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Simon Gratz autograph collection, 1343-1928

Extent:
190.0 linear feet (; 633 boxes (18 volumes in boxes))
Abstract:
The collection was assembled by Simon Gratz, Philadelphia lawyer, school board member, and trustee of the Free Library. He began collecting at age 17 and, by the time he died, amassed about 175,000 manuscripts and portrait engravings and lithographs. Many of the latter he personally commissioned. In 1916 he became a vice-president of the Historical Society. Gratz continued until the end of his life to deal with such notable American collectors as George Brinley, Louis J. Cist, Adrien Joline, Charles J. Jones, E.H. Leffingwell, and Joseph J. Mickley. The dealers with whom he dealt included Charavay in Paris, Naylor and Maggs in London, Cohn in Berlin, Benjamin in New York, and A.S.W. Rosenbach in Philadelphia. The records of his transactions survive from 1861 to 1925 in his "Autograph Journals." On January 1, 1925, Gratz noted that his collection had, because of astute sales and exchanges, "cost less than nothing." Gratz acquired his collection by exchange with and purchase from a...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Simon Gratz autograph collection, 1517-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:
130.4 linear feet (; 326 boxes)
Abstract:
This autograph collection was created by Simon Gratz, starting in his late teens. A myriad of documents are included and represent Gratz’s philosophy of collecting and the many relationships he formed with other collectors in the United States and abroad. Contained here are autographed letters, legal documents, and artifacts from many prominent and well known figures and personalities in the arts, religion, government, education, and military. While there are some non-substantive letters written to Gratz much of the collection includes correspondence between prominent women and men across classes, professions, and nationalities. The collection dates from the sixteenth century to the early twentieth century. Besides date range, this collection differs slightly from the Simon Gratz collection (#250A) in its alphabetical arrangement, compared to the arrangement by categories/subjects (Case) in #250A. One other distinction in this collection are the personal letters and papers of Simon...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Mary Wickham Bond papers on the "real" James Bond, 1907-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.17 linear feet (4 containers)
Abstract:
The lives of James and Mary Bond, a Philadelphia ornithologist and author, respectively, were altered the day that author Ian Fleming, a bird lover who was familiar with Bond’s book, “The Birds of the West Indies,” appropriated James Bond’s name for his fictional spy character. The resulting confusion prompted Mary Wickham Bond to write “How 007 Got His Name,” in 1966, in which she tells the story of the real James Bond. This collection consists of Mary Wickham Bond’s collection of information regarding her husband, her own works on the writing, publishing and promoting of her books about her husband, and David Contosta’s writings about her husband.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

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Charles Dickens collection, 1832-1870 (bulk) 1832-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most popular English novelists of the Victorian era as well as a vigorous social campaigner. This is a collection of correspondence, manuscript material, and other items related to him. The material dates from 1832-1993, with the bulk of the material dating from 1832-1870. The bulk of the correspondence consists of autograph letters by Dickens. There are also autograph letters from Dickens’s circle of family, friends, and associates.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

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History of the Book and Illustrations collection, circa 1250-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.46 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains material that shows the history of the book. The majority of the examples of manuscripts are illustrations but there are a few letters and other documents. The printed material in this collection spans the 13th to the late 16th centuries and contains examples of different printing techniques.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

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Frances Salomon Murphy writings, 1953 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.42 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains the final draft and production material for the 1953 children’s book Ready-Made Family by Frances Salomon Murphy.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

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Lucy Fitch Perkins papers, 1909-1964 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet
Abstract:
This is a small collection of material by and about children's author and illustrator Lucy Fitch Perkins (1865-1937). It contains correspondence, a manuscript draft of The Dutch Twins, and advertising material for "The Twins Series."

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

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Elizabeth Ripley papers, 1965-1968 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet
Abstract:
This is a collection of manuscripts and notes by Elizabeth Ripley for her last three artist biographies: Copley: A Biography, Hokusai: A Biography, and Rodin: A Biography. Materials include drafts, outlines, notes, dummies, proofs, photographs, and correspondence.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

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Edward James Nolan documents and correspondence on the History of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 1846-1915 (inclusive)

Extent:
234.0 items
Abstract:
Edward James Nolan (1846-1921) served as the librarian at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia from 1869 until his death. During his tenure as librarian, he performed research on and wrote the history of the Academy which was completed in 1909. This collection contains material collected by Nolan for his history, including transcriptions of early minutes, deeds, biographies, news clipppings, letters and reminiscences of colleagues.

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

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Crawford H. Greenewalt papers, 1951-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:
23.6 linear feet (40 containers)
Abstract:
Crawford Hallock Greenewalt (1902-1993) was a chemical engineer and the President of the DuPont Company from 1948 to 1962. He had a passion for the natural sciences, and combined his love of ornithology with photography. He was especially known for his high speed photographs of hummingbirds. His ornithological interests included bird songs, the radiance of hummingbird feathers and the evolution of shapes and sizes of birds in relation to their flight abilities. The Crawford H. Greenewalt papers document Greenewalt's personal study of ornithology, primarily his work on hummingbirds. The collection dates from 1951 to 1993 and consists primarily of photographs taken by Greenewalt, and technical data collected by Greenewalt. The images photographed by Greenewalt exist in many different formats throughout the collection, including prints, negatives, and slides. The technical data in this collection represents Greenewalt's research into the physiology of hummingbirds, and the development...(see more)

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

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