Ephraim Dyer IV Collection, ca. 1842, of the sketches of Sherman Day

Mss.917.48.D33

Date: Circa 1842 | Size: 0.5 Linear feet, 150 sketches, 100 engravings

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Abstract

These are the original sketches used for the engravings in Day's 1843 publication, "Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania" (Philadelphia). They are finely detailed renderings of public and private structures and landscape throughout Pennsylvania. Accompanying these sketches are 150 pages of photocopied letters of Day, from originals at Yale University. These were used by Smith in his book.

Background note

Sherman Day was an artist and civil engineer who published an important book on Pennsylvania history in the 1840s. His Historical Collection of the State of Pennsylvania contained many original drawings and descriptions of Pennsylvania life past and present.

Prior to this work, Day, son of Jeremiah Day, Yale's President, and grandson of Roger Sherman, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, worked as a merchant and a civil engineer in the Old Northwest. He lived in Pennsylvania for a year, where he undertook the work that would become the Historical Collection of the State of Pennsylvania. In 1849, he traveled to California, where he worked as a miner, surveyor, and professor.

Scope and content

Native American Images note : Sketches of Native American interest include the treaty monument of William Penn and the Indian Nation in Kensington, 1692; the "Indian God" rock in Venango County, just south of Franklin, Pennsylvania; Seneca petroglyphic figures cut into the upper face of the rock.

Unidentified sketches are available. Impressions of the engravings (woodcuts?) are with this collection. engraver may be Ednund'L Barber

Digital objects note

This collection contains digital materials that are available in the APS Digital Library. Links to these materials are provided with context in the inventory of this finding aid. A general listing of digital objects may also be found here.

Collection Information

Physical description

150 sketches, 100 engravings.

Provenance

Presented by Peter R. Dyer and accessioned, 1976. Photocopied items from originals at Yale University received and accessioned, 1980 (1980 1907ms).

Processing information

Only maps and scanned Native American images are noted.

General note

These are the original sketches used for the engravings in Day's 1843 publication, Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania. They are finely detailed sketches of public and private structures throughout the state. The sketches were reproduced in Murphy D. Smith, Sherman Day: Artist, Forty-niner and Engineer. Accompanying the sketches are 150 pages of photocopied letters of Day, from originals at Yale University. The APS owns Day's original 1843 published work.

Early American History Note

This collection contains the proofs of images for Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania. The book is over 700 pages long with more than 200 images. The book and images capture Pennsylvania life past and present and can provide insight into the customs of the period. Days' engravings provide detailed images of towns and areas of Pennsylvania circa 1840. Some of the over 250 images included in this collection are: Pittsburgh with steamboats traveling up the rivers and smoke spouting in the sky from factories, a redoubt at Fort Pitt, a vista of Reading, mines in western Pennsylvania, Native American engravings found on a rock, the public squares at Chambersburg, Lancaster and Erie, and Ephrata's houses.

In addition to the proofs, the collection contains original sketches and drawings, some of which were not used in the book. The APS also has reproductions of 150 letters Day wrote between 1818-1884.

Indexing Terms

Genre(s)

Art
Engravings.
General Correspondence
Sketchbooks
Sketches.

Geographic Name(s)

Pennsylvania -- Description and travel.

Personal Name(s)

Day, Sherman,1806-1884.
Penn, William, 1644-1718

Subject(s)

Architecture -- Pennsylvania.
Delaware Indians
Indians of North America -- Pennsylvania
Landscape -- Pennsylvania.
Literature, Arts, and Culture
Pennsylvania History
Seneca
Social Life and Custom

Detailed Inventory

#103 Monument of the Treaty Tree, Kensington	1842	4 x 4 inches black & white engraving		Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Access digital object: http://diglib.amphilsoc.org/fedora/repository/graphics:3306
#135 Indian God	1842	4 x 5 ½ inches pencil sketch		Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Access digital object: http://diglib.amphilsoc.org/fedora/repository/graphics:3307
#136 Figures on the rock, Indian God	1842	4 x 5 ½ inches pencil sketch		Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Access digital object: http://diglib.amphilsoc.org/fedora/repository/graphics:3305
#C Day, Sherman,1806-1884.. Susquehanna Valley of central Pennsylvania	1840	1 map, 27.9 x 26 cm	917.48 D33 #3.	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Access digital object: http://diglib.amphilsoc.org/fedora/repository/graphics:4777
#D Day, Sherman,1806-1884.. Fort Pitt in 1795 - copied from the large drawing at the Monongahela House	1840	1 map, 19.7 x 12.7 cm	917.48 D33 #3.	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Market Street, Philadelphia. Frontispiece			Box 1: folder 1	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Gettysburg, from the Railroad.			Box 1: folder 2	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 57
Gettysburg Theological Seminary			Box 1: folder 3	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 59.
York Sulphur Springs			Box 1: folder 4	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 61.
Pittsburgh, from the Northwest			Box 1: folder 5	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 61.
Pittsburgh. New Courthouse			Box 1: folder 6	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 67.
Western University of Pennsylvania			Box 1: folder 7	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 68
Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny City			Box 1: folder 8	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 68.
Western Penitentiary			Box 1: folder 9	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 69.
Braddock's Field			Box 1: folder 10	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 73.
Plan of Fort Pitt			Box 1: folder 11	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Redoubt at Pittsburgh			Box 1: folder 12	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 78.
Kittanning			Box 1: folder 13	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 95
Freeport, from a point below Buffalo creek.			Box 1: folder 14	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 98.
Beaver			Box 1: folder 15	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 107
New Brighton and part of Fallston.			Box 1: folder 16	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 109.
Economy			Box 1: folder 17	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 111
Bedford			Box 1: folder 18	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 115
Bedford Springs			Box 1: folder 19	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 116.
Reading			Box 1: folder 20	Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 129.
Athens			Box 1: folder 21	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 143.
Tioga Point			Box 1: folder 22	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 144
County seat of Nicholas Biddle.			Box 1: folder 23	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 151.
Penn's old brewhouse			Box 1: folder 24	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 154.
Doylestown			Box 1: folder 25	Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 161.
Eastern view of Bristol			Box 1: folder 26	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 164.
New Hope			Box 1: folder 27	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 168.
Butler			Box 1: folder 28	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 174.
Ebensburg			Box 1: folder 29	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 181.
Johnstown			Box 1: folder 30	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 183.
Mauch Chunk			Box 1: folder 31	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 193.
Part of Summit Coal Mine			Box 1: folder 32	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 197.
Curious artificial hills			Box 1: folder 33	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 197.
Bellefonte			Box 1: folder 34	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 203.
Distant view of Brandywine Battleground			Box 1: folder 35	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 213
General Wayne's Residence			Box 1: folder 36	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 215.
Westchester			Box 1: folder 37	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 219.
Mr. Polmar's Seminary			Box 1: folder 38	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 220.
Downingtown			Box 1: folder 39	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Railroad bridge near Phenixville			Box 1: folder 40	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 225.
Phenixville			Box 1: folder 41	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 226.
Public Square in Clarion			Box 1: folder 42	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 228.
Clearfield			Box 1: folder 43	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 232.
Lock Haven			Box 1: folder 44	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 238.
Danville			Box 1: folder 45	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 242.
Ancient Friend's meeting house at Catawissa			Box 1: folder 46	Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 244
Berwick			Box 1: folder 47	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 249.
Public Square in Meadville			Box 1: folder 48	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 256.
Allegheny College			Box 1: folder 49	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 257.
Public Square in Carlisle			Box 1: folder 50	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 265.
Dickinson College			Box 1: folder 51	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 268.
Carlisle Springs			Box 1: folder 52	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 271.
State Capitol at Harrisburg			Box 1: folder 53	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 282.
Central part of Middleton			Box 1: folder 54	Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 287.
Central part of Chester				Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 299.
Old Assembly House and Penn's Landing Place				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 301.
Richard Townsend's original dwelling				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 303.
Ancient Welsh Church at Radnor				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Sketch is missing. Other Descriptive Information: Page 306.
Birthplace of Benjamin West				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 307.
Western view of the public square in Erie				Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 320
Braddock's grave				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 334.
Uniontown from the east				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 340.
Brownsville and Bridgeport from the National Road				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 341.
Mr. Gallatin's Mansion				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Cemetery at Chambersburg				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 353.
Marshall College at Mercer				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 356.
Central part of Waynesburg				Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 361.
Huntingdon from the hill below Town				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 369.
Hollidaysburg				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 371.
Central part of Indiana				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 378.
Blairsville				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 379.
Western entrance to Brookville				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 382.
Mifflin				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 386.
North Queen Street in Lancaster				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 396.
Columbia				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 406.
Public Square in Lititz				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 411.
Brothers* and Sisters* houses at Ephrata				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 416.
Southwest view of Lebanon				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 420.
Eastern view of Allentown				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 425.
Buttermilk Falls				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 428.
Baltimore Company's Coal Mine				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 429.
Public Square at Wilkesbarre				Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 445.
Churches in Carbondale				Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 447.
Central part of Williamsport				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 453.
Public Square and Courthouse at Mercer				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 463.
Logan's Spring				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 467.
View in the Central part of Lewistown				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 469.
Stroudsburg				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 476.
Delaware Water Gap				Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 479.
Anciert Friends Meeting-house at Lower Merion				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 485.
Ancient Lutheran Church at Trappe				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 487.
Mr. Chew's house				Request File for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this File
Other Descriptive Information: Page 492.
George Washington's Head-Quarters at Valley Forge				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 496.
Valley Forge				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 497.
Pottstown				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 500.
Norristown from the Northwest				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 500.
Easton				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 513.
Church and female seminary				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 515.
First house built in Bethlehem				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 517.
Church, Seminary and Sisters* House				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 520.
Public Square in Sunbury				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 530.
Distant view of Northumberland				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 533.
Churches in Milton				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 535.
Bloomfield				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 540.
Petersburg, with Duncan's Island bridge				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 541.
Treaty monument of Penn				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 551.
Letitia House in Letitia Court				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 552.
Slate-roof house, Second-street.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 556.
Christ Church, Second Street.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 562.
Rear of the Statehouse.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 570
Franklin's grave.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 576.
Pennsylvania Hospital.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 579.
University of Pennsylvania.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 580.
Merchants' Exfchange and Girard Bank.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 582.
Girard College.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 583.
United States Mint.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 585.
United States Bank				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 586.
United States Naval Asylum.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 587.
Blockley Almshouse.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 587.
Wire Suspension bridge.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 588.
Eastern penitentiary.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 590.
Moyamensing Prison.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 591.
Birthplace of David Rittenhouse.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 593.
View in Milford.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 596.
Northeastern view of Pottsville.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 608.
Schuylkill Haven.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 614.
Tamaqua.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 615.
Somerset.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 618.
Silver Lake.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 622.
Central part of Montrose.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 623.
Hotel, depot and coal mine at Blossburg.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 629.
New Berlin.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 632.
Lewisburg.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 633.
Indian God.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 638.
Figures on the rock called "the Indian God".				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 639.
Public Square in Franklin.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 646.
Warren.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 650.
Washington				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 660.
Washington College.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 665.
Central part of Wellsborough.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 626
Jeffsrson College, at Canonsburg.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 669.
Honesdale.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 679.
Greensburg.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 686.
Gen. St. Clair's Monument.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 687.
Western entrance to York.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 700.
Western entrance to York.				Request Item for Reading Room Access Request a Copy of this Item
Other Descriptive Information: Page 701.