Visual Materials

Columbia Fire Insurance Co

Description: Image of Columbia with a large American flag at the center of an advertisement for Columbia Fire Insurance Co. of New York City; images of storefronts on a commercial street on a normal day at left and with a fire engine and firefighters fighting flames at right.
Type: Visual Materials(Opens in new tab)
Date: approximately 1869-1874
Call number: priJLC_FIN_002577
Creator: Last, Jay T(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Gift of Jay T. Last, 2005. This collection forms part of the Jay T. Last collection of graphic arts and social history, which was donated to the Huntington Library by Jay T. Last in 2005 as a gift in progress. The bulk of the view prints were transferred to the Library between 2010 and 2012.

The fire show fighting the flames : department arriving at fire

Visual Materials

Image of a horse-drawn fire engine and firefighters racing to the scene of a raging fire at a drugstore, with police holding back onlookers; the poster advertises the fire-disaster show "Fighting the Flames" performed for audiences at amusement parks.

priJLC_ENT_000193

This is to certify that Hiram Sweet is an honorary member of the Columbia Hose Co. of Philadelphia

Visual Materials

Image of a certificate from the Columbia Hose Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with handwritten text certifying Hiram Sweet was conferred as an honorary member on October 6, 1830, and decorated with ornate borders and firefighting equipment including hoses, ladders, speaking trumpets, an American shield and eagle, and vignettes of eye-level views of firefighters pulling a steam fire engine and hose carriage towards Independence Hall; the exterior of the three-story Columbia Hose Company firehouse with a flag on the station roof, and pedestrians and dog on the sidewalk in front; and firefighters fighting a fire at the 4-story “French & Richards” paint and drugstore; the certificate has a green embossed seal of the fire company.

priJLC_FIRE_001478

Image not available

3rd.. size steam fire engine built by the Silsby Manufacturing Co. Seneca Falls, N.Y

Visual Materials

Image of an eye-level view of firefighters pulling a steam fire engine through a deserted city street at night towards the flames of a burning building in the background; the fire engine is labeled "Little Giant" and has "3" on the light.

priJLC_FIRE_001492

This is to certify that ... has pursuant to law ... a member of the fire department

Visual Materials

Image of a blank stock certificate for membership in a fire department with a central image of firefighters fighting a large fire in a town with the ruins of buildings in the background and four vignettes of individual firemen including one beginning to pull a manual fire engine out of a fire house; a firefighter with a horn in the middle of the street pointing towards a burning building; a firefighter rescuing a woman in her bedroom; and a firefighter spraying water from a fire hose on flames; certificate and vignettes are decorated with an ornate border with images of firefighting equipment including fire hydrants, ladders, speaking trumpets, as well as censers, bells, and a vase of flowers.

priJLC_FIRE_001482

Albany City Fire Insurance Co

Visual Materials

Image of an advertisement for Albany City Fire Insurance Company of Albany, New York; dozens of firefighters and several fire engines hurry around a corner in the commercial district of Albany towards a large fire blazing along the horizon at left; businesses include "Sprague Bookseller & Stationer," "L. Pruyn & Son Hardware," "Weed & Kingsley Law Office," "Hastings News Depot," "Morse Telegraph Office," "Frothingham's Druggists | Hatter," and "Albany City Fire Insurance Co." at the corner of State Street and Broadway; pedestrians and horse-drawn vehicles dodge the firefighters or look on in the busy streets; elaborate frame decorative border with list of directors and officers.

priJLC_FIN_002576

This certifies that ... is a member of ... Company; No. ... Fire Department

Visual Materials

Image of a blank stock firefighter's membership certificate with surrounding vignettes of a firefighter returning a rescued baby to its mother; a female nurse tending to a wounded firefighter; a firefighter with a speaking trumpet; firemen in a city street at night before a burning building with steam fire engines and hoses; a firefighter pulling a fire engine; and firefighters aiming a house towards flames; certificate decorated with images of firefighting equipment including fire hats, speaking trumpets, axes, bells, lanterns, preventers, ladders, buckets, censers, fire hydrants, and fire hoses.

priJLC_FIRE_001490

Columbia Fire Insurance Co

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The fire show fighting the flames : department arriving at fire

This is to certify that Hiram Sweet is an honorary member of the Columbia Hose Co. of Philadelphia

3rd.. size steam fire engine built by the Silsby Manufacturing Co. Seneca Falls, N.Y

This is to certify that ... has pursuant to law ... a member of the fire department

Albany City Fire Insurance Co

This certifies that ... is a member of ... Company; No. ... Fire Department