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Start Over Form Photographs Form Correspondence Year 1850 to 1899

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Edwin Atlee Barber records, 1901-1916 (bulk) 1898-1933 (inclusive)

Extent:
19.6 linear feet (47 document boxes)
Abstract:
Edwin Atlee Barber was Curator/Secretary of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art from 1901to 1907, Director/Curator from 1907 to 1916 and Honorary Curator of American Pottery and Porcelain from 1893 to 1916. His great interest was in pottery, porcelain, and ceramics, primarily early American works. A scholar and prolific writer, Barber wrote and published numerous articles on his specialty. He is considered a pioneering scholar in his field. The Edwin Atlee Barber records include both general and administrative correspondence from Barber’s tenure at the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art. The Museum was know as the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art until 1938, when it was changed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Materials date from 1898 to 1933. Included in the collection are letters sent to Barber after his death; some of these letters were answered by Barber’s wife or daughter. This collection contains correspondence covering a broad...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art 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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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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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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Schuylkill Navy records, 1859-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:
50.0 linear feet (121 containers)
Abstract:
The Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia was founded in 1858. It is the oldest amateur athletic governing body in the United States. By charter, "[the Schuylkill Navy’s] object is to secure united action among the several Clubs and to promote amateurism on the Schuylkill River." The Schuylkill Navy records documents the history of this rowing organization from 1859 to 2009. An organization dedicated to hosting rowing events for its member clubs and visiting teams, the collection houses the administrative records of the Schuylkill Navy and its member clubs, including the original founding members as well as clubs that joined the organization later; and records related to the planning and promotion of regattas. In addition, the collection includes an extensive assortment of newspaper clippings and photographs that highlight Schuylkill Navy rowing events and its influential members. The collection contains administrative records, information regarding regattas and member rowing clubs,...(see more)

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

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Undine Barge Club records, 1856-1986 (inclusive)

Extent:
35.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Undine Barge Club records documents the history of this rowing organization from 1856 to 1986. Included in the collection are annual records on membership participation, correspondence, files regarding stewdarship of Castle Ringstetten, and scrapbooks documenting significant Undine Barge Club events. Researchers interested in the history of this organization, or on the history of activity on the Schuylkill River would find this collection useful.

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

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Read family papers, 1792-1896 (bulk) 1736-1896 (inclusive)

Extent:
70.0 linear feet and
Abstract:
The Read family consistently played an important role in American government and politics from the time that George Read, a Delaware resident, signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Throughout the 17th to 19th centuries, the Reads served as lawyers, judges, politicians, generals, consul-generals and foreign ministers. This collection contains the papers of four generations of the Read family of Philadelphia, consisting of John Read, Judge John Meredith Read, General John Meredith Read, and Harmon Pumpelly Read. The materials date from 1736 to 1896, with the bulk dating from 1792 to 1896, and include extensive correspondence, bills and receipts, genealogical notes, legal documents, newspaper clippings, photographs, scrapbooks and ephemera. The majority of the collection consists of General John Meredith Read’s papers relating to his family history and genealogy, correspondence, and political materials. The collection is particularly valuable in illustrating...(see more)

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Jean Scobie Davis papers, 1892-1985 (inclusive)

Extent:
10 linear ft. (10 containers)
Abstract:
Jean Scobie Davis, a 1914 graduate of Bryn Mawr College, taught economics and sociology at Agnes Scott College, Vassar College, Pierce College, Wells College and the American Women's College in Beirut. A lifetime interest in prison reform resulted in her work at the New York State Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, New York. The Jean Scobie Davis papers is a collection consisting largely of Jean Scobie Davis' diaries and correspondence covering nearly all stages of her life. The collection, which dates from 1892 to 1985, is divided into seven subseries: "Autobiographical Material;" "Correspondence;" "Diaries;" "Family History;" "Photographs;" "Prison Reform;" and "Scrapbooks and Guestbook." Material found in the collection is diverse, and consists of letters, reports, bound diaries as well as loose diary pages, photographs, scrapbooks, and handwritten notes.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

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John Masefield collection, 1894-1944 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear ft.
Abstract:
The poet John Masefield was born on June 1, 1878 in Ledbury, Herefordshire, England. Masefield was best known for his sea poems, including "Sea Fever" and "Cargoes," and for his long, narrative poems, including "The Everlasting Mercy." He also wrote adventure novels, short stories, and works for children, as well as two autobiographical works. In 1930, he was appointed poet laureate of England, and was awarded the Order of Merit in 1935. Masefield died near Abingdon, Berkshire on 12 May 1967. The collection contains a number of letters, a small group of material about a musical composition by Malcolm Davidson based on Masefield's poem, "A Christmas Carol", prints and photographs.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

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Karl D. Jessen papers, 1872-1980 (inclusive) 1890-1917 (bulk)

Extent:
6.2 linear ft. (13 document boxes, 3 items)
Abstract:
Karl Detlev Jessen (1872-1919) was a professor of German Literature at Bryn Mawr College from 1910 to 1919. He was involved with the Socialist movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Karl D. Jessen papers house the records of Karl D. Jessen. This collection dates from 1872 to 1980, with bulk dates of 1890 to 1917. This collection consists mostly of correspondence between Jessen and his family, friends, and colleagues, in addition to manuscripts and manuscript drafts, clippings, scrapbooks, bibliography cards of Jessen's research, and other ephemera.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

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Constantine Hering and Calvin B. Knerr family papers, 1820-1940 (bulk) 1820-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.0 linear feet (12 document boxes, 4 half-size document boxes)
Abstract:
Dr. Constantine Hering (1800-1880), born and educated in Germany, immigrated to Philadelphia in 1833 and devoted his life to the study, practice and education of homeopathic medicine in the United States. As such, he is considered the father of homeopathy in America. Hering founded several schools and organizations devoted to teaching homeopathy, especially the North American Academy of the Homeopathic Healing Arts, aka the Allentown Academy, in 1836, and the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1848. Hering’s pupil and eventual son-in-law and professional assistant, Dr. Calvin B. Knerr, also practiced homeopathy. Knerr was integrally involved in the editing of two of Hering’s books and also devoted much time and effort to writing Hering’s biography, The Life of Hering. This collection primarily houses papers of Dr. Constantine Hering and his son-in-law, Dr. Calvin B. Knerr from 1820 to 1940. To a significantly lesser extent, the collection documents the...(see more)

Held at: Drexel University: College of Medicine Legacy Center [Contact Us]

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Isabel Smith Stein collection on Elizabeth Cisney Smith, 1887-1972 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Elizabeth Cisney Smith (1881 to 1965) was a practicing physician for 35 years from the time of her graduation from Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1911 to her retirement in 1946. She primarily worked in Pennsylvania and Maryland with brief time spent in North Dakota and Ohio. Dr. Smith was an active supporter of women’s rights as well as the suffrage movement. The collection was initially compiled and arranged by Isabel Smith Stein the daughter of Dr. Elizabeth Cisney Smith, and consists of 6 linear feet of material housed in 17 boxes. This collection dates from 1887 to 1972 and is composed of diaries and memoirs, correspondence, photographs, and audio materials.

Held at: Drexel University: College of Medicine Legacy Center [Contact Us]

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Eugen and Emma Klee papers, 1901-1930 (bulk) 1852-1930 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.4 linear feet (8 boxes + 1 oversize folder)
Abstract:
This collection documents the activities of the accomplished German-American music director Eugen Klee and his wife Emma. Eugen Klee was an award-winning music director in Philadelphia from 1894 to 1913, and in New York City from 1914 until 1929. The collection includes correspondence from family, colleagues, friends, and acquaintances, mostly in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, plus newspaper clippings and ephemera. There is one file of correspondence from the Matthes family who are related to Emma Klee's mother. Also included are five scrapbooks, four of which include many newspaper clippings, music programs, correspondence, travel brochures, leaflets, and photographs related to both Eugen and Emma Klee, and the fifth is Emma Klee's scrapbook containing primarily correspondence from the year 1930.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

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Anita Schade scrapbook, 1891-1957 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:
This scrapbook documents the activities of Anita Schade and spans the years 1891 to 1957. A large portion of the materials are related to the German Literary Society which she founded in Washington, D.C., 1901. There is also content from several other organizations she was involved with, including the German Dramatic Society, the Goethe Society of America and the Shakespeare Club.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

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Colonel Richard A. Gimbel collection of Edgar Allan Poe materials, 1809-1995 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Richard Gimbel (1898-1970) was a leading rare book and manuscript collector and the son of the founder of Gimbel's department store. Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet, short-story writer, editor, and literary critic, and is considered part of the American Romantic Movement. This collection of material was largely collected by Richard A. Gimbel and dates from 1809 to 1995. It includes numerous original manuscripts and correspondence by or related to Poe.

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

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Thornton Oakley collection of Howard Pyle and his students, 1887-1951 (bulk) 1841-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:
15.83 linear feet
Abstract:
The Thornton Oakley collection of Howard Pyle and his students covers the influential artistic career of Howard Pyle and several of his students, most notably Maxfield Parrish, Violet Oakley, and N.C. Wyeth. The collection includes a wide range of materials, which was collected and assembled by Pyle’s former student Thornton Oakley. There are tear sheets of artwork published in magazines, original illustrations, photographs, research notes, manuscripts, and correspondence. Besides Howard Pyle, artists well represented in this collection include Elizabeth Shippen Green, Jessie Wilcox Smith, George Harding, Violet Oakley, N.C. Wyeth, and a large collection of material on Maxfield Parrish. There is also a series dedicated to the children’s author and art historian, Henry Clarence Pitz, who researched and wrote The Brandywine Tradition about Pyle and his artistic influence. The collection’s primary strength is the collection of artwork by Pyle and his students, some of...(see more)

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

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Free Library of Philadelphia collection of Arthur Rackham, 1890-1938 (bulk) 1831-1996 (inclusive)

Extent:
20.19 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of material created by or about the children's illustrator Arthur Rackham. It consists of correspondence, original artwork, and ephemera collected by the Free Library of Philadelphia from a number of donors and trust fund purchases. Several hundred published volumes have been cataloged separately and are findable in the Free Library's online catalog.

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

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Cyrus Adler Papers, 1866-1942, 1907-1939 (bulk). (inclusive) 1907-1939 (bulk)

Extent:
65 linear feet (129 boxes)
Abstract:
Cyrus Adler was a prominent Jewish scholar and communal builder. Born in 1863, he had a tremendous role in shaping much of Jewish America by the time of his death in 1940. The collection contains Dr. Adler's business correspondence and personal papers and spans much of his multi-faceted career. It also contains many papers connected to the formation and day-to-day business of the Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning. (See the Biography and Scope and Content Notes for a more detailed description of Adler's life and the collection.)

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Archives at the Library of the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies [Contact Us]

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Khalil A. Totah and Eva Marshall Totah papers, 1896-1955 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear ft. (4 boxes and 1 oversized box)
Abstract:
The papers revolve around three topics and provide a picture of Quakers in Palestine in the 20th century: Khalil A. Totah, his second wife, Eva Marshall Totah and his first wife, Ermina Jones Totah. Khalil Totah discusses the situation in Palestine, primarily in the 1930s, and speaks of his own life and aspirations, as when he became a Quaker minister. His diaries expand the picture, adding information about Friends Boys School in Ramallah (Palestine) and his understanding of the political situation, again primarily in the 1930s. The photographs add the dimension of geography, placing Totah at Oak Grove Seminary, Clark College, the Institute of Arab American Affairs, and at the Friends School in Ramallah. The papers of Ermina Jones Totah portray an earnest and dedicated teacher and wife, but carry little detail. Eva Marshall Totah has the largest quantity of correspondence, primarily 1920s and 1930s. These, along with her diaries, provide great detail to the life and work at the...(see more)

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Bacon family papers, 1725-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:
4 linear ft.
Abstract:
Included are letters to the Bacons from family and friends; biographical and genealogical materials; travel letters; Margaret Hope Bacon's diaries of her trip to China under the auspices of the American Friends Service Committee, 1972; to Australia, 1989 and Galapagos, 1992; to Costa Rica and Friends World Committee for Consultation, 1988; and Egypt, 1990; Margaret Hope Bacon's letters; Allen Bacon's letters; stories by Norman Borchardt (M.H. Bacon's father); Francis Bacon in Germany.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Thomas Chase papers, 1843-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:
.75 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
Correspondence, portraits, photographs, clippings, articles, addresses, lecture notes, diary, and miscellaneous papers related to Thomas Chase (1827-1892), his family, and his years at Haverford as professor and president of the College.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Families of Philadelphia papers, 1700-1942 (inclusive)

Extent:
16.5 linear ft. (33 boxes)
Abstract:
Papers of the Philadelphia families Bloomfield, Coates, Cresson, Emlen, Gumbes, Horner, Howel, Lloyd, Macomb, Moore, Vaux and Wetherill families from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of these families were Quaker, including Coates, Emlen and Vaux; others had some Quaker family members, including Cresson, other families, including Gumbes and Wetherill, did not remain Quaker.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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James Wood papers, 1865-1921 1865-1964 (inclusive) 1865-1921 (bulk)

Extent:
10.75 linear ft. (21 boxes, 1 tube) and 21 containers and one rolled document
Abstract:
James Wood (1839-1925) was "interested in education, philanthropy, in the various branches of agriculture, in archaeology, history, Indian lore, anthropology, science, in prison reform and above all, in the Bible and religion," (ABS, 2). He was also a business man, serving as President of the Genesee Salt Company in Piffard, New York. The James Wood papers are divided into twelve series: "Biographical Material:" "Agriculture;" Business and Financial Material;" "Collected Quaker Material;" "Correspondence;" "Hugh Barbour Writings and Talks regarding James Wood;" "Journals;" "Organizations;" "Photographs and Albums;" "Political Involvement;" Prison Reform;" and lastly, "Writings by James Wood." This collection contains many materials, including correspondence, photographs, record books, awards, and printed material such as newspapers and pamphlets. Given Wood's heavy involvement in agriculture, this collection has high research value for those interested in farming methods, live stock...(see more)

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Taylor and Nicholson family papers, 1869-1944 1810-1999 (inclusive) 1869-1944 (bulk)

Extent:
10.75 linear ft. (21 boxes and 2 rolled items in a tube) and 21 containers and 3 rolled photographs
Abstract:
The Taylor and Nicholson family papers contain the records of these two families from the late-nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries. The two focal points of this collection are William Nicholson Taylor (1882-1945), and his mother, Rebecca Morgan Nicholson Taylor (1857-1944). William graduated from Harvard in 1903 and afterwards spent considerable time abroad studying architecture. He also served as an officer in the United States Military from 1916 to 1917, and worked in diplomacy after the war. Rebecca was a noted writer and poet during this time period. The strength of this collection is the collected materials related to William's time in the military, as well as his sketchbooks related to architecture and Harvard. Researchers interested in the works of Rebecca Morgan Nicholson Taylor or Quaker women, should also consult Rebecca's notebook and correspondence. There is extensive correspondence between the various members of these two families from the 1880s to 1940s.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Reinhardt, Hawley and Hewes family papers, 1762-1955 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear ft. (9 boxes)
Abstract:
The Reinhardt, Hawley, Hewes and Meredith families are tied together through marriage and their Quaker faith across multiple generations. William Dell Reinhardt, a University of Pennsylvania graduate and doctor, married Rebecca Hawley, a teacher. They had six children: Jesse Hawley Reinhardt, Mary Bailey Reinhardt, Esther Meredith Reinhardt, Lydia Ludwig Reinhardt, Elizabeth Christina Reinhardt, and David Jones Reinhardt. David Jones Reinhardt married Anna Margaret Hewes in 1896. These individuals created the bulk of the material contained within this collection. This collection consists of correspondence; account books; certificates; diaries and household information lists; friendship books; land and insurance records; marriage certificates; miscellaneous family records; wills and estates; genealogical research; photographs; Quaker tracts and poetry; newspaper clippings; and Acts of the Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania. Before looking into the collection, a researcher...(see more)

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Isaac Sharpless presidential papers, 1877-1917 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear ft. (3 volumes, 1 folder)
Abstract:
Isaac Sharpless's papers consist of several publications by and about Sharpless, two letter books containing copies of his outgoing correspondence as President of Haverford College, and a scrapbook containing newspaper and journal articles by and about Sharpless.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Esther B. Rhoads collection on Quakers in Japan, 1897-1935 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (2 folders)
Abstract:
This collection is comprised of three folders of materials related to Quakers in Japan, and specifically focuses on information about Anna C. Hartshorne, an American Quaker, and Inazo Nitobe, a Japanese Quaker, collected by Esther B. Rhoads.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Morris-Libby papers, 1826, 1950, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (3 folders)
Abstract:
This collection is comprised of the correspondence of Frederick Libby and Ellison Morris, regarding war crimes trials, as well as a number of photographs, including a photograph of Arch St.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Christian Association Records, 1857-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
60.0 cubic feet
Abstract:
The Christian Association of the University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1901, with the mission to promote "spiritual welfare of the students of the University of Pennsylvania by encouraging Christian fellowship and cooperation." The records of the Christian Association reflect the history of a hundred-plus-year-old institution which, with large and diverse investments, strong ties to the Protestant church, and a long and involved relationship with the University, has been engaged in a wide range of programs and activities.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center [Contact Us]

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Jane Wright Proctor Wallis family papers, 1833-2007 (inclusive)

Extent:
10 linear feet (18 boxes)
Abstract:
A Philadelphia native, Jane Wright Proctor Wallis (1875-1956) was the daughter of Sarah Jane Wright and Josiah Kendall Proctor (the founder and owner of several prominent city businesses) and a mother of ten children. The Jane Wright Proctor Wallis family papers provide a glimpse into early 20th-century family life through correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, and memorabilia. The collection dates from 1833 to 2007, revealing a pride in the history and genealogy of the Proctor Wallis family across its many generations. In addition to familial topics, this collection features many materials documenting events of the early 20th Century as well as various Philadelphia-area social and charitable clubs.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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H. H. Furness Memorial Library manuscript collection, 1575-1991 (inclusive) 1812-1930 (bulk)

Extent:
10 linear feet (20 boxes and one oversized folder)
Abstract:
The H.H. Furness Memorial Library focuses on the study of Shakespeare and other Tudor and Stuart dramatists. Horace Howard Furness (1833-1912) and his son Horace Howard Furness Jr. (1865-1930) founded and edited the Variorum Shakespeare and their library was donated to the University of Pennsylvania in 1932. This collection contains personal correspondence to and from Rev. William Henry Furness (1802-1896), Horace Howard Furness, and Horace Howard Furness, Jr., largely relating to Shakespearean study and the H.H. Furness Memorial library; notebooks; copies of speeches and articles; and other assorted items relating to Shakespearean scholarship or to the Furness family.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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May Sinclair papers, circa 1863-1963 (inclusive)

Extent:
52 boxes
Abstract:
Personal papers of May Sinclair, including letters; manuscripts, typescripts, and galleys of her writings; workbooks; works by her friends; biographical information; photographs and illustrations; and miscellaneous items. The collection also includes the research correspondence and miscellaneous items of Theophilus Boll, May Sinclair's biographer.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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S. Weir Mitchell collection, 1861-1935 (inclusive)

Extent:
19 boxes
Abstract:
The S. Weir Mitchell Correspondence series (23 folders)includes correspondence with James Lane Allen, Richard Watson Gilder, William Dean Howells, Robert Underwood Johnson, Henry C. Lea, James Russell Lowell, Charles Leonard Moore, and John Greenleaf Whittier. The remaining series comprise S. Weir Mitchell Writings (8 folders), including both medical and other writings; Langdon and Marion Mitchell Correspondence (5 folders); Langdon and Marion Mitchell Clippings (2 folders), primarily consisting of obituaries for Langdon Mitchell; Civil War Scrapbook (1 box); Photographs (2 boxes); S. Weir Mitchell Literary Writings (16 boxes)includes holographs of 5 novels, 2 plays, and a short story or novella.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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James DePreist papers, 1869-2014 (inclusive) 1958-2013 (bulk)

Extent:
98 linear feet (130 boxes, + 2 map drawer folders) and 872.0 megabytes
Abstract:
James DePreist (1936-2013) was an African-American conductor of international renown. This collection primarily documents James DePreist's conducting career, with a focus on the 1980s and 1990s with the Oregon Symphony, including organizational records, concert programs, press coverage, scores, and recordings.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Johan Thorsten Sellin papers, 1886-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:
82 boxes
Abstract:
The Johan Thorsten Sellin Papers include correspondence; biographical materials; drafts of writings; notes; clippings about Sellin's work; minutes; reprints of criminology articles; memorabilia; and some photographs. The material is largely professional, not personal, and documents Sellin's research as a penologist and his career as a teacher of sociology and criminology, as well as his works in Swedish-American causes.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Carl W. Gatter collection on Ezra Pound, 1894-1979 (inclusive)

Extent:
10 boxes
Abstract:
The collection contains very little original Pound material, although there are six folders of photocopied correspondence from him to various correspondents, primarily from the period when Pound was institutionalized at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. Correspondents include Pound's wife Dorothy and an early girlfriend Mary Moore. There are 22 folders of correspondence to Gatter relating to the early life of Ezra Pound. The balance of the collection comprises Gatter's research material on the life of Ezra Pound, including some printed material and photographs.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Ashley Bryan papers, 1823-2019 (inclusive) 1928-2019 (bulk)

Extent:
85 linear feet (146 boxes)
Abstract:
Ashley Bryan (1923-2022) was an artist and storyteller best known for his award-winning children's book illustrations with particular emphasis on African folktales and African-American spirituals. Bryan authored, illustrated, published, and distributed his first book in Kindergarten, later graduating from Cooper Union and Columbia University, being awarded a Fulbright to study at the University of Freiburg, before becoming a professor at Dartmouth College. The collection documents his lifelong devotion to the arts including sketchbooks, artwork, and especially materials relating to the publication process of over sixty book projects. There is also material relating to his professional engagements; certificates, awards, diplomas, and plaques relating to his many achievements; and personal and family materials, notebooks, photographs, greeting cards and postcards, school children thank you cards and artwork, and research files and ephemera. Also included are foundational...(see more)

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Sarah Brown Hooker Capron papers, 1836-1900 (inclusive)

Extent:
.417 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Sarah Brown Hooker Capron (1824-1918) was an evangelical missionary in Madura, India for close to thirty years. Appointed to the American Madura Mission in Madura, India by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, she provided educational, evangelistic and medical services to local women and children. This collection consists of correspondence, writings and photographs documenting Capron's missionary work, dating from 1857 to 1886.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Lorenz and Zehring family papers, 1880-2018 (inclusive) 1920s-1970s (bulk)

Extent:
10.25 linear feet (16 boxes)
Abstract:
Rev. Dr. Edmund Simon Lorenz was an American pastor, hymnist and composer who founded the Lorenz Publishing Company in 1890. The Lorenz and Zehring family papers documents the descendants and history of these families. Materials comprise: photographs, scrapbooks, correspondence, music, printed materials, some audiovisual, poems, plays, report cards, minutes, clippings, diaries, certificates, genealogy research and family histories.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Wistar, Pennock, Lukens, Miller, and Davis family papers, 1686-1967 (inclusive) 1740-1920 (bulk)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet (4 boxes)
Abstract:
The Wistar Family papers measure 1.5 linear feet, date from 1686-1967, and are comprised of correspondence; family and estate documents; genealogical research; and other family material. The collection documents the personal and family lives of Dr. Caspar Wistar II (1740-1811), Mary "Polly" Franklin Wistar (1735-1804), Mary Pearsall Franklin (1703-1786), Sarah Wistar Pennock (1770-1845), Caspar Wistar Pennock (1799-1867), Sarah "Sallie" Wistar Pennock Miller (1840-1909), Virginia Preston Weaver Miller (1868-1951) and Virginia Weaver Miller.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Edwin S. Stuart papers, 1884-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:
40.0 boxes
Abstract:
Edwin Sydney Stuart (1853-1937) was a Philadelphia businessman and politician during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to owning and operating a successful bookstore, Stuart also served as mayor of Philadelphia from 1891 to 1995 and governor of Pennsylvania from 1907 to 1911. The Edwin S. Stuart papers, as received by Temple University, reflect a portion of the files from the Stuart/Emmons family and material stored at Leary & Co. prior to the closing of the firm in 1969. The records date from 1884 to 1937, and reflect both the archives of the Leary firm and the political and social activities of Governor Stuart. His papers document a variety of personal activities and social functions as well as his work with Girard College and the Union League. While the papers do document some of his political functions in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, this collection does not contain his formal political office files.

Held at: Temple University Libraries Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

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Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia papers on expeditions, 1819-1969 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.0 containers
Abstract:
The oldest natural sciences institution in the Western Hemisphere, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, was founded when the United States hugged the Atlantic coastline, and Philadelphia was the cultural, commercial, and scientific center of the new nation. Classic expeditions to explore the western wilderness were organized at the Academy. These explorers brought back new species of plants and animals, which were studied and catalogued; and which formed the foundation of the Academy's scientific collections, now consisting of more than 17,000,000 specimens. This collection documents the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia's expeditions across the globe from 1891 to 1977. The collection is rich in material, particularly regarding the Academy's expedition to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in 1969. There is some general information regarding expeditions, especially in regard to the Committee on Names, which is responsible for selecting offical names for special...(see more)

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

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H. A. Pilsbry papers, 1900-1953 (bulk) 1885-1957 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.75 linear feet (8 containers)
Abstract:
Henry Augustus Pilsbry, Dean of American Malacologists, was the conservator, curator and head of the Department of Shells at the Academy of Natural Sciences for 70 years. He was also the internationally recognized authority in the field of land mollusks. He wrote and edited many volumes of the Manual of Conchology and from 1889 until his death was an editor of the journal Nautilus, which he founded. A member of many scientific expeditions, he traveled all over the United States, to the Caribbean, South America, Mexico, Hawaii and other Pacific Islands, and to Australia. This collection contains the professional papers of Henry A. Pilsbry between the years 1885 and 1957. The bulk of this collection consists of Pilsbry’s working files and drafts of published material that came from those files, including a draft of the second volume of Land Mollusks of North America. Pilsbry’s correspondence is by far the most valuable part of this...(see more)

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

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John E. Hand & Sons Co. records, 1865-2002, undated [bulk dates: 1900-1980]

Extent:
26.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The John E. Hand & Sons Company was founded in Philadelphia in 1873. The Hand Company built navigational equipment for all varieties of floating vessels, and operated a chain of retail outlets with “service stations” in numerous port cities, including Baltimore and New Orleans, until 1956. Service stations sold Hand instruments as well as other nautical paraphernalia and provided compass adjusting services. The collection documents the business activities of the John E. Hand & Sons Company from its institution in 1873 to 1997, when the company was sold. The collection boasts a wide breadth of material that includes legal documents, financial records, patents, correspondence, contracts, reports, catalogs and other ephemera, photographs, and engineering plans. Together, the records provide a thorough account of the firm’s operations.

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

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David Lynch papers, 1830-1858 (bulk) 1830-1875 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
David Lynch (1793-1860) was an active member of the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania in the mid-19th century and a friend and supporter of President James Buchanan. The bulk of this collection is comprised of Lynch's correspondence with other politically active Pennsylvanians and includes letters between Lynch and Buchanan. Also included are personal papers, pamphlets, religious ephemera, newspaper clippings, photos, and engravings.

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

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Robert M. O'Reilly papers, 1862-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
Robert Maitland O'Reilly (1845-1912) was the 20th Surgeon General of the United States Army serving from September 7, 1902 to January 14, 1909. O'Reilly served a long military medical career beginning as a medical cadet in August 1862 during the Civil War. Other notable appointments include physician at the White House during both of President Grover Cleveland's administrations, attending surgeon in Washington, D. C., and chief surgeon for several units during the Spanish-American War. He also served as a delegate at the International Conference for the Revision of the Geneva Convention in Geneva in 1906. During his time as surgeon general, O'Reilly made significant improvements by elevating the status and personnel of the army medical corps and furthering medical research. This collection contains both personal and professional correspondence, much of which documents O'Reilly's service during the Civil War. Also included are personal papers, including certificates of appointment...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

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Carolyn Haywood papers, 1884-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:
42.0 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains the personal and literary papers of children's author and illustrator Carolyn Haywood. The collection consists of manuscripts, illustrations, proofs, sketchbooks, correspondence, clippings, audiovisual materials, photographs, scrapbooks, diplomas, and awards.

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

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A. Edward Newton collection, 1892-1941 (bulk) 1808-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.0 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of Philadelphia book collector A. Edward Newton (1864-1940). The bulk of the materials are book manuscripts, correspondence, keepsakes, and newspaper clippings, with published volumes cataloged separately. The collection relates to his book collecting activities and was primarily compiled by his son, E. Swift Newton, with additional material given by various donors.

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

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Beatrix Potter collection, 1900-1943 (bulk) 1884-2004 (inclusive)

Extent:
40.64 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of material created by or about the children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. It contains correspondence, original artwork, manuscripts, collectibles, research material, and ephemera collected by the Free Library of Philadelphia.

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

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Ed Wynn papers, 1907-1966 (bulk) 1890-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.0 linear feet (8 boxes)
Abstract:
This collection contains the correspondence and papers of actor and comedian Ed Wynn. The collection includes ideas for gags, box office records for staged productions, telegrams, postcards, 65 publicity photographs, 50 gag magazines, and family papers and mementos. There are also approximately 300 newspaper and magazine clippings about Wynn and his productions as well as 20 printed posters and artwork in various media of Wynn.

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

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Office of the President records, 1913-1954 (bulk) 1891-1965 (inclusive)

Extent:
9.0 cubic feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of subject files created by the Office of the President during the tenures of the first six presidents of the Drexel Institute: James MacAlister (1840-1913, president 1891-1913), Hollis Godfrey (1874-1936, president 1914-1921), Kenneth Matheson (1864-1931, president 1921-1932), Parke R. Kolbe (1881-1942, president 1932-1942), George P. Rea (1894-1978, president 1942-1944), and James Creese (1896-1966, president 1945-1963), as well as during the interim presidency of Robert C. Disque (1883-1968, interim president 1944-1945). The subject files cover individuals affiliated with the university, faculty, university committees, historical events, and subjects of interest. It is likely that the files were compiled and arranged at least in part by Harriet Worrell, who worked in the Office of the President during the mid twentieth century; many records contain her annotations.

Held at: Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Bradford collection of biographies of Homoeopathic Physicians, 1868-1918 (inclusive)

Extent:
36.0 containers
Abstract:
Dr. Thomas L. Bradford (1847-1918) was a practicing homeopathic physician in Maine, Europe and Philadelphia. While practicing and teaching in Philadelphia he served as curator for the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital of Philadelphia. From 1896 to 1916, he collected, organized and maintained material for 35 scrapbooks of biographical information about homeopathic physicians.

Held at: Drexel University: College of Medicine Legacy Center [Contact Us]

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Bacon Family papers, 1800-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:
8 linear ft. (16 boxes and 1 volume)
Abstract:
Correspondence, diaries and photographs relating to the 20th- century Quakers Edith Farquhar Bacon and Francis Rogers Bacon, their families, forbears, friends and colleagues.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Elizabeth Gray Vining papers, 1897-1989 (inclusive)

Extent:
14.5 linear ft. (24 boxes, 8 volumes)
Abstract:
Elizabeth Gray Vining (1902-1999) was an author of children's books and served as the tutor to the crown prince of Japan, Akihito, from 1946 to 1950. The collection consists of correspondence, materials regarding books authored by Vining, articles, lectures and addresses, photographs, and information documenting her and her family's lives.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Evelyn Manuel Huber collection of Mumford and Huber family material, 1884-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.42 linear feet (1 box + 1 book)
Abstract:
This collection contains letters from Lewis and Sophia Mumford to Evelyn Manuel Huber, Lewis Mumford's cousin once removed. The letters date from 1959 to 1993 and document the private and professional activities of Lewis and Sophia Mumford. A family photo album of the Baron, Huber and Mumford families is also included.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Burton Rascoe papers, 1890-1957 (inclusive) 1920-1957 (bulk)

Extent:
20 linear feet (27 boxes)
Abstract:
Burton Rascoe (1892-1957) was an American literary critic, journalist, editor, and author working in the first half of the 20th century. His confrontational style stirred up much debate and helped generate interest in up-and-coming writers that Rascoe believed showed promise; most notably, Rascoe was an early champion of writers such as James Branch Cabell, Theodore Dreiser, and H. L. Mencken. The collection consists of his correspondence, including some with famous literary figures; writings by Rascoe in draft and published form; papers relating to a lawsuit with Max Annenberg; diaries and notebooks; photographs; and clippings.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Seybert Commission for Investigating Modern Spiritualism records , 1884-1922 (inclusive) 1884-1887 (bulk)

Extent:
8 boxes
Abstract:
Collection consists of 9 series. External Correspondence (3 boxes) includes letters from mediums, spiritualists, and researchers of spiritualistic phenomena. The remaining series in the collection are Commission Correspondence (21 folders), Commission Report (7 folders), Investigation Materials (10 folders), Spiritualist Photographs (3 folders), Newspaper Clippings (6 folders), Publications (17 folders), Miscellaneous (3 folders), and Oversize (2 boxes + 1 large chart).

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Henry Sandwith Drinker collection of musical autographs, 1846-1943 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Henry Sandwith Drinker was a lawyer and a musicologist who graduated from Haverford College, probably in 1900. This collection includes the autographs of renowned musicians, including Johannes Brahms, Franz Liszt, and Felix Mendelssohn. These autographs are found on letters and in one case, a calling card.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Bancroft family papers, 1850-1953 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
The Bancroft family lived in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia. This collection includes personal papers from sisters Bessie and Marie, as well as Bessie's diary for the year 1904. Business papers from their uncles Addison and Henry, who were in the real estate and insurance businesses respectively, are also included. Addison Bancroft's lease papers reflect a professional relationship with George W. Childs.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Sophia Wittenberg Mumford papers, 1875-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:
23.22 linear feet (48 boxes, 1 oversized folder)
Abstract:
The Sophia Wittenberg Mumford papers contain, correspondence, writings, diaries, photographs, memorabilia, audio-visual material, financial and legal material documenting the private and public life of Sophia and her husband, author Lewis Mumford. A large majority of this collection is remnants of Lewis Mumford's papers that remained in their house upon his death in 1990 and were finally transferred to the University of Pennsylvania after her death in 1997.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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George Seldes papers, 1845-1994 (inclusive) 1907-1994 (bulk)

Extent:
56.5 linear feet (81 boxes)
Abstract:
The George Seldes papers document Seldes's career as a journalist, publisher and author. The papers provide an invaluable look at his crusade to hold the press accountable by exposing its corruption. Seldes believed the fight for a free press the most important fight in the world.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Dana Richardson collection of Constant Vauclain material, 1898-2008 (inclusive) 1930-2000 (bulk)

Extent:
5 linear feet (8 boxes)
Abstract:
The Dana Richardson collection of Constant Vauclain material contains sheet music, audio cassettes, essays, notes and analysis of music, correspondence, newspaper clippings, event programs, photographs, poetry and lyrics. Andre Constant Vauclain (1908-2003) was a composer and professor of music who developed a new system of composition that he called, "syntonality." Dana Dimitri Richardson (1953-), is a composer and music theorist who studied under Constant Vauclain from 1971 to 1976.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Olivia Stokes Hatch papers, 1859-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:
13 linear ft. (13 containers, 1 photograph)
Abstract:
The Olivia Stokes Hatch papers reveal the relief work of women during the early 20th century, as well as family relationships, largely illustrated through extensive family correspondence. Olivia Stokes Hatch (1908-1983) was born in New Haven, CT and attended Bryn Mawr College from 1925 to 1930. Prior to her marriage she was very active with the American Red Cross and American Conferences of Social Work. In 1939, Olivia Phelps Stokes married John Davis Hatch, Jr. an art collector, consultant, and museum director. They had four children: John Davis Hatch III, Daniel Lindley Hatch, James Stokes Hatch, and Sarah Stokes Hatch. Anna V.S. Mitchell, the sister of Caroline Mitchell Phelps Stokes, and the aunt of Olivia Stokes Hatch, spent most of her life engaged in relief work. Her career began in 1915 in Serbia and ended in 1936 in Constantinople. The Olivia Stokes Hatch papers, 1859 to 1993, is a collection that consists largely of correspondence between the Phelps, Stokes, Mitchell, and...(see more)

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

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Andrew H. Woods papers, 1885-1956 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.8 linear ft.
Abstract:
Andrew H. Woods (1872 – 1956) became vice president of Canton College in Guangzhou, China in 1899. He maintained his association with Canton Christian College throughout the Boxer Rebellion, or Yihetuan Movement, and the end of the Qing dynasty. Woods moved back and forth between China and the United States with his wife, Fanny Sinclair, who graduated from Bryn Mawr in 1901. In 1929, the couple and their children settled in Iowa. In Iowa, Woods worked as a professor and practitioner of neurology and psychology. Andrew H. Woods' papers include diaries which describe his personal life and professional life in China and in the United States, photographs and postcards, much of Agnes Sinclair's personal correspondence, his articles, and various papers.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

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Florence Bascom papers, 1883-1938 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.5 linear ft.
Abstract:
Florence Bascom (1862-1945) was a noted American geologist, specializing in petrography. She attended the University of Wisconsin, receiving her BA degree in 1882 and her MA degree in 1884, and was the first woman to be granted a PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 1893. From 1895 to 1928, Bascom taught at Bryn Mawr College, where she established the Geology Department. In 1896, she became the first woman appointed to the United States Geological Survey. The Florence Bascom papers, 1862-1938, offer evidence of Bascom's career as a regarded geologist and petrographer, particularly her tenure with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The papers allude to many of Bascom's geological interests and projects, but do not seem to offer comprehensive documentation of any. Her work for the USGS is by far the best represented of all her efforts. The collection is divided into five series: Correspondence, 1897-1937," "Research, 1892-1930" "Travel journal, 1883-1885," "United States...(see more)

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

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Library records, 1891-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:
23.25 cubic feet (44 containers)
Abstract:
The Library records contains documentation of the Drexel University Library from its creation in 1891 to 2003. Drexel University Library has been housed in three different buildings; the Main Building (1891-1958), the Korman Center (1959-1982) and W.W. Hagerty Library (1983-2010). The library was also responsible for running the library school until 1962, with the exception of the years 1914 to 1922 when the library school was suspended. The documents in this collection constitute a record of the activities of the directors, the internal library departments, and the intensive planning of the form and function of the two library buildings.

Held at: Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Pennsylvania Horticultural Society records, 1791-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:
22.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) was founded on November 24, 1827 by fifty-three prominent Philadelphians; among them Horace Binney, David Landreth Jr., William Davidson, George Pepper, Nicolas Biddle and Moses Brown. Emulating similar societies existing in England at the time, the men formed their Society to promote “a highly instructive and interesting science for the purpose of improving the growth of vegetables, plants, trees, fruits and flowers.” Since that time, the Society and its membership has fostered “…an appreciation of plants, acquiring scientific knowledge about them, disseminating horticultural information, and involving the public in gardening and beautifying the City of Philadelphia.” More recently, the Society has worked specifically to beautify the city and help realize William Penn’s founding vision for Philadelphia to be a “greene countrie towne.” This is a collection of administrative records from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The...(see more)

Held at: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society [Contact Us]

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President's Office and Administrative Records, 1874-2003, 1939-1993 (bulk) 1874-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:
82.6 linear feet (146 containers)
Abstract:
The oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (ANSP) was founded in 1812 "for the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences, and the advancement of useful learning." Since the founding of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, there have been twenty-eight presidents and five acting presidents. From 1937 to 1995, there were four presidents and one acting president who left their administrations well documented: Charles M.B. Cadwalader (1937-1951), William M. Marvel (1971-1974), Milton H. Wahl (1974-1976), Thomas Peter Bennett (1976-1985) and Keith Stewart Thomson (1986-1995). In addition, several key staff members who worked closely with these presidents left a record of their influence and contributions. This collection contains papers kept by the Office of the President as well as some of the various divisions of the Academy overseen by the President from 1874 to 2003. The bulk of the...(see more)

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

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George Sproule papers, 1884-1944 (bulk) 1784-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.16 linear feet (3 boxes, 17 volumes)
Abstract:
George F. Sproule (1867-1928), known as an authority on the Port of Philadelphia, served on the Board of Port Wardens of Philadelphia from 1884 to 1907, as Secretary of the Board of Commissioners of Navigation for the Delaware River from 1907 to 1920, and as Director of Wharves, Docks and Ferries from 1920 to 1928. His son, Samuel Jackson Sproule served as Port Representative for the United States Shipping Administration, Recruitment and Manning Organization during World War II. This collection documents the professional life of George F. Sproule in the Philadelphia shipping and maritime industry in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the history of the Port of Philadelphia, and the World War II career of his son. The collection includes clippings, correspondence, appointment books, a scrapbook, business records, photographs, ephemera, and writings. The collection also includes a large number of maritime-related newspaper clipping volumes dating from 1891 to 1928.

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

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The professional and personal papers of Edwin Wolf 2nd, 1920-1988 (bulk) 1798-1996 (inclusive)

Extent:
20.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Edwin Wolf 2nd (1911-1991) was a librarian, bibliophile, author, historian, Franklin scholar, and a civic leader in Philadelphia. Wolf was Curator of the Library Company from 1953 to 1955, and then served as Librarian from 1955 to 1984. During those years, he led the Library Company though a period of rejuvenation, growth, and prosperity. The Edwin Wolf 2nd papers contain correspondence, research files, volumes, publications, photographs, and other records that document the education, career, and personal family life of one of Philadelphia’s most prominent bookmen during the 20th century.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Martin, Campbell, and Furlong families papers, 1825-1930 (bulk) 1795-1963 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.2 linear feet (; 13 boxes)
Abstract:
This collection contains papers that document several generations of the Martin, Campbell, and Furlong families with the Martin family receiving the most coverage. To a lesser extent, the Kennedy and Jenkins families, who had strong personal and mercantile ties to the Martin family, are also represented. These interrelated middle class Irish Catholic families from Philadelphia were involved in several prominent industries in the region, including overseas commerce. Devout in their religious beliefs, the families, the Campbells in particular, played a significant role in shaping Catholicity in Philadelphia. Members of the Campbell family were also actively involved in political and social movements of the nineteenth- and twentieth-centuries, including the labor movement and women’s suffrage. Distinguished members of these families are represented, including suffragist and writer Sarah Jane Campbell (1844-1928). Items in the collection date from 1795 to 1939 with the majority of...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

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John F. Ballier papers, circa 1831-1892

Extent:
2.5 linear feet (6 boxes)
Abstract:
The collection primarily includes records related to the Civil War service of John F. Ballier, including correspondence, guard reports, muster rolls, military orders, and other papers pertaining to the 21st and the 98th Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers, which Ballier commanded. Other papers of Ballier include a handwritten copy of a resolution of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, Third Regiment, acknowledging Ballier's retirement in 1876; and a personal scrapbook of correspondence, memorabilia, ephemera, and clippings documenting his Civil War service as well as other events throughout his life. Many items in the scrapbook relate to German-American societies and festivities in Philadelphia. Also included are records of discharges and payments to veterans of regiments in Pennsylvania and in other states; and a volume entitled Pennsylvania Militia Legion cashbook.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

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Krutzke family papers, circa 1860s-1934, 1948-1969

Extent:
0.33 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:
This collection consists of correspondence, photographs and memorabilia from the Krutzke (Krutzky) family. The correspondence is mostly addressed to Herbert Krutzke and his wife, Luise (Louise) Krutzke (née Greger), German Americans who came from East Prussia and lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The correspondents are family members and several friends living in Germany. The correspondence falls into two time periods, 1911 to 1934 and 1948 to 1969. The memorabilia includes an art work, partly sewn, with a handwritten text, created by a German child in school, in the 1860s or early 1870s.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

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Lida Poynter collection on Dr. Mary E. Walker, circa 1850-1946

Extent:
30.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Lida Poynter collection on Dr. Mary E. Walker consists of Poynter’s unpublished manuscript and research notes on the life of Dr. Mary E. Walker. Mary E. Walker (1832-1919) was a physician who served as a surgeon during the Civil War. She was awarded the Medal of Honor for her service and remains the only woman to have received the Medal. Throughout her life, she wrote, lectured and taught on medicine, dress reform, suffrage, and women’s rights, in general. In addition to Poynter's manuscript and research notes, this collection features correspondence to and from Mary Walker, correspondence to and from Lida Poynter, and photographs of Mary Walker.

Held at: Drexel University: College of Medicine Legacy Center [Contact Us]

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General correspondence relating to Civil Works projects originating under the Wilmington and Philadelphia Engineers, 1907-1943 (bulk) 1871-1948 (inclusive)

Extent:
113.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Philadelphia District of the Army Corps of Engineers was established in 1866, to manage the water resources of the Delaware River Basin, and of the Atlantic Coast from the Manasquan Inlet of New Jersey to the southern boundary of Delaware. The “General correspondence relating to Civil Works projects originating under the Wilmington and Philadelphia Engineers” collection houses correspondence, blueprints, maps, bids, photographs and reports dating from 1871 to 1948 [bulk 1907-1943]. This collection relates to civil engineering projects in the Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey area, such as: dredging of rivers, creeks and harbors; flood control; removing wrecks; bridge building and maintenance; dam building and maintenance; and relocations of roads, cemeteries and railroad lines.

Held at: National Archives at Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Vaux Family papers, 1708-1995 (inclusive) 1912-1932 (bulk)

Extent:
12.5 linear ft. (24 boxes and 2 rolled documents in 1 tube)
Abstract:
The Vaux family was deeply involved with Quaker and Native American affairs throughout much of the 19th and early 20th centuries. George Vaux, Sr. was involved in Quaker activity through the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and other Quaker meetings throughout the world (including Antigua and London). Both George Vaux, Jr. and Mary Morris Vaux Walcott, his sister, served as commissioners for the U.S. Board of Indian Commissioners. This organization was established by the United States Congress in 1869 to watch over federal policies regarding Native Americans and to make certain that treaty obligations were fulfilled, especially in reference to supply deliveries. George Vaux, III also worked as the treasurer of the Indian Committee of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Within the collection are letters, reports, photographs, land surveys, and administrative records. This collection may be of special interest to researchers who are studying both the history and recent state of affairs of...(see more)

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Sarah Wistar Rhoads family papers, 1824-1930 1824-1963 (inclusive) 1824-1930 (bulk)

Extent:
4.75 linear ft. (19 boxes)
Abstract:
The Sarah Wistar Rhoads family papers indicate strong relationships and family ties that spanned the 19th and 20th centuries. Sarah Wistar Rhoads (1839-1920) married William Gibbons Rhoads (1838-1880) on November 28, 1866. At that time, the Rhoads, Gibbons and Wistar families began corresponding, the result being an outstanding collection illustrating family support, friendship and love. These papers include correspondence, financial records, diaries and journals, memorabilia, classwork and notes, copied poems, prayers, sermons and verses, memorials, genealogical research, Quaker material and photographs. Researchers interested in family papers and Quaker family dynamics, social life, and customs may find this collection extremely useful.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Theodore Brinton Hetzel papers and graphics, 1866-1987 (inclusive) 1930-1987 (bulk)

Extent:
13 linear ft. (26 boxes)
Abstract:
Theodore Hetzel (1906-1990) was a Quaker professor of engineering at Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania, whose interests led him to involvement with Native American and Quaker issues. An avid photographer, the materials in this collection are primarily photographic, as well as correspondence and documents.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Benjamin Cadbury papers, 1884-1945

Extent:
.3 linear ft. (3 folders)
Abstract:
This collection is comprised of the papers of Benjamin Cadbury, and includes Cadbury's correspondence, photographs, school records.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Janney family papers, 1800-1870 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (6 folders)
Abstract:
This collection contains Janney family papers, and includes family correspondence, newspaper clippings, financial records, legal papers, maps, and photographs.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Joseph Mendenhall papers, 1882-1903 (inclusive)

Extent:
.15 linear ft. (3 folders)
Abstract:
The collection consists primarily of lively letters by Joseph Mendenhall, a Quaker bachelor, to his cousin. They are written from Lawrence, Kansas, between 1882 and 1903, on topics ranging from Quaker ministers, the possibility of less plainness in meetinghouses, and many details about episodes in his or others' lives.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Wood family papers, 1839-1885

Extent:
.2 linear ft. (5 folders)
Abstract:
This collection is comprised of the papers of the Wood family, and includes primarily sketches made by various family members, and engravings of Quaker leaders, though it also includes a single letter to Richard D. Wood, two unidentified photographs and the Will of Julianna R. Wood.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

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Gotham Book Mart records, 1723-2006 (inclusive) 1967-2006 (bulk)

Extent:
79 linear feet (95 boxes)
Abstract:
The Gotham Book Mart (1920-2006) was one of New York City's most iconic bookstores during the 20th century. Founded by Frances Steloff (1887-1989), the daughter of poor Russian-Jewish immigrants, the Book Mart became a social center for the New York literati and a focal point for literary modernism in the United States. Steloff's successor, independent literary manuscript dealer Andreas Brown (1933-), maintained the store's focus on avant garde and small press publications while incorporating his own interests in postcards and genealogy. This collection contains 91 boxes of material relating to the daily operation of the Book Mart; correspondence, biographical, and legal material from both Brown and Steloff; postcard and genealogical material collected by Brown; photographs of the store, its employees, and events which took place there; and manuscripts and ephemera offered for sale.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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E. Sculley Bradley papers, 1876-1970 (inclusive) 1944-1962 (bulk)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet (6 boxes)
Abstract:
Edward Sculley Bradley (1897-1987) was a scholar, author, educator, and administrator at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a prolific writer and editor, serving as editor of the General Magazine and History Chronicle, Philadelphia, 1945-1956. He published biographies of literary figures George Henry Boker and Henry Charles Lea, as well as editions of works by Mark Twain, Stephen Crane, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Walt Whitman. Bradley was considered an international expert on Whitman, editing several important editions of the poet's Leaves of Grass. The Sculley Bradley papers include his personal and professional correspondence dating from 1923 to 1962, material from several literary censorship cases for which he testified, corrected drafts of his manuscripts for the Comprehensive Reader's Edition, Norton Critical Edition, and Variorum edition of Leaves of Grass, ephemera and graphics associated with Walt Whitman, and a small amount of material on other authors.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Thomas W. Evans papers, circa 1850-1913 (inclusive) 1850-1897 (bulk)

Extent:
5.5 linear feet (11 boxes)
Abstract:
Thomas Evans (1823-1897) was a Philadelphia dentist who moved to France in 1847 and became court dentist to Napoléon III, Emperor of France. Over the course of his career, he became a celebrated member of the social elite of fin de siécle Europe. He established confidences with many members of European royalty and kept company with such cultural luminaries as Edouard Manet and Stéphane Mallarmé. This collection largely documents Evans's social world and his interactions with influential people through correspondence, personal journals and writings, images, newspaper clippings and printed material, memorabilia, and awards. There is very limited material relating to his work as a dentist.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Howard Myers Scull papers, 1896-2015 (inclusive) 1936-1944 (bulk)

Extent:
1.2 linear feet (3 boxes)
Abstract:
Howard Myers Scull was a flight surgeon with the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He died in a plane crash on July 4, 1944. This collection documents his early life and education, his World War II service, and the way in which his family mourned his death. Researchers will find photographs, correspondence, diaries, and official documents relating to Scull's education at Lafayette College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, his military career (including training and service in England), and his death.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Charlotte Cushman Club records, 1818-2000 (inclusive) 1907-1998 (bulk)

Extent:
16.6 linear feet (26 boxes)
Abstract:
Founded in 1907, the Charlotte Cushman Club was originally intended to provide respectable lodgings for actresses appearing in Philadelphia theaters. In the years of World War II the Club ceased to provide residential services, becoming a favorite gathering place of theater lovers as well as of the many actresses and actors visiting the city with their touring companies. The Charlotte Cushman Club Records offer insight into the activities, the administration, and the membership of the Club during the whole life of the organization, until its closure in 1998. The collection also includes part of the holdings of the former Club's museum and library.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Holden Furber papers, 1898-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.75 linear feet (5 boxes and oversized folder)
Abstract:
Holden Furber (1903-1993) was a professor of South Asian studies at the University of Pennsylvania from 1948 to 1973. His papers include his correspondence to his family while traveling; records relating to his education from grammar school to graduate school; his writings; his research; and his professional papers, largely as a professor.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Frothingham and Roberts family papers, 1862-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.2 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:
The Frothingham and Roberts families were joined when Mary Foster Frothingham (1863-1934) and George Wood Bissell Roberts (1859-1941) were married on February 10, 1886. This collection documents three generations of the Frothingham family of Massachusetts and the Roberts family of Philadelphia and Riverton, New Jersey. The bulk of the material consists of extended family correspondence dating from 1862 to 1936 to and or from George W.B. Roberts and his wife Mary Foster Frothingham Roberts.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Biddle family papers, 1709-2017 (inclusive) 1776-1952 (bulk)

Extent:
14.5 linear feet (32 boxes)
Abstract:
The Biddle family has a long history on American land with Quaker ancestors emigrating in 1681 and settling in Philadelphia around 1725. This collection documents the family relationships, and to a lesser extent, the work and military service of six generations of one branch of that family, starting with Clement Biddle (1740-1814), and following the descendants of two of his sons: Thomas Alexander Biddle (1776-1857) and Clement Cornell Biddle (1784-1855). These papers tell the stories, to varying degrees, of more than 30 individual Biddle family members through correspondence, financial records, professional papers, diaries, scrapbooks, and photographs.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Walt Whitman collection, 1842-1957 (inclusive) 1867-1894 (bulk)

Extent:
4 boxes (plus one oversized item.)
Abstract:
Materials include correspondence to, from, and concerning Walt Whitman; financial records; writings by and about Whitman; and memorabilia, such as sketches, photographs, and portraits of Whitman, his family, his friends, and his homes.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Paul Philippe Cret papers, 1865-1976 (inclusive)

Extent:
39 boxes (+ one map drawer)
Abstract:
Paul Philippe Cret (1876-1945) was an architect and industrial designer who taught in the Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. Born and educated in France, Cret moved to the United States in 1903, but served in the French Army during World War I. Following the War, he returned to Philadelphia and to the University of Pennsylvania and worked on significant projects across the country. One third of the collection comprises correspondence, including exchanges with professional colleagues and clients as well as a few family members. With the exception of a substantial group of letters written by Cret to his wife while serving in World War I, there is little personal material. None of the correspondence files contains comprehensive representation of the transactions of Cret and/or his firm on any given project. The collection also includes writings by Cret, project and teaching materials (incomplete), notes, biographical material, and photographs.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Wanda Gág papers, 1892-1968 (inclusive)

Extent:
40 boxes
Abstract:
Personal papers of Wanda Gág, including correspondence to and from Wanda, as well as letters to and from Alma Schmidt Scott, a biographer of Gág, and letters among Gág family members; writings, such as diaries, children's books, autobiographical works, and juvenilia; notes for talks and for writings; artwork; exhibition catalogs and related publicity material; writings about Gág, including obituaries, biographical pieces, and book reviews; financial records; materials regarding the Estate of Wanda Gág; newspaper clippings; memorabilia; photographs; and examples of Happiwork, a product for children created by Gág.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Mahler-Werfel papers, 1880-2004 (inclusive) 1898-1975 (bulk)

Extent:
134 boxes
Abstract:
The collection comprises the personal papers of Alma Mahler, the personal and professional papers of Franz Werfel, memorabilia related to Gustav Mahler, and the research files of Adolf D. Klarmann concerning Franz Werfel. Materials include correspondence to and from Alma Mahler and Franz Werfel, as well as to and from Adolf Klarmann, sometimes on behalf of Alma; writings of Alma, such as diaries and memoirs, as well as her musical compositions; writings of Werfel, such as poems, plays, novels, novellas and stories, and essays; memorabilia relating to Alma, her parents, Gustav Mahler, and Werfel, such as clippings, programs, and personal documents; photographs (many of which are online); and audio files, such as interviews and songs. Also included are Klarmann's research notes and writings on Werfel, as well as material relating to Klarmann's work as editor of Werfel's writings.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Waldo Frank papers, 1879-1977 (inclusive)

Extent:
63 linear feet (132 boxes, 1 oversized folder)
Abstract:
The papers document the literary career and the personal and professional life of twentieth-century American novelist and writer Waldo David Frank. Comprising correspondence, writings, publicity, writings by others, memorabilia, photographs, scrapbooks, and clippings spanning from 1879 to 1977, the collection contains 132 boxes and 3565 folders. The correspondence documents Frank's personal and professional relationships with writers, editors, artists, friends, and family. Letters from friendships with other writers and artists such as Jean Toomer, Sherwood Anderson, Alfred Stieglitz, Lewis Mumford, Van Wyck Brooks, and Hart Crane document congenial collaborations, sharing of ideas, and disagreements. The writings contain his notebooks, major works, articles, essays, and early writings tracing Frank's works and ideas of society and culture with psychological and social themes of man and his environment. Frank's passion for the culture and study of Spain, Latin America, and...(see more)

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Marian Brownlow papers, 1893-1990 (inclusive) 1974-1984 (bulk)

Extent:
8.5 linear feet (15 boxes, 1 box currently available)
Abstract:
Marian Brownlow (1933-2012) was an American educator and historical researcher. This collection documents her life during the later years of her marriage to and divorce from Donald Gray Brownlow. The majority of the material is personal in nature, centering on the period between 1978 and 1982, when Marian Brownlow took several trips to Marrakech to care for British Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck in the years leading up to his death in 1981. The bulk of this collection is restricted at the donor's request.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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