McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896

Barnard Gratz (1738-1801) and his brother Michael (1740-1811) immigrated to Philadelphia in the 1750s. They were merchants active during the Revolutionary period, and who formed partnerships with the merchants David Franks (1720-1794) of New York and Philadelphia, and Joseph Simon (ca. 1712-1804) of Lancaster, PA. Michael Gratz's two sons, Simon (1773-1839) and Hyman (1776-1857), inherited their father's business.

From the description of Gratz-Franks-Simon Papers, 1752-1831 (inclusive). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172833694

Optician, photographer, and antiquarian collector, of Philadelphia.

From the description of Letter of John A. McAllister, 1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79449978

John A. McAllister was an antiquarian collector living in Philadelphia.

From the description of John A. McAllister Papers, 1820-1885 (bulk 1860-1866). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172834133

From the description of Civil War Playing Cards Collection. 1857-1865 (bulk). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 145522426

From the description of Sanitary Fairs Collection, 1749-1867 (bulk 1864). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 145522339

From the description of Lottery & Gift Concert Collection, 1753-1879 (inclusive). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 145522294

From the description of Civil War Poems and Songs. 1856-1862 (bulk). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 145522423

From the description of Civil War Manuscripts, 1854-1868. (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 123569661

From the description of American Song Sheet Clippings. 1888-1892 (bulk). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 145522432

From the description of Centennial and World's Columbian Expositions, 1876, 1893. (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 124558463

From the description of Civil War Illustrations. 1859-1865 (inclusive). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 124558483

From the description of Civil War Leaders Ephemera Collection. 1860-1865 (bulk). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 124558487

From the description of Civil War Miscellanies Ephemera Collection, 1858-1884 (bulk 1861-1865). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172834276

From the description of American Political Ephemera, 1835-1884 (inclusive). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172833567

From the description of McAllister Autograph Collection, 19th century (bulk). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172833763

From the description of Philadelphiana, 1826-1873 (inclusive). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172833903

From the description of Philadelphia Court Records, 1802-1862 (inclusive). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172833863

From the description of McAllister Miscellaneous Manuscripts, 1683-1872 (inclusive). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172834077

From the description of Confederate States of America Ephemera Collection, 1861-1865 (inclusive). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172833669

From the description of Biography and Genealogy Collection, 1857-1882 (inclusive); undated. (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 172833546

Albert Newsam (1809-1864), was a deaf artist who was born in Steubenville, Ohio, and orphaned at an early age. Through devious means he was taken to Philadelphia where, by good fortune, he was admitted in 1820 to the recently established Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. Newsam had exhibited great talent as an artist while young man, and became an apprentice with Philadelphia lithographer Col. Cephas G. Childs (1793-1871) in 1827, after which he became the principal artist with the noted printer Peter S. Duval (1804 or 05-1886). A master copyist, portraitist, and chromiste, Newsam is generally credited with helping to elevate the art of lithography in the United States. His career ended suddenly in 1859 when he suffered a stroke that affected his vision and coordination; he spent his final years at Dr. John A. Brown's Living Home for the Sick and Well, near Wilmington, Delaware, a situation arranged for him and funded by a committee of friends that included John A. McAllister.

From the description of Albert Newsam Papers. 1861-1868 (bulk, 1833-1864). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 145522330

At the start of the American Civil War, thousands of enlisted men from the northeast arrived in Philadelphia on their way to fight in the South. No government or military agencies had made provisions for feeding or caring for these transients, so Philadelphians citizens founded the Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon and the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon. Both saloons opened for service in late May 1861. At no charge to the servicemen, they provided meals, newspapers, bathing facilities, changes of underwear and socks, and assistance in writing letters to families. Between them, the saloons operated twenty-four hours a day and depended solely on contributions of time and goods from neighborhood citizens and merchants. Those donations were supplemented by funds raised at a benefit fairs, concerts, and lectures held around the city, some of which benefited both organizations.

From the description of Civil War Volunteer Saloons and Hospitals Ephemera Collection. 1861-1868 (inclusive). (Library Company of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 123569659