female labor present in Girard's household.

#PortraitofaCitizen #materialculture

Founder's Hall at #GirardCollege, one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the country.

#Museums #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard

Stephen Girard's surviving library at Girard College is home to many impressive cartouches, including this one, which I believe is from his copy of the "Pilote Americain Septetrional" of 1778.

#rarebooks #prints #specialcollections #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen

The entombed, and emmarbled, Stephen Girard in Founder's Hall at Girard College, which opened its doors and began operations on New Year's Day 1848.

#StephenGirard #GirardCollege #PortraitofaCitizen

Another fun #GirardCollege photo, showing the "Memorial Room" in 1893.

#StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen #research #archives #museums #specialcollections

This is one of my favorite historic photos I've encountered during research for #PortraitofaCitizen, showing the "Memorial Room" in Founder's Hall at Girard College in 1893.

#materialculture #decorativeart #museums #specialcollections #StephenGirard

Stephen Girard's top hat! Perfect for a New Year's outing, I think.

#StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen #materialculture #museums

An outcome of my research into the #PhilosopherShips of #StephenGirard is that I now get very excited about little chunks of wood in various museum collections. Here's an example: a piece of the ROUSSEAU at Girard College.

#PortraitofaCitizen #maritimehistory #Rousseau #NewBedford

Stephen Girard was a meticulous record-keeper, as evinced by these wooden chests in which he stored financial records associated with all of his vessels' voyages. Here you see the chest for the MONTESQUIEU.

#StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen #archives #specialcollections #libraries #museums

In December 1922, these students enjoyed some Christmas festivities at Girard College.

#GirardCollege #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen

Here's another Christmas lantern slide from the Girard College Historical Collection: Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield's "Christmas Chimes." Manufactured by the Keystone View Company.

#lanternslides #magiclantern #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen #GirardCollege #FoundersHall

For some holiday cheer, let's contemplate this magic lantern slide of Steinle's "Christmas of St. Francis," from the Girard College Historical Collection. Note the angels floating above Francis, including one playing my favorite instrument.

#PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #lanternslides

Fun Philadelphia fact: Professor William Wagner, founder of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, worked for #StephenGirard early in his career! And he enjoys a special association with the #BassOtis portrait of Girard, rooted in his educational philosophy.

#archives #museums #libraries

One of the fun things about researching the #materialculture of #StephenGirard is that so many objects have been preserved at Founder's Hall Museum. Early photos help us understand how the first generations of stewards of the Girard collection displayed the material.

#PortraitofaCitizen #museums

More trinkets and treasures from the New Bedford Whaling Museum collection: a ruler made from ROUSSEAU salvaged wood, as well as a little ROUSSEAU and DESDEMONA souvenir cup.

#materialculture #collectivememory #whaling #maritimehistory #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen

New Bedford artist Arthur Gordon Grinnell (1854-1924) crafted this stunning chest from wood salvaged from the whaling vessel ROUSSEAU in 1894. The wonderful object is now on display at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

#whaling #maritimehistory #NewBedford #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen

Most of my energies focused on the vessel ROUSSEAU of #StephenGirard, of course, but here's some WANDERER material from the New Bedford Free Public Library.

#PortraitofaCitizen #publiclibraries #libraries #maritimehistory

An important character in #PortraitofaCitizen is Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin, a fellow Francophone of #StephenGirard. We see him here in a portrait by Thomas Worthington Whittredge, National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., NPG.76.34.

While #StephenGirard was not the bibliophile Thomas Jefferson was, nor the political leader George Washington was, there are saliences in these men's bookish inclinations.

In #PortraitofaCitizen, I undertake the challenging yet fascinating task of considering the personality of #StephenGirard as compared to other Philadelphian merchants of his era. What motivated his ambition? This means thinking not just about him, but about other merchants as well.

Fun fact: Stephen Girard acquired his share in the Library Company of Philadelphia by helping the library acquire a bunch of French books for its collection. 😂 It was a strategic move!

#specialcollections #libraryhistory #rarebooks #libraries #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen

Did you know that #StephenGirard is referenced in "Billy Budd" by #HermanMelville? See a page from the MS here, courtesy of Houghton Library. Melville took an interest in Girard's naming of his vessels for philosophers. Read about it in #PortraitofaCitizen.

#maritimehistory #maritimeliterature

One highlight of my research for #PortraitofaCitizen was doing contextual research in another French library in the Mid-Atlantic: that of the du Ponts, lovingly preserved at the Hagley Museum & Library.

#rarebooks #manuscripts #archives #libraries #specialcollections #StephenGirard #duPonts

My past and present research interests intersect in this little book--a German translation of the last will and testament of Stephen Girard, at the German Society of Pennsylvania Library.

#PAGerman #StephenGirard #willsandtrusts #PortraitofaCitizen #libraries #specialcollections #printculture

One of the pleasures of my visit to the Clements Library in the spring as harpist in residence was the opportunity to explore the collection while not performing. I was delighted to encounter some #StephenGirard papers!

#specialcollections #manuscripts #archives #libraries #PortraitofaCitizen

Another example of early national commemoration at the American Antiquarian Society. Girard had been approached to appear in projects like this but demurred, probably because of embarrassment over his blindness and facial disfigurement.

#PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #rarebooks #prints