Place: Philadelphia (Pa.) / Language: English - Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

Lubin Manufacturing Company records, 1881-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 9.6 linear feet (41 containers, 1 flatfile drawer, 3 artifacts)
Abstract:: Siegmund Lubin (1851-1923) founded the Lubin Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which, from 1895 to just before its collapse in 1916, grew to be one of the largest motion picture production companies in the world. His moviemaking empire started with the purchase of one film projector in 1895. Before long, it included a chain of movie theaters, multiple state-of-the-art production studios across the United States, hundreds of employees, numerous patents for recording and projecting equipment, and international movie distribution. Lubin's logo and motto, "Clear As A Bell," referred to the superior quality of his motion picture images. The Lubin Manufacturing Company records, 1881-2006, contains photographs, advertisements, business records, publicity materials, and artifacts documenting Siegmund Lubin’s short-lived career as one of America’s most successful film producers during the silent film era. While the collection does not include any full-length Lubin films,...(see more)

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

College of Engineering records, 1956-1973 (bulk) 1930-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 13.5 linear feet (14 containers)
Abstract:: The College of Engineering is among the oldest colleges at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since its establishment in 1914, it has achieved many firsts. In 1915, it became the first school at Drexel permitted to grant a four-year degree; in 1919, it was the first to implement a cooperative education program, placing students in business, industrial and professional assignments as a component of their education; and, later, in 1925, it was the first to extend the cooperative course from four years to five. Since its institution, the College of Engineering has developed and expanded its curriculum to include undergraduate and graduate programs, and research projects. This collection houses the administrative records of the College of Engineering from 1930 to 1990, with a bulk of the materials created between 1956 and 1973. The collection is made up of reports, correspondence, manuals, meeting minutes and program proposals. Approximately a third of the collection is...(see more)

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

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]

Friends Housing Cooperative, Inc. records, 1948-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Two Quaker Organizations concerned about urban housing, The American Friends Service Committee and the Friends Neighborhood Guild (FNG) formed the Friends "self-help" Corporation (now called the Friends Housing Cooperative, Inc.) in 1952. The collection, consisting of three linear feet, covers the time period from 1948 to 2009, with the bulk of the materials dating from 2001 to 2009. Materials include correspondence; administrative, legal and financial records; and information regarding membership, projects and publications.

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

Leary and Company (Leary's Bookstore) archives, 1840s-1969

Extent:: 21.0 boxes and and 91 volumes
Abstract:: William A. Leary, was a small-time book seller in 1836 when he journeyed to Philadelphia to establish a sidewalk book stall on North Second Street. As business prospered, Leary moved to several different locations, finally settling at 138 North Second Street which was right next door to the Camel Tavern, a landmark in Philadelphia. Leary’s Book Store specialized in selling inexpensive, second—hand books. Because of its large inventory and cheap prices, Leary’s developed a national reputation. In addition to selling and buying books, Leary expanded his base of operations by venturing into the publishing business in the 1850s. William A. Leary, Jr. took over the book store in 1865. Stuart and Charles Mann purchased the store from the Leary Estate in 1876. Under the Stuart’s management, Leary’s became one of the largest old book dealers in the world. As more people moved to and shopped in the suburbs, Leary’s customer base declined. Leary’s went out of business on November 20, 1968....(see more)

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

South Street Dance Company records, 1969-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:: 15.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The South Street Dance Company was founded by Ellen Forman and Alice Forner in 1974, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Company choreographed and performed original dance works, and hosted community programs for students and the elderly. The South Street Dance Company records houses audiovisual materials, photographs, administrative records, playbills, flyers, posters, newspaper clippings, financial records, correspondence, costumes and props dating from 1969 to 1991. This collection documents the performances and some daily operations of the Company and its founder, Ellen Forman. There is relatively little textual material in this collection; the bulk is made up of videotapes, audiotapes and photographs of performances and programs, and objects used during performances.

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

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

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

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

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Board of Trustees records, 1976-1989 (bulk) 1925-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.5 linear feet (12 containers)
Abstract:: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) is a natural history museum which was founded in 1812, “for the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences, and the advancement of useful learning.” The ANSP Board of Trustees, was established in 1925, as one of the institution’s primary administrative bodies. The Board of Trustees was charged with establishing financial policies, selecting the Academy President, assisting with fund raising and community relations, and serving as a board of review. This collection of Trustees records dating from 1925 to 1990 contains minutes and correspondence of various Board committees, policies and procedures, departmental activity reports, annual meetings and files from the President's office related to board matters.

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

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]

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]

Ogden and Cuthbert family papers, 1760-1830 (bulk) 1750-1906 (inclusive)

Extent:: 17.0 volumes and [1 box]
Abstract:: The Odgen and Cuthbert families joined when Anthony Cuthbert (1751-1832) married Mary Ogden (1770-1862) in 1799. Both families had strong connections to the rivers of Philadelphia. The Ogden and Cuthbert family papers consist largely of financial records (receipt, invoice and account books) of Joseph Ogden, his son George, and his son-in-law Anthony Cuthbert.

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

Riggs & Brother Company records, 1887-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.0 boxes
Abstract:: Riggs and Brother, a Philadelphia chronometer and nautical instrument manufacture and import company, was founded in 1818 by William H. C. Riggs. The business records of the company include cash books, invoice books, day books, inventories and correspondence.

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

Anne Hampton Brewster papers, 1845-1892 (bulk) 1777-1892 (inclusive)

Extent:: 28.0 containers
Abstract:: Anne Hampton Brewster (1818-1892) was an American novelist, journalist and foreign correspondent who defied contemporary conceptions of womanhood and society during the nineteenth century. The papers date from 1777 to 1892, with the majority of the materials dating from 1845 to 1892. The materials primarily consist of diaries, journals, commonplace books, correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes about her writings and drafts of her writings. The materials document Anne Hampton Brewster’s personal life with friends and family, and they document her professional life as a journalist and writer.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Dillwyn and Emlen family correspondence, 1770-1818 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.0 containers
Abstract:: The Dillwyn and Emlen family was joined in 1795 when Susanna Dillwyn married Samuel Emlen, Jr. Both the Dillwyn and Emlen families were prominent in early America as Quakers and advocates for abolition. This collection consists of five disbound volumes of letters written to and from William Dillwyn of London and his daughter Susanna Dillwyn in America from 1770 to 1795; and thereafter until 1818, to and from Susanna and her husband Samuel Emlen, Jr. of Burlington County, New Jersey. Although Susanna lived almost her entire life apart from her father, their letters are frequent and deal primarily with family matters and kin. However, there is frequent comment concerning such topics as yellow fever; abolitionism and slavery; Native Americans; breast cancer; and American and European politics, including the Napoleonic wars and the embargo, as well as their effects upon trade and merchants in Philadelphia and London.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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]

Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson papers, 1752-1795 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.0 volumes
Abstract:: Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson (1737-1801), considered to be the outstanding female poet of her place and time, was a leader in the literary world of colonial Pennsylvania and an avid writer, who composed poems, songs, travel accounts and other writings, referencing literature, natural history, religion, politics and current events. This collection consists of six volumes of writings which probably represent all of her work, most of which is unpublished. Researchers interested in Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson, women authors in colonial America and the early United States, or a female commentary on contemporary events will find this collection to be extremely valuable.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Thomas Leiper and family business records, 1771-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:: 47.0 volumes
Abstract:: Thomas Leiper (1745-1825) was introduced into the business of tobacco shortly after his arrival in Virginia in 1763. Within several years, he moved to Philadelphia where he opened a tobacco shop. During the Revolutionary War, Leiper became the principal tobacco provider in Philadelphia. In 1776, Leiper purchased land in Delaware County that included a mill at a waterfall on the Crum Creek. He established snuff mills and later purchased a stone quarry. The Thomas Leiper and family business records include correspondence, country estate records, and business and financial records of the family's paper, lumber and wood working businesses, quarry business, and tobacco business dating from 1771 to 1947.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Logan family papers, 1684-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.0 linear feet and 10 containers, 62 volumes
Abstract:: The Logan family was prominent in Philadelphia from the start of the province, serving the people in many capacities, including political, medical and literary. This is a collection of manuscripts obtained by the Library Company of Philadelphia that relates to the Logan family. The collection includes papers of the Logan family members Albanus Charles, Algernon Sydney, Deborah Norris, William Jr., and James as well as family materials collected by Frances A. Logan and William Logan Fox. The collection dates from 1684 to 1925 and consists of family papers, correspondence, diaries, writings, medical texts, lecture notes, financial records, poetry, visiting cards, and invitations.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Patrick Coad family papers, 1798-1888 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear feet (; 2 boxes)
Abstract:: Patrick Coad (1783-1872), an Irish immigrant who settled in Philadelphia, was the first patentee of a graduated galvanic battery with insulated poles. Touting his battery among other uses as an instrument that helped cure various diseases, Coad’s invention attracted a good deal of attention within the scientific and medical communities. A teacher whose interests focused on medicine and the sciences, Coad also travelled throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding area as a lecturer on the natural sciences. The collection includes Coad’s correspondence, his lecture and medical notes, and ephemera, such as newspaper clippings, pamphlets and broadsides, publicizing his galvanic battery and lectures. Several of Coad’s family members are also documented through correspondence, ephemera, and estate items, including his son Joseph R. Coad (1829-1868), a prominent Philadelphia physician. A family scrapbook with miscellaneous materials is also included.

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

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]

Elizabeth Ann Seton letters, 1799-1818 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.2 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:: This small collection includes letters from Elizabeth Ann Seton to Matthias and Joseph O’Conway. Matthias, a prominent Philadelphian especially within the Catholic community, was the father of Cecilia O’Conway, Philadelphia’s first nun and the first women to join Seton’s order, the Sisters of Charity. The correspondence is personal in nature and relates to several members of the O’Conway family, particularly Cecilia. Also included is a letter from Elizabeth to her sister-in-law Rebecca Seton regarding members of the Seton family.

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

Marion Spencer Fay Papers, 1946-1975 (bulk) 1925-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.9 linear feet
Abstract:: Marion Spencer Fay (1898-1990) served as dean and president of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania from 1943 to 1963 and promoted the recruitment of, education for, and recognition of women physicians. This collection includes the texts of many of Dr. Fay's speeches as well as a selection of professional and administrative papers from her time as dean and president of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.

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

Longshore family papers, 1819-1902 (inclusive)

Extent:: 20.0 folders
Abstract:: The Longshore family was active in Philadelphia medicine in the 19th century and the Longshore family papers includes material from Thomas Longshore, his brother Joseph Longshore, and his wife Hannah E. Myers Longshore. Thomas Longshore was a teacher and a supporter of women's education and social reform, especially abolition. Joseph Longshore (1809-1879) was a physician who supported women in acquiring quality medical education. He was active in founding the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania and later, the Penn Medical University in Philadelphia. Hannah E. Myers Longshore, M.D. (1819-1901), enrolled in and graduated from the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania’s first class in 1851 and became Philadelphia’s first female physician in private practice. She lectured extensively first at the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania and then at the Pennsylvania Medical University. She operated her private practice in Philadelphia for forty years before retiring in 1892. The...(see more)

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

Tea Time records, 1991-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Tea Time: An Organization for Asian and Pacific Islander Gay and Bisexual Men was founded in Philadelphia in May 1991 as an organization for sexual-minority women and men of Asian/Pacific Islander descent. In May 1992, it changed its primary focus to gay men and committed itself to HIV education in the Asian sexual-minority community. The organization's officers formally disbanded Tea Time in October 1994. Tea Time records, 1991-1994, document activities sponsored by Tea Time. In addition to materials specifically about Tea Time, the files include mailings from other gay Asian/Pacific Islander groups and non-Asian-specific gay groups around the United States.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Harry R. Eberlin photographs, circa 1972-1980

Extent:: 0.1 linear feet
Abstract:: Harry R. Eberlin was a prolific photographer who began documenting Philadelphia's lesbian and gay community in the early 1970s. Eberlin contributed photographs to several Philadelphia gay publications, including The Gay Alternative and the Philadelphia Gay News. In the mid 1970s, he was active in such organizations as the Gay Media Project. The Harry R. Eberlin photographs include approximately 100 images of lesbian and gay public events in Philadelphia circa 1972 - circa 1980. These images focus largely on events sponsored by the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia and on public pickets, parades and parties. Most of the images are contact-print sheets made from 35mm black and white negatives, although there are some enlargements.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Commission on Human Relations, Brown and DeLoggio v. Temple University Law School collection, circa 1982-1984

Extent:: 0.2 linear feet
Abstract:: In 1982, two Temple University Law School students, Richard Brown and Loretta DeLoggio, accused the university of violating the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance. The Commission on Human Relations, Brown and DeLoggio v. Temple University Law School, circa 1982-1984, contains memoranda and briefs from the case.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Grassroot Queers records, 1993-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2 linear feet ((4 document boxes, 2 flat box))
Abstract:: Grassroot Queers was a Philadelphia-based queer activist organization that operated from 1993 through 1999 to fight for equal rights and increased visibility for the LGBTQ community. The Grassroot Queers records, 1993-1997, includes organizational records and ephemera pertaining to their diverse activist efforts and community events.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Oscar Garcia-Vera papers, 1971-1992 (inclusive) 1992 (bulk)

Extent:: 1.67 linear feet
Abstract:: Oscar E. Garcia-Vera was a gay rights activist who enjoyed singing and theater work and was also very involved with the Hispanic community in Philadelphia. An appointee of the Mayor's Commission for Sexual Minorities, he played a major role in organizing the first national conference dealing with AIDS and mental-health issues, held in Philadelphia in 1992. The Oscar Garcia-Vera papers, 1971-1992, consist of conference pamphlets and materials, four photograph albums, and scattered additional correspondence, ephemera, and other miscellaneous items. The collection reflects Garcia-Vera's work as a gay rights activist and interest in singing and theater.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Walt Whitman Democratic Club records, 1975-1984 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.2 linear feet ((3 boxes))
Abstract:: Formed in 1976 as the Gay Democratic Caucus, the Walt Whitman Democratic Club was a political organization of gay Democrats based in Philadelphia, PA. Founded and led by president Jeff Britton, the Club was active from 1976 to 1982, and according to Britton, was inspired by similar groups active in Washington, DC and on the West Coast. Its mission was "to research issues, to question candidates on legislation affecting the civil rights of gay people and to endorse local, state and federal candidates who support efforts to end discrimination against gay people." It met regularly at the Gay Community Center of Philadelphia (GCCP) as well as in the homes of Britton and other Club members. Membership dues were $5 per year. The collection is divided into three series: I. Business records; II. Subject files; and III. Printed materials.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

American Civil Liberties Union, Greater Philadelphia Branch book production files for "Lesbians and Gay Men: The Law in Pennsylvania", 1973-1981 (inclusive) 1980-1981 (bulk)

Extent:: 1 linear feet
Abstract:: The American Civil Liberties Union is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and protecting individual rights and freedoms. The American Civil Liberties Union Greater Philadelphia Branch book production files for Lesbians and Gay Men: The Law in Pennsylvania, 1973-1981, are comprised of chapter drafts, correspondence, and financial records relating to the publication of the handbook.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Keith Kamm papers, circa 1970s

Extent:: 0.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Keith A. Kamm (1947-1993) was a bibliographer at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia and a gay rights activist. The Keith Kamm papers, circa 1970s, consist of materials relating to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) issues in libraries, the mental health community, and issues relating to feminism and sexism. This is a convenient collection for studying books relating to LGBT issues in the 1970s.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Girlfriends Motorcycle Club scrapbooks, 1984-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear feet ((4 boxes))
Abstract:: The Girlfriends Motorcycle Club was a philanthropic group founded in Philadelphia in 1983 which held charity events to raise funds for HIV/AIDS-related organizations. The Girlfriends Motorcycle Club scrapbooks, 1984-1987, is comprised of four scrapbooks, 1984-1987, containing photographs from various events of the Girlfriends Motorcycle Club, flyers advertising the events, correspondence, clippings, and articles.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

William Way LGBT Community Center clippings file, 1979-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 12 linear feet
Abstract:: The William Way LGBT Community Center clippings file, 1979-2012, consists of clippings related to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) issues collected by volunteers of the William Way Community Center.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Coalition on Lesbian-Gay Bar Policies records, 1984-1988 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.2 linear feet (1 slim document box)
Abstract:: The Coalition on Lesbian-Gay Bar Policies was a grassroots organization made up of representatives from several of Philadelphia lesbian and gay organizations. Active from 1984-1986, their goal was "to examine the practices and policies of bars serving Philadelphia's gay/lesbian community as they relate to the treatment and employment of women and racial minorities, and to analyze the results of this examination in order to decide on appropriate actions to address problem areas." The records include correspondence to and from the Coalition, typed meeting minutes, press releases, bar study questionnaires and results, bar observation forms and tabulated data, as well as a final report of findings from the Coalition.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Philadelphia records, mid 1970s-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.3 linear feet ((4 document boxes, 2 flat boxes, 1 volume))
Abstract:: The Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Philadelphia operated at a series of locations in the city from 1973 to 1998. It aimed to provide information, counseling, and referrals to the gay and lesbian community via a call-in phone line. The Switchboard records are comprised of a range of business-related organizational materials dating from the mid 1970s through the late 1990s.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

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]

John Wister lantern slide collection, 1930-1940 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.29 linear feet
Abstract:: John Casper Wister (1887-1982) devoted his life’s work to horticulture. He was a noted author, editor, speaker, organizer, hybridizer, designer, planter and all around flower lover. Wister was closely affiliated with numerous horticultural organizations including the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the American Rose Society, the John Bartram Association, the American Daffodil Society and the American Iris Society. He also served as director of Swarthmore College’s Arthur Hoytt Scott Horticultural Foundation and the Tyler Arboretum in Media, Pennsylvania. This collection contains lantern slides dating from 1930 to 1940 and consists of 220 slides in total. The first series consists of 109 slides of different gardeners from the Philadelphia area. The second series consists of 111 slides and depicts different flowers and gardens from around Philadelphia, the surrounding areas and Europe. This is a very rich collection that researchers interested in Philadelphia gardens or 1930s...(see more)

Held at: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society [Contact Us]

American Friends Service Committee ephemera collection, 1919-1923 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.1 linear feet (8 folders)
Abstract:: Collection of ephemera related to the relief work carried on by the American Friends Service Committee in Central Europe following the First World War, from 1919 to 1923. It includes AFSC fliers and bulletins, with some items printed in German; ephemera related to a mass meeting and concert for Quaker relief in Vienna held at the Academy of Music in 1922; and clippings about AFSC activities or conditions in Central Europe, mostly from Philadelphia newspapers.

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

Concord Group minute book, December 1937 - November 1945

Extent:: 0.1 linear feet (1 box = 1 volume + 1 folder)
Abstract:: The collection comprises the minutes of the Concord Group, a small German-American social club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from its first meeting, on 23 December 1937, until 20 November 1945, mostly in the hand of secretary Karl Rugart and contained in a single notebook. The club mainly carried on a program of lectures and discussions, on topics in the arts, and business and industry, combined with social gatherings and special excursions. In 1943-1945 there are references to war relief efforts. Members included Captain Louis H. Schmidt and architect Eugene A. Stopper, both leaders of the German Society of Pennsylvania at the time; sculptor J. Otto Schweizer; jewelry businessman Franz Zirnkilton (Jr.); German professor Harry W. Pfund; physician John B. Ludy; A. Raymond Raff, the Collector of Customs at Philadelphia; and Lutheran pastor Kurt E. B. Molzahn, whose membership was rescinded by the group in August 1942.

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

Ladies Society of the Philadelphia Turners. Records, 1933-1938, 1954-1959

Extent:: 0.25 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:: This collection comprises two volumes of records of the Ladies Society (Damen-Verein), or women's auxiliary, of the Philadelphia Turners. The parent club, which was known until the late 1930s as the Philadelphia Turngemeinde, was one of the oldest German-American Turner, or gymnastics clubs in the United States, founded in 1849. The Ladies Society was founded on 5 September 1877 to assist the Turngemeinde. These partial records of the Ladies Society are from two different periods. The first volume is a ledger recording member information and dues paid from 1933 to 1938. The second volume is a cashbook kept from 1954 to 1959. In the 1950s the Ladies Society mainly held social events such as card parties, dessert parties, picnics, and dinners; and besides supporting the Turngemeinde it partly had a general charitable purpose.

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

Liberty Loan Committee of Americans of German Birth or Descent records, 1918-1919 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.21 linear feet (1 box + 6 posters + 1 oversize folder)
Abstract:: This collection contains the records of the Liberty Loan Committee of Americans of German Birth or Descent, a committee that coordinated the campaign for the purchase of Liberty Bonds among German Americans in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1918, during the First World War. Liberty Bonds were issued by the United States government to finance the American war effort. These records were kept by Louis H. Schmidt, treasurer of the Committee, and pertain mainly to the Third and Fourth Liberty Loans, with inclusion of a few subscription lists related to the fifth loan, issued in 1919 and known as the Victory Liberty Loan. The collection contains correspondence, subscription forms, lists of subscribers, reports, clippings, and ephemera, including Liberty Loan volunteer buttons and six posters promoting the purchase of Liberty Bonds.

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

Bound Business Records Collection, 1770-1919

Extent:: 22 volumes
Abstract:

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

Waln family papers, 1759-1888 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.6 linear feet (; 14 boxes)
Abstract:: The Walns were a family of prominent Quaker merchants in Philadelphia. In 1774, Richard Waln, moved the family to Crosswicks, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, where he purchased "Walnford" and established a flour mill. The Waln family papers document primarily the family's business activities. Richard Waln (1737-1808) who was engaged in the milling business in Walnford, New Jersey, also was involved with financial concerns in Philadelphia. His nephew Robert (1765-1836) was the director of the Philadelphia Insurance Company from 1804 to 1813. Robert a successful merchant, joined into a partnership with his cousin Jesse, and traded with England and the West Indies, and later with East India and China. The collection consists largely of correspondence and financial records.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Constance H. Dallas papers, 1951-1955 (bulk) 1924-1958 (inclusive)

Extent:: 19.2 linear feet (; 37 boxes, 2 volumes)
Abstract:

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Fairmount Park Art Association records, 1871-1972 (inclusive)

Extent:: 84.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Fairmount Park Art Association (FPAA) was the United States' first private, nonprofit organization that worked to integrate public art and urban planning. Founded in 1872, the FPAA initially focused on enhancing Philadelphia's Fairmount Park by purchasing and commissioning sculpture, but by 1906 it had embraced a broader goal: "to promote and foster the beautiful in the City of Philadelphia, in its architecture, improvements and general plan." The FPAA supported city planning projects that incorporated outdoor sculpture and advocated the establishment of Philadelphia's Art Jury, which later became the Philadelphia Art Commission. In 2012, the Fairmount Park Art Association changed its name to the Association for Public Art. The Fairmount Park Art Association records span from 1872, when the association was formed, until 1972. The collection includes the association’s constitution, meeting minutes, correspondence, committee files, reports, financial records, contracts, membership...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Marriott C. Morris collection on cycling, 1881-1897 (bulk) 1881-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.7 linear feet (; 15 boxes)
Abstract:: Marriott C. Morris (1863-1948) was a resident of the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who attended Haverford College. He was an avid cyclist and accomplished photographer. The Marriot C. Morris collection on cycling, 1881-1980 (bulk 1881-1897), consists of materials that Morris collected regarding cycling and cycling organizations, including various published materials and ephemera. The collection also contains scrapbooks, photographs, journal entries from cycling trips taken by Morris, including a trip to Europe, and other materials.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Boies Penrose pictorial Philadelphia collection, 1852-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:: 17.3 linear feet (; 56 boxes)
Abstract:: Boies Penrose II (1902-1976) was a Philadelphia collector, writer and lecturer, and president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. He established the Boies Penrose fund for the collecting of photographs of old Philadelphia. The Boies Penrose pictorial collection is one of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's best collections on Philadelphia's architectural history. The photographs depict a wide variety of subjects. Of particular interest are the photographs of Old City buildings that were demolished to build the Ben Franklin Bridge as well as the area demolished to build the Convention Center. There are also a number of photographs of the Centennial International Exhibition in 1876.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Joseph M. Harrison subject files on 1st Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania, circa 1870-2004

Extent:: 96.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The First Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania, or "The Dandy First," is considered by some to be the oldest continuously existing troop in the United States National Guard, and the only existing Pennsylvania unit that served in the Continental Army. The unit, which today is known as the 103rd Engineer Battalion, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, has fought in nearly every major American battle beginning with the Revolutionary War. The Joseph M. Harrison subject files on 1st Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania, circa 1870-2004, are comprised of several hundred binders assembled by the former Regimental Historian and Curator of the 1st Regiment Museum. The vast majority of materials in the binders are secondary, but there is a small amount of original photographs, ephemera, and documents in some of the binders.

Held at: 1st Regiment Infantry Museum [Contact Us]

African American Museum in Philadelphia small collections, circa 1850-2014

Extent:: 45.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Founded in 1976 in celebration of the nation's Bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. The museum is committed to telling the story of African Americans in all its permutations: family life, the Civil Rights movement, arts and entertainment, sports, medicine, architecture, politics, religion, law, and technology. The African American Museum in Philadelphia small collections, circa 1850-2014, consist of various small accumulations (less than one linear foot) of archival materials acquired from a variety of sources at various times. The collection focuses on, but is not limited to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, touching on all aspects of African American life and culture. It features a great variety of document types, such as correspondence, minute books, ephemera, photographs, clippings, scrapbooks, film reels, and much more.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Antonio M. Banks, Jr. family papers, 1879-circa 1980

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Antonio Banks, Sr. was born in Middlesex, Virginia in 1893, and settled in Philadelphia with his wife Florence. Their son, Antonio M. Banks, Jr., was born around 1925, earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Howard University, and worked in Philadelphia as a government engineer in public building service. The Antonio M. Banks, Jr. family papers, 1879-circa 1980, include notebooks, ledgers, receipts, cancelled checks, financial records, and deeds from Antonio M. Banks, Jr., his parents, and other family members. The collection also includes a large amount of printed materials and objects. Of special interest are photographs and clippings on an African American baseball team, Zulu Giants Baseball Club, circa 1930s.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Jack T. Franklin photographs, 1956-1990 (bulk) 1925-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:: 140.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Jack T. Franklin (1922-2009) was a Philadelphia-based photojournalist and photographer known for his pictures of 1960s Civil Rights events. The Jack T. Franklin photographs, 1925-2009 (bulk 1956-1990), consist of over 500,000 negatives and photographs that document almost every social, cultural, and political event in the Philadelphia's African American community during Franklin's lifetime, as well as all of the major events of the 1960s Civil Rights movement. The collection includes contact sheets and prints, negatives, and color photographs.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Dr. Russell F. Minton papers, 1909-1960 (bulk) 1839-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Dr. Russell F. Minton, born around 1900, was a prominent doctor in the Philadelphia area from the 1930s-1970s. Minton became a radiologist in 1940, and was involved with the merging of Mercy and Frederick Douglass Memorial hospitals. At Mercy-Douglass Hospital he served as chairman of the intern and resident training program, chief of the medical staff, chief of the Radiology Department, and Medical Director from 1949 until 1953. The Dr. Russell F. Minton papers, 1839-1991, bulk 1909-1960, contain correspondence, medical notes and reports, hospital records, newspaper clippings, speeches and articles, numerous photographs, Minton family genealogical items, and other materials. Many documents in the collection are associated with Dr. DeHaven Hinkson, another prominent African American physician in Philadelphia, and the reason for their inclusion with this collection is unclear.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Joan Myers Brown Philadanco papers, circa 1970-1991

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Philadelphia Dance Company, more commonly known as Philadanco, was founded in 1970 by Joan Myers Brown. It was originally intended to provide quality dance instruction to minority dancers in Philadelphia. At first the Company performed at local community events and schools in the area, but later it built a strong international reputation for itself. The Joan Myers Brown Philadanco papers, circa 1970-1991, include business correspondence received by Brown, advertisements and season booklets, newspaper clippings, reviews, and photographs.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Dr. DeHaven Hinkson papers, 1910-1970 (bulk) 1898-1982 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Dr. DeHaven Hinkson (1891-1975) was a prominent African American physician in Philadelphia who served in both World War I and World War II. He was the one of the first African American doctors put on staff at Philadelphia General Hospital, and the first African American to be head of an army hospital. The Dr. DeHaven Hinkson papers, 1898-1982 (bulk 1910-1970), contain correspondence, news clippings, photographs, notebooks, pamphlets, military and medical artifacts, and numerous other materials documenting his medical training and career, military service, veteran's rights involvement, and membership in fraternal organizations.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Pearl Bailey papers, 1970-1979 (bulk) 1946-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 40.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Pearl Bailey (1918-1990) was an American entertainer notable for her sultry singing and mischievous humor. She appeared on Broadway, in movies, and on her own television show. Bailey also authored several books. In 1975 she was appointed special ambassador to the United Nations by President Gerald Ford; she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The Pearl Bailey papers, 1946-1990 (bulk 1970-1979), include scrapbooks, recordings, correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, writings, financial records, and other materials relating to Pearl Bailey. Most document her public life in the 1970s, especially her career as a singer and actress, a cultural ambassador, and an author. A smaller quantity of materials relate to her personal life, including her finances, family, and college education at Georgetown University.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

James T. Townsend papers of African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, 1975-2001 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: James T. Townsend (1915-2000), formerly a state welfare supervisor and veteran of the United States Navy, was organist and choirmaster at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for more than fifty years. Named in his honor, the James T. Townsend Vocal Scholarship Award is given annually by the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Music Committee to an African American student under age 25 who is pursuing studies and training in voice at an accredited college or university, or with a master teacher affiliated with an accredited school of music. Most of the James T. Townsend papers of African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, 1975-2001, are applications for the Townsend scholarship. Additionally, the collection includes church and vestry records, church history research, clippings, correspondence, and photographs. Of special interest are illustrations of church vestments and a rectory drawn in 1941 by Dorothy Young (James Townsend's future wife).

Held at: African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas [Contact Us]

American Swedish Historical Museum Jenny Lind collection, 1847-1851 (bulk) 1832-1950 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Jenny Lind (Johanna Maria Lind, 1820-1887) was a Swedish-born operatic and oratorio soprano admired for her vocal control and agility and for the purity and naturalness of her art. She toured the United States with P.T. Barnum in 1950 and married her accompanist, Otto Goldschmidt, in 1952. The American Swedish Historical Museum Jenny Lind collection, 1832-1950, is comprised of sheet music, correspondence, programs and prints, ephemera, and a few daguerreotypes. There is also a series of Abel Ahlquist's research on Jenny Lind, circa 1918-1933.

Held at: American Swedish Historical Museum [Contact Us]

American Swedish Historical Museum relief society records collection, 1853-1957 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: American Swedish Historical Museum relief society records collection, 1853-1957, includes minute books, a membership register, and other records from several benevolent societies organized by Swedes in America. The societies are: the New England Scandinavian Benevolent Relief Society in Boston, the Norrsken Swedish-Finnish Sick Beneficial Society in Philadelphia, and The Northstar Society. This collection also features one volume from the a Swedish choral group, the Harmony Choir.

Held at: American Swedish Historical Museum [Contact Us]

John Bartram Association collection on the Bartram family, 1768-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 19.0 linear feet
Abstract:: John Bartram (1699-1777), the "Father of American Botany," created a botanic garden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is widely considered the first true botanic collection in North America. In 1891 the City of Philadelphia purchased his estate as a historic site, and the John Bartram Association--primarily constituted of his descendants--was established in 1893 to help with the administration and interpretation of the property. The John Bartram Association collection on the Bartram family, 1768-2012, includes various materials created by or on the subject of John Bartram (1699-1777) and his descendants. It includes some original and many copies of Bartram family documents, photographs, book research, genealogical research, and plant information.

Held at: John Bowman Bartram Special Collections Library [Contact Us]

John Grass Wood Turning Company records, 1910-1952, 1993-2002

Extent:: 30.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The John Grass Wood Turning Company, in business in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia from 1863 to 2003, specialized in creating tool handles, flag poles, furniture legs, and other wooden objects shaped on a lathe. Its longevity illustrates Philadelphia's importance as a longstanding industrial center in America's history. The John Grass Wood Turning Company records, 1910-1952, 1993-2002, consist primarily of financial records of the John Grass Wood Turning Company from two significant periods in its history: a forty-year duration beginning just before the company's incorporation in 1911, and a decade-long span leading up to the company's closure in 2003.

Held at: The Center for Art in Wood [Contact Us]