Search

Start Over Place Philadelphia (Pa.) Language English Year 1850 to 1899

Main content

Francis B. Gallagher collection of Fenian Brotherhood records, 1866-1870 (bulk) 1862-1870 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
The Fenian Brotherhood, the American branch of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, was established in 1858 with the goal of establishing an independent Ireland. As well as raising money and gathering arms to send back to Ireland, the Fenians also engaged in military activity against the British, leading two failed invasions of Canada. Factionalism within the organization led to the Brotherhood's decline by the 1880s. This collection primarily contains the correspondence of Francis B. Gallagher, a Fenian Senator and district treasurer from Buffalo, NY with other senior Fenian officials. Also included are some administrative records, including circular letters, finance reports, and meeting minutes. The papers document the Brotherhood's activities, including its failed invasion of Canada, as well as the internal divisions that led to the organization's demise.

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

Main content

Herman Joseph Heuser papers, 1890-1925 (bulk) 1811-1933 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.8 linear feet (; 27 boxes)
Abstract:
Herman Joseph Heuser, D.D. (1851-1933) was a Catholic intellectual and prolific writer who influenced scholarly circles and clerical life in the United States and abroad through his literary work. Heuser edited the American Ecclesiastical Review (1889-1975) as well as published The Dolphin (1900-1908), a Catholic literary magazine. These publications reflected Heuser's varied interests from clerical subjects to the arts. He published fourteen books, eight of which appeared serially in The Dolphin. This collection includes primarily correspondence, sermons, prayers, scrapbooks, and personal writings. It also includes materials related to Patrick Augustine Sheehan.

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

Main content

Elizabeth Sarah Kite papers, 1890-1935 (bulk) 1865-1954 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.1 linear feet (; 3 boxes)
Abstract:
Elizabeth Sarah Kite (1864-1954) was a teacher, social scientist, historian, author, and archivist. Born in Philadelphia to Quaker parents, Kite was educated at Westtown Boarding school and the Philadelphia Friends’ Select School; and then studied extensively in Europe. In 1906, she converted to Catholicism, after her experiences with French Catholics. From 1909 to 1918, Kite was employed in the research laboratory at the Vineland Training School, and conducted research in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. She translated Development of Intelligence in Children and The Intelligence of the Feeble-Minded by Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon (translation published 1916). She also researched and published on various historical topics, in particular the influence of French participation during the American Revolution, and served as the archivist for American Catholic Historical Society from 1932 to 1949. Kite became the first laywoman to receive an honorary...(see more)

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

Main content

Mary Brackett Willcox papers, 1842-1854 (bulk) 1807-1864 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
This collection contains mostly incoming correspondence to Mary Brackett Willcox (1796-1866), wife of James M. Willcox (1791-1854) whose family owned one of the most significant paper mills in the country in Ivy Mills, now Glenn Mills, Pennsylvania. Along with their status in industry, the Willcox family was also one of the most prominent families within the Catholic community in the Philadelphia area. The family’s mansion became the center of Catholicity in Delaware County, and served as the beginnings of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, the oldest parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. During the 1840s and 1850s, students and the Vincentian administrators of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary spent their summers at the Willcox estate. The letters in the collection are from Vincentians, seminarians, and other priests serving the Archdiocese of Philadelphia who formed close ties with Mary and the Willcox family during this period. A majority of the letters address the topics of...(see more)

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

Main content

Episcopal Hospital (Philadelphia) records, circa 1851-2001

Extent:
58.0 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains records of Episcopal Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Materials include minutes, annual reports, strategic plans, estate files, photographs, artifacts, and other items.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing [Contact Us]

Main content

Temple-Episcopal Hospital School of Nursing Records, 1888-2009

Extent:
79.0 linear feet (in addition, 2 cubic feet of artifacts, 7 cubic feet of photographs, and 70 cubic feet of student files)
Abstract:
The Temple-Episcopal Hospital School of Nursing sheds light on the expansive and impressive nursing education program that lasted over a hundred years, from 1888-2009. This collection includes annual reports, faculty committee minutes, curriculum files, correspondence with affiliations, student activities, and other historical information about this enduring institution.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing [Contact Us]

Main content

Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia records, 1858-1976 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.0 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains records relating to the Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia. Materials include historical accounts, administrative records, board minutes, annual reports, correspondence, and photographs.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing [Contact Us]

Main content

Andrew G. Curtin Association of Army Nurses records, 1861-1903 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet
Abstract:
The Andrew G. Curtin Association of Army Nurses was composed of Philadelphia-area nurses who served in the Civil War. This collection documents the activities of the Association from its founding until the close of its minutes in 1903.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing [Contact Us]

Main content

Logan family papers, 1670-1872 (bulk) 1638-1964 (bulk 1670-1872) (inclusive)

Extent:
34.8 linear feet (65 boxes, 79 volumes, 12 flat files)
Abstract:
The Logan family was a prominent Philadelphia family dating back to 1699, when James Logan, the family patriarch, arrived in Philadelphia to serve as the first secretary of the Pennsylvania colony. Through work in agriculture and politics, Logan and his descendants were intimately involved in the development of the Pennsylvania colony and, later, the fledging United States. James Logan's prominence resulted in connections, both professional and familial, with other prominent colonial families, including the Norris and Dickinson families. The Logan family papers, 1638-1964 (bulk 1670-1872), documents James Logan’s personal and professional life, as well as that of several generations of his descendents. There are papers documenting the lives of his son William, his grandson George Logan, his great-grandsons Albanus Charles Logan and Algernon Sydney Logan, and the subsequent relationships with the Dickinson and Norris families. John Dickinson, who married one of James Logan's...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Main content

A History of Philadelphia (scrapbooks) by Thompson Westcott, circa 1867-circa 1884

Extent:
1.0 linear feet (; 5 volumes)
Abstract:
Full title: A History of Philadelphia, From the Time of the First Settlements on the Delaware to the Consolidation of the City and Districts in 1854. A scarce and virtually unique presentation of the first appearance of Westcott's History of Philadelphia, pasted in its original newsprint form into five scrapbooks of approx. 250 pages each. Five scrapbooks, each containing in triple-column form the original text as published in the Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch between 1867 and 1884. Westcott completed the history to circa 1826.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Main content

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

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

Held at: Union League of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Main content

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

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

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

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]

Main content

Robert Chambers collection on William Wagner and the history of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1820-1910 (bulk) 1798-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet (5 containers)
Abstract:
Incorporated by William Wagner (1796-1885) in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution in Philadelphia that is dedicated to providing free public education in the sciences. The Robert Chambers collection on William Wagner and the history of the Wagner Free Institute of Science includes material collected by Chambers and contains correspondence; genealogical and family information; documents on William Wagner's early business career with Stephen Girard, the Lennoxville Steam Saw Mill and Snowden and Wagner; Wagner Free Instute of Science financial and operational material; and personal material from Sydney T. Skidmore, a member of the Board. This collection will almost certainly not provide a researcher with all the information needed—instead, this is an excellent starting point. Because these materials were, according to institutional memory, removed from other collections by Robert Chambers and kept close at hand due to...(see more)

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

Main content

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]

Main content

Red D Line records, 1861-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.66 linear feet (12 volumes)
Abstract:
The Red D Line was the main transportation link between the United States and Venezuela from 1820 to 1936. The line took its trade name from the red D on its white flag, which stood for the line's founder, John Dallett, a Philadelphia merchant. Dallett travelled to Venezuela in 1823, where he went into business with the influential Venezuelan merchant, John Boulton. Dallett returned to Philadelphia and set up a business shipping cargoes to Boulton, and in 1838 began chartering sailing vessels to carry his merchandise. The Red D Line records house a sampling of business and financial records of the shipping line from 1861 to 1936. There are twelve volumes.

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

Main content

Rush family papers, 1748-1876 (inclusive)

Extent:
34.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Rush Family papers includes material from Benjamin Rush, physician, social activist, educator, writer and patriot; his brother Jacob Rush, lawyer, Supreme Court judge, and patriot; and Benjamin’s son James Rush, physician and Treasurer of the United States Mint. These American men were “strong characters, zealous patriots during the stirring period in which they lived, tenacious of their convictions and of the high standard of individual duty which they set for others, and typified in themselves,” (Richards, page 53). The bulk of the collection is the papers of Dr. Benjamin Rush and his son Dr. James Rush. Judge Jacob, John, Richard and William are represented, but to a much lesser degree. The other Rush family members are represented in a very limited manner. The collection contains correspondence; financial records; medical notes, lectures, and case histories; writings regarding medicine, politics, and the judicial system; and observations on colonial Philadelphia, the...(see more)

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Main content

Library Company of Philadelphia Shareholders records, 1732-2007 (inclusive)

Extent:
12.0 volumes
Abstract:
In 1731, Benjamin Franklin and a number of his fellow members of the Junto founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, in order to provide its members access to books that they could not afford to purchase individually, but could afford to purchase collectively. Fifty subscribers invested forty shillings each and promised to pay ten shillings a year thereafter to buy books and maintain a shareholder's library. Thus "the Mother of all American Subscription Libraries" was established. Over the years, the Library Company continues to be supported by its members who participate in a centuries-old tradition by becoming shareholders and therefore allowing the Library Company of Philadelphia to continue serving the public, free of charge. This collection consists of twelve volumes of shareholders records dating from 1742 to 2007. The volumes, Record Books A to L, document share purchases and transfers of shares. Entries include date, name of member, and occasionally brief notes on...(see more)

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Main content

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]

Main content

Hahnemann University Academic Affairs records, 1928-1994 (bulk) 1848-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:
240.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Hahnemann University’s long history began in 1848 with the founding of the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania. Over the years, the institution evolved in many ways, eventually becoming Hahnemann University and, later, the Drexel University College of Medicine. In the mid- to late-twentieth century, with the decline of homeopathy, Hahnemann re-invented itself as a nationally known academic medical center with prominence in cardiac surgery and cardiology, oncology, transplantation, training of non-physician health professionals, community health, and community mental health. This expertise led to many firsts for Hahnemann, including international advances in cardiac surgery. The Hahnemann University Academic Affairs records house the files of Hahnemann University and date from 1848 to 2009. The collection consists of annual and accreditation reports; minutes, memoranda, and correspondence from various committees, councils, and departments; records of student life and...(see more)

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

Main content

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]

Main content

George A. Hay collection of administrative files of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1925-1965 (bulk) 1890-1970 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.25 linear feet (8 document boxes; 1 half size document box)
Abstract:
From 1925 to 1970, the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMC) underwent significant change, adapting to both survive and prosper in a transforming society. Administrative change was brought about and explored to spark institutional growth and/or to mollify financial stress. Among the more significant events in the College’s history was the 1930 move to new and larger facilities in East Falls, and an administrative reorganization in 1942. In the 1940s and 1960s, WMC also explored the financial and administrative benefits of merging with other institutions in the Philadelphia area; Kensington Women’s Hospital and the Woman’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Jefferson Medical College. Amidst all of the change, WMC continued to honor its traditions and celebrate milestones, especially its Centennial Anniversary in 1950. In 1970, the College made the decision to admit male students for the first time and change its name to the Medical College of Pennsylvania. The George A. Hay...(see more)

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

Main content

Awbury Arboretum Association Cope family collection, 1791-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.3 linear feet
Abstract:
Henry Cope purchased 40 acres of land in East Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1852 where he built a home for his growing family. Over the next 70 years, his descendants build 24 houses representing a variety of architectural styles. A portion of this land, now known as the Awbury Arboretum, was left to the City Parks Association in 1916 to protect it from development. The Awbury Arboretum Association Cope family collection, 1791-2011, encompasses several small collections donated by various descendants of the Cope family. It includes correspondence, deeds, financial records, journals, and photographs.

Held at: Awbury Arboretum [Contact Us]

Main content

Records of Golden Star Lodge No. 4 of Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria (Philadelphia, Pa.), 1910-1925 (bulk) 1881-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria was a gender-integrated temperance group and beneficial society. Predominantly African American soon after its founding in 1847, it became one of the largest African American fraternal groups. A Philadelphia branch, Golden Star Lodge, No. 4, was organized in 1880. The Records of Golden Star Lodge No. 4 of Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria (Philadelphia, Pa.), 1881-1947 (bulk 1910-1925), consist of various administrative, financial, and scattered membership records of the local lodge.

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

Main content

African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas records, 1790-2019 (inclusive)

Extent:
50.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Established in 1792 by and for persons of African descent, the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is the first African American Episcopal Church in the United States. St. Thomas' founder and first rector was Absalom Jones (1746-1818), the first African American ordained in the Episcopal Church. The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas records, 1790-2019, consist mainly of original church records, as well as some accumulated secondary-source materials. The collection also contains photographs, audio-visual materials, printed materials, and objects.

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

Main content

Early records of the Charles E. Hopkin Co., 1888-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Charles Hopkin founded the company "Charles E. Hopkin, contractor" in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, circa 1888. The Early Records of the Charles E. Hopkin Co., 1888-1936, consists of 18 ledgers, one payroll register, and one book of correspondence.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Helen Moak Collection, 1960-2002 (bulk) 1859-2002 (inclusive)

Extent:
32.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Helen Ross Moak (1918-2004) was a journalist, community activist, and local historian in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Helen Moak Collection, 1859-2002 [bulk 1960-2002] consists of newspaper clippings, correspondence, records, photos, and miscellaneous materials about Chestnut Hill and surrounding communities. Subjects include institutions, community organizations, businesses, and individuals.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Annette Riley Fry collection on Laura Brooks Troth Riley, 1870s-1930s

Extent:
3.9 linear feet
Abstract:
Laura Brooks Troth, 1882-1964, grew up in Germantown, Philadelphia and moved to Poughkeepsie, NY in 1909 when she married Woodbridge Riley, who was head of the Philosophy department at Vassar College. Laura returned to Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia with her five children after her husband's death. This collection includes diaries, photo albums, autograph album, photographs, clippings, other printed items, and many letters.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Philadelphia Cricket Club Collection, 1935-2011 (bulk) 1858-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
22.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Founded in 1854, the Philadelphia Cricket Club is one of the oldest clubs in the country devoted to sport. The club was nomadic until 1883, when benefactor Henry H. Houston gave them a permanent home in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Cricket Club Collection, 1858-2011, includes financial and administrative records of the club, as well as publications and ephemera, photographs, and newspaper clippings.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Chestnut Hill Historical Society map and atlas collection, 1849-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Chestnut Hill, in northwest Philadelphia, was a village of farmers and millers during the Colonial period. After the railroad reached the area in 1854, Chestnut Hill became a popular spot for Philadelphia's wealthy and it soon boasted magnificent estates designed by Frank Furness, T.P. Chandler, and Horace Trumbauer. The Chestnut Hill Historical Society map and atlas collection, 1849-2011, consists of loose maps and separated atlas plates centering on Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy, as well as about one dozen atlases of Philadelphia.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Hugh McNally Jr. Collection, 1890-1945 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains various materials relating to Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, World Wars I and II, and other topics. It features ration books, a Haverford College scrapbook, and small amounts of business and personal papers from various sources.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Joseph C. Farley Sr. scrapbooks, 1898-1985 (inclusive)

Extent:
28.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Joseph C. Farley Sr. was a charter member of the Philadelphia Second Alarmers Association, a volunteer group which provides aid to the Philadelphia Fire Department. The Joseph C. Farley Sr. scrapbooks, 1898-1985, consist of over 100 scrapbooks focused on fire incidents in Philadelphia and the history of fire fighting.

Held at: Fireman's Hall Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Fireman's Hall Museum photograph and scrapbook collection, 1871-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
49.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Fireman's Hall Museum photograph and scrapbook collection, 1871-2012, is comprised of photographs and scrapbooks collected by the Museum. Most of the photographs are original, but some are reproductions. They relate to Philadelphia fires, fire companies, apparatus, and fire history.

Held at: Fireman's Hall Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Philadelphia Water Department records and collection on Fairmount Water Works, 1801-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.33 linear feet
Abstract:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the first city in the United States to provide water as a public utility and was known for its advances in water distribution technology, such as using a centralized distribution system and employing the use of hydropower for pumps. The Philadelphia Water Department (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) traces its roots to 1799 when the Joint Committee on Supplying the City with Water (known as the Watering Committee) was established by the city council in response to pressure from the city's residents to provide them with clean water for drinking, fire fighting, and cleansing the streets following a series of yellow fever epidemics. The Fairmount Water Works (FWW), Philadelphia's second water works, began operating in 1815 and remained in use until 1909. Regarded as a significant achievement in civil engineering, FWW was also an important Philadelphia landmark and tourist attraction. In the early twenty-first century, Philadelphia operates three water...(see more)

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Midvale Steel Company records, 1920-1978 (bulk) 1873-1978 (inclusive)

Extent:
20.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Midvale Steel was originally established in the Nicetown neighborhood of North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1867 by William Butcher under the name Butcher Steel Works. Renamed Midvale Steel Works in 1873, it was one of the main steel suppliers to the United States military from 1875 through World War II and was also where Frederick Taylor developed his theory of scientific management. The Nicetown plant closed in 1976. Midvale Steel Company records, 1873-1978 (bulk 1920-1978), consist of photographs, glass plate negatives, scrapbooks, and printed matter from or relating to Midvale Steel. There is a small amount of manuscript materials, including a company activity log book, 1876-1889, and a notebook from Charles Brinley, 1873.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute manuscript collection, 1762-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:
40.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1824, in honor of America's first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most significant science institutes in the nation. Its mission is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute manuscript collection, 1762-2003, includes small groups (less than 1 linear foot each) of papers of scientists, inventors, science-oriented groups and organizations, industrial businesses, and others in the scientific community, as well as other science and engineering related materials.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Philadelphia Water Department lantern slides, circa 1885-1925

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the first city in the United States to provide water as a public utility and was known for its advances in water distribution technology, such as using a centralized distribution system and employing the use of hydropower for pumps. The Philadelphia Water Department (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) traces its roots to 1799 when the Joint Committee on Supplying the City with Water (known as the Watering Committee) was established by the city council in response to pressure from the city's residents to provide them with clean water for drinking, fire fighting, and cleansing the streets following a series of yellow fever epidemics. The Philadelphia Water Department lantern slides, circa 1885-1925, consist of two hundred and ninety-four lantern slides depicting images of documents, machinery, and other subjects related to the Water Department's research and operations.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Walter A. R. Pertuch lantern slides, circa 1894-1902

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Walter A. R. Pertuch (1888-1976) worked in the library at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for fifty-five years, serving as the Institute's librarian from 1940 to 1959. He was an amateur photographer and photograph collector. Walter A. R. Pertuch lantern slides, circa 1894-1902, consist of approximately sixty-seven images depicting street and river scenes, buildings, and other images of Philadelphia, as well as images of the Pertuch family and others in Philadelphia and pictures of the family and scenery at Holly Beach, New Jersey (which was incorporated into Wildwood, NJ in 1912).

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Howard Pusey lantern slides, circa 1884-1909

Extent:
10.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Howard Pusey lantern slides, circa 1884-1909, consist of over six hundred images depicting various locations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, Europe, and the Middle East. The images are primarily of scenery, buildings, and sculpture, but there are some portraits and other images featuring people.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

F. Lynwood Garrison metallography photomicrographic glass plates, circa 1885

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Frank Lynwood Garrison (1862-1951) was a mining engineer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who is best known for his research relating to the structural composition of iron and steel and establishing the science of metallography in the United States in 1886. F. Lynwood Garrison metallography photomicrographic glass plates, circa 1885, consist of approximately one hundred and ten glass plates depicting the composition of iron and steel. One image is of his camera and microscope apparatus.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Journal of The Franklin Institute lantern slides, 1881-1921 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1824, in honor of America's first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most important science institutes in the nation. Its mission is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. Journal of The Franklin Institute lantern slides, 1881-1921, consist of about two hundred and fifty lantern slides depicting images used during lectures at the Franklin Institute that were based on articles published in the Journal of The Franklin Institute.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute daguerreotype collection, circa 1840-1860

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1824, in honor of America's first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most important science institutes in the nation. Its mission is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute daguerreotype collection, circa 1840-1860, consists of twenty-seven daguerreotypes. Most of the images are of individuals, but there are images of scenery as well. Of special interest in the collection are two images from Philadelphia physician and photographic pioneer, Dr. Paul Beck Goddard and one image attributed to Louis J. M. Daguerre.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Elihu Thomson scrapbook, lantern slides, and photographs, circa 1890-1930

Extent:
3.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Elihu Thomson (1853-1937) was an English-born American electrical engineer and inventor active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was co-founder of the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, which merged with Edison General Electric Company in 1892 to establish General Electric Company. Elihu Thomson scrapbook, lantern slides, and photographs, circa 1890-1930, consist of materials relating to Thomson's time at General Electric, as well as images of various types of lighting fixtures, images of Thomson and his inventions, and other materials.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Franklin Institute records, 1824-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:
1225.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1824, in honor of America's first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most important science institutes in the nation. Its mission is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. The Franklin Institute records, 1824-2016, consist of administrative and financial records, membership materials, files from various departments and committees at The Franklin Institute, property records and materials relating to the Institute's building, photographs and audiovisual materials, publications, marketing materials, ephemera, and other materials.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Wynn Laurence LePage papers, 1857-1869, 1929-1974

Extent:
7.42 linear feet
Abstract:
Wynn Laurence LePage (1902-1985) was an aeronautical engineer, well-known for having a major influence on the development of the autogiro and the helicopter by designing rotary wings. Together, LePage and Haviland Hull Platt, established the Platt-LePage Aircraft Company, which produced the first helicopter officially acquired by the United States Army Air Forces (XR-1) during World War II. The Wynn Laurence LePage papers, 1857-1869, 1929-1974, contain reports on the XR-1 and XR-1A helicopters, correspondence, notes, awards, lectures, newspaper clippings, photographs, a couple of scrapbooks, and objects.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Henry R. Heyl papers, 1876-1917 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Henry Renno Heyl (1842-1919) was an inventor active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Heyl was a longtime member of The Franklin Institute and is best known for creating the phasmatrope, an early simulation of moving pictures, and receiving the first United States patent for a stapler. Henry R. Heyl papers, 1876-1917, consist of numerous patents, drawings and explanations of Heyl's inventions. There is a large amount of materials pertaining to his paper milk bottle and wire book sewing machine inventions. Also included are some photographs and a glass plate negative, a scrapbook, correspondence, graphs, diagrams and blueprints, notes, reports, notebooks, manuals, and books.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

Main content

Pat Stopper collection on Northeast Philadelphia history, circa 1880-2013 (bulk 1980-2005)

Extent:
8.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Patricia Worthington Stopper (born 1928) was a local historian in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is involved in many Northeast Philadelphia history societies and groups and has researched and written extensively about the neighborhoods of Bustleton, Somerton, and Byberry. She has also given presentations and lectures at schools, libraries, and historical groups about Northeast Philadelphia history. The Pat Stopper collection on Northeast Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pa.) history, circa 1880-2013 (bulk 1980-2005), consists of scrapbooks, maps, audio and video recordings, and photographs all relating to Northeast Philadelphia, especially the neighborhoods of Bustleton, Somerton, and Byberry.

Held at: Friends of Northeast Philadelphia History [Contact Us]

Main content

Reference collection, 1874-2000 (bulk) 1690-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:
86.0 linear feet
Abstract:
In the early part of the nineteenth century, Philadelphia City Council took action to protect the purity of public water. This involved the acquisition of property on the banks of the Schuylkill River in order to eliminate polluting waste that had previously been generated by various industrial sites along the river. The City’s newly acquired property was dedicated to the health and enjoyment of the citizens of Philadelphia, and became known as Fairmount Park. The Fairmount Park Commission (FPC) was established by Act of the Assembly, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, March 26, 1867. Over the course of this organization’s history (1867 to 2010) the FPC continued to acquire land for the people of Philadelphia, and operated with a single continuous mission: to preserve and protect its open space; provide opportunities for recreation; maintain the landscapes and structures, streams and woodlands that exist within the Fairmount Park System. This collection contains various materials that...(see more)

Held at: Fairmount Park Historic Resource Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library subject files, 1975-2011 (bulk) 1865-2011 bulk, 1975-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
21.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library subject files, 1865-2011 (bulk 1975-2011), focus around topics relating to the Civil War and its legacy. The bulk of the collection is made up of photocopies, copies of secondary histories, and printed ephemera, although there are some original, unique documents.

Held at: Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library [Contact Us]

Main content

Records of Ellis Post No. 6, Grand Army of the Republic, 1879-1908 (bulk) 1879-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 cubic feet ((3 volumes in 3 boxes, and 7 binders kept separately))
Abstract:
The Grand Army of the Republic Ellis Post No. 6 was founded in 1879 by General Louis Wagner in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. The Records of Ellis Post No. 6, Grand Army of the Republic, 1879-1939, consist of financial records, membership records, and war memorial sketch books detailing members' Civil War service.

Held at: Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library [Contact Us]

Main content

Membership Records of E. D. Baker Post No. 8, Grand Army of the Republic, 1866-1931 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 cubic feet ((2 volumes in 1 box))
Abstract:
E. D. Baker Post No. 8 was active in Philadelphia, PA, from the 1860s to the 1930s. The Membership Records of E. D. Baker Post No. 8, Grand Army of the Republic, 1866-1931, include member's names, age, birthplace, residence, occupation, details on service in Civil war, as well as other details.

Held at: Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library [Contact Us]

Main content

Post History Records of the Anna M. Ross Post No. 94, Grand Army of the Republic, 1897-1910s

Extent:
1.5 cubic feet ((3 volumes in 3 boxes))
Abstract:
G.A.R. members established Anna M. Ross Post No. 94 in Philadelphia on November 17, 1874. The Post History Records of the Anna M. Ross Post No. 94, Grand Army of the Republic, 1897-1910s, are made up of war memorial sketch books detailing members' Civil War service.

Held at: Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library [Contact Us]

Main content

Germantown Historical Society pamphlet boxes, circa 1875-2012

Extent:
163.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown, a section of northwest Philadelphia, was settled in the late 1600s. It is well known as the site of the first American anti-slavery protest, the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown, and the seat of the National government during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The Germantown Historical Society pamphlet boxes, circa 1875-2012, contain files on various topics relating to Germantown and surrounding areas.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

General Louis Wagner scrapbooks, circa 1869-1897

Extent:
14.0 linear feet
Abstract:
General Louis Wagner (1838-1914) was a Civil War veteran who served as Commander of Camp William Penn, and a Philadelphia city official. He served as Director of Public Works for the City of Philadelphia. The General Louis Wagner scrapbooks, circa 1873-1897, are mainly comprised of newspaper clippings relating to Philadelphia utilities. There are also clippings on Philadelphia politics, temperance, Girard College, the German Society of Philadelphia, and other subjects. Of special interest is a volume of autographs of army officers and other dignitaries at Ulysses S. Grant's reception in Philadelphia, December 1879.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Germantown Historical Society scrapbook and photograph album collection, circa 1880-1989

Extent:
14.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown, a section of northwest Philadelphia, was settled in the late 1600s. It is well known as the site of the first American anti-slavery protest, the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown, and the seat of the National government during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The Germantown Historical Society scrapbook collection, circa 1880-1989, contains scrapbooks from multiple creators relating to local Germantown families, events, and organizations.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Germantown Historical Society collection on the Wister family, 1814-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.8 linear feet
Abstract:
The Wisters were a prominent merchant family, established in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 18th century. The family built many homes in the area which are now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Germantown Historical Society collection on the Wister family, 1814-1966, is comprised of materials created by various members of the Wister family, such as business records, correspondence, diaries, knitting patterns, and photographs.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Edward P. Haines, Sr. and Edward P. Haines, Jr. papers, 1892-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Ed Preston Haines, Sr. (1873-1937) was an engineer and inventor who resided in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His son Edward Preston Haines, Jr. (b. 1918) attended the Fox School of Business at Temple University. The Edward P. Haines, Sr. and Edward P. Haines, Jr. papers, 1892-1991, are comprised of papers from both father and son. These materials include photographs and negatives, audio tapes, correspondence, technical drawings, and financial records.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Germantown Hospital records, 1863-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:
58.0 linear feet
Abstract:
A medical dispensary was started in the Germantown section of Philadelphia in 1863, and seven years later the doors of Germantown Hospital opened to the public. In 1997 the hospital was acquired by Einstein medical group, and it was merged into Albert Einstein Medical Center in 1999.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Saving Fund Society of Germantown and its Vicinity records, 1860-1951 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Saving Fund Society of Germantown and its Vicinity was founded in 1854 in the Germantown Section of Philadelphia. At the outset, the Saving Fund Society of Germantown set out to be more than a money-making and money-lending institution--its founders wished to help the working classes accumulate sufficient funds to purchase homes or pay for financial emergencies. The Society changed its name to Germantown Savings Bank in 1987, and later merged into Corestates Bank. Corestates was absorbed into another bank, which itself was absorbed and renamed several times thereafter. The Saving Fund Society of Germantown and its Vicinity records, 1860-1951, is comprised of about 43 volumes of financial transactions and account books, 1860-1951; a small quantity of loose early records, circa 1874; and seven atlases of Philadelphia.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Jeannette Meehan Anderson collection on Thomas Meehan, 1985-1994 (bulk) 1890-1994 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Thomas Meehan (1826-1901) was a horticulturalist and nursery owner in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His nursery shipped plants across the globe, and his writings on horticulture influenced taste and design. The Jeannette Meehan Anderson collection on Thomas Meehan, 1890-1994, is comprised almost entirely of photocopies (primary source materials, contemporary articles on Meehan, and more recent scholarly articles). There are also drafts of articles by Anderson about Meehan, Anderson's correspondence about Meehan, Sotheby's appraisals of original Meehan papers and objects, and small number of original Thomas Meehan documents.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Germantown Historical Society small collections, 1764-1989 (inclusive)

Extent:
42.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown Historical Society small collections, 1764-1989, consists of small accumulations of records and papers from various families, individuals, and organizations based in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. There are four general groups of materials: "Organizational records," "Family and personal papers," "Unprocessed papers," and "Small manuscript collection." Rough, preliminary inventories exist for the first three groups and are provided below. There is an online finding aid for the fourth group, "Small manuscript collection," at http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/d/pacscl/HSP_GHS34SM.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Wilbur Hall photographs, circa 1890-1920

Extent:
5.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Wilbur P. Hall (1879-1969) was a railroad engineer who lived in Llanerch, Delaware County, Pennsylvania and worked for the Philadelphia and West Chester Traction Company. The Wilbur Hall photographs, circa 1890-1920, consist of over 200 glass plate negatives and photographic prints. Most of the images are related to commuter rail systems; there are also images of people, buildings, and scenery, principally from locations in Llanerch and Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Held at: Haverford Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Henry George School of Social Science records, circa 1857-2002 (bulk 1932-1995)

Extent:
55.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Founded in 1932 by Oscar H. Geiger, the mission of the Henry George School of Social Science (HGSSS) is to promote economic and social justice based on the philosophy of Henry George and his masterpiece, Progress and Poverty (1879). Today, the HGSSS offers tuition free courses and seminars at its headquarters in New York City and at the School's dozens of satellite campuses around the world. The Henry George School of Social Science records, circa 1857-2002 (bulk 1932-1995), consist of materials produced by or relating to the administrators, employees, students, and satellite schools of the Henry George School of Social Science. Materials include correspondence and writings of the School's directors, trustees, and educators; materials used for teaching; newsletters and other school publications and printed matter; press clippings and other promotional materials about the School; photographs of school events, fundraisers, and individuals and groups associated with...(see more)

Held at: The Henry George Birthplace, Archive and Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

Main content

German Society of Pennsylvania institutional records, 1764-1968 (bulk) 1764-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
27.4 linear feet
Abstract:
The German Society of Pennsylvania, founded in Philadelphia in 1764, directed its early efforts to assisting new German immigrants, especially those forced into indentured servitude when they were unable to pay their sea fare. Throughout the late 18th and 19th centuries, the Society was very visible in the thriving German-American community in Philadelphia, boasting just over one thousand members at the peak of its growth, in the late 1870s. In the 20th century, the Society’s scope and prominence was affected by the two World Wars, which created suspicion and criticism of Germanic culture. That suspicion and government scrutiny played a role in the dwindling membership of the Society. In the post-World War II era the Society channeled its overseas relief activities through a Quaker-based aid society. In the second half of the century, the neighborhood was also changing, as it became predominantly African-American, rather than German, and more impoverished. But the Society pressed...(see more)

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

Main content

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]

Main content

Library Company of Philadelphia publications, 1834-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet and 2 containers, 52 volumes
Abstract:
In 1731, Benjamin Franklin and a group of intellectual Philadelphians established the Library Company of Philadelphia, a subscription library supported by its shareholders. The Library Company of Philadelphia is now an independent research library specializing in American society and culture from the 17th to 19th centuries. The mission of the Library Company of Philadelphia includes preserving, interpreting, making available, and augmenting the valuable materials within its care. In order to achieve this mission, the Library Company of Philadelphia curates exhibits, hosts symposia and conferences, and publishes works regarding the Library Company and its collections. This collection consists of printed material created by the Library Company of Philadelphia. Included are brochures; information about resources and services; event brochures, announcements, exhibit catalogues, and conference programs; and published works regarding the Library Company of Philadelphia or the materials...(see more)

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Main content

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]

Main content

Holme family papers, circa 1685-1920, 2008-2009

Extent:
0.83 linear feet
Abstract:
The Holme family in the United States can be traced to John Holme (1632-1702), who came to America in 1686 from England. The Holmesburg section of Philadelphia, PA, is named after the Holme family, who resided there until 1928. The Holme family papers, circa 1685-1920, 2008-2009, is a collection of some 200 digital scans of documents pertaining to the Holme and related families of the Holmesburg area of Northeast Philadelphia, as well as 55 physical documents and photographs. The digital files in the collection include scans of loose papers – receipts and financial accounts, deeds, petitions, letters, wills, indentures, legal papers, and various other notes and writings – as well as some maps, broadsides, newspapers, loose photographs, photograph albums, and bound volumes.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Main content

J. Friend Lodge collection on Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and Americana, circa 19th century-1940s (bulk 1860s-1940s)

Extent:
300.0 linear feet
Abstract:
John Friend Lodge (1870-1944) was the proprietor of a cotton yarn manufacturing company in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lodge invented a device for removing kinks from yarn and threads and was granted a patent for the device in 1911. Lodge was also a collector of Lincolniana, Civil War memorabilia, and signatures of well-known Americans, amassing a large collection before his death in 1944. The J. Friend Lodge collection on Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and Americana, circa 19th century-1940s (bulk 1860s-1940s), consists primarily of published books on the topics of Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War, and well-known Americans. Also in the collection are sixteen volumes with signatures and some images of famous Americans, pamphlets and booklets relating to Abraham Lincoln or the American Civil War, photographs, newspaper clippings, Civil War and Americana artifacts, and other materials.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Main content

Historical Society of Frankford map and atlas collection, circa 1684-2000s

Extent:
9.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. The Historical Society of Frankford map and atlas collection, circa 1684-2000s, consists of approximately 90 maps of the greater Philadelphia region, as well as state, national, and international maps.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Main content

Anne H. Cresson family papers, 1800-1920 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Anne Hannum Cresson was born around 1847 to Walter Cresson and Alice Hannum. The Cresson family of Philadelphia is descended from Pierre Cresson, a French Huguenot, born in 1609 or 1610. The Anne H. Cresson family papers, 1820-1900, contain the genealogical research of Anne H. Cresson, along with original papers from various family members.

Held at: Historical Society of Montgomery County [Contact Us]

Main content

Congregation Mikveh Israel records, 1765-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
120.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Congregation Mikveh Israel, known as the "Synagogue of the American Revolution," is the oldest formal Jewish congregation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the oldest continuous synagogue in the United States, tracing its origins to a communal cemetery established for the Jews in Philadelphia in 1740. Following the Sephardic tradition, Mikveh Israel has counted among its members many prominent individuals who have contributed to the development of Jewish life in Philadelphia and the United States. The Congregation Mikveh Israel records, 1765-2011, include a large quantity of membership and vital records, and extensive papers from several former religious leaders (hazanim) and synagogue presidents (parnassim). Additionally, there are administrative and financial records, property-related materials, photographs, publications and ephemera, and documentation of various congregational committees and activities. There are some materials from several people and organizations associated...(see more)

Held at: Mikveh Israel Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

Jacob S. Geller business and estate records, 1888-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Jacob Stoll Geller (1846-1916), a retail merchant, public official, and prominent Mason, founded and operated Geller's Emporium, a wholesale department store in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. By the late 19th century, the emporium came to serve as the largest retailer in the North Penn area of Montgomery County. After Geller passed away in 1916, his business was briefly carried on by his family though its success diminished considerably. The bulk of Jacob S. Geller business and estate records, 1888-1936, is invoices for goods purchased by Jacob S. Geller and, later, the Jacob Geller estate. Also included are incoming business correspondence to Jacob S. Geller and estate financial records.

Held at: Lansdale Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Mummers Museum scrapbook and photograph album collection, 1888-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.4 linear feet
Abstract:
The tradition of mummery dates back to the late 17th century, but the parade was first sponsored by the City of Philadelphia in 1901. The Philadelphia New Years Shooters and Mummers Association administers the annual Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mummers Museum scrapbook and photograph album collection, 1888-2012, is made up of scrapbooks and photograph albums related to the Mummers Parade, Mummers clubs, individual Mummers, and the Mummers Museum. The scrapbooks are comprised of newspaper clippings, photographs, and ephemera.

Held at: Mummers Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Gibson family papers, 1860-1955 (bulk) 1761-1955 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.9 linear feet
Abstract:
Henry C. Gibson (1830-1891), one of the wealthiest men in Philadelphia in his time, indulged liberally in collecting art and philanthropic causes. His son, J. Howard Gibson, lived from about 1855 until about 1894. J. Howard's grandson, Henry C. Gibson, Jr. (born circa 1922), established a firm to explore commercial uses of atomic energy in Palm Beach, Florida. The Gibson family papers, 1860-1955, primarily concern John Howard Gibson and his father Henry Clay Gibson, with some material on other family members. It consists mostly of family scrapbooks and memorabilia.

Held at: Old York Road Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Reeves Wetherill scrapbooks, circa 1800-1989 (bulk 1935-1985)

Extent:
3.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Reeves Wetherill (1912-1992) was a Philadelphia socialite who served as the Vice President for Public Relations at Wanamaker's department store from 1960-1987. He descended from Samuel Wetherill, a textile manufacturer involved in founding the Free Quakers during the American Revolution, and Christopher Wetherill, an early settler in Burlington County, New Jersey. The Reeves Wetherill scrapbooks, circa 1800-1989 (bulk 1935-1985), consist of about a dozen scrapbooks that document the activities of members of Philadelphia's upper class, including the lives of Reeves Wetherill and his wife, Sally Ann, as well as a small amount of 19th century documents relating to Reeves Wetherill's ancestors.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

William W. Matos papers on the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition, 1920-1928 (bulk) 1831-1928 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet
Abstract:
William Warder Matos (1872-1935) owned an advertising company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 20th century. He was heavily involved in planning the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926. The William W. Matos papers on the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition, 1831-1928 (bulk 1920-1928), primarily consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and ephemera relating to the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition. Other materials in the collection include some personal papers of William W. Matos and a scrapbook documenting Women's Committee fundraising tea parties for the 1876 Centennial Exposition.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service mugshot books, circa 1895-1911

Extent:
4.4 linear feet
Abstract:
In 1841, a police department directed by the Mayor was created in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, replacing the daily and nightly patrol that had been in place since December of 1830. One of the major factors driving the Consolidation Act of 1854 unifying the various municipalities within Philadelphia County into the City of Philadelphia was the need for a unified police force, which was established around that time. The Detective Division, later known as the Detective Service, was established in 1859. The Philadelphia Bureau of Police, Detective Service mugshot books, circa 1895-1911, consist of 12 volumes of identification photographs, also called rogues' galleries, of criminals and suspected criminals in Philadelphia. In addition to the individual's name, there is often other personal information listed with the photographs.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Helen M. Beitler ephemera collection, 1728-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:
40.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Helen Morris Beitler (1915-2002) was a collector of books and 18th, 19th and early 20th century ephemera. She collected trade cards, bill heads, catalogs, and other ephemera, focusing on trades and tools, children's literature, boating, advertising, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania history, and the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. The Helen M. Beitler ephemera collection, 1728-1987, focuses on Philadelphia, sports, civic matters, and business and industry, although many other subjects are represented.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Glass plate negatives of Frank Taylor drawings, circa 1860-1926

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Frank Hamilton Taylor (1846-1927) owned a lithography firm and served as a special artist for various newspapers and publications in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He wrote for several guidebooks and publications, but is best known for his drawings of Philadelphia published as Ever-Changing Philadelphia and Old Philadelphia in the 1910s. The Glass plate negatives of Frank Taylor drawings, circa 1860-1926, consist of nearly 250 full-plate glass negatives of sketches drawn by Taylor, mostly of building exteriors and street scenes in Philadelphia, with some sites in nearby areas.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Benjamin Ridgway Evans prints, circa 1849-1890

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Benjamin Ridgway Evans was an artist and draftsman active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the mid- to late 19th century known for producing watercolors of the city's buildings and streets. The Benjamin Ridgway Evans prints, circa 1849-1890, consist of 125 artworks, mostly prints of drawings, but also a few watercolors, showing detailed views of buildings and streets in Philadelphia.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Philadelphia History Museum local history collection, circa 1682-2014

Extent:
150.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was founded in 1682 by William Penn. Because of its central location among the American colonies, Philadelphia became a gathering place for American revolutionaries during the Revolutionary War era and served as the temporary capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800. In the 19th century, Philadelphia became a major hub for railroad transportation and home to a variety of industries. As of 2014, Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, known for its arts, culture, and parks. The Philadelphia History Museum local history collection, circa 1682-2014, consists of a wide variety of paper materials from, or relating to, the Philadelphia region from the late 17th century to the 21st century. The collection is particularly strong in visual documentation and in printed materials, although there are also a large quantity of manuscript and other written documents. An extensive number of individuals, families, businesses,...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Pottstown Iron Company records, 1867-1931 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.33 linear feet
Abstract:
The Pottstown Iron Company in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania was incorporated 1866. Its facilities included large rolling mills, a blast furnace, nail factory, and steel works. The Pottstown Iron Company records, 1867-1931, include financial and stock records, and correspondence.

Held at: Pottstown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church records, 1816-2016

Extent:
50.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 6th and Lombard Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was established as Bethel Church in 1794 by Richard Allen (1760-1830). Allen was a former slave who purchased his freedom in 1783 and preached to African Americans in various Mid-Atlantic states until settling in Philadelphia in 1786, where he became a leader of the city's African American community. Bethel and other black Methodist congregations united in 1816 to organize the African Methodist Episcopal Church in America. Allen was appointed its first bishop and Bethel Church became Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the mother church of the denomination. As of 2016, Mother Bethel remains a prominent and progressive congregation. Its current church building, dedicated in 1890, still sits on the land purchased by Allen in the 1790s, making it the oldest parcel of real estate in the United States continuously owned by African-Americans. The Mother Bethel...(see more)

Held at: Richard Allen Museum Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

Ryerss family papers, 1758-1931 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Waln family were prominent Philadelphia Quakers who made a fortune in the 18th-century China Trade and descended from the original Pennsylvania settler Nicholas Waln. Joseph Waln Ryerss built Burholme as his summer house in 1859, and upon his death he left it to his son, Robert Waln Ryerss (1831-1896). Robert Waln Ryerss was a lawyer. He scandalized Philadelphia society by marrying his housekeeper, Mary Ann Reed, eight months before his death. Mary Ann remarried, and spent the rest of her life traveling to collect items for the museum now located in Ryerss' mansion. The Ryerss family papers, 1758-1931, contain documents, photographs, and volumes. Most of the collection relates to Robert W. Ryerss, his Waln antecedents, or his wife Mary Ann Reed (later Bawn).

Held at: Ryerss Museum and Library [Contact Us]

Main content

Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society local history collection, 1838-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
15.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Roxborough and Manayunk are neighborhoods in the northwest section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, adjacent to Wissahickon Valley Park. In the 19th century the Wissahickon Creek was lined with mills and the neighborhoods were industrial and working class, but the Wissahickon was later turned into a public park and Roxborough and Manayunk underwent substantial gentrification during the latter part of the 20th century. The Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society local history collection, 1838-2012, consists primarily of newspaper clippings, articles, unpublished genealogies, copies of primary-source documents, and other secondary-source materials relating to local history. The collection also includes a small amount of original primary-source materials, such as receipts and invoices, correspondence, photographs, meeting minutes, and ephemera.

Held at: Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Mary Stout Martin letters to Mary Wister Logan, 1888-1932 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Mary Stout Cowgill (1855-1938) married James Martin (b. 1852) in 1884 and lived most of her life in Delaware. Mary Wynne Wister (1847-1933) married Algernon S. Logan (1849-1925), a descendant of William Penn's secretary James Logan. They lived in Philadelphia and New Jersey. The Mary Stout Martin letters to Mary Wister Logan, 1888-1932, are mostly of a personal and routine nature, although some larger topics may also be addressed.

Held at: Stenton [Contact Us]

Main content

Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church records, 1773-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
25.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The first conference of Methodist preachers in the colonies was held in Philadelphia in 1773. The Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, organized in 1796, was one of the six original regional annual conferences after the Methodist Episcopal Church in America was incorporated. As of 2014, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church covers 16 counties, ranging roughly from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. About half of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church records, 1773-2012, are printed proceedings. Other document types, including reports to the conference, correspondence, and audiovisual materials, are also included in the collection.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church records, 1832-2007 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church in the Frankford Section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is known as the "mother church" of Frankford Methodism. It traces its roots to the first "Methodist Society" in the community, established in 1829. In 2001, Rehoboth merged into Central United Methodist Church, which closed in 2005. The Rehoboth Methodist Episcopal Church records, 1832-2007, include financial records, membership and cemetery records, class lists, board and trustee minutes, anniversary materials, worship bulletins, newsletters, photographs, ephemera, and various other documents. Some materials have been microfilmed and are available at other repositories.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Port Richmond Methodist Church records, 1846-1959 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Port Richmond Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1846 in Port Richmond, which was then a district outside the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but was later incorporated into and became a neighborhood of the city in the 1854 city/county consolidation of Philadelphia. Port Richmond Methodist Church was discontinued in 1955. The Port Richmond Methodist Church records, 1846-1959, consist of trustee minutes, official board minutes, corporation minutes, Quarterly Conference records, membership records, baptisms, and marriages.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Pitman Methodist Church records, 1855-1952 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Pitman Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1856 at 23rd and Lombard Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later moved to 28th and Dickson Streets. Pitman Methodist Church was discontinued in 1952. The Pitman Methodist Church records, 1855-1952, consist of Trustee, Quarterly Conference, and Board of Leaders and Stewards minutes, as well as lists of members, marriages, and baptisms, and various other documents.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Falls United Methodist Church records, 1851-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Falls of Schuylkill Methodist Episcopal Church in what is now the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was officially established in 1855, although the congregation was on a circuit with Manayunk and Fairmount as early as 1837. In 2005, known as Falls United Methodist Church and located at 3576 Indian Queen Lane, the church was discontinued. The Falls United Methodist Church records, 1851-2009, include a large amount of meeting minutes and vital and membership records, and a small amount of other records relating to the property, nursery school, church history, chorus, and other topics.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Methodist Episcopal Union Church records, 1801-1945 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Methodist Episcopal Union Church was formed in 1801 at 4th and Arch Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by a group that split off from St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1887 West Park Avenue Chapel merged into the Church, and soon after the Union congregation moved to a new building designed by noted Philadelphia architects Hazelhurst & Huckel at 20th and Diamond Streets. Union Methodist Church was discontinued in 1945. The Methodist Episcopal Union Church records, 1801-1945, include membership and vital records, trustee minutes, Quarterly Conference records, financial papers, reports, mortgages and property-related records, pamphlets and ephemera, correspondence, photographs, cemetery records, and other documents.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Siloam United Methodist Church records, 1861-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Siloam Methodist Episcopal Church (formerly known as Kingsessing Church) was established in 1834. It was located in Paschalville, now the West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania neighborhood of Kingsessing, at Woodland Avenue and 70th Street. Siloam United Methodist Church was discontinued in 1992. The Siloam United Methodist Church records, 1861-1992, consist of baptisms, marriages, and membership records, with a few other documents.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Nineteenth Street Methodist Episcopal Church records, 1860-1938 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Nineteenth Street Methodist Episcopal Church was located at 19th and Poplar Streets in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1860 from Hedding Methodist Church, and in 1939 merged with Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal Church (at 25th and Brown Streets). Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal Church was discontinued in 1985. The Nineteenth Street Methodist Episcopal Church records, 1860-1938, consist of trustee minutes, Quarterly Conference minutes, historical information, class members listing, attendance and offering book, other documents, and a large amount of member and vital records.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Woman's Society of Christian Service of the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Church records, 1940-1973 (bulk) 1883-1973 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.75 linear feet
Abstract:
The Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1883, a few years after the national equivalent was formed. Its local programs included immigrant homes, boarding homes for women, Vacation Bible School, and a clinic. After the 1939 merger that resulted in the new corporation of the Methodist Church, the Society was folded into the Woman's Society of Christian Service. The Woman's Society of Christian Service was merged into the United Methodist Women in 1972. The Woman's Society of Christian Service of the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Church records, 1883-1973 (bulk 1940-1973), include minutes, ledgers and other financial documents, a scrapbook, newsletters, yearbooks, and annual reports of several foreign and domestic missionary groups.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Philadelphia Branch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church records, 1870-1940 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1869 in Boston, Massachusetts in response to a recognized need for women missionaries who could minister to women in foreign countries. The Philadelphia Branch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1870. In 1973 this organization merged with other women's missionary groups to establish United Methodist Women, the women's mission organization of the United Methodist Church. The Philadelphia Branch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church records, 1870-1940, consist primarily of printed annual reports, but also include minutes, a life member list, newsletters, meeting programs and other ephemera, constitution and by-laws, appropriations records, and other documents.

Held at: Historical Society of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church [Contact Us]

Main content

Saint Joseph's Preparatory School records, circa 1730-2016 (bulk 1890s-2016)

Extent:
325.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Saint Joseph's Preparatory School is a Roman Catholic high school for boys in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was founded by Jesuit priests in 1851. It was established as a preparatory school for Saint Joseph's College (now University). The College and Preparatory School moved to Stiles Street and 17th Street in North Philadelphia in 1868. The College later moved to the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia in 1927, while the Preparatory School remained at the North Philadelphia location. As of 2016, Saint Joseph's Preparatory School enrolls just under 1,000 male high school students. Many of the school's graduates have gone on to notable careers in government, business, and other areas. Saint Joseph's Preparatory School records, circa 1730-2016 (bulk 1890s-2016), consist of records and other materials from Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, records and materials relating to people associated with and the activities of the Gesu Parish, and materials documenting Jesuits, including...(see more)

Held at: Villiger Archives of St. Joseph's Preparatory School [Contact Us]

Limit your search

more »

more »

more »

more »

more »

more »

more »

Current results range from 1500 to 2022

View larger »