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Brake and Wineman families papers, 1816-1889 (bulk) 1762-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.2 linear feet (; 5 boxes, 5 volumes)
Abstract:
The Brake (Brecht or Break) family owned a farm in Letterkenny Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, from the 18th century. The Brake and Wineman families came together with the marriage of Solomon Brake (1828-1919) and Sarah Belle Wineman (1855-1925). The collection documents several generations of the two families and includes correspondence, vital records, military records, copy books and other school documents, farm records including account books, property and estate records, receipts, photographs, eighteenth century currency notes, and other items. There are several Civil War letters, primarily from Private George Wineman of the 107th Pennsylvania Infantry, who was killed at Gettysburg. Most of the collection is in English, with a few items in German.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Adelaide Ermentrout scrapbooks on Daniel Ermentrout, 1859-1932, undated (Bulk 1877-1883 and 1899)

Extent:
0.8 linear feet (; 1 box, 3 volumes)
Abstract:
These three scrapbooks were compiled by Adelaide Louise (Metzger) Ermentrout, wife of Daniel Ermentrout (1837-1899), a six-time Congressman from Reading, Pennsylvania. Adelaide was a journalist, and the first two volumes contain her notes alongside newspaper clippings, letters and telegrams, cards, programs, travel tickets, invitations, and other ephemera. Ermentrout was very interested in the history of the early Germans of Pennsylvania, who formed a large part of his constituency. The third volume solely documents Ermentrout’s untimely death. In it are clippings of obituaries, some of which were gathered by a clipping service, and bereavement letters sent to Adelaide.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Herbert Moxley Pease correspondence, 1914-1916 (bulk) 1896-1927 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
The Herbert M. Pease correspondence primarily concerns the development of the relationship between Pease and Nell Elizabeth Peckens, who eventually became his wife. While the letters document their relationship, they also provide glimpses into various aspects of small town life in Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, where Pease served as pastor of the First Baptist Church. Nell trained as a nurse and moved from New York City to Madison, New York after their marriage.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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F. Furman Betts papers, 1917-1919, 1997, 1998

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
This collection contains the letters and photographs of Germantown resident F. Furman Betts, who served overseas with the American Friends Reconstruction Unit of the American Friends Service Committee in association with the American Red Cross during World War I. Additionally, there are newspapers and other ephemera that he collected, a small diary from his time aboard the Rochambeau and his first few days in Europe, and collections of excerpts from Betts's letters and memorabilia by Richard F. Betts, 1997 and 1998.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Charles H. Sykes papers, 1909-1942 (bulk) 1836-1942 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet (; 5 boxes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
Charles H. "Bill" Sykes was a political cartoonist for Philadelphia's Evening Public Ledger newspaper from the 1910s to 1942. Born in Alabama in 1882, he received a degree from the Drexel Institute and worked for many prominent publications, including Life magazine. This collection features a group of original political cartoons for the Evening Public Ledger drawn in crayon, pencil, and india ink. Most of the original artwork depicts the build-up to World War II and the early months of U.S. involvement in the war. The collection also includes numerous newspaper clippings of his political cartoons, some personal correspondence, ephemera, and miscellaneous drawings (including several patriotic drawings for Philco).

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Edward James Baker letters, 1918-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
Edward J. Baker was a soldier in the US Army during World War I (private, Company F, 145th Infantry, 37th Division, AEF). The bulk of the collection consists primarily of correspondence wherein Baker writes home to family during and shortly after the war. Baker was stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia, then in France and Belgium. He apparently saw combat, although he does not write about the fighting directly. The letters are mostly routine but include interesting tidbits about life in the army, his experiences in France, popular culture, and other related topics of the day. Also included are a photo of Baker in uniform, a few postcards and ephemera, and his discharge certificate.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club records, 1938-2011 (bulk) 1913-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
34.0 linear feet (; 75 boxes, 13 flat files, 65 volumes)
Abstract:
The Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club (PGRC) was founded in Philadelphia in 1938 by a group of seventeen women who were interested in pursuing recreational and competitive rowing at a time when women were discouraged from the sport. The club owns one of the oldest boathouses on Boathouse Row on the Schuylkill River, the former home of the Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society, which was built in 1861. The club boasts among its membership some of the early pioneers of women’s rowing in the United States. PGRC is one of the oldest operating all-female rowing clubs in the country. The club currently hosts the Bill Braxton Memorial Regatta and is home to the Agnes Irwin School’s rowing program as part of their effort to encourage women to tap into their maximum potential as athletes. The primary mission of the club is “to ensure that all members develop the skills to feel confident on the river and safely participate in this athletic pursuit. Proficiency in the sport enhances the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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A. M. Elder ledgers, 1830-1869 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (; 3 volumes, 1 folder)
Abstract:
A. M. Elder was a surveyor and farmer in Half Moon, Juniata County, Pennsylvania. Elder was evidently an accomplished surveyor and also recorded deeds and wrote contracts and agreements. Much of his work was paid for by barter; he seems to have been more of a trader of farm commodities than a working farmer, using his fees for surveys as an edge in the business. There is also a stock book of the Philipsburg and Glade Turnpike Company, 1853 - 1858, which records stock purchases and some expenses. Elder was treasurer for the company, and kept this record book. A route from Philipsburg to Glade goes across the grain of the Appalachian Mountains, a very difficult problem for transportation in 19th century Pennsylvania.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Societatea Banateana-Vasile Alecsandri records, 1906-1982 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.2 linear feet (; 54 volumes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
Founded in 1906 by immigrants to Philadelphia from the province of Banat in southwestern Romania, the Societatea Banateana was one of the first Romanian-American beneficial and cultural organizations created in the United States. In 1913, it merged with Vasile Alecsandri, a similar society that was founded in 1912, and formed Societatea Banateana-Vasile Alecsandri. Like many other ethnic organizations of the time period, the society offered social opportunities and economic relief for its members. Through the society, members enjoyed cultural events that celebrated Romanian heritage, and the society also provided its members with sick and death benefits. The society was also responsible for the establishment of Philadelphia’s first Romanian Orthodox parish, Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church (known today as Descent of the Holy Spirit Romanian Orthodox Church). The society’s headquarters was located on the northwest corner of Third and Brown Streets in Old Fellows...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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George F. Parry family volumes, 1858-1898, 1917

Extent:
2.0 linear feet (; 5 folders, 24 volumes)
Abstract:
George F. Parry (1838-1886) of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was one of the first veterinarians (and probably the first from Pennsylvania) to receive professional veterinary training in the United States. He graduated from the Boston Veterinary Institute in 1859, served as a veterinary surgeon with the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War, and owned a farm and conducted a private practice in Newtown, Pennsylvania, from shortly after the war until his death at age 48. George married Sarah E. Hough and the couple had two children. This collection of volumes from the Parry family consists mostly of personal diaries written by George F. Parry dating from the 1860s to the 1880s. Additionally, there is a notebook that he kept while attending the Boston Veterinary Institute and a ledger of his business transactions during the 1870s. There is also a single diary from his daughter Helen dated 1884 and a single diary that has been attributed to his son William dated 1898. Lastly, there...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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University Glee Club of Philadelphia records, circa 1930-2012, undated

Extent:
6.7 linear feet (; 17 boxes, 1 volume)
Abstract:
The University Glee Club of Philadelphia was organized in November 1933 with seventeen charter members under the musical direction of H. Alexander Matthews. The club performed its final concert in 2012. The University Glee Club of Philadelphia records, circa 1930s-2012, include administrative and financial records, membership lists, internal correspondence, and meeting minutes, as well as concert programs and ephemera, photographs, and audio recordings.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Grim-McFarland-Woodbridge family history collection, circa 1905-2007, undated

Extent:
2.6 linear feet (; 7 boxes, 2 flat files)
Abstract:
This family history collection documents several members of the Grim, McFarland, and Woodbridge families over several generations and can be divided into two parts. Approximately one half of the collection documents family history and genealogy while the remaining material centers on the life and work of Katherine Adele McFarland-Gerken. The Grim and McFarland families came together with the eighteen-month marriage of Joseph McFarland (1833-1867) and Susan Elmira Grim (1842-1927) beginning in August 1866. Katherine Adele McFarland-Gerken, the granddaughter of Joseph and Susan McFarland, served abroad as a Red Cross nurse in the 1920s, and much of the material records her nursing and travel experiences from 1921-1925. The collection includes family correspondence, memoirs, photographs, travel souvenirs, genealogical charts, and other items. There are several Civil War letters addressed to Susan Grim McFarland from her cousin Nicholas Grim, who served with the 28th Regiment...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Valley Mutual Insurance Company records, 1900-1985 (bulk) 1831-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:
25.3 linear feet (; 42 boxes, 82 volumes)
Abstract:
The Valley Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated in 1963 in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and was formed as the result of the merger of five small farmers’ mutual insurance companies in the Cumberland Valley region: Centennial Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Cumberland Valley Farmer’s Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Lurgan Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Franklin County, Franklin County Mutual Insurance Company, and Friendship Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Franklin County. These companies provided property insurance to homeowners, farm owners, and rural communities in Cumberland and Franklin Counties and the surrounding region. The Valley Mutual Insurance Company records consist of the administrative and financial materials of that company as well as those of the five companies out of which it merged. This collection includes extensive information on the administrative activities and governance of the companies as well as some materials on policyholders and their properties. The...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Stuart F. Feldman papers, 1937-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
34.8 linear feet (; 88 boxes, 2 volumes)
Abstract:
Stuart F. Feldman (1937-2010) was a lawyer, author, consultant, and independent advocate who was active in a wide variety of civic and cultural programs and projects. Initiatives that he proposed and successfully spearheaded included creation of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia; legislation that made billions of dollars available to Vietnam veterans for education, counseling, and jobs; and the Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, DC. Mr. Feldman worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission (1961-1963), Appalachian Regional Commission (1965-1967), Department of Transportation (1967-1969), U.S. Conference of Mayors (1969-1979), and as senior vice president of the National Constitution Center (1994-1997), among other positions. Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from Cheltenham High School and received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, 1958, and a doctoral degree from Penn’s Law School, 1961. The Stuart F. Feldman Papers...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Girls' Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania records, 1976-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet (; 3 boxes)
Abstract:
The Girls’ Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania was an advocacy group for girls and women that was active in the Philadelphia area from 1980-2001. The organization worked to promote the self-esteem and visibility of young girls as leaders through hosting conferences and forums covering various issues that included the education of girls, mother-daughter relationships, and girls in sports. Reports of these conferences were published and distributed nationally, impacting the advocacy and study of girls. The Coalition also established the annual Estey Award, named after one of the founding members that recognized the achievements of girls and programs in the community that promoted the self-esteem and leadership of girls. The collection consists mainly of the records of the board of directors as well as materials pertaining to the conferences and Estey Awards sponsored by the coalition.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Cadwalader estate volume, 1786-1796

Extent:
0.1 linear feet (1 volume)
Abstract:
John Cadwalader was born January 10, 1742 in Trenton, New Jersey to Dr. Thomas Cadwalader (1706-1779) and Hannah Lambert (1712-1786). John worked as a merchant before establishing for himself a successful military career. During the Revolutionary War he organized 84 men into the volunteer “Greens,” or “Silk Stocking Company,” which trained at his house in Philadelphia. After the war, he moved to Shrewsbury, Maryland, where he eventually served three terms in Maryland's House of Delegates. John died February 10, 1786 after catching pneumonia at his estate on the banks of the Sassafras River at Shrewsbury, Kent County, Maryland. This estate volume The ledger documenting the administration of John Cadwalader's estate is maintained in two back to back sections, one entitled Book of memorandums, inventories, and miscellaneous transactions of the Exter [Executor] to the estate of John Cadwalader, Esqr (begun March 1786), and the second untitled section consisting of memoranda and receipts...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Brandywine Workshop records, 1982-2014 (bulk) 1972-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.4 linear feet ( (21 boxes))
Abstract:
The Brandywine Workshop of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an urban arts organization dedicated to the “creation, documentation and preservation of a legacy of culturally diverse American art” while “ensuring the participation of multi-ethnic artists in the field of fine arts printmaking and related media technologies.” In addition to offering an array of educational programming and community outreach initiatives, the workshop has sponsored nearly 300 artist residencies and encourages the sharing of diverse international communities through its cultural exchange programs. In 2012, the Brandywine Workshop celebrated its 40th anniversary. The Brandywine Workshop records house the institutional records of the Brandywine Workshop. This collection dates from 1972 to 2014, with bulk dates of 1982 to 2014, and consists of a range of printed and graphic materials that document the workshop’s organizational initiatives and range of activities. Specifically this collection includes audio-visual...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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George Vaux Jr. diary of a trip to Yellowstone Park, 1885

Extent:
0.05 linear feet (; 1 volume and 3 photographs)
Abstract:
In 1885 George Vaux, Jr. made an excursion toYellowstone National Park (a national park located primarily in the state of Wyoming that extends into Montana and Idaho). The trip was from August 11 to September 10. He travelled with a small group, most probably consisting of family members. Vaux made entries in a diary almost every day detailing the sites he visited and the people he came in contact with, usually in the form of a letter to “M.” Throughout the diary Vaux shows a great appreciation and love for the western wilderness. The group travelled by train, making many stops. The diaries give the reader a glimpse into leisure travel by prosperous Philadelphia families of the time.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia Record World War II casualty cards, 1944-1945 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.5 linear feet (; 21 boxes)
Abstract:
Between 1944 and 1945 the Philadelphia Record newspaper routinely published lists of those servicemen who were killed, wounded, missing or imprisoned during World War II, primarily from Philadelphia and the surrounding regions. The resultant collection is comprised of the index cards generated by the newspaper for publication, and later, reference purposes.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue Reference Library, 1920-1945 (bulk) circa 1900-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.25 linear feet (; 7 boxes)
Abstract:
The Philadelphia Record, which was established in 1897 and closed in 1947, was for a time one of the leading newspapers in the United States. The Philadelphia Record photograph morgue reference library is comprised of non-photographic reference material, c. 1900-1947, pertaining to select topics within the Subject series of the Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue (Collection V07).

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Montgomery, Scott, and Wheeler families papers, 1675-2018, bulk 1840-1995

Extent:
60.6 linear feet (; 103 boxes, 142 volumes, 11 flat files)
Abstract:
This collection from the Montgomery, Scott, and Wheeler families, spanning 60 linear feet, documents the history of Ardrossan, an estate in Villanova, Pennsylvania -- one of the largest on Philadelphia's Main Line -- and its residents over the course of more than two centuries. In 1911, local investment banker Colonel Robert Leaming Montgomery (1879-1949) hired Horace Trumbauer to design the residence on the family's 800-acre plot, complete with a dairy farm and horse stables. The son of William Woodrow Montgomery and Rebecca Waln Leaming, Robert L. Montgomery would go onto to establish what is now the investment firm of Janney Montgomery Scott. He married Charlotte Hope Binney Tyler (1881-1970) in 1902, and the couple had four children: Helen Hope, Mary Binney, Robert Alexander, and Charlotte Ives. Their eldest daughter, Helen Hope Montgomery (1904-1995), became well known in Philadelphia's social circles, and she went on to marry Edgar Scott (1899-1995), grandson of Thomas A....(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Hughes Memorandum Book, 1704-1762

Extent:
0.08 linear feet (; 1 volume)
Abstract:
John Hughes was a yeoman from Wales who came with his family to Pennsylvania in 1698. He was among the first to settle in Gwynedd in what is now Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Hughes was a member of the Society of Friends and opened his house to worshipers until a meeting house was built. He had three children with his first wife, Martha Caimot, and two with his second wife, Ellen. He moved to Exeter, Berks County in 1731 with his son Ellis and grandson John and died there in 1736. John Hughes's memorandum book contains the records of some of his business affairs, including accounts of goods given out on credit, goods received, and money paid and received. The most substantive portions of the volume consist of entries made during conferences held in Easton, Pennsylvania, between Native Americans and Pennsylvanians during July and November 1756. The volume also includes records for travel expenses incurred in April 1757. These later entries, written after Hughes death, were made by...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Johannes Kelpius collection of German hymns, 1707-1772

Extent:
0.15 linear feet ( (1 volume))
Abstract:
This collection contains one volume of German hymns hand-written by Johannes Kelpius, known as the hermit of the Wissahickon; also included are hymns by Johann Gottfried Seelig, Bernhard Kasten, and others.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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William Strahan letters, 1766-1772 (bulk) 1751-1777 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
These letters of William Strahan, London printer, bookseller, and associate of Benjamin Franklin, are addressed to David Hall, printer and merchant of Philadelphia, and to his son, William Hall. Many of the letters provide richly detailed and intelligent commentary on British politics and other current events. There are also discussions of trade, finances, and family matters.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Germantown (Philadelphia, Pa.) general court records, 1691-1707 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (; 2 volumes)
Abstract:
This collection contains the records of the Germantown (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) town council or General Court and the civil court or Court of Record, dating from 1691 to 1707. The matters addressed by these court sessions include property disputes and transfers, apprenticeships, deeds of sale for goods and land, assault and battery, violations of liquor laws, and other matters.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Susan Ritter Trautwine MacManus diaries, 1857-1881 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Susan Ritter Trautwine MacManus was a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the wife of Charles V. MacManus, a conveyancer. She was also a Philadelphia Moravian evangelical. Her diaries describe social and family activities, household duties, and nationally important events, including those leading up to and during the Civil War. Entries for 1863-65 contain notes on Union soldiers in Philadelphia hospitals, including Chestnut Hill. The collection is comprised of fourteen volumes, three folders, and a short transcript of five entries from 1863 and 1864.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Register of German redemptioners, 1785-1831 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.28 linear feet (; 2 volumes)
Abstract:
This collection contains two registers of German immigrants who became indentured as servants in Philadelphia in order to repay the cost of their trans-Atlantic voyage. These volumes cover the years 1785-1804 and 1817-1831. The registers record the names of individuals and families involved, county and state of residence, duration of service, what servants will receive upon their freedom, and occasionally further contract particulars, such as if the servant is to receive some education. Indentures are listed chronologically and both volumes are indexed.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Daniel Follmer diary and memoir, 1862-1865

Extent:
0.02 linear feet (; 3 volumes)
Abstract:
Typed transcript of the Civil War diary of John Daniel Follmer, Quartermaster Sergeant of Company F, 161st Pennsylvania Volunteers (16th Cavalry). In 1864 he was promoted to Regimental Commissary Sergeant. After the war he moved to Michigan with his family and remained there until his death. This transcript was made by his grandaughter.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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William Redwood account books, 1775-1790 (bulk) 1749-1814 (bulk 1775-1790) (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet (; 10 volumes)
Abstract:
William Redwood, son of Abraham Redwood and his second wife Patience Phillips, was born in 1726 in Newport, Rhode Island. There he worked for a number of years as a merchant in partnership with Elias Bland. Redwood moved to Philadelphia 1772 where he continued business. From 1782 to 1787, Redwood lived at and helped maintain the family's plantation on the island of Antigua in the West Indies. This collection consists of ten account books (ledgers, journals, and daybooks) associated with Redwood. Most of them document his work in Philadelphia; however two volumes contain information on his Newport business and partnership, and two contain detailed financial records concerning the family's Antigua plantation.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Gilbert And Joseph Cope genealogical research materials, 1908-1968 (bulk) 1729-1979 (inclusive)

Extent:
22.4 linear feet (; 49 boxes, 11 volumes)
Abstract:
Gilbert Cope (1840-1928) was a well-known Quaker genealogist and local historian who compiled comprehensive genealogical records of Pennsylvania families. Cope was one of the founders of the Chester County Historical Society and served it as secretary, director, and honorary director. He was a member of the Friends’ Historical Association and a corresponding member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the New England Historic Genealogical Society. In 1912, he was elected an honorary member of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania and became one of its honorary vice presidents in 1924. Additionally, he served as president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies from 1911 to 1912, overseeing 75 historical organizations in Pennsylvania. Gilbert’s son Joseph Cope continued his father’s work, augmenting the Cope family’s genealogy and those of other prominent families. Gilbert Cope’s collections were acquired by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Stout collection, 1925-2003, undated (bulk, 1980-1990)

Extent:
5.3 linear feet (; 9 boxes, 6 volumes)
Abstract:
The Stout Collection consists of virtually all of Reverend Edmond Stout's efforts in researching the history of the Stout/Stoudt/Stoudt family that originated in Germany. The early research and German ancestry work in the collection was begun by Rear Admiral (RADM) Herald F. Stout, U.S.N. Retired, San Diego, California. The collection includes genealogical research and other information about many members of the Stout family. Materials include: listings of Stout family members; family charts and datasheets; correspondence; photocopies of clippings and primary sources; notes and extracts from marriage records, court records, church records and other sources; issues of the Stout family newsletter; bound, published family histories; copies of photographs, obituaries, churches, and other information related to various family members; and a small number of slides.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Smith family papers, 1680-1880 (bulk) 1660-1941 (inclusive)

Extent:
19.0 linear feet (, 14 boxes, 82 volumes)
Abstract:
The Smith family papers contain materials compiled and authored by John Jay Smith as well as several of his descendants. John Jay Smith (1798-1881) was librarian of the Library Company of Philadelphia from 1829 to 1851 and founder of Laurel Hill Cemetery. As a member of an influential Quaker family, Smith was the descendant of several prominent early Philadelphians including James Logan and Richard Hill. Much of the collection consists of deeds and other land transactions as well as correspondence and diaries originating with these ancestors. Smith’s own papers document his wide range of interests as well as his personal and professional relationships through correspondence, financial records, and memorabilia. The collection also contains materials originating from the families of two of Smith’s sons: Lloyd Pearsall Smith (1822-1886) and Horace John Smith (1832-1906). This collection is particularly rich in documenting the history of two prominent Philadelphia institutions, the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Historical Society of Pennsylvania poster and broadside collection, 1777-circa 2005

Extent:
2.2 linear feet (; 7 boxes, 9 flat files)
Abstract:
HSP staff assembled this collection of broadsides, circulars, facsimiles, prints, blotters, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other material largely related to Philadelphia businesses and institutions. Subjects within the collection are quite varied and include auctions, banks, insurance companies, museums, printing establishments, the Civil War, labor strikes, Washingtoniana, Lincolniana (mostly remembrances of his assassination), and transportation. In addition to items documenting Philadelphia, the collection includes materials from several other Pennsylvania counties and states along the Eastern seaboard. The collection is divided into four categories: three according to location and one solely for advertisements. It is further arranged alphabetically within each category according to subject. Oversized items have been moved to flat files. A detailed inventory is available in the Historical Society’s library.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Work Projects Administration posters collection, 1933-1941, undated

Extent:
2.3 linear feet (7 boxes)
Abstract:
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created in 1935 and renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939. Part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, it was a federal agency to provide work to unemployed people. The Federal Art Project (FAP) was formed as a part of the WPA in 1935. The primary goals of FAP were to promote American art and artists; increase art education, especially for children; and research the history of American art and design. FAP subsidiaries were eventually formed in each state; in Pennsylvania the program was called the Pennsylvania Art Project (PAP). It employed artists such as Charles Reed Gardner (1901-1974), Dox Thrash (1892-1965), and Michael J. Gallagher (1898-1965), who created numerous works for the war effort; public buildings, displays, and exhibitions; and for the general support of American art and graphic design. At the beginning of the project, posters were created by hand. By the project’s final years, most posters were being mass...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Wagner Free Institute of Science Superintendent's and Director's reports, 1903-1988 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.85 linear feet (2 containers)
Abstract:
Incorporated by William Wagner (1796-1885) in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution in Philadelphia that is dedicated to providing free public education in the sciences. This collection consists of the superintendent’s and director’s reports from 1903 to 1988. This full-run of reports focuses mainly on financial matters such as renovation needs, real estate and property holdings, the estate of William Wagner, and the financial health of the institution. The reports also pay tribute to members of the staff and community who have recently died, announce or discuss programs and events at the Institute, and describe the professional activities of the directors.

Held at: Wagner Free Institute of Science [Contact Us]

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Wagner Free Institute of Science Director's files and business records, 1885-1924 (bulk) 1858-1938 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.5 linear feet (18 containers)
Abstract:
Incorporated by William Wagner (1796-1885) in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution in Philadelphia that is dedicated to providing free public education in the sciences. This collection of records details the administrative, financial, and program aspects of the Institute from 1858 to 1938, with the bulk of the records dating from 1885 to 1924.

Held at: Wagner Free Institute of Science [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia Flower Show minute books and financial records, 1927-1996, 2004

Extent:
1.8 linear feet (2 containers, 10 volumes)
Abstract:
The Philadelphia Flower Show’s history extends back to 1829, when the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) hosted its first public horticultural exhibition in Masonic Hall on Chestnut Street, called the “Spring Flower Show.” Three years later, in 1832, PHS hosted the first fall “Harvest Show.” The Harvest Show (at times called the “Autumnal Exhibit”) immediately became an annual event. In addition, from time to time, PHS hosted or participated in daffodil, rose, peony and other flower shows. The exhibitions were both large and small, and at times competitive. The Spring Flower Show, which was initially held intermittently, was an annual event by 1871. This is a collection of minute books and finance books of the Philadelphia Flower Show, Inc., from its inception in 1927 to 1996. The collection includes the charter and bylaws of the organization; minutes of monthly, annual and special meetings; correspondence; a small number of legal documents; investments and income reports;...(see more)

Held at: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society [Contact Us]

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Robert Chambers collection on William Wagner and the history of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1820-1910 (bulk) 1798-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet (5 containers)
Abstract:
Incorporated by William Wagner (1796-1885) in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution in Philadelphia that is dedicated to providing free public education in the sciences. The Robert Chambers collection on William Wagner and the history of the Wagner Free Institute of Science includes material collected by Chambers and contains correspondence; genealogical and family information; documents on William Wagner's early business career with Stephen Girard, the Lennoxville Steam Saw Mill and Snowden and Wagner; Wagner Free Instute of Science financial and operational material; and personal material from Sydney T. Skidmore, a member of the Board. This collection will almost certainly not provide a researcher with all the information needed—instead, this is an excellent starting point. Because these materials were, according to institutional memory, removed from other collections by Robert Chambers and kept close at hand due to...(see more)

Held at: Wagner Free Institute of Science [Contact Us]

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Wagner Free Institute of Science Actuary and Librarian records, 1883-1901 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.3 linear feet
Abstract:
Thomas Lynch Montgomery (1862-1929) was Actuary and Librarian at the Wagner Free Institute of Science from 1886 to 1903. He left the Institute to serve as the state librarian of Pennsylvania, a post he held for 18 years. In 1921 he became librarian at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, where he remained until his death. This collection consists of administrative records, financial documents, and correspondence of Thomas Lynch Montgomery, in his position as Actuary and Librarian of the Wagner Free Institute of Science. Many of these records deal with rental properties owned by the Institute, renovations to the Institute itself, exchanges of specimens and publication of the Transactions of the Wagner Free Institute of Science. There is a significant amount of correspondence from Joseph Willcox, William H. Dall, Henry Leffmann and Joseph Leidy.

Held at: Wagner Free Institute of Science [Contact Us]

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Annual Announcement of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1855-1927, 1959-2009

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Incorporated by William Wagner (1796-1885) in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution in Philadelphia that is dedicated to providing free public education in the sciences. The Annual Announcement was published every August from 1855 to 1927 and then from 1959 until the present. From 1927-1958, it was issued each year as no. 3 of the Bulletin of the Wagner Free Institute of Science. It is still being published and has been little changed over the years. The Annual Announcement generally includes a list of the trustees and faculty, the history of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, and a description of the types of instruction including specific lectures that were offered. The Annual Announcement of the Wagner Free Institute of Science collection contains copies of this publication from 1855 to 1927, 1959-2009. The collection is arranged chronologically.

Held at: Wagner Free Institute of Science [Contact Us]

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