ca. 1853-1935
Guide to the Photograph Collection
Restrictions on Access
Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below).
Abstract
This collection consists of 320 lantern slides depicting views of Boston buildings, streets and views taken ca. 1853-1900 and 1933-1935.
Collection Description
This collection consists of 320 lantern slides depicting Boston buildings, streets, and views in two series, one containing 160 images taken sometime between 1853 and 1900, and one containing 167 images taken from 1933 to 1935. Subjects include the Boston Public Library, Faneuil Hall, the Old South Church, the Old North Church and various other churches and hotels. Two sets of slides depict a panoramic view of Boston from the State House and a number of images illustrate Tremont Street. Most of the slides from the first series are undated. The photographer for both series is unknown.
The descriptions written on the edge of each slide have been retained in the slides' titles. The original identification of each slide - letters for the early street scenes and numbers for the later street scenes - have also been retained.
Acquisition Information
Gift of John Booras, October 2009.
Restrictions on Access
Use of the originals is restricted. This collection is available as color digital facsimiles (see links below).
Other Formats
This collection is available as color digital facsimiles.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. 19th century street scenes, ca. 1853-1900Digital Content
A: State House, circa 1853-1900
B: "Franklin St. looking up," circa 1863
C: "Masonic Temple, cor. Tremont & Boylston St.," circa 1867-1895
D: "State St. looking up," circa 1853-1879
F: "Cor. Tremont and Park St.," circa 1853-1900
G: "Arlington St. Church, cor. Arlington & Boylston St.," after 1861
H: "New Old South Church, cor. Boylston & Dartmouth St.," after 1875
I: "Tremont St. East Side, looking north from Mason St.," circa 1853-1900
J: "Tremont House, cor. Beacon & Tremont St.," circa 1853-1895
K: "Beebe Block, Winthrop Square," circa 1869-1872
M: "Faneuil Hall Market," circa 1853-1900
N: "St. Paul's Church and Masonic Temple, Tremont St.," circa 1865
O: "Revere House, Bowdoin Sq.," circa 1853-1900
P: "Franklin St. looking down from Wash. St.," circa 1870-1872
Q: "Old North Church, Salem St.," circa 1853-1900
R: "Reservoir Gate, Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Brighton," circa 1870-1895
S: "The Old Feather Store, cor. North St. & Faneuil Hall Sq.," circa 1860
U: "Old Post Office," circa 1874
W: "Faneuil Hall Market," before 1868
X: "Braman Dow & Co., Haymarket Square," after 1864
Y: "King's Chapel, cor. Tremont & School St.," circa 1853-1900
Z: "State St. looking up," after 1873
AA: "School St. looking up from Wash St.," circa 1853-1900
AD: "Old Custom House, Custom House St.," circa 1880s
AF: "Federal St. looking south," after 1866
AG: "Looking east on Beacon St., cor. Beacon & Park St.," circa 1853-1900
AH: "Looking down Park St., cor. Beacon & Park St.," circa 1886
AI: "Albion Hotel removed 1887, cor. Tremont & Beacon St.," circa 1877-1887
AJ: "Horticultural Hall, Tremont St., erected 1865," after 1865
AK: "Dock Sq. down Cornhill, before extension of Wash St.," circa 1853-1900
AL: "Faneuil Hall Sq. south side," circa 1850s-1860s
AM: "Trinity Church, cor. Summer and Hawley St.," before 1872
AN: "Bowdoin Sq. Church, built 1840," circa 1900
AO: "Niles Block, cor. School St. & City Hall Ave.," circa 1888
AP: "Franklin St. south side, looking down from Wash. St.," circa 1853-1900
AQ: "Hotel Pelham, cor. Boylston & Tremont St.," after 1857
AR: "Boylston Market, cor. Wash. & Boylston St.," circa 1861-1887
AS: "Boylston St., looking east from Arlington St.," circa 1853-1900
AT: "Cor. Park & Tremont St.," circa 1853-1900
AU: "Old Corner Bookstore, cor. Wash. & School St.," after 1869
AV: "Boston Museum, Tremont St. east side," circa 1850s-1870s
AX: "Boston Music Hall, Hamilton Place," after 1852
AY: "Scollay Sq., looking down Cornhill & Brattle St.," before 1870
AZ: "Bowdoin Sq., looking west on […] and Green Sts.," circa 1853-1900
BA: "Fort Hill Sq., Washington Place," circa 1855
BB: "Fort Hill Sq., Washington Place," circa 1855
BC: "Tudor Bldg., cor. Court St. & Court Sq.," circa 1853-1900
BD: "Built by […. 1806 or 1866], cor. Broad & State St.," circa 1865-1872
BE: "Adams Sq. looking up Cornhill & Brattle St.," 1900
BF: "Adams Sq., down to Faneuil Hall," 1900
BG: "Dock Sq., looking up to Washington St.," circa 1860
BH: "Boston Museum of Fine Arts, cor. Hunt. Ave. & Dartmouth St.," after 1876
BI: "Res. of Samuel N. Brown, site of Boston Public Library," circa 1872-1888
BJ: "Cor. Warren & Dudley St.," circa 1870s
BK: "Hotel Vendome, cor. Com. Ave. & Dartmouth St.," circa 1872-1881
BL: "Samuel S. Pierce Groc. Store, cor. Court & Tremont St.," before 1887
BM: "Masonic Temple 1864-1895, cor. Boylston & Tremont St.," circa 1870
BN: "Tudor Bldg., cor. Court St. & Court Sq.," 1875
BO: "Haymarket Sq., Boston & Maine R.R. Sta.," 1870
BQ: "Cor. Tremont & Hollis St.," before 1887
BR: "Winthrop Place, looking north from Summer St.," circa 1853-1900
BS: "Res. of Theophilus Lyon, Summer St. between High & Federal St.," circa 1853-1900
BT: "Washington St. east side, left of Water St.," 1860
BU: "Washington St. east side, from Spring Lane to Milk St.," circa 1860
BV: "Washington St. south, at head of Milk St.," circa 1857-1868
BX: "Franklin St., up from Hawley to Devonshire," after 1860
BY: "Winthrop Place, Now [New?] Devonshire St.," circa 1853-1900
BZ: "New Eng. Mut. Life. Ins. Co. Bldg., cor. State & Congress St.," circa 1866
CB: "Cor. Tremont & Winter St.," circa 1870s
CC: "Province Court, looking west towards Province St.," 1899
CD: "New Custom House, Erected 1847," circa 1853-1900
CE: "Sheaffe House, cor. Columbia & Essex St.," circa 1853-1900
CF: "City Hall, used as a City Hall 1841 to 1862.," circa 1865
CG: "Paul Revere House, before restoration," circa 1853-1900
CH: "Tremont St. east side, between Bromfield and School St.," circa 1859
CI: "View from State House 18 across Common & Public Garden," circa 1853-1900
CJ: "Old Leather & Feather Store, cor. North St. & Fan. Hall Sq.," circa 1860s-1870s
CK: "Mason's Hall 1800-1817, Ann (now North) St.," circa 1860s-1870s
CL: "N.Y. & N.E. R.R. Sta. at foot of Summer St.," circa 1853-1900
CM: "W.H. Piper Bookstore, Wash St. at head of Franklin St.," circa 1870s
CN: "Cor. Purchase & Oliver St.," circa 1853-1900
CO: "Beacon St., north from Arlington St.," circa 1853-1900
CP: "Cor. Mt. Vernon & Beacon St.," circa 1880s-1890s
CQ: "Arlington St. Church, cor. Boylston & Arlington St.," circa 1853-1900
CR: "Nims Stable, Mason St.," circa 1853-1900
CS: "Traveler Bldg., cor. State and Congress St.," circa 1871
CT: "Province St., from Bromfield to School St.," circa 1890s
CU: "Wells-Adams House, Salem St. built 1660," before 1894
CV: "Traveler Bldg., cor. State & Congress St.," circa 1870
CW: "North corner, cor. Water and Wash. St.," circa 1862
CX: "Mass. Char. Mech. Assoc. Bldg., cor. Col. Ave & Pleasant St.," circa 1853-1900
CY: "Avon Place, looking from Wash. St.," circa 1853-1900
CZ: "Cor. Wash. & Bromfield St.," circa 1895
DA: "Otis Place left side, towards Summer St.," circa 1853-1900
DB: "Otis Place, Old Blake & Bancroft houses," circa 1853-1900
DC: Church Green, […] of Summer & Bedford St.," circa 1853-1900
DD: "View from State House, looking towards Roxbury," circa 1858
DE: "Cor. Beacon & Bowdoin St.," after 1881
DF: "National Peace Jubilee 1869, Coliseum Bldg.," circa 1869
DG: "Crystal Palace," circa 1853-1900
DH: "Joy's Bldg., Wash. St. opp. State St.," circa 1870-1871
DI: "Sun Tavern, Faneuil Hall Sq.," circa 1853-1900
DJ: "Washington St. west side, between School & Bromfield St.," circa 1862
DK: "Pemberton Sq., looking north," circa 1860
DL: "New Old South Church, cor. Boylston & Dartmouth St.," circa 1853-1900
DM: "Brattle St. Church, cor. Brattle St. & Brattle Sq.," circa 1853-1900
DN: "Old South Church, cor. Wash. & Milk St.," circa 1870s
DP: "Winthrop House, cor. Tremont & Boylston St.," circa 1853-1900
DQ: "Masonic Temple, cor. Temple Place & Tremont St., being razed for R. H. Stearns," circa 1885
DR: "Hotel Pelham, being moved back 13'-10"," circa 1869
DT: "Boylston St., looking west from Church St.," circa 1853-1900
DU: "Bowdoin Sq., looking east towards Scollay Sq.," circa 1853-1900
DW: "View over Boston, S.E. from State House," late 1850s
DX: "E.S.E. View over Boston, from State House," late 1850s
DY: "N.N.W. View over Boston, from State House," circa 1853-1900
DZ: "View S.S.E. from State House, looking Park to Tremont St.," late 1850s
EA: "Park Street in from Common," before 1870s
EB: "View over Boston, N.E. from State House," circa 1853-1900
EC: "View over Boston, W.N.W. from State House," circa 1853-1900
ED: "View over Boston, N.W. from State House," circa 1853-1900
EE: "View over Boston, S. from State House," late 1850s
EF: "Tremont St. before widening, looking north from Hollis St.," circa 1869
EG: "Tremont St. north from Elliot, before widening in 1869," circa 1869
EH: "Tremont St. south from Hollis, before widening in 1869," circa 1869
EI: "Tremont St. S. from Warrenton, before widening in 1869," circa 1869
EJ: "Tremont St. No. from Pleasant, before widening in 1869," circa 1869
EK: "Tremont St. No. from Warrenton, before widening in 1869," circa 1869
EL: "Tremont St. south from Elliot, before widening in 1869," circa 1869
EN: "Howard Athenaeum," circa 1853-1900
EO: "National Theatre, Portland near Traverse St.," circa 1853-1900
EP: "Globe Theatre, Washington St. cor. Hayward," circa 1853-1900
ES: "Federal St. Church, cor. Federal & Franklin St.," circa 1853-1900
ET: "Mass. Gen. Hospital (left), Harvard Med. School (right)," 1853
EU: "New South Church, Church Green, cor. Summer & Bedford St.," circa 1853-1900
EV: "Summer near High St., trees at right in Daniel Webster's Yard," circa 1853-1900
EW: Bromfield St., looking up to Tremont St.," 1859
EX: "Hancock House (Tavern), Corn Court off Faneuil Hall Sq.," circa 1853-1900
EY: "Summer St. south side, down from Washington St.," circa 1853-1900
EZ: "Old State House," circa 1853-1900
FA: "Providence Station, Park Sq.," before 1876
FB: "Castle Sq. Theatre," circa 1853-1900
FE: "Museum of Fine Arts, cor. Dartmouth St. & Huntington Ave.," circa 1890-1901
FF: "N.E. Cor. Tremont & Boylston St.," circa 1853-1900
FG: "Boylston Market, cor. Wash. & Boylston St.," circa 1853-1900
FI: "Hemenway Bldg., cor. Court & Tremont St.," circa 1853-1900
FJ: "Beacon St., north from Park St.," circa 1853-1900
FM: "Brattle St. Church, cor. Brattle St. & Brattle Sq.," circa 1853-1900
FN: "Boston & Providence R.R., Park Sq.," circa 1853-1900
FO: "Providence Depot, Park Sq.," circa 1853-1900
FP: "Pemberton Sq., looking east," circa 1853-1900
FR: "Cor. Temple R. & Tremont St.," 1860
FT: "Blake & Alden Store, 59 Brattle St.," circa 1853-1900
FU: "Old Corner Book Store, cor. Wash. & School St.," circa 1853-1900
FV: "Second Universalist Church, School St., down," circa 1853-1900
FW: "Old Boston Museum, Tremont St. east side," circa 1853-1900
FX: "Hotel Boylston, cor. Boylston & Tremont St., site of Touraine Hotel," circa 1853-1900
FY: "Central House, Brattle Sq.," 1860
FZ: "Park St. Church, cor. Tremont & Park St.," circa 1853-1900
II. 20th century street scenes, 1933-1935Digital Content
1: "Arlington St. Church, from Public Garden," 1933-1935
2: "Tremont St., north from Hamilton Place," 1934
3: "Tremont St. east side, west to Park St.," 1933-1935
4: "Arlington St. Church, seen from Public Garden," 1933-1935
6: "Faneuil Hall Market," 1933-1935
7: "Franklin St. up from Federal St.," 1933
9: "St. Paul's & R. H. Stearn's, Tremont St.," 1934
10: "State St. up from Kilby St.," 1934
11: "Cor. Tremont & Boylston St., N.E. corner," 1933
13: "New Old South Church, cor. Boylston & Dartmouth St.," 1934
16: "Cor. School & Wash. St.," 1934
17: "School St., up from Wash St.," 1934
20: "Bowdoin Sq., looking west on Cambridge St.," 1934
24: "Park St. up from Tremont St.," 1934
25: "State house," 1934
26: "South St. west side, in front Kneeland St.," 1934
27: "Boylston St., east from Arlington St.," 1934
28: "Beacon St., east from front of State house," 1934
29: "Cor. Beacon & Park St.," 1934
30: "N.E.T. & T. Co. Bldg., Bowdoin Sq.," 1934
31: "Adams Sq., looking east to Faneuil Hall," 1934
37: "Fort Hill Sq., north side," 1934
38: "Cor. Wash. & Boylston St.," 1934
39: "Little Bldg., cor. Tremont & Boylston St.," 1934
40: "Federal St., east from Franklin St.," 1934
41: "Summer St. north side from Chauncy to Wash. St.," 1934
44: "Franklin St., down from Wash. St.," 1934
45: "School St., cor. of City Hall Ave.," 1934
47: "Cor. Beacon & Park St., down Park St.," 1934
48: "Faneuil Hall Sq., south side," 1934
49: "Bowdoin Sq., looking west," 1934
50: "Cor. Broad & State St., S.W. corner," 1934
51: "Adams & Dock Sq., down from Wash. St.," 1934
52: "Adams Sq., up Cornhill & Brattle St.," 1934
53: "Hotel Vendome, cor. Dartmouth St. & Com. Ave.," 1934
54: "Summer St., north side, Federal to High St.," 1934
55: "S.E. Cor. Congress & State St.," 1934
56: "Cor. Oliver & Purchase St., S.W. corner," 1934
57: "Faneuil Hall Sq.," 1934
58: "Arlington St. Church, cor. Arlington & Boylston St.," 1934
59: "Tremont & Hollis St.," 1934
60-A: "Wash. at head of Frank. St.," 1933-1935
60-A: "Lauriat Bookstore, Wash. St. at head of Franklin St. (two 60-A slides)," 1934
61: "Province Court, west to Province St.," 1934
62: "Custom House St., site of Old Custom House," 1934
63: "Fort Hill Sq.," 1934
64: "Cor. Columbia and Essex St., looking east on Essex St.," 1934
65: "View over Back Bay," 1934
67: "Summer St., west from Church Green," 1934
68: "Old Winthrop Place, Devonshire St., north from Summer St.," 1934
70: "Devonshire St., towards Summer St.," 1934
71: "City Hall," 1934
73: "Copley Plaza Hotel," 1934
74: "Washington St. east side, Milk to Franklin St.," 1934
75: "Site of the old Sheaffe House, cor. Columbia & Essex St.," 1934
76: "Hamilton Place," 1934
77: "Cor. Dudley & Warren St.," 1934
78: "Cor. Tremont & Winter St.," 1933-1935
79: "Tremont St., between Bromfield & School St.," 1934
80: "Beacon St., head of Park St.; Mt. Vernon St. once ended here," 1934
81: "Mason St.," 1934
82: "Province St.," 1934
83: "Site of Mass. Char. Mech. Assoc. Bldg., cor. Columbus Ave. and Pleasant St.," 1934
84: "Avon St., east from Wash. St.," 1934
85: "Washington St. west side at Bromfield St.," 1933-1935
86: "Tremont St. east side, between Court & School St.," 1934
87: "Scolly Sq. east side, between Cornhill & Brattle St.," 1934
88: "Boston Public Library," 1934
89: "Cor. Court & Tremont St., looking south from Scolly Sq.," 1934
90: "Washington St. east side, between Water & Milk St.," 1934
91: "Cor. State & Congress St.," 1934
92: "Bowdoin Sq., looking east," 1934
93: "Otis Street, looking from Franklin to Summer St.," 1934
94: "Boylston St. south side, west from Church St.," 1934
95: "Pemberton Sq., looking north," 1934
97: "Cor. Beacon & Bowdoin St., looking west on Beacon St.," 1934
98: "Adams Sq., up from Faneuil Hall Sq.," 1934
99: "Tremont St., north from Hollis St.," 1934
100: "Tremont St., south from Hollis St.," 1934
101: "Tremont St., north from Stuart St.," 1934
102: "Tremont St., south from Stuart St.," 1934
103: "Tremont St., north from Warrenton St.," 1934
104: "Tremont St., south from Warrenton St.," 1934
105: "Tremont St., north from Pleasant St.," 1934
106: "Site of Old Castle Sq. Theatre, Tremont St.," 1934
107: "Cor. Dartmouth and Boylston St.," 1934
108: "View over Boston, W.S.W. from State House," 1934
109: "View over Boston from State House," 1934
110: "View over Boston, N.W. from State House," 1934
111: "View over Boston, N.N.W. from State House," 1934
112: "View over Boston, E.S.E. from State House," 1934
113: "View over Boston, N.E. from State House," 1934
114: "View over Boston, S. from State House," 1934
115: "View S.S.E. from State House, looking down Park St.," 1934
116: "View over Boston, N.W. from State House," 1934
117: "Cor. Summer & High St., N.W. corner," 1934
118: "Site of the New South Church, cor. Summer & Bedford St., " 1934
119: "Bromfield St., up from Wash. St.," 1934
120: "Summer St., down from Wash. St., " 1934
121: "Cor. Tremont St. & Temple Place," 1934
123: "Park Sq., west from Boylston St.," 1934
124: "Park Sq., as seen from the Common," 1934
125: "Hotel Statler, Park Sq.," 1934
126: "Beacon St., north from Park St.," 1934
127: "Cor. Tremont St. & Temple Place," 1934
128: "Cor. Tremont & Boylston St., looking east on Boylston St.," 1934
129: "Harrison Gray Otis House, Cambridge St.," 1934
130: "Site of the home of Gen. Crane, Tremont opp. Hollis St.," 1934
131: "Site of the home of Wendell Philips, cor. Harrison Ave. & Essex St.," 1934
132: "Site of old Adams House, Washington St.," 1934
134: "Boylston & Berkeley St.," 1934
136: "Site of Daniel Webster's Home, cor. Summer & High St.," 1934
137: "School St., down from Province St.," 1934
138: "Pemberton Sq. view of West End," 1934
139: "Brattle Sq., view in from Brattle St.," 1934
140: "Old State House," 1934
141: "Providence St., south from Berkeley St.," 1934
142: "Quincy House, Brattle St.," 1934
143: "Brattle Sq.," 1934
144: "Site of old Brattle St. Church, cor. Brattle St. & Brattle Sq.," 1934
145: "Brattle Sq. North Side, looking towards Brattle St.," 1934
146: "Quincy House, looking up from Wash. St.," 1934
147: "Cor. Elm & Wash. St., N.W. corner," 1934
149: "Pemberton Sq., looking south," 1934
150: "Site of old Somerset Club House, cor. Beacon & Somerset St.," 1934
151: "Site of Amer. Unitarian Assoc. Bldg., cor. Beacon & Bowdoin St.," 1934
152: "Site of old Evans House, cor. Mason & Tremont St.," 1934
154: "Summer St. south side, up from Chauncy to Wash. St.," 1934
155: "Cor. Washington & Harvard Place at head of Milk St.," 1934
158: "Cor. Wash. & Essex St.," 1934
159: "Site of old Adams House, Washington St.," 1934
160: "Hanover St., near No. Bennet St.," 1934
161: "Site of old Boylston Hotel, cor. Boylston & Tremont St.," 1934
162: "Site of old Globe Theatre, Washington St.," 1934
163: "Chamber of Commerce," 1934
164: "Site of Old Hancock Tavern, Corn Court," 1934
165: "Cor. Water & Wash. St.," 1934
166: "Cor. Court & Tremont St.," 1934
167: "Cor. Wash. & Elm St.," 1934
168: "Paul Revere House," 1934
169: "Site of Albion Hotel, cor. Tremont & Beacon St.," 1934
170: "Tremont St. at junction of School & Beacon St.," 1934
171: "Washington St. west side, between School & Bromfield St.," 1934
172: "Site of Essex St. Church, cor. Essex & Chauncy St.," 1934
173: "Cor. Beach St. & Harrison Ave.," 1933-1935
175: "Site of Federal St. Church, cor. Federal & Franklin St.," 1934
176: "Temple Place to Park St., Tremont St.," 1934
178: "Beacon St., east from Arlington St.," 1934
179: "Custom House," 1934
180: "Mass. Gen. Hospital," 1934
183: "Site of old Hancock House, Beacon St.," 1934
184: "Site of old National Theatre, cor. Portland & Traverse St.," 1934
185: "Commercial Wharf," 1934
187: "Old State House, Washington St. end," 1934
189: "Cor. Harrison Ave. & Essex St.," 1934
190: "Old South Church, cor. Wash & Milk St.," 1935
191: "Franklin St., up from Federal St.," 1935
192: "Franklin St., down from Hawley St.," 1935
195: "Chauncy St., north from Bedford St.," 1935
196: "Cor. Huntington Ave. & Dartmouth St.," 1935
197: "Brunswick Hotel," 1935
199: "Boston Stone, located in Marshall St.," 1935
Preferred Citation
Boston, Mass. buildings and street scenes, Photo. Coll. 6.12, Massachusetts Historical Society Photo Archives.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.