Items

Historic resources from our archives - images, maps, documents, and more.

Cartoon depicting William Penn toasting the Devil with a glass of filtered water

“Speeding the Parting Guest,” Feb. 25, 1909

William Penn balks at drinking the "mixed drink" offered him: Schuylkill water, mixed with pollution from the upstream sources named. Editorial cartoon by Fred Morgan, Philadelphia Inquirer, April 6, 1899. One of a series of cartoons drawn by Morgan protesting the state of the city's drinking water and trying to encourage the passage of legislation authorizing the construction of a water filtration system.

“A Decidedly Mixed Drink,” April 6, 1899

Water, Water Everywhere – Philadelphia Record, 1937-03-14

Gillette Schuylkill mud cartoon

‘Gillette, All By Himself, Gets Fine New Idea On Germ Slaying’

Standard Philadelphia (B) Hydrant (2004.057.022.1075)

Standard Philadelphia (B) Hydrant

Stand Pipe of Philadelphia Water Works

Water Works Standpipe, 1853

Centerfold of 1955 brochure depicting the Southeast Sewage Treatment Works

Southeast Sewage Treatment Works diagram, 1955