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Debate Board Records (Swarthmore College), 1903-1922 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
In 1903, the Oratorical Association, together with College faculty, invited representatives from preparative schools to compete in an Interscholastic Oratorical Contest held at Swarthmore College. Within a few years, public high schools were also invited to compete. In June 1903, Professor Pearson was elected president of the Swarthmore College Debate Board. The collection includes one bound volume containing the minutes of the Debate Board, 1903-1922, and literature and scoring of the Interscholastic Oratorical Contest of Swarthmore College for the Phi Kappa Psi cups. 1903-1918

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Phi Psi (Swarthmore College) Records, 1889-1986 (inclusive)

Extent:
8 linear ft. (15 boxes)
Abstract:
Contains the records of Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Omicron Psi, and Phi Psi from 1889 to 1967, with gaps in some series. Now a local fraternity at Swarthmore College, Phi Psi began as Pennsylvania Kappa, a chapter of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Pennsylvania Kappa was established in 1889 and was a chapter of Phi Kappa Psi until 1963.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Beta Chapter (Swarthmore College) Records, 1890-1985 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.42 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
This collection consists of primarily published materials, 1891-1933, relating to Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Beta Chapter, the first sorority to maintain a chapter at Swarthmore College. The Chapter was established in 1891 and laid down in 1933 when the College abolished sororities. Included are national publications of the fraternity, directories of Swarthmore chapter alumnae; an initiation certificate; and a photograph album.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Swarthmore College Athletic Association Records, 1877-1926 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
This collection contains records of the Swarthmore College Athletic Association (SCAA), a student organization that held various administrative responsibilities relating to men's athletics. It was founded in 1877 and dissolved ca. 1939. The collection also contains materials concerning the Athletic Advisory Committee, Athletic Committee, and Athletic Advisory Board, organizations that facilitated cooperation on athletic issues between the SCAA and alumni and faculty.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Community Housing Project Group Records, 1976-1982 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
In 1976 a group of Swarthmore College students organized to propose a communal living experience within the context of the College housing. The experiment ended after the Spring 1982 semester due to student disinterest. The collection contains proposals and studies, The Ashton House log which includes meeting minutes, informal log entries, and topics of discussion, and miscellaneous notes.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Gertrude Weaver Refugee Correspondence, 1946-1949 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear ft.
Abstract:
Gertrude Weaver graduated from Swarthmore College in 1938 with degrees on German and History, and spent her junior year (1936-1937) in Munich. After graduation, she taught German at Chester High School where she and her students corresponded sent relief packages to families in Western Europe struggling to survive in impoverished post-World War II Europe. This collection contains Weaver's correspondence with the recipients of her aid, as well as records of the logistics of the operation. The majority of the correspondence involves the Bergas family, German refugees living in Montauban, France.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Swarthmore College. Scott Arboretum Records, 1925-2017 (inclusive)

Extent:
23 linear ft. (46 boxes ( plus oversized items and photographs))
Abstract:
The Arthur Hoyt Scott Horticultural Foundation was established at Swarthmore College in 1929 as a memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott (1874-1927). The intention of the Foundation was to focus on plantings appropriate to Eastern Pennsylvania, creating a practical "garden of ideas" for amateur gardeners while at the same time improving the campus. The name changed to Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College in 1986. The collection contains records of the Scott Arboretum from the proposal for its formation to the present. Of special interest is the correspondence concerning the controversy concerning the planning of Interstate 476, "The Blue Route," as well as John C. Wister's mimeographed Swarthmore Plant Notes, plant records, and landscape plans.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Benjamin West Society Records, 1922-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Abstract:
Inaugurated October 24, 1931, the Benjamin West Society was dedicated to promoting the arts at Swarthmore College and to promoting the memory of painter Benjamin West (1738-1820) whose traditional birthplace is on the campus of Swarthmore College. The Society organized annual lectures on art and exhibits, and each year sent its members an art print. Its activities were lead by a small group of officers, particularly New York Quaker art dealer, Frederic Newlin Price, a Swarthmore College graduate. The organization was disbanded in 1954. The Benjamin West Memorial Lecture series was continued, supported by the income from a donation made by Price.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Swarthmore Alumni Association records, 1882-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.6 linear ft. (13 document boxes and 1 oversized box)
Abstract:
The Swarthmore Alumni Association, founded in 1882 and still active, engages Swarthmore graduates in activities that support current students, alumni, and Swarthmore College. The Swarthmore Alumni Association records, 1882-1990, include meeting minutes, correspondence, publications, brochures, mailings, and directories for a variety of organizations of Swarthmore College Alumni, both in the Philadelphia area and elsewhere.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Swarthmore Historical Society Records, 1988-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear ft. (3 boxes plus reference files)
Abstract:
The Swarthmore Historical Society was founded in 1988, and its collections were deposited in Friends Historical Library in 1996. The records include legal and financial papers of the organization, minutes, projects, and related historic preservation work supporting the Swarthmore Planning Commission and Swarthmore Borough Task Force on Historic Preservation.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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League of Women Voters of Swarthmore, Pa., 1956-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear ft. (6 boxes)
Abstract:
The League of Women Voters was established in 1920 as a nonpartison organization to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government. The Swarthmore Branch was founded in 1948 and in 2006 merged with the League of Women Voters, Central Delaware County. The collection contains minutes, financial reports, publications, and miscellaneous papers of the League of Women Voters of Swarthmore, Pa.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Swarthmore Recreation Association Records, 1940-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.7 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Abstract:
Contains the records of the Swarthmore Recreation Association (SRA) which include material on the organization from its founding in 1940 up to the year 1990. SRA was established to provide and supervise recreational facilities for residents of the Borough of Swarthmore and to encourage participation in indoor and outdoor games, sports, and athletic competitions. Among other programs, SRA offered a summer day camp for children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Friends' Home for Children, 1881-1988 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Abstract:
Friends' Home for Children ("Friendly Acres") was established in 1881 in Philadelphia by Hicksite Quakers. The Home was a residential facility for orphans and other children in need, modeled on a homelike environment rather than the large institutional more typical of the era. The Home was administered by a Board of Managers which originally was composed entirely of members of the Society of Friends. Eventually it became a summer camp, "Camp Sommerdale," a summer facility for the children. While maintaining ties to the Society of Friends, the Home became non-sectarian over the years. As attitudes towards the care of children changed and costs soared, it was decided in 1979 to phase out the residential program, and the name was changed to Friendly Acres Community Services with its mission focused on community programs, such as day care and senior services. In 1988, Friendly Acres Community Services merged with the Community Y of Eastern Delaware County, another community service...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Rachel Davis DuBois Papers, 1920-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:
5 linear ft. (10 box)
Abstract:
Rachel Davis DuBois (1892-1993) was a Quaker educator, writer, and a pioneer in the interfaith and interracial dialogue and intercultural education. This collection contains the personal papers of Rachel Davis DuBois, including correspondence, writings, her work with interracial, intercultural, and interfaith projects, personal logs and notes, and miscellaneous material.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Swarthmore Schools Collection, 1896-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
12 linear ft. (27 boxes (and oversize photographs))
Abstract:
The Swarthmore School District, Delaware County, Pa., was created in 1893 with the incorporation of the Borough of Swarthmore. This is an artificial collection, composed of records and memorabilia from various sources and organized by the staff of Friends Historical Library.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Mary Sullivan Patterson Papers, 1782-1982 (inclusive)

Extent:
8 linear ft. (15 boxes (plus photographs))
Abstract:
Mary Sullivan Patterson (1906-1987) was a Quaker historian and genealogist from Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. The collection contains family papers and correspondence; genealogical notes on the Thomson, Sullivan, and other related families; writings on various topics, especially Delaware County history and the Caleb Pusey House; diaries, notes, correspondence, and a manuscript concerning Patterson's 1957 research trip to England to study Quaker emigration to America. Also a diary and letters from her trip to England and Germany in 1924 with a young Friends group.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Alice Hall Paxson Papers on Scattered Seeds, 1930-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.25 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
Alice Hall Paxson (1868-1955) was a Quaker author and editor, of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Thomas Heston and Lydia H. (Cox) Hall of Chester County. The family moved to Swarthmore, Pa., about 1889, and Alice graduated from Swarthmore College in 1888. In 1897, she married Charles Paxson. The family had close ties to Swarthmore College, including many graduates. Lydia (Cox) Hall was founding editor and editor for forty years of the periodical Scattered Seeds, a position in which her daughters, Abby Hall Paxson and Abby Hall Roberts, succeeded her. About 1928, Alice Hall Paxson became sole editor. The collection contains chiefly editorial correspondence and other papers relating to Scattered Seeds, a magazine for Quaker children, from 1930-1936 when it was edited by Paxson. The collection also includes correspondence with American Unitarian Association, publishers of a similar periodical, The Beacon.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Paul M. Pearson (Paul Martin) Papers, 1890-2011 (bulk 1890-1938) (inclusive)

Extent:
11 linear ft. (22 boxes)
Abstract:
Paul M. Pearson (1871-1938) was a noted Quaker educator, editor, and speaker, a professor of Public Speaking at Swarthmore College, the first civilian governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, an assistant director of the U.S. Housing Authority, and a leading founder and executive in the Chautauqua movement. The collection contains biographical and genealogical materials, personal correspondence (1894-1938), writings (published and manuscript), extensive material on the Swarthmore Chautauqua as well as papers relating to his work with the National Community Foundation, the Virgin Islands, and U.S. Housing Authority. There are also a small number of papers concerning Drew Pearson (1897-1969), his son and a syndicated national columnist.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Edward F. Stratton Collected Papers on Ohio Quakers, 1770-1967 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.75 linear ft. (5 boxes)
Abstract:
Edward F. Stratton (1876-1968) was a Quaker from Salem and Barnesville, Ohio. He served as Curator of the Salem Quarterly Meeting records and was Librarian of the Friends Society, Salem, Ohio. The collection contains historical and biographical information compiled by Edward F. Stratton about the Maule, Stratton, Williams, and related Ohio Quaker families, especially those involved in separations in Ohio Yearly Meeting. Of particular interest are Joshua's Maule's diaries and correspondence concerning the Wilburite-Gurneyite and Maulite separations in the Society of Friends and the Williams family correspondence and diaries written while teaching at schools for freed blacks in Mississippi and Texas (1867-1876).

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Norman Walton Swayne Family Papers, 1733-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:
3 linear ft. (7 boxes (plus oversize material))
Abstract:
The Swayne family were Quakers of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. Caleb Swayne was a farmer and tanner, and his son, Benjamin, also operated a tan yard and conducted a school for boys, the London Grove Boarding School. Evan Thomas Swayne also taught at London Grove, but moved to the Eaton Institute, a boarding school for girls in Kennett, after 1865. His son, Edward Swayne, had a greenhouse business and wrote poetry. Edward's sister, Anna Belle, was a photographer before her marriage to Albert Taylor Jackson. Edward's son, Norman Walton Swayne, attended Swarthmore College and then taught at the George School; he was also the family genealogist. The collection includes genealogical research, correspondence, poetry and other writings, commonplace books, deeds and financial records, and miscellaneous materials. Of particular interest is the journal of Benjamin Swayne of London Grove, the school master's records of Evan Thomas Swayne, the poetical exchange between Edward Swayne...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Anna Braithwaite Thomas Family Papers, 1869-1943 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
Anna Braithwaite Thomas (1854-1947) was a British American Quaker, of Baltimore, Maryland. The collection contains correspondence, drawings, notes, albums, poems, and photos, and eight volumes of diaries (1894-1896, 1936-1944). The earlier diaries describe a trip to England and Europe taken by Anna Thomas and her husband, Richard Henry Thomas (1854-1904), a Baltimore physician. Also included is a notebook (1869-1871) of Richard Henry Thomas while a student at Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, along with articles and related materials concerning the couple's daughter, Henrietta Martha Thomas (1879-1919). These articles relate to her World War I pacifist service in Germany and Austria. Material relating to the genealogy of the Braithwaite and Thomas families is also part of the collection.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Henry Watson Wilbur Papers, 1879-1914 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
Henry Watson Wilbur (1851-1914) was a New York Quaker minister and social reformer. The collection contains some addresses and writings on religion and the advancement of the Society of Friends, biographical and memorial items giving tribute to his work on behalf of the National Association of Religious Liberals and the Friends General Conference, and a few letters.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [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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Philadelphia City Planning Commission surveys conducted with New Deal Federal Work-Relief funds records, 1933-1939 (inclusive)

Extent:
156.0 cubic feet
Abstract:
The Philadelphia City Planning Commission had barely come into existence (April 1929) when the stock market crashed, marking the onset of the Great Depression. The PCPC requested federal funding, made possible through President Roosevelt’s New Deal work relief programs, to subsidize general administrative costs of PCPC and support the continuation of work on a master plan for the city of Philadelphia which had already begun. The agency also proposed to conduct a survey of central Philadelphia which would help address the problems of decaying older neighborhoods. From 1933 to 1939, the Commission employed hundreds of architects, engineers, social workers, and other professional and clerical staff in efforts to analyze the physical, economic, and social conditions of the city and to address these problems through a combined program of research, planning, and public advocacy. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission Survey files (Record Group (RG) 145-50) consist of 156 cubic feet of...(see more)

Held at: City of Philadelphia, Department of Records, City Archives [Contact Us]

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Records of the Sesqui-Centennial Association, 1920-1931 (inclusive)

Extent:
40.0 cubic feet
Abstract:
The Sesqui-Centennial Exhibition Association was the organization which planned and administered the major international exposition held in Philadelphia from May 30 through November 30, 1926, in honor of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Thirty foreign nations participated in the event which attracted seven million visitors. Participation lagged behind expectations, however, and financial problems dogged the project from beginning to end. The Association passed into receivership in 1927 and several years passed before the claims of the organization's many creditors were resolved in U.S. district court. The official records of the Sesqui-Centennial Exhibition Association at the Philadelphia City Archives represent the largest extant body of material concerning this event. They consist of approximately 40 cubic feet of holdings dating from 1920 through 1931. The records are primarily made up of the files of the administrative...(see more)

Held at: City of Philadelphia, Department of Records, City Archives [Contact Us]

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The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States records, 1880-1980 (bulk) 1857-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
155.5 linear feet
Abstract:
In response to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) was founded on April 15, 1865, in Philadelphia by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ellwood Zell and Captain Peter Dirck Keyser. The object of MOLLUS was and is “to cherish the memories and associations of the war waged in defense of the unity and indivisibility of the Republic; to strengthen the ties of fraternal friendship and sympathy formed from companionship-in-arms; to advance the best interests of the soldiers and sailors of the United States, especially of those associated as members of this Order, and to extend all possible relief to their widows and children; to foster the cultivation of Military and Naval Science; to enforce unqualified allegiance to the General Government; to protect the rights and liberties of American citizenship, and to maintain National Honor, Union and Independence.” The MOLLUS collection...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries [Contact Us]

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Union League art and artifact collection, 1840-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:
1406.0 items
Abstract:
Founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the Union and the policies of President Abraham Lincoln, the Union League of Philadelphia laid the philosophical foundation of other Union Leagues across a nation torn by Civil War. From its founding to the present, the League has been a leading civic organization and has played an important role in the history of our country and the City of Philadelphia. Over the past 150 years, this service has ranged from raising troops during the Civil War and lobbying for enforcement of the “freedom” amendments during Reconstruction, to feeding the hungry during the Great Depression, to finding jobs for returning veterans after World War II. Adorning the walls and hallways of the Union League’s historic building is a distinguished collection of art and artifacts. The collection is a rich, historical chronicle of Philadelphia’s unique imprint upon the American landscape from the 19th century to today and is recognized by historians and art...(see more)

Held at: Union League of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Dearnley Brothers Worsted Spinning Company and Dearnley Top Company records, 1908-1963 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear feet (11 folders and 2 oversized items)
Abstract:
Dearnley Brothers Worsted and Spinning Company was owned by John H. Dearnley, the son of a British wool merchant, and produced worsted and woolen yarns during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company was eventually passed on to Dearnley’s son, Charles E. Dearnley, who created the Dearnley Top Company, Incorporated in 1946. This collection contains the companies’ business records and personal papers of Charles E. Dearnley. This collection dates from 1908 to 1963, and consists of ledgers, appraisal documents, financial records, and photographs detailing the companies’ creations and dissolutions, production, and legal affairs.

Held at: Philadelphia University: Paul J. Gutman Library, Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia University early institutional records, 1893-1967 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.5 linear feet
Abstract:
At the 1876 Centennial Exposition, local textile manufacturers noticed that Philadelphia's textile industry was falling behind its rivals' capacity, technology, and ability. In 1880, they formed the Philadelphia Association of Manufacturers of Textile Fabrics, with Theodore C. Search as its president, to fight for higher tariffs on imported textiles and to educate local textile leaders. In early 1884, Search taught the first classes of the Philadelphia Textile School to five students at 1336 Spring Garden Street. The school was officially opened on November 5, 1884. The Philadelphia University early institutional records house the papers of Philadelphia University from its inception and through its early years. The collection dates from 1893 to 1967, with bulk dates of 1916 to 1941.

Held at: Philadelphia University: Paul J. Gutman Library, Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Albert Cook Myers Historical Collection: William Penn papers, 1645-1960 (inclusive)

Extent:
81.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Albert Cook Myers (1874-1960) was a Pennsylvania historian, who dedicated his life’s work to the identification, study and organization of William Penn’s published writings and personal papers. Beginning in 1910, after securing an endorsement from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, he set out to publish: “The Complete Works of William Penn.” All told, Myers devoted fifty years of his life to this project. Though his publication goals were never realized, he assembled a massive and notable body of information about William Penn. To complete his studies, Myers travelled abroad and throughout the United States. As a result of his efforts, he came to be regarded as an expert on the topic and often spoke publicly on the life and times of William Penn. The Albert Cook Myers research collection of William Penn materials contains the information gathered by Myers in his pursuit to thoroughly research and publish a volume documenting the complete writings of William Penn. Researchers...(see more)

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Buffington–Marshall papers, 1707-1876 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The manuscripts in the collection cover the years 1707 to 1876. The bulk of the collection is connected to two families, Buffington and Marshall. Buffington family manuscripts begin with emigrant Richard Buffington (d. 1747/8). He was married three times and his children included Ann, Ruth, Richard (d. 1741, married Phebe Grubb), Thomas, William, John, Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth, Lydia, Abigail, Joseph, and Alice. The Marshall family manuscripts originated from the family of emigrant Abraham Marshall (1669-1767) and his wife, Mary Hunt Marshall (d. 1769). Topics include: farming, botany, legal system, politics and elections, the poor, education, medicine, crime (includes murder, fornication and bastardy cases, etc.), slavery, etc.

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Colonel Richard Thomas papers, 1741-1919 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Richard Thomas (1744-1832) was a Revolutionary War colonel and a politician. He served in the Revolutionary War in the 5th Battalion Association despite his Quaker faith and served as an Assembly man from 1796 to 1790, as Pennsylvania Senator from 1790 to 1794, and as Congressman from 1794 to 1798. The collection dates from 1741 to 1919 with the bulk of materials dating from 1741 to 1857. The materials in the collection document the history of Chester County and the United States as well as the personal side of the Thomas family.

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Joseph B. Smith and Sons Funeral Home records, 1872-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Joseph B. Smith and Sons Funeral Home in West Chester, Pennsylvania was established in 1870, when Joseph B. Smith purchased the existing Hoffman Undertaking and Furniture Business. Smith’s firm, which was in business until 1994, was owned and operated by four successive generations of Smith men: Joseph B. Smith; his son, William B. Smith; his grandson, Ashton B.T. Smith; and his great-grandson, Ashton B.T. Smith, Jr. It ranked as one of the oldest funeral home businesses in Chester County. The Joseph B. Smith and Son Funeral Directors records houses the records produced by that funeral home from 1876 to 1946. In addition, there is a small cache of Smith family papers dating from 1883 to 1975. The bulk of the collection is made up of funeral home records. Included in the funeral home records are account books, funeral registries, bills, funeral home ephemera, and undertaker and coroner licenses. The Smith family papers section of the collection has very little to do with the...(see more)

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Taylor, Harris, Roman, Frazer, and Smith families papers, 1683-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.0 boxes
Abstract:
The families in the Taylor, Harris, Roman, Frazer, and Smith family papers, 1633 to 1980 (bulk 1685 to 1851) are all related by the marriage of Marianne Smith to Dr. Stephen Harris on April 14, 1833. Both sides of the lineage represented in this collection immigrated to Pennsylvania because of religious persecution in England and Ireland. As Presbyterians and Quakers, they no longer wished to live under a series of laws which forced non-Anglicans out of public office, schools and the church as well as prohibiting meetings for non-Anglican worship. These newcomers contributed to the establishment of the government and religious expression in early Chester County. The documents, covering topics such as land surveying, Native Americans, the Revolutionary War, astronomy, publishing, the iron industry, and religious persecution, provide a broad picture of early Chester County and its residents as they interacted with each other at home and in Philadelphia through business, religious, and...(see more)

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Joseph W. Thomas and Sons nursery records, 1884-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Joseph W. Thomas and Sons Nursery in Chester County was one of the oldest and longest running horticultural enterprises in the state of Pennsylvania. It operated from 1853 to 1990, and was owned by three successive generations of the Thomas family. The Thomas nursery actually began in 1828 as a small farm and orchard called “Maple Farm,” which was owned by Charles and Ruth Thomas. It was their son, Joseph Williams Thomas, who formally established the nursery on a small portion of the farm around 1853. He named his burgeoning business, Chester Valley Nursery. Later, he changed the company’s name to Joseph W. Thomas and Company. Around 1888, Joseph’s sons, Edwin and Charles Lincoln, joined him in business and the name of the firm was changed once more to Joseph W. Thomas and Sons, reflecting the new partnership. The Joseph W. Thomas and Sons Nursery records contains documents created by that business from 1884 to 1993. Researchers will find financial records; general business...(see more)

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [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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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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Wagner Free Institute of Science Closing Exercises of the Lecture Season announcements and programs, 1921-1989 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear feet (1 container)
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 Closing Exercises of the Lecture Season announcements from 1936 to 1983 (intermittent) and programs from 1921 to 1989 (intermittent). The announcements provide information on the following: the date, time and location of the closing exercises, the person giving the introductory remarks and awarding the certificates, the person giving the lecture, and the title of the lecture. This collection provides a record of the lectures presented at the Closing Exercises of the Lecture Season, but no lectures or details of the event are contained within the collection. This collection is an excellent resource for researchers interested in students receiving awards and the subjects these students pursued. A researcher interested in the...(see more)

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

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Zaccheus Collins correspondence, 1805-1827 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Zaccheus Collins (1764-1831) was a plant collector and herbarium owner from Philadelphia. Collins was an esteemed botanist and was often consulted by a majority of botanical writers, though he never published anything himself. He was also an avid collector and his herbarium contained a nearly complete collection of the plants from the vicinity of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. His correspondents also sent him various specimens from their research in the southern states, particularly South Carolina and Georgia. The collection contains letters that are entirely botanical in nature, coming from 55 individuals, and presents a cross section of the botanists and their problems in the early 19th century. There is significant correspondence from Henry Muhlenberg (1753-1815), Frederick Augustus Hall Muhlenberg, Stephen Elliott (1771-1830) and Dr. Jacob Bigelow (1787-1879), as well as many other important botanists of the era.

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Francis Whittier Pennell biographies of botanists, circa 1924-1952

Extent:
2.5 linear inches
Abstract:
Francis Whittier Pennell (1886-1952) was an American botanist and a world authority on the Scrophulariaceae. He served as associate curator of the New York Botanical Garden from 1914 to 1921 and as curator of plants at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia from 1921 until his death. He had an intense interest in the history of botany and collected biographical material on many early botanists. This collection includes Pennell’s research notes as well as some finished biographies.

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Edward Drinker Cope papers, 1859-1907 (inclusive)

Extent:
15.0 linear inches
Abstract:
Edward Drinker Cope (1840-1897) was one of the most distinguished American scientists of the 19th century. The bulk of his work was in the fields of paleontology, zoology, geology and anatomy. During his lifetime, he discovered and described over 600 new species and contributed over 1300 papers to scientific literature. The collection contains certificates and honors, medals, manuscripts of scientific papers, drawings, scientific photographs, biographical material, news clippings, account books, and miscellaneous notes.

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Exhibits Department records, 1852-2001 (inclusive)

Extent:
49.0 linear feet (50 containers)
Abstract:
Prior to the 1930s, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia had neither an education department nor an exhibits department. However, the museum clearly stated that “to see that our scientific work is shared with the public in ways that instruct and entertain is one of our direct responsibilities, for knowledge of Nature not only widens the mental horizon, but helps to ease the common burdens of life.” In 1920, Harold T. Green came to work at the Academy. At first, he was in charge of arranging the public lectures funded by the Ludwick Institute. However, within a year he was also “superintending” exhibits. His skills as a taxidermist and artist soon overtook his role as a program coordinator and, in 1930 his title was officially changed to “Curator of Museum Exhibits.” In 1929, Green created his first habitat group, or “diorama” which depicted a group of rocky mountain goats. Over the years, the priorities and goals of the Exhibits Department shifted and expanded based upon...(see more)

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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J. Percy Moore papers, 1847-1963 (inclusive)

Extent:
16.0 linear feet (45 containers)
Abstract:
John Percy Moore (1869-1965) was a Professor of Zoology at the University of Pennsylvania from 1912 to 1939, an Assistant Curator at the Academy of Natural Sciences from 1902 to 1938, and held several positions between 1920 and 1956 at the Ludwick Institute, which offered free lectures and courses in the natural sciences. He was also a world recognized authority on leeches. During his career, Moore named six genera, 229 species, five subspecies and four varieties of polychaetous annelids, or segmented worms (Loi 1980). The J. Percy Moore papers document Moore's professional career as a zoologist, primarily his study of leeches and other annelids; educator; and biographer. The collection dates from 1847 to 1963 and consists of his specimen notes, sketches, photographs, 16 mm film, travel logs, and field notes related to his study of leeches and other annelids. The collection also contains materials related to his involvement with The Academy of Natural Sciences (ANSP) Board of...(see more)

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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