Lancaster County Almshouse and Hospital Collection
Description
The Lancaster County Almshouse and Hospital Collection is comprised of accounts, registers, minutes, and other records kept by this county department. There are birth and death records, lists of inmates, supply and payroll books, and auditors' reports, and a scrapbook of Conestoga View.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Lancaster County Almshouse and Hospital Collection (MG0277), Folder or Book #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restrictions are noted at the item level.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Classification
MG0277
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Most of the items in this collection are part of the Lancaster County Government Records, RG 08-12. They were transferred into MG-277 in 1999 during the planning of the Almshouse and Hospital exhibition. Other items are on loan from the Edward Hand Medical Heritage Foundation or were collected by LancasterHistory.
Stamped: A. Armstrong, artist Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Written: 1845
Plaque: Mrs. Thomas Wentz (nee Catherine Evedon/Erdan) died March 18, 1817 Armstrong
July 24, 2017 Woman seated facing left with fact more forward, hands clasped on lap. Brown hair with center part; pronounced curl at left of head, hair gathered high on back of head. Brown eyes. Black, long-sleeved very high-waisted dress with low square neckline filled in with chemisette. Large single, frilled collar. Wide-band gold ring with stone on right index finger. Rede shawl wrapped around chair in back of sitter. Red upholstered chair with wooden arm. Background is brown. Stretcher is mortise & tenon with keys.
July 24, 2017. Extensive craquelure. Lines of abrasion along all sides, esp. at right, significant deep, crescent-shaped indentation adjacent to bust at left. Small grouping of paint losses at borrm, 4.5" from bottom right corner. Above ear is slightly curved line of raised paint damage. Small light spot of paint loss on chari back one inch away from frame. 3 vertical tray drips on canvas back. Also some moisture stains to left of stencil.
Frame: Poor to fair condition. Strong overall wear to gilding. Strong losses of gesso at protruding part of molding, esp. at right side. Patches of heavy wear: two areas on right side and one at left. Dark cracks across profile of molding. Back is uncovered.
Half-length portrait of man facing slightly left. Forward swept dark hair, brown eyes with heavy brows and long face. Dark coat with high collar. Buff waiscoat, white shirt and cravat. Tall collar, folded over cravat. Brass buttons on coat. Very dark background.
Frame: Bold, wide elaborately decorated frame. Extensive applied floral composition. Protruding profile has sections of cross-hatch-like pattern. Mortise and tenon stretchers.
July 24, 2017 Poor. Two major holes previously patched, one above head and one low on coat. Two smaller holes, both near bottom left and center. Vertical crack at center right. Heavy abrasion and paint loss along left side. Slight 1" crack on top of head. Stretcher line visible. Dark with heavy grime. Canvas back has 2 large black fabric patches, top and bottom. Two small patches of paste-like substance.
Frame: Poor. Heavy soil. Very strong wear to gold paint. Gesso losses along outer edges. Back has inset strip of wood across miter joints.
