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Charles B. Doron "Views of Swarthmore" photographs

 Collection — othertype: PA-149
Identifier: SFHL-PA-149

Scope and Contents

Approximately one dozen photographs of Swarthmore College and vicinity, from Charles B. Doron's "Views of Swarthmore" series, sold by Friends' Book Association (Philadelphia, Pa.). Most photographs are original; there are also a few copies. Collection is incomplete.

Dates

  • Creation: 1879 - 1881

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is available for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Friends Historical Library believes all of the items in this collection to be in the Public Domain in the United States, and is not aware of any restrictions on their use. However, the user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status before reproducing. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/.

Biographical / Historical

Charles Bedell Doron (1860-1938) was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Swarthmore College in the Class of 1881. After graduation, Doron worked in manufacturing and later became an osteopathic physician in Maine.

Doron sold his "Swarthmore and Vicinity" series directly and through the Friends Book Association in Philadelphia. It was advertised in an insert in The Swarthmore Phoenix, the college monthly periodical which began publication in December 1881, just two months after the disasterous fire which gutted the main building (now known as Parrish Hall).

Amateur photography was very popular with students and faculty, resulting in a College Camera Club in the 1880s. Interestingly, Doron's photographic equipment, stored near the college's museum room (in the main building) before his graduation the previous spring, was initially blamed as the source of the fire. The actual cause has never been confirmed, but is now believed to be due to a gas leak.

The original photographs were 5" x 8" albumen prints mounted on 9" x 11" cardboard, "a very nice size for framing."

The Swarthmore and Vicinity series included: the train station; the Benjamin West House; the homes of Thomas S. Foulke, Arthur Beardsley, and Edward H. Magill; Parrish Hall front and back; views from the top of the college building looking in four directions; Swarthmore Friends Meeting House; several views of the College Barn; College study room before the fire; ruins of the college building after the fire; view at the lower dam.

Extent

.3 cubic ft. (1 box; stored with PA148)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Approximately one dozen photographs of Swarthmore College and vicinity, from Charles B. Doron's "Views of Swarthmore" series. Collection is incomplete.

Related Materials

See photographs of individual buildings in the Swarthmore College Photographs collection, SPA 200/B8.

Arthur Beardsley home photograph can be found in FHL Miscellaneous Photographs - Residences - Oversize at PA 101/R4/B4.

Processing Information

These photographs were collected from various sources at various times and assembled by the Friends Historical Library.

Subject

Author
Zoe Peyton Jones
Date
2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Find It at the Library

Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting repoductions from Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College Library

Contact:
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore Pennsylvania 19081 USA