Item 206: Photograph of a Lithograph titled “Explosion of the Alfred Thomas at Easton, PA., March 5th 1860,’ by James Queen, 1860 March 6
Item — Box: 22, Folder: 29
Dates
- Created: 1860 March 6
Creator
- Queen, James, 1820 or 1821 - 1886 (Person)
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Photograph
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
8 ½ x 11in.
Title:
Explosion of the Alfred Thomas at Easton, PA., March 5th 1860
Description:
This is a photograph of a lithograph depicting the explosion of the Alfred Thomas. People are watching across the Delaware river as the incident occurs. The town of Easton is seen towards the left. This piece was created by James Queen. Easton is located in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Located at the confluence of the Lehigh River and Delaware River, it serves as a geographic boundary with Phillipsburg. The town was named on September 8, 1751 when a letter was written to Colonial Governor James Hamilton by William Penn, requesting for it to be called “Easton.” It was named after Lady Juliana’s family estate. The Lenape Native Americans originally referred to present-day Easton and its surrounding region as Lechauwitank, meaning "the Place at the Forks". The Delaware River is located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is the longest free-flowing river on the east coast that spans from New York to Delaware at 282 miles long. Its branches, the West Branch at Mount Jefferson in Jefferson, Schoharie County, and the East Branch at Grand Gorge, Delaware County, join in the Catskill Mountains of New York. These branches form the Delaware River in Hancock, New York and eventually empties into the Delaware Bay. It is referred to as the “Lifeblood of the Northeast” and provides drinking water to about 17 million people.
The Alfred Thomas was a steamboat that set sail for the first time on March 5, 1860. It was said this particular steamboat promised speed, but it is speculated the boiler was installed incorrectly. Many people came out to witness the boats launch. At 1:17pm, the ship exploded, claiming the lives of 12 people.
James Queen, known for his composition and attention to detail, was the premier Philadelphia artist, lithographer, and chromolithographer. He was born in Philadelphia in either 1820 or 1821, and was the son of William Queen. William was a cordwainer and apprenticed under George Lehman and P. S. Duval. He later began a career around the age of 14 years old.
Location:
Easton, Pennsylvania
Transcription:
{annotation}
Explosion of the Alfred Thomas at Easton Pa [Pennsylvania] 6th 1860
Published by Bixler $ Corwin_ Easton Pa
Creator
- Queen, James, 1820 or 1821 - 1886 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu