Fairmount Park, Strawberry Mansion: Strawberry Mansion

Item — Drawer: 4-1, Box: 1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection contains approximately 200 postcards from 1875 and 2001, though most of the postcards are from 1885 and 1915. A majority of the postcards depict Fairmount Park sites, although two Virginia and one New Hampshire postcard are included in the collection.

Of particular note are the postcards in Series I: Centennial Exposition. The postcards in this series were created in 1875 and each depicts a building from the Centennial Exposition of 1876.

Dates

c. 1900 - 1994
Majority of material found within 1905-1914

Extent

From the Collection: .5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Physical Description

Recto: colored photographic print of Strawberry Mansion front exterior

Verso: Strawberry Mansion; Fairmount Park, East; Philadelphia, Pa. Built about the middle of the 18th century. Is associated with Charloes Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress who, according to tradition, occupied it during the Revolution. Sacked and partly burned by the British in 1777 it was rebuilt in 1798 by Judge William Lewis. After his death, it was bought by Judge Joseph Hemphill who added the wings. Restored and furnished in 1930 by the Women's Committee of 1926.