Item Info

Item 1, top left:  Image of the Old Academy, located at 4th Street, below Arch Street.  The building on the left was originally a religious school, erected in 1740.  In 1749, it became the Academy of Philadelphia, a private secondary school, founded by a group led by Benjamin Franklin; in 1755, it became the College of Philadelphia, and the first building for what grew into the University of Pennsylvania in 1791. The dormitory on the right was added in 1765.  Engraving for an unidentified publication, 14 x 15 cm, undated.

Item 2, top right:  Image cropped from the above engraving, for another unidentified publication, 7.5 x 11.5 cm, undated.

Item 3, bottom left:  Photograph showing the exterior of the Apprentices' Library, at the SW corner of 5th & Arch Streets, in Center City.  The building was built by architects Timothy Matlack and Samuel Price Wetherill in 1783, serving originally as a Quaker meeting house. In 1820, it became the Apprentices' Library, the oldest free circulating library in America.  In 1971, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Independence National Historical Park.  Photograph, 10 x 10 cm, undated.

Item 4, bottom right:  Image showing the exterior of Central High School, at the SE corner of Broad & Green Streets, in Center City.  The school was founded in 1836, as the first public school (for boys) in the state.  In 1854, the high school moved to its second location, seen in this image; it served at this location until 1900.  Engraving for an unidentified publication, 10.5 x 16 cm, undated.