Subject: Local history - Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

Tri-County Heritage Society vertical files, circa 1970s-2016

Extent:: 100.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The region of southeastern Pennsylvania where southern Berks, northern Chester, and eastern Lancaster counties meet is known locally as the "Tri-County" area. The Tri-County area was first settled by Welsh immigrants, and later by German, Irish, and Scottish immigrants. While the area was largely agricultural, it also developed into an important early industrial corridor. In the early twenty-first century, the Tri-County area is a mix of farmland, industry, and suburban real estate development. The Tri-County Heritage Society vertical files, circa 1970s-2016, consist of vertical files on families, churches, cemeteries, and other topics relating to Chester, Berks, Lancaster, and other Pennsylvania counties. The collection is organized into seven series: Series I. Family histories, Series II. Chester County cemetery and church records, Series III. Berks County cemetery records, Series IV. Lancaster County cemeteries, Series V. Other county cemetery and church records, Series VI....(see more)

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

Malvern Historical Commission historic property research files, 1970-2015 (bulk) 1889-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Around the time of the United States bicentennial, the Chester County (Pennsylvania) Commissioners formed a partnership with the Chester County Historical Society, the Brandywine Conservancy and many volunteers to organize a Chester County Historic Sites Survey. This survey, conducted between 1979 and 1982, included all of Chester County except for the Boroughs of West Chester and Downingtown (which initiated separate survey projects around this time). The Malvern Historical Commission historic property files, 1889-2015 (bulk 1970-2015), consist of research compiled on historic homes in Malvern, including deed research, maps, atlases, and historic property survey forms that were originally created as part of the Chester County Historic Sites Survey. The collection is arranged into three series: I. Subject files, II. Property files, and III. Oversized materials.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Malvern Historical Commission subject files, 1985-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:: 28.0 linear feet
Abstract:: In the 17th century, Welsh immigrants settled in the area that would later be known as Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Originally part of Willistown Township as a village called West Chester Intersection, the village was renamed Malvern in 1873 and incorporated in 1889 as the Borough of Malvern, formally separating it from Willistown Township. The Malvern Historical Commission subject files, 1985-2015, consist of topical files on the people, places, organizations, buildings, and events of Malvern Borough. The files consist mainly of secondary-source materials, such as newspaper clippings, printed matter, ephemera, and family genealogies, as well as a small amount of primary-source materials. The files are organized into six series: I. Business files, II. Citizens, III. Borough files, IV. Malvern files, V. General History, and VI. Malvern Area and Chester County.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Aston Township Historical Society records, 1993-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The area that is known as Aston Township was incorporated as a township of Chester County in 1688 and became a part of Delaware County when the latter county was established in 1789. Today, due to its proximity to both Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, Aston Township is predominantly a residential area with various local organizations and community events. The Aston Township Historical Society was founded in 1993 to promote efforts to identify, preserve, and enhance the properties of historical value or interest to the residents of Aston Township; to collect historical information and material and maintain archives; to provide education, information, and other associated services; and to preserve the Village Green School on Pennell Road. The Aston Township Historical Society records, 1993-2015, consist of administrative records of the Aston Township Historical Society.

Held at: Aston Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

Aston Township Historical Society local history collection, circa 1806-2015

Extent:: 75.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The area that is known as Aston Township was incorporated as a township of Chester County in 1688 and became a part of Delaware County when the latter county was established in 1789. Today, due to its proximity to both Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, Aston Township is predominantly a residential area with various local organizations and community events. The Aston Township Historical Society local history collection, circa 1806-2015, consists of various materials, including organizational, church, township, and school records; scrapbooks and photographs; subject and vertical files; and other materials that document the history, residents, businesses, and other aspects of Aston Township.

Held at: Aston Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1759-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: In the first decades of the 18th century, emigrants from Radnorshire, Wales settled in the area that would become Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Nantmeal Township was divided into East and West Nantmeal townships in 1739, and Honey Brook Township and Wallace Township later separated from West Nantmeal Township in 1789 and 1852, respectively. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, West Nantmeal was home to farms, mills and forges, including the Isabella Furnace. As of 2015, West Nantmeal remains a largely rural community. The West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1759-2015, consists of a mix of primary and secondary source materials relating to the history, residents, businesses, and other topics related to West Nantmeal Township. The materials include manuscripts, subject files, oral histories, CDs and DVDs, maps, and other materials.

Held at: West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

King of Prussia Historical Society local history collection, circa 1960-2014 (bulk 1985-2014)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: King of Prussia is a village located in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Named after an 18th century inn, today King of Prussia is largely known as home to office buildings and one of the largest shopping malls in America, the King of Prussia Mall. The King of Prussia Historical Society local history collection, circa 1960-2014 (bulk 1985-2014), consists of file cabinets of research materials and a digital collection of scanned items, most of which are photographs.

Held at: King of Prussia Historical Society [Contact Us]

African American Museum in Philadelphia small collections, circa 1850-2014

Extent:: 45.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Founded in 1976 in celebration of the nation's Bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. The museum is committed to telling the story of African Americans in all its permutations: family life, the Civil Rights movement, arts and entertainment, sports, medicine, architecture, politics, religion, law, and technology. The African American Museum in Philadelphia small collections, circa 1850-2014, consist of various small accumulations (less than one linear foot) of archival materials acquired from a variety of sources at various times. The collection focuses on, but is not limited to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, touching on all aspects of African American life and culture. It features a great variety of document types, such as correspondence, minute books, ephemera, photographs, clippings, scrapbooks, film reels, and much more.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Delaware County Institute of Science manuscript collection, 1686-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 20.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Delaware County was the first section of Pennsylvania to be settled by Europeans, specifically Swedes in 1643. The Borough of Media, located about 12 miles outside of Philadelphia, has been the county seat of Delaware County since 1850. A largely rural area prior to that point, the town grew rapidly in the second half of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. The Delaware County Institute of Science manuscript collection, 1686-2014, consists of a variety of local history materials including organizational records, business records, personal papers, photographs, scrapbooks, blueprints, subject files, maps and atlases, and other materials. Most of the materials relate to Delaware County (Pennsylvania), but some items pertain to other locations in Pennsylvania and other states. Although the 19th century is the best represented among the materials, there is a significant amount of materials from the 18th century and a few items from the 17th century.

Held at: Delaware County Institute of Science [Contact Us]

Plumstead Historical Society local history collection, 1809-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The area of Plumstead Township (Bucks County, Pa.) was originally settled in the early 18th century by English Quakers, but soon grew into a diverse community. The township was officially established in 1725 and was initially an agrarian community, although many businesses and industries were eventually established due to the presence of a nearby highway. The Plumstead Historical Society local history collection, 1809-2014, consists of various primary and secondary-source materials donated to or collected by the Plumstead Historical Society relating to the history and residents of Plumstead Township.

Held at: Plumstead Historical Society [Contact Us]

Wallace Township local history collection, 1789-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 30.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Although the first official survey of Wallace Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania took place in 1729, the Township was formally created in 1852 and has had multiple changes to its boundaries since. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, farms, mills, and forges dotted the landscape, but the late 19th century brought the railroad and considerable development of the area. A Pennsylvania Turnpike entrance was created near Wallace in 1950, and during the late 20th century, many residential subdivisions were built in the Township resulting in a substantial population increase. The Wallace Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1789-2014, consists of a mix of primary and secondary-source material relating to the history and residents of Wallace Township. Materials include scrapbooks, maps and blueprints, deeds, financial and administrative records, photographs, audio recordings, ephemera, correspondence, posters, and genealogy and other research materials.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Downingtown Area Historical Society clippings collection, 1978-2014 (bulk) 1930-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 30.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Borough of Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania is located halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. Known as Milltown in the 18th century since it was the location of the last mills on the edge of the unsettled western frontier, the village became known as Downingtown after the War of 1812; the borough was incorporated in 1859. Improved transportation, by stagecoach, railroad, and eventually highways, drew increasing population and investment to Downingtown over the 19th and 20th centuries. The Downingtown Area Historical Society clippings collection, 1930-2014 (bulk 1978-2014), documents the people, businesses, churches, organizations, and schools of the Downingtown area. It is arranged in two series: I. Family files and II. Topic files.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Haverford Township Historical Society vertical files, circa 1930-2014

Extent:: 21.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Haverford Township is a suburb of Philadelphia situated near the wealthy "Main Line" west of the city. It encompasses the community of Havertown and parts of Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Drexel Hill, and Wynnewood in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Haverford Township Historical Society vertical files, circa 1930-2014, contain materials relating to the people, places, historic sites, organizations, businesses, and other aspects of Haverford Township. The files are organized alphabetically by subject or name and largely consist of photocopies of primary-source documents.

Held at: Haverford Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

Radnor Historical Society map, atlas, and blueprint collection, 1872-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Radnor Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania was founded in 1682, shortly after Welsh Quakers arrived on the lands previously home to the original inhabitants, the Lenni Lenape Indians. Development in the area increased when new transportation routes passed through the area, first the Lancaster Turnpike (the first toll road in America) in 1794, and then the Columbia (later Pennsylvania) Railroad in 1832. The township's population doubled between 1880 and 1890 with the birth of one of the country's first planned suburban developments, Wayne. Development and population boomed again in the wake of World War II and has continued to grow in the 21st century. The Radnor Historical Society map, atlas, and blueprint collection, 1872-2014, consists of several dozen atlases (including railroad maps, business atlases, property atlases, and other atlases); loose maps; and blueprints for private homes and for businesses. The geographic foci of the collection are Wayne, Radnor Township, the...(see more)

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

Sellersville Museum local history collection, 1770-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 15.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Originally settled in 1738, Sellersville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania was incorporated as a borough in 1874. In the second half of the 19th century, cigar, textile, and other industries established companies in Sellersville. As of 2014, Sellersville is mainly a commuter town, although some historic structures, including the Sellersville Theater and the Washington House, have been restored and are local attractions. The Sellersville Museum local history collection, 1770-2014, contains both primary and secondary-source materials, such as business ledgers, deeds, scrapbooks, photograph albums, newspaper clippings, and subject files relating to the people, businesses, organizations, and other aspects of Sellersville.

Held at: Sellersville Museum [Contact Us]

Thornbury Historical Society local history collection, 1881-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The area now known as Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was populated by Lenni-Lenape Native Americans when Europeans began to settle there in the 17th century. Influenced in part by its Quaker roots, Thornbury was an historically tolerant community, home of the oldest historically black college in the United States: the Institute for Colored Youth, now known as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, relocated there from Philadelphia in 1902. Largely rural for most of its history, commercial and residential development in Thornbury expanded throughout the 20th century. The Thornbury Historical Society local history collection, 1881-2014, consists of various primary-source and secondary-source materials documenting people, places, organizations, and other topics relating to Thornbury Township and nearby areas. In addition to newspaper clippings, ephemera, and narrative historical essays, the collection features small amounts of World War I letters, Thornbury School...(see more)

Held at: Thornbury Historical Society [Contact Us]

Wallace Township clippings files, 1950-2014 (bulk) 1914-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Although the first official survey of Wallace Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania took place in 1729, the Township was formally created in 1852 and has had multiple changes to its boundaries since. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, farms, mills, and forges dotted the landscape, but the late 19th century brought the railroad and considerable development of the area. A Pennsylvania Turnpike entrance was created near Wallace in 1950, and during the late 20th century, many residential subdivisions were built in the Township resulting in a substantial population increase. The Wallace Township Historical Commission clippings files, 1914-2014 (bulk 1950-2014), consist of newspaper clippings about people, places, organizations, and other topics relating to Wallace Township, as well as topics of national interest.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Charlestown Historical Society subject files, circa 1900-2014 (bulk 1976-2014)

Extent:: 16.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Charlestown Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania is named for Charles Pickering, who was granted the land from William Penn that today makes up a large portion of the Township. Charlestown was the site of the Valley Forge General Hospital during World War II. The Charlestown Historical Society subject files, circa 1900-2014 (bulk 1976-2014), contain materials that relate to Charlestown Township's history and residents; local historic districts, buildings, and organizations; other Chester County historic sites and organizations; and other topics of local interest. Although there are a small number of scattered primary source documents in the collection, materials are largely secondary-source, such as newspaper clippings, research notes, scholarly articles, photocopies of primary documents, and printed materials and ephemera. The collection is organized into three series: I. Subject files; II. Family files; and III. Scrapbooks.

Held at: Charlestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Downingtown Area Historical Society ephemera collection, 1978-2014 (bulk) 1909-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Borough of Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania is located halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. Known as Milltown in the 18th century since it was the location of the last mills on the edge of the unsettled western frontier, the village became known as Downingtown after the War of 1812; the borough was incorporated in 1859. Improved transportation, by stagecoach, railroad, and eventually highways, drew increasing population and investment to Downingtown over the 19th and 20th centuries. The Downingtown Area Historical Society ephemera collection, 1909-2014 (bulk 1978-2014), documents the people, businesses, churches, organizations, and schools of the Downingtown area. Newsletters, pamphlets, maps, programs, copies and print-outs of research articles, and other types of ephemera are included.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Darby Free Library local history collection, 1970-2000 (bulk) 1873-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 12.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Darby Borough is located west of Cobbs Creek in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The village of Darby had its first town meeting in 1683 and was incorporated as a borough in 1852. Nicknamed "The Gateway To The South" because of its status as a popular way station for travelers between Baltimore and Philadelphia, Darby was also an important stop for many freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. The Darby Free Library local history collection, 1873-2014 (bulk 1970-2000), consists mostly of secondary-source materials, such as newspaper clippings, photocopies, computer print outs, color photographs from the late 20th century, flyers and pamphlets, and ephemera. There are also some original, primary-source documents, and a few maps and about half a dozen atlases of Darby, Delaware County, and vicinity.

Held at: Darby Free Library [Contact Us]

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