Object Exercise 3: Local Historical Context

I visited the St. Mary’s P.E. Church on October 2nd 2012. St, Mary’s church was a small church in 1860. The present church was completed in 1874 due to the need of expansion to fit the growing congregation in 1871.

From 1870 to 1914 is the Second Industrial Revolution. The invention of telephone, light bulb, vehicle, airplane totally changed the way society runs. The industry level and the economy level grow greatly during that time.

St. Mary’s church is located inside the school area of University of Pennsylvania. Behind the church in this picture is the Harrison college house of UPENN. Church itself is surrounded by new buildings and public spaces for students. Modern coffee shops and restaurants are located across the street. Maybe the surroundings of the church is new and unmatched to the church. When walking into the church, roof and its arch structure make it one of the most beautiful church I ever have been to.

The interior of the church does not change since the expansion in 1874. Only the altar was reconstructed in 1890.

The whole altar is a beautiful mosaic which is completed with marble and stone. Standing in the St. Mary’s church, I can almost feel the same atmosphere in January 1896 when Llewellyn W. Jones and Violet W. Andrews got married.

The marriage record of St. Mary’s church is kept in a red cover book. The record is categorized by years. According to the record, only six couple got married in 1896. The signature in the book looks like all the names were signed by the reverend on the church. It will be more interesting if it was signed by the people who are getting married.

The owner of the object was lived in Allegheny, Philadelphia. Like many neighborhoods in North Philadelphia, Allegheny is primarily a poor African-American enclave that has suffered post-industrial decline and disinvestment. I will need to do more research in order to presume the social and economic status of the top hat’s owner.