Dr. Alexander Lawrence Ames
@wordinwilderness.bsky.social
Historian, curator, & bibliophile. Author of Portrait of a Citizen, The Word in the Wilderness, and Grolier Club Bookplates: Past & Present.
A portrait of Jean-Jacques Rousseau from the @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social. Rousseau was one of the namesakes of Stephen Girard's "Philosopher Ships," and the vessel ROUSSEAU went on to become the most famous vessel in America's sailing fleet.
#Rousseau #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #prints
#Rousseau #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #prints
November 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
A portrait of Jean-Jacques Rousseau from the @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social. Rousseau was one of the namesakes of Stephen Girard's "Philosopher Ships," and the vessel ROUSSEAU went on to become the most famous vessel in America's sailing fleet.
#Rousseau #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #prints
#Rousseau #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #prints
Do last wills and testaments count as literature? In "Portrait of a Citizen," I argue they can and do, especially in the case of Stephen Girard, whose will constituted his most explicit statement of philosophical principles and personal motivations.
#willsandtrusts #estateplans #PortraitofaCitizen
#willsandtrusts #estateplans #PortraitofaCitizen
November 16, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Do last wills and testaments count as literature? In "Portrait of a Citizen," I argue they can and do, especially in the case of Stephen Girard, whose will constituted his most explicit statement of philosophical principles and personal motivations.
#willsandtrusts #estateplans #PortraitofaCitizen
#willsandtrusts #estateplans #PortraitofaCitizen
I had a lovely time participating in the #PAGerman Futures conference at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University over the weekend. What a nice chance to revisit my research from grad school days!
#conferences #PADutch #research
#conferences #PADutch #research
November 16, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I had a lovely time participating in the #PAGerman Futures conference at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University over the weekend. What a nice chance to revisit my research from grad school days!
#conferences #PADutch #research
#conferences #PADutch #research
One of the fun things about the "Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, Now Deceased" volumes at @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social is that they include manuscript material related to the people highlighted in the book, and #StephenGirard is no exception.
#rarebooks #manuscripts #books #PortraitofaCitizen
#rarebooks #manuscripts #books #PortraitofaCitizen
November 14, 2025 at 1:20 PM
One of the fun things about the "Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, Now Deceased" volumes at @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social is that they include manuscript material related to the people highlighted in the book, and #StephenGirard is no exception.
#rarebooks #manuscripts #books #PortraitofaCitizen
#rarebooks #manuscripts #books #PortraitofaCitizen
Stephen Girard shocked Philadelphians when he capitalized a private bank in 1812. Few realized how much wealth he had accrued during his merchant career. This is a print in @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social's "Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, Now Deceased" volumes.
#banks #PortraitofaCitizen
#banks #PortraitofaCitizen
November 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Stephen Girard shocked Philadelphians when he capitalized a private bank in 1812. Few realized how much wealth he had accrued during his merchant career. This is a print in @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social's "Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, Now Deceased" volumes.
#banks #PortraitofaCitizen
#banks #PortraitofaCitizen
Henry Simpson's "The Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, Now Deceased" was published in 1859. The Rosenbach's extra-illustrated copy was created in 1911 for collector and antiquary Joseph Mickle Fox.
Photos by Rasheena Wilson.
#rarebooks #specialcollections #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard
Photos by Rasheena Wilson.
#rarebooks #specialcollections #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard
November 11, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Henry Simpson's "The Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, Now Deceased" was published in 1859. The Rosenbach's extra-illustrated copy was created in 1911 for collector and antiquary Joseph Mickle Fox.
Photos by Rasheena Wilson.
#rarebooks #specialcollections #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard
Photos by Rasheena Wilson.
#rarebooks #specialcollections #PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard
This was the perfect autumn weekend to enjoy the Pennsylvania fall foliage aboard the Colebrookdale Railroad. What a treat, and so close to home!
#Pennsylvania #autumn #daytrips
#Pennsylvania #autumn #daytrips
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This was the perfect autumn weekend to enjoy the Pennsylvania fall foliage aboard the Colebrookdale Railroad. What a treat, and so close to home!
#Pennsylvania #autumn #daytrips
#Pennsylvania #autumn #daytrips
Our "Portrait of a Citizen" #materialculture tour brings us to the Rosenbach, where prints and manuscripts memorializing #StephenGirard live in an expanded copy of a book titled "The Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, Now Deceased."
#rarebooks #specialcollections #libraries #PortraitofaCitizen
#rarebooks #specialcollections #libraries #PortraitofaCitizen
November 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Our "Portrait of a Citizen" #materialculture tour brings us to the Rosenbach, where prints and manuscripts memorializing #StephenGirard live in an expanded copy of a book titled "The Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, Now Deceased."
#rarebooks #specialcollections #libraries #PortraitofaCitizen
#rarebooks #specialcollections #libraries #PortraitofaCitizen
One of Stephen Girard's closest confidants was Joseph Bonaparte, former king of Spain who resided for a time in the Mid-Atlantic and presented Girard with this Canova bust of his brother.
#Canova #Napoleon #StephenGirard #art #busts #statues #materialculture #PortraitofaCitizen
#Canova #Napoleon #StephenGirard #art #busts #statues #materialculture #PortraitofaCitizen
November 9, 2025 at 2:28 PM
One of Stephen Girard's closest confidants was Joseph Bonaparte, former king of Spain who resided for a time in the Mid-Atlantic and presented Girard with this Canova bust of his brother.
#Canova #Napoleon #StephenGirard #art #busts #statues #materialculture #PortraitofaCitizen
#Canova #Napoleon #StephenGirard #art #busts #statues #materialculture #PortraitofaCitizen
Stephen Girard's library is filled with many atlases and maps, including this example from a volume titled "La pilote américain," published 1778.
Photo by @tracievanaukenphotography.
#PortraitofaCitizen #books #maps #atlases #materialculture #specialcollections #libraryhistory #StephenGirard
Photo by @tracievanaukenphotography.
#PortraitofaCitizen #books #maps #atlases #materialculture #specialcollections #libraryhistory #StephenGirard
November 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Stephen Girard's library is filled with many atlases and maps, including this example from a volume titled "La pilote américain," published 1778.
Photo by @tracievanaukenphotography.
#PortraitofaCitizen #books #maps #atlases #materialculture #specialcollections #libraryhistory #StephenGirard
Photo by @tracievanaukenphotography.
#PortraitofaCitizen #books #maps #atlases #materialculture #specialcollections #libraryhistory #StephenGirard
Though I consider "Portrait of a Citizen" a history of Stephen Girard's library, the survival of so many other pieces of #materialculture helps place his books in the context of the merchant's lived experience. One example is this Daniel Trotter secretary.
#PortraitofaCitizen #materialculture
#PortraitofaCitizen #materialculture
November 7, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Though I consider "Portrait of a Citizen" a history of Stephen Girard's library, the survival of so many other pieces of #materialculture helps place his books in the context of the merchant's lived experience. One example is this Daniel Trotter secretary.
#PortraitofaCitizen #materialculture
#PortraitofaCitizen #materialculture
One of my favorite artifacts I've encountered in my work on "Portrait of a Citizen," and certainly the most unexpected, is Girard's wig. Girard is a rather elusive figure, which makes it striking to experience this aspect of his corporeal existence.
#materialculture #StephenGirard
#materialculture #StephenGirard
November 6, 2025 at 1:53 PM
One of my favorite artifacts I've encountered in my work on "Portrait of a Citizen," and certainly the most unexpected, is Girard's wig. Girard is a rather elusive figure, which makes it striking to experience this aspect of his corporeal existence.
#materialculture #StephenGirard
#materialculture #StephenGirard
Continuing the #StephenGirard #library Yellow Fever theme, here's another work by Jean Devèze, featuring an inscription to Girard on the half-title page.
#rarebooks #specialcollections #libraries #books #libraryhistory #PortraitofaCitizen
#rarebooks #specialcollections #libraries #books #libraryhistory #PortraitofaCitizen
November 5, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Continuing the #StephenGirard #library Yellow Fever theme, here's another work by Jean Devèze, featuring an inscription to Girard on the half-title page.
#rarebooks #specialcollections #libraries #books #libraryhistory #PortraitofaCitizen
#rarebooks #specialcollections #libraries #books #libraryhistory #PortraitofaCitizen
Today’s selection from the #library of #StephenGirard underscores his involvement in the public conversations surrounding Yellow Fever. Dr. Jean Devèze was Girard’s preferred medical leader during the epidemic of 1793, who brought knowledge of the disease with him from experiences in the Caribbean.
November 4, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Today’s selection from the #library of #StephenGirard underscores his involvement in the public conversations surrounding Yellow Fever. Dr. Jean Devèze was Girard’s preferred medical leader during the epidemic of 1793, who brought knowledge of the disease with him from experiences in the Caribbean.
One of Stephen Girard's notable acts of volunteerism was his work during Philadelphia's Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793. This book's author, the famed publisher Mathew Carey, presented it to Girard in 1830, shortly before the merchant-banker's death.
#rarebooks #PortraitofaCitizen #libraryhistory
#rarebooks #PortraitofaCitizen #libraryhistory
November 3, 2025 at 11:50 AM
One of Stephen Girard's notable acts of volunteerism was his work during Philadelphia's Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793. This book's author, the famed publisher Mathew Carey, presented it to Girard in 1830, shortly before the merchant-banker's death.
#rarebooks #PortraitofaCitizen #libraryhistory
#rarebooks #PortraitofaCitizen #libraryhistory
Stephen Girard seems to have been very focused on developing his penmanship skills, which were an important business tool. This book is just one example from his library that documents the businessman's focus on self-improvement.
#materialtexts #marginalia #books #libraries #materialculture
#materialtexts #marginalia #books #libraries #materialculture
November 2, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Stephen Girard seems to have been very focused on developing his penmanship skills, which were an important business tool. This book is just one example from his library that documents the businessman's focus on self-improvement.
#materialtexts #marginalia #books #libraries #materialculture
#materialtexts #marginalia #books #libraries #materialculture
Stephen Girard seems to have had a particular fondness for Jean-Jacques Rousseau, having named his most famous vessel after Rousseau, and owning this bust of the philosophe by Jean-Antoine Houdon.
#PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #materialculture #decorativearts
#PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #materialculture #decorativearts
November 1, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Stephen Girard seems to have had a particular fondness for Jean-Jacques Rousseau, having named his most famous vessel after Rousseau, and owning this bust of the philosophe by Jean-Antoine Houdon.
#PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #materialculture #decorativearts
#PortraitofaCitizen #StephenGirard #materialculture #decorativearts
Having arrived in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, Stephen Girard seems to have identified closely with the revolutionary moment for the rest of his life. We see this in his library, which is filled with books like this.
#rarebooks #bookhistory #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen
#rarebooks #bookhistory #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen
October 31, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Having arrived in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, Stephen Girard seems to have identified closely with the revolutionary moment for the rest of his life. We see this in his library, which is filled with books like this.
#rarebooks #bookhistory #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen
#rarebooks #bookhistory #StephenGirard #PortraitofaCitizen
Every research project I've pursued had a moment of inspiration when I found myself immersed in a space that pointed me in an interpretive direction. For "Portrait of a Citizen," this moment came when I encountered busts of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Napoleon owned by #StephenGirard.
October 30, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Every research project I've pursued had a moment of inspiration when I found myself immersed in a space that pointed me in an interpretive direction. For "Portrait of a Citizen," this moment came when I encountered busts of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Napoleon owned by #StephenGirard.
Stephen Girard had a particular interest in the works of Claude Adrien Helvétius, naming one of the famous “Philosopher Ships” after the controversial philosophe. Fortunately, a portrait of the ship survives today at the Independence Seaport Museum.
#rarebooks #maritimehistory #ships
#rarebooks #maritimehistory #ships
October 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Stephen Girard had a particular interest in the works of Claude Adrien Helvétius, naming one of the famous “Philosopher Ships” after the controversial philosophe. Fortunately, a portrait of the ship survives today at the Independence Seaport Museum.
#rarebooks #maritimehistory #ships
#rarebooks #maritimehistory #ships
One of the joys of working on #PortraitofaCitizen has been the opportunity to spend quality time with beautifully bound books from the collection of #StephenGirard and other eighteenth and nineteenth-century readers. Girard's set of the works of #Voltaire is especially beautiful, I think.
October 28, 2025 at 11:57 AM
One of the joys of working on #PortraitofaCitizen has been the opportunity to spend quality time with beautifully bound books from the collection of #StephenGirard and other eighteenth and nineteenth-century readers. Girard's set of the works of #Voltaire is especially beautiful, I think.
Another of Stephen Girard’s favorite philosophes was Claude Adrien Helvétius. Helvétius was very famous and highly controversial in his day for his major work, “De l'esprit,” Girard’s copy seen here.
#PortraitofaCitizen #bookhistory
#PortraitofaCitizen #bookhistory
October 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Another of Stephen Girard’s favorite philosophes was Claude Adrien Helvétius. Helvétius was very famous and highly controversial in his day for his major work, “De l'esprit,” Girard’s copy seen here.
#PortraitofaCitizen #bookhistory
#PortraitofaCitizen #bookhistory
Voltaire was a favorite of Stephen Girard, who owned a set of the famous philosophe's works and even named one of his Philadelphia-built merchant ships after him. Here's a frontispiece of Voltaire from one of Girard's volumes, housed at Founder's Hall, Girard College.
#libraryhistory #rarebooks
#libraryhistory #rarebooks
October 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Voltaire was a favorite of Stephen Girard, who owned a set of the famous philosophe's works and even named one of his Philadelphia-built merchant ships after him. Here's a frontispiece of Voltaire from one of Girard's volumes, housed at Founder's Hall, Girard College.
#libraryhistory #rarebooks
#libraryhistory #rarebooks
My years at the @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social have turned me into a big fan of rare book glamor shots, so I'm excited to feature many in my forthcoming book "Portrait of a Citizen." Here's a volume of Voltaire from Stephen Girard's library.
#rarebooks #libraries #libraryhistory
#rarebooks #libraries #libraryhistory
October 25, 2025 at 12:20 AM
My years at the @rosenbachmuseum.bsky.social have turned me into a big fan of rare book glamor shots, so I'm excited to feature many in my forthcoming book "Portrait of a Citizen." Here's a volume of Voltaire from Stephen Girard's library.
#rarebooks #libraries #libraryhistory
#rarebooks #libraries #libraryhistory
Here's Stephen Girard's copy of George Bickham's ubiquitous penmanship manual "The Universal Penman."
#penmanship #calligraphy #handwriting
#penmanship #calligraphy #handwriting
October 23, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Here's Stephen Girard's copy of George Bickham's ubiquitous penmanship manual "The Universal Penman."
#penmanship #calligraphy #handwriting
#penmanship #calligraphy #handwriting