American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts

Hand-written note on label attached to verso, "Crayon portrait of Captain Israel Whelen (Son of Dennis & Sarah Thompson Whelen) Grandfather of Edward Siddons Whelen. Executed by Sharples" and another note "Property of John Frazer, Jr., Dec 13 1959."

A Philadelphia "fighting Quaker," Whelen served as a Revolutionary soldier and later as Accountant to the War Department. In 1803, as "purveyor of public supplies" Whelen secured many of the scientific instruments and medicines for the Lewis and Clark Expedition.