Philadelphia Area Archives

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Simon Gratz autograph collection, 1343-1928

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

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Simon Gratz autograph collection, 1517-1925 (inclusive)

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

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Henry Charles Lea collection of Inquisition manuscripts, 1533-1866 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.8 linear feet (3 boxes)
Abstract:: Henry Charles Lea was a Philadelphian publisher, civil and public rights activist, mathematician, and and ecclesiastical historian. This collection consists of original manuscripts including trial records, correspondence, a discourse, an edict, a royal proclamation and unidentified French documents.

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

William H. Tower Philatelic Collection, 1380-1950 (inclusive) 1700s-1940s (bulk)

Extent:: 20 boxes and 15.4 linear feet
Abstract:: Consists of envelopes both used and unused (also known as covers), letters, postcards, documents, postage stamps, and a variety of other philatelic material from around the world as collected and annotated by the Reverend William Hogarth Tower (1871-1950). The collection spans the topics of English Postal History, United States Postal History, War Covers, Philatelic Miscellany, and Franking.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

Princeton Greek Manuscripts Collection, 1601-1900 (inclusive)

Extent:: 57 volumes and 6.8 linear feet
Abstract:: Consists of an open collection of bound Greek manuscripts dating from the 17th to the 19th century.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

Miscellaneous European Documents Collection, 1500-1900 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5 boxes and 2 linear feet
Abstract:: Consists of miscellaneous documents and manuscripts from European and North African countries about politlcal, religious, or colonial matters between the 16th and 19th century. The countries include England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Ireland, and Poland.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

New Series of Islamic Manuscripts, 1300-1920 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2400 items and 195 linear feet
Abstract:: Consists of approximately 5000 texts in 2194 volumes.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

Charles Carroll Marden Collection of Spanish Documents, 1347-1887 (inclusive) 1505-1637 (bulk)

Extent:: 17 boxes, 1 folder, and 6.50 linear feet
Abstract:: The Charles Carroll Marden Collection of Spanish Documents consists of 637 Spanish documents, collected by philologist and university professor Charles Carroll Marden. The documents are divided into two groups: documents originating from the town of Burgos and several towns around Soria and documents from the town of Alarcon. Later additions to the collection include the earliest document in the collection, dated 1347.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

Ernest Cushing Richardson Collection of Papal Seals, 1484-1903 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 box and 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection consists of twelve lead papal seals, ranging in dates from the 15th century to the late 19th and early 20th century.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

Pierre Eugène du Simitière collection, 1492-1784 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.8 linear feet and 12 containers, 4 volumes
Abstract:: Pierre Eugène Du Simitière (1737-1784) was a collector, artist, and historian, who opened the first public museum, the American Museum, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the American Musuem, Du Simitière presented his many materials collected during his travels and from his collections. The Library Company of Philadelphia purchased many of the manuscript materials at an auction in 1785 following Du Simitière’s death and the closing of the American Museum. The following collection is Du Simitière’s manuscript collection purchased at this auction. The collection reflects his interests and his lifestyle and includes poetry, sketches, watercolors, newspaper excerpts and clippings, treatise, correspondence, lists of nature, historical chronologies, bibliographies, and copies and originals of historical documents. The collection includes compiled information on places such as the West Indies, Pennsylvania, New England, New York, and the Carolinas in the form of historical chronologies,...(see more)

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]