Photographs from "An American-Born Faith: Writings from the First Century of Mormonism" exhibition at the Free Library of Philadelphia

In this third article on the exhibition of historical writings by and about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, photographs from the exhibit as well as other photographs from the Free Library of Philadelphia's Rare Book Department are shown. The exhibition is found at the Parkway Central branch, the heart of the Free Library system in Philadelphia. It is a beautiful Beaux-Arts style building located at 1901 Vine Street on Logan Circle, just down the street from the Philadelphia Temple. It is wonderful to see the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints showcased at this institution, which houses one of the world's preeminent collections of rare books, artifacts, and manuscripts. Allison Freyermuth, head of the Rare Book Department, provided the tour.

Photographs by Molly Peterson

 A view of the Free Library of Philadelphia from Vine Street. The Philadelphia Temple can be see far right

 Front banners about the exhibition 

 Early guidebook for visiting teachers and missionaries

  Coinage associated with the early Church

  An account from western traveler John Wesley Clampitt, who shared observations of early Mormon settlers 

A rare copy of the Book of Mormon in the Hawaiian language 

 Books that taught reading by the curious phonetic "Deseret alphabet", invented for new converts who did not speak English

 The Story of the Book of Mormon, by Elder George Reynolds

 Photograph of Brigham Young on a collectible card used for trading, similar to today's baseball cards 

 The exhibition is found in the William B. Dietrich Gallery of the Rare Book Department

The next photographs are from other exhibits in the Rare Book Department

 One of many in a lovely collection of original Beatrix Potter art and books

 Carta executoria, late 16th century manuscript. These writings were issued in the name of the current king to provide certain people with nobility 

 Puppet hornbook - used to hold a "horn", which was bone, wood, or other material on which was written school lessons for children 

Hornbook

 Charles Dickens' taxidermy of his pet raven "Grip"

 Section of the 62 foot long Georgian style room in the Rare Book Department, bequested by heirs of William McIntire Elkins, who donated his entire book collection and other treasures to the Free Library 

 Giant globe in the Elkins room

The desk of Charles Dickens, part of the Elkins bequest