PREFACE
Ix presenting this
History of Philadelphia to the public no apology is necessary. As a
record of events, as an exhibition of men, as a chronicle and
exposition of institutions and resources, the work in this
particular field, it is believed, will be found a complete and
satisfactory record, in its every department, of the growth,
development, and expansion of a municipality. This is asserted with
a thorough knowledge of what has been done elsewhere since the
revival of public interest in and enthusiasm for local details, and
with a consciousness also of the suspicion of arrogance and
self-assumption naturally incidental to such pretensions. To
accomplish so much, and with such a degree of self-satisfaction, has
been no holiday task. Of the labor, expense, and responsibility
involved, very little need be said. The proof is presented in these
volumes. In their preparation more than twenty times the compass of
material, expressly procured and arranged, in addition to the great
collection of books read and examined for collateral information,
was digested, condensed, and, in the pertinent newspaper phrase,
“boiled down” to the present limits. In no sense of the word is this
work founded upon, built up out of, or repeated from, any previous
one on the same subject, or any of its branches. It is a new book,
treating its theme in a new, comprehensive, and original manner,
after exhaustive research, thorough examination, and critical
comparison of the best authorities, and the most authentic documents
and authoritative records. This digesting and assimilating process
has not, perhaps, been carried as far as exigent critics might
demand, but in this busy and bustling world there is not time enough
to polish the front of a city hall as nicely as one would a mantel
ornament of Parian marble. The proprieties of style have, however,
not been neglected, for carelessness in that respect would have been
equally unworthy of a theme so dignified, and of the liberality and
beauty of form of the publishers’ work.
A history so comprehensive in its objects and scope, and embracing
such an infinitude of details, must necessarily have its limitations
and defects, because of the impossibility of discussing fully a
great variety of subjects without occasional errors. It would have
been easy to escape from them by making the work less copious, by
avoiding dangerous or controverted themes, and so gliding swiftly
over the surface, generalizing and summing up instead of displaying
all the facts.
The desire to leave nothing untold which could in any way throw
light upon the history of men, events, and institutions in
Philadelphia has made it impossible at times to escape repetition.
Facts, which fall within the proper cognizance of the narrative of
general events, will sometimes reappear in another shape in the
records of institutions or in special chapters. But the fault will
claim the reader’s indulgence, because intelligent persons prefer a
twice-told tale to one neglected or half told.
Several of the themes or chapters of the homogeneous whole have been
treated by those who have some particular association or long
acquaintance with the subject. In the diversity of writers there
will of course be variety of opinions, but they make good the poet’s
description,
“Distinct as the billows, yet one as the sea,”
and may not be the worse for each offering a reflection, according
to its turn to the light, without marring the unity of the general
expanse.
"Without Mr. Westcott’s indispensable aid and invaluable stores of
material on the History of Philadelphia, which he has been
diligently collecting for the past thirty years, and which have been
used in every department of this work, it would have been impossible
to present the history of this great city in the satisfactory shape
it now assumes. Indeed, as has been frequently stated in the
following pages, Mr. Westcott has devoted a lifetime to the
faithful, industrious, and intelligent pursuit of this history; few
records have escaped him, and he has supplemented their evidence
with recollections of a trustworthy character, and with testimony
from a thousand sources, such as none but the most indefatigable
antiquarian would seek or could procure. Mr. Westcott has also
contributed to the work many valuable and unique drawings,
portraits, maps, plans, etc., which are now printed for the first
time; and during its progress he has also been constantly consulted
by all engaged in the preparation of the special chapters, and
besides furnishing important suggestions, facts, and items, he has
read and corrected all the proofs, from the first page to the last.
Besides the very efficient aid thus rendered during the various
stages of the work, he has specially prepared for it the chapters on
“ Progress from 1825 to the Consolidation of the City, in 1854;”
“Music, Musicians, and Musical Societies;” “Charitable, Benevolent,
and Religious Institutions and Associations;” “Military
Organizations, Armories, Arsenals, Barracks, Magazines,
Powder-Houses, and Forts;” “Municipal, State, and Government
Buildings;” “Court-Houses, Prisons, Reformatory and Correctional
Institutions, and Almshouses;” “Public Squares, Parks and
Monuments;” “Roads, Ferries, Bridges, Public Landings and Wharves;”
“Telegraph,” and many other minor subjects.
The authors would be unjust to themselves, and to the city whose
history they have written, if they did not acknowledge, in this
place, with feelings of profound gratitude, the cordial aid extended
to them aud to their undertaking by the press and people of
Philadelphia. They have given the fullest encouragement throughout,
and have helped materially in elaborating and perfecting the work.
Important and valuable assistance and information have been received
from the following persons, to whom also particular recognition is
due:
To Frederick D. Stone, librarian of the Pennsylvania Historical
Society, for valuable memoranda and suggestions made to the authors
during the progress of their work; to Frank Willing Leach, for
biographical sketches and details in regard to the press and
libraries of Philadelphia; to Rev. W. B. Erben, for the preparation
of the history of the Episcopal Church in Philadelphia and its
institutions and church work; to Martin I. J. Griffin, for the
history of the Catholic Church, and its institutions, societies,
schools, aud church work; to Bishop Matthew Simpson, of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. William Cathcart, D.D., of the
Baptist Church, Rev. Charles G. Ames, of the Unitarian Church, Rev.
W. J. Mann, D.D., of the Lutheran Church, Rev. W. M. Rice, of the
Presbyterian Church, Johu Edmunds, of the Congregational Church, and
Rev. Chauncey Giles and T. S. Arthur, of the Swedenborgian Church,
for essential assistance in the preparation of the history of their
respective denominations; to Albert II. Hoeckley, for his chapter on
“Clubs and Club Life;” to Charles R. Hildeburn, the librarian of the
Athensenm, for many kindnesses of various sorts; to Isaac H.
Shields, attorney-at-law, for his complete chapter on the intricate
and important subject of “The Municipal Government of Philadelphia;”
to Lloyd P. Smith, librarian of the Philadelphia and Ridgway
Library, for many kindnesses and courtesies in smoothing the way,
and contributing to the work the details for the history of the
libraries under his charge, including free access to and use of
valuable documents; to William Perrine, who contributed to the work
the chapters on “Progress from the Consolidation Act, in 1854, to
the Civil War,” “After the Civil War,” and “Education;” to Rev.
Jesse Y. Bnrke for sketch of the Pennsylvania University; to Hon.
James T. Mitchell, who kindly revised the chapter on the “Bench and
Bar;” to John Hill Martin, author of “The Bench and Bar of
Philadelphia,” who furnished valuable Civil Lists, and, with a
kindness and courtesy not to be forgotten, allowed the authors to
extract all that they wanted from his able work; to Wm. B. Atkinson,
M.D., who revised the chapter on the “Medical Profession,” and S. D.
Gross, M.D., LL.D., who read the proofs of the same; to Charles A.
Kingsbury, M.D., D.D.S., for materials on Dental Surgery and
Institutions; to Lewis D. Harlow, M.D., for sketches of Pennsylvania
and Philadelphia Medical Colleges; to Miss May Forney, for the
chapter furnished by her upon “The Distinguished Women of
Philadelphia;” to Professor R. M. Johnston, who prepared the chapter
on “Literature and Literary Men;” to Robert R. Dearden, A. J. Bowen,
J. H. C. Whiting, and John A. Fowler, for much valuable material on
the history of insurance in Philadelphia; to Clifford P. MacCalla,
Charles E. Mayer, Edward S. Roman, John W. Stokes, George Hawkes,
Walter Graham, William Hollis, John M. Yanderslice, and John
Magargee, for valuable assistance in the preparation of the chapter
on “Secret Societies and Orders.”
Among others to whom acknowledgments are especially due may be
mentioned the late Edward Spencer, Charles H. Shinn, Nathaniel
Tyler, Professor P. F. de Gournay, John Sar-tain, Samuel W.
Pennypacker, Dr. W. H. Burke, Professor Oswald Seidensticker, James
J. Levick, M.D., Rev. W. M. Baum, D.D., Frederick Emory, and
Professor W. H. B. Thomas, who have furnished much valuable
information and assistance.
The publishers have most liberally met every desire, in respect of
letter-press and engravings of portraits, maps, and other
illustrations; they have spared no expense or effort to make the
mechanical execution of the volumes equal to its subject, and they
have helped in every difficulty while the work was in progress.
Philadelphia, March 1, 1884.
Volume 1 |
Volume 2 |
Volume 3
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