Repository: Historical Society of Pennsylvania / Place: Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs--19th century. - Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet (; 3 boxes)
Abstract:: The Kneass family descended from Johan C. Kneass who was born in Germany in 1725; he died in Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 1801. Samuel Honeymann Kneass, one of Johan’s great-grandsons, was a Pennsylvania engineer involved with the railroads. His brother Strickland Kneass was the chief engineer and surveyor of the city of Philadelphia from 1855 to 1872. Samuel son, William Harris, was a civil engineer who married Amelia Prall Stryker in July 1863. The couple had three sons, but only Samuel Stryker Kneass, a Philadelphia physician educated at the University of Pennsylvania, lived to adulthood but never married. His brothers were Charles L. Kneass and Davis Stryker Kneass. The collection contains Samuel H. Kneass’s business correspondence, financial documents, correspondence, essays, speeches, his will, and various legal documents, as well as miscellaneous items. Also in the collection is the private correspondence of William Harris Kneass and his immediate family including letters...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Extent:: 2.2 linear feet (; 6 boxes)
Abstract:: This family history collection documents the Ritter family and its ancestors beginning in the late 18th century. Diaries, autobiographies, memorandum books, family photos, and legal papers comprise the bulk of the material that spans almost 200 years (1773-1962). The collection focuses heavily on James Hansell Ritter (1859-1912) and his wife, Mary LeBaron Stoddard Ritter (1867-1949), both descendants of William Bradford, the governor of Plymouth Colony from 1622 until 1656. The couple’s lineage is documented in Series 1 which houses genealogical notes including a letter dated 25 December 1872 and an application for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Many of the ancestors appear in original or copied photographs in Series 2. Material related to ancestors and relatives of James Hansell Ritter - including his maternal great-great grandfather, Jacob Ehrenzeller, Sr. (1725-1798); his paternal grandfather, Jacob Ritter, Jr. (1784-1840); his father...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Extent:: 53.6 linear feet (131 boxes, 17 volumes, 6 flat files)
Abstract:: This collection consists of playbills and programs to the various performances and special programs staged at the Academy of Music from 1857 to 1972. Among the organizations represented in the collection are the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and various opera companies. There are also programs from out-of-state companies, such as the Boston Symphyony Orchestra. In addition to the programs there are also several scrapbooks that contain ephemera and newsclippings of reviews and announcements of performances as well as special events and programs.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Extent:: 3.0 linear feet (; 8 boxes)
Abstract:: The Contemporary Club was organized in 1886 to hold discussions on outstanding questions of the day and to present scholarly papers by public figures. Membership was open to men and women, most of whom were distinguished in the academic, artistic, and literary worlds of Philadelphia. Correspondence dating from 1886 to 1952 makes up the bulk of the papers. It includes outgoing correspondence of club presidents, incoming correspondence of individuals invited to speak, and miscellaneous correspondence to Thornton Oakley and other club officers. Among the other papers are executive committee minutes (1894-1919), photographs, year books, lists of members and historical sketches, and other miscellaneous items.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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