Philadelphia Area Archives

Start Over Form Receipts (financial records) Year 1850 to 1899

John Frederick Lewis collection of autographs of engravers, 1775-1850 (bulk) 1721-1914 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.43 linear feet
Abstract:: John Frederick Lewis was a Philadelphia lawyer, philanthropist, and collector of writing samples. This collection contains letters, receipts, and other documents by British engravers. Most of the material was written in England between 1775 and 1850. Many of the letters discuss artistic matters and contain references to well-known engravings.

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

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]

Harmonie Singing Society records, 1855-1918 (bulk) 1855-1957 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet (7 boxes + 3 oversize folders)
Abstract:: The collection contains the records of the Harmonie Singing Society of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1855, and originally known as the Liedertafel des Deutschen Freien Gemeinde (Liedertafel of the Independent German Congregation); it changed its name to Harmonie in 1869, when it reestablished itself separate from the congregation. A Women's, or Ladies' Chorus (Damen-Chor) was founded in 1857. The records include minutes dating from the founding in 1855 until December 1918, with a gap during the years 1876 to 1885; a certificate of incorporation of 1892; ephemera from the late 1890s; a scrapbook of newspaper clippings documenting the 50th anniversary celebration, in 1905; correspondence related to the 60th anniversary celebration, in 1915; anniversary concert programs (1925, 1939, 1940, and 1949); and several songbooks used at regional singing festivals of the Nordöstlicher Sängerbund (1903-1957).

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

Otto Albrecht papers, 1870-1984 (inclusive) 1930-1984 (bulk)

Extent:: 27.5 linear feet (28 boxes)
Abstract:: Otto Edwin Albrecht (1899-1984) was an internationally known music bibliographer and professor of romance languages and musicology at the University of Pennsylvania. This collection documents his professional career and contains extensive information on his research relating to the history of music in Boston, New York and Philadelphia, the location of European music manuscripts in the United States, and his work identifying sources for Répertoire International des Sources Musicales; his work with music organizations including the American Musicological Society and the Music Library Association; and his work at and for the University of Pennsylvania's Music Library.

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

Collection of business invoices, 1838-1917 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.5 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:: Collection of over 50 invoices, receipts, and engraved and pictorial letterheads from a wide range of American businesses. Businesses represented in the collection include bakeries, dry goods merchants, tobacco shops, patent medicine dealers, railroads, carpet sellers, hardware stores, lumber dealers, iron works and others mostly in Baltimore and Philadelphia, circa 1860s-1880s.

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

Tuxbury family travel ephemera, 1897-1926 (inclusive)

Extent:: .2 linear_foot (1 box)
Abstract:: The Tuxbury family, including Alfred C. Tuxbury (1844-1913), his wife Luna Arabella Bosworth (1844-1920), and their three daughters, Edith Eloise (1870-1953), Alice Bosworth (1874-1944), and Luna Elizabeth (1876-1963) traveled abroad on several occasions, in 1897, 1904, and 1927. In 1897, Alfred and Edith traveled around the Mediterranean Sea, to Jerusalem, Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, and Italy before traveling to England, presumably for the return voyage. In 1904, Alice and Luna Elizabeth were members of the "Palestine Tour," a travel-study class through the University of Chicago. In 1926, Luna Elizabeth traveled with a Miss Brittain to Japan, Hong Kong, Burma (now Myanmar), and India. This collection consists of travel ephemera (largely receipts) from at least these three trips taken by the Tuxbury family.

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

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

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

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

Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons records, 1787-1883 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.8 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:: The Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons (later the Pennsylvania Prison Society) was formed in 1787 to correct the issues of the city jail where prisoners were held together with little to no regard for age, gender, or nature of crime. This collection includes the Society's administrative records, case reports, and visiting reports.

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

Payment receipt book and recipe book, 1839-1874 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 volume (+ 2 leaves)
Abstract:: A volume comprised of payment records for School District No. 2 in Randolph Township, Portage County, Ohio and recipes along with some household accounts. The school district records are written in several hands on the first ten leaves of the volume and span the years from 1839 to 1851. The remainder of the volume comprises recipes and household accounts of the Austin family.

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

Uhler family pharmaceutical recipe book, 1848-1883 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 volume (+ 2 leaves)
Abstract:: A volume comprised of pharmaceutical formulas written by members of the Uhler family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spanning the years from 1848 to 1883. The formulas in the volume were written for medicinal and household purposes.

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