Browse Items · Learning From Cooper Street

Waters, Helen

Helen Waters, a widow, supported her family by operating a beauty salon on the second floor of 421 Cooper Street from the 1930s to at least 1950.

Tags: 1930s, 1940s, 400 Block, 421 Cooper Street, 426 Lawrence Street, Adult, Beauticians, Cape May, Cosmetics, Female, Philadelphia, Widows

421 Cooper Street

Contributing structure, Cooper Street Historic District.

Hanmore, John

John Hanmore, a Philadelphia manufacturer, moved his family to a new home on Cooper Street during the 1880s. His death changed the family's fortunes.

Tags: 00 Block, 1880s, 65 Cooper Street, Adult, Death, Interiors, Male, Manufacturers, Philadelphia, Renovations

Chambers, Margaret

Margaret Chambers, a boarding house operator and entrepreneur, was a fixture at 59 Cooper Street for two decades beginning in 1893.

Tags: 00 Block, 1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 57 Cooper Street, 59 Cooper Street, 61 Cooper Street, Adult, Boarding House Operator, Female, Philadelphia, Saloons, Widows

Battle, James Iverson

Once a janitor, James Battle may be the only African American to advance from a position of service on Cooper Street to heading his own household.

Tags: 00 Block, 1890s, 1900s, 300 Block, 312 Cooper Street, 63 Cooper Street, Adult, African Americans, Alumni House, Janitor, Male, Southern Migration, Steward, Victor Talking Machine Company, Waiter

Burrell, William H.

William Burrell, a clergyman, performed weddings for couples seeking to evade license requirements in Philadelphia.

Tags: 00 Block, 1880s, 1890s, 1900s, 43 Cooper Street, Adult, Clergy, Male, Methodist Episcopal, Philadelphia, Religion, Weddings

Toy, Matilda

Matilda Toy is an example of an itinerant boarding house operator, moving to different rented houses from year to year.

Tags: 00 Block, 37 Cooper Street, Adult, Boarding House Operator, Female, Widows

Homan, Amos C.

A Civil War veteran, Amos Homan operated a cigar stand at 37 Cooper Street and eventually bought the building.

Tags: 00 Block, 1880s, 1890s, 1900s, 37 Cooper Street, Adult, Boarder/Lodger, Cigars, Civil War, Coal, Male, Retail, United Methodist Church, Widowers

American production of yellowware ceramics, named for the yellow hue of the clay used, centered on New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This nearly-complete mug was decorated by trailing bands of darker or lighter clay across the surface as it was worked on…

Tags: 300 Block, Alumni House Display, Archaeology, Artifacts, Ceramics

Cosmetics Container

This jar likely held cosmetics, such as a cold cream or powder. Despite missing its lid, this container still reveals details about Cooper Street’s residents. The existence of cosmetics at home suggests the means to purchase a luxury and the leisure…

Tags: 300 Block, Alumni House Display, Archaeology, Artifacts, Cosmetics, Glass Jar

Browse Items (97 total)