Victor Harry Arnold
Advancements in printing technology in the 1800s enabled newspapers, books, and magazines to print images as well as words. Some artists became engravers so they could transfer drawings and illustrations…
Read MoreMarlena Davis Easley
Philadelphians know South Street as a cosmopolitan nightlife spot and tourist attraction. In the early 1960s, Marlena sang in a hit song about it as “the hippest place in town.”…
Read MoreAdeona, Hannah, Cecilia, and Ruth Gale
On the evening of September 14, 1861, an audience of more than 1,500 filled The Continental Theatre on Walnut Street to see a performance of The Tempest produced by William Wheatley. The…
Read MoreLeonard “Lenny” Ross
His given name was Leonardo del Rossi, born near 6th and Fitzwater Streets in Philadelphia with several siblings. He dropped out of school after the sixth grade but he did…
Read MoreKonstantin Kaiser
The name Konstantin is of Greek origin meaning constant or steadfast. It’s an appropriate title for this artist because fresco paintings are known for their longevity, retaining their vibrant color…
Read MorePatrick Francis Moran
He was known simply as Frank Moran, one of the many popular minstrels of his time, who was a friend of one of the first and most famous in the…
Read MoreSamuel Sanguin Sanford
Popularity is often measured by the amount of coverage given in the media of the day. In the favorite medium of the mid-19th century, newspapers, the name of Sam Sanford…
Read MoreJohn Henry Jack
American theater-goers in the post-Civil War era would have recognized John Jack more for his supporting roles than being one of the leading stars of the day. He worked with…
Read MoreGranville Perkins
People with great talent are often the subject of a “nature versus nurture” debate. Were they born with a certain gift which simply “blossomed” or did they show an early…
Read MoreJennie A. Johnson Stone
Like her parents, Jennie started life in New England. She must have grown up with a love of horses as a child, because riding a circus horse was her father’s…
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