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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]

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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]

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Robert Proud collection, 1681-1811 (bulk) 1681-1903 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.8 linear feet (; 7 boxes and 1 flat file)
Abstract:
Robert Proud was born on May 10, 1728 in Yorkshire England, and was trained formally in a Quaker school in classical studies. He moved to Philadelphia in 1759, and by 1761 was teaching Latin at the Friends School. Proud was a staunch Loyalist. From 1775 to 1780, Proud left his teaching post and went into seclusion, where he began writing on various subjects. Most of his writings were never published. Also during these years, he worked extensively on what became his most best-known work, The History of Pennsylvania in North America. The book was highly unsuccessful, due to its Loyalist leanings, and some very strong inaccuracies. Robert Proud died in 1813 at the age of 85. The collection is arranged into two series, the first consisting mostly of handwritten copies and drafts of The History of Pennsylvania in North America, and primary source materials used in the book. The second series consists of memoranda, poetry, and other personal papers.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Parrish and Pemberton families papers, 1614-1880

Extent:
1.0 linear feet (; 2 boxes, 3 volumes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
The Parrish and Pemberton families were wealthy Quaker merchants living in Philadelphia during the 18th century. They shared a dedication to several benevolent causes, among them the abolition of slavery, improvement of relations with the Indians, penal reform, and the poor. This collection contains a selection of documents from and pertaining to both families. The Parrish documents focus on several noted family members, principally John Parrish (1728/29-1807), who was a Quaker minister active in promoting good relations with the Indians, and his nephew Dr. Joseph Parrish (1779-1840), a noted Philadelphia physician who was an outspoken abolitionist and crusader for penal reform. The Parrish family documents then follow Joseph Parrish’s sons Dillwyn Parrish (1809-1886), a prominent Philadelphia pharmacist who was also a dedicated abolitionist and crusader for racial equality, and his brother Samuel Parrish (1822-1872), who appears to be largely responsible for gathering much of the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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"The Making of Modern Law: Trials, 1600-1926 Digital Archive" Tapes, 1600-1926 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box
Abstract:
The Making of Modern Law is a three part series that contains a vast array of information on legal history. This collection consists of the backfiles of the The Making of Modern Law: Trials, 1600-1926, which is the third series. The bulk of the collection consists of 10 Super DLT Tapes which contain files on unofficially published accounts of trials; official trial documents, briefs and arguments; and official records of legislative proceedings, administrative proceedings and arbitrations. The collection also has a complete file list which is included on the CD disc.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library [Contact Us]

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History of the Book and Illustrations collection, circa 1250-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.46 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains material that shows the history of the book. The majority of the examples of manuscripts are illustrations but there are a few letters and other documents. The printed material in this collection spans the 13th to the late 16th centuries and contains examples of different printing techniques.

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

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Historical manuscripts collection, 1775-1885 (bulk) 1347-1969 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
This is a varied collection of historical manuscripts obtained by the Free Library of Philadelphia over the course of its history. The collection dates from 1347 to 1969 and is primarily an autograph collection. The collection includes American, British, and European materials; the majority of the items are American. There are typewritten transcriptions of some of the letters in the collection.

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

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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]

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Christ Church records, 1695-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:
200.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Christ Church is an Episcopal church located in the Old City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1695 as a condition of King Charles II of England's 1681 Charter to William Penn, which allowed for the formation of Church of England congregations in Pennsylvania. Several notable Philadelphians attended services at Christ Church including Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and members of the Continental Congress. Christ Church records, 1695-2016, document Christ Church and its parish and congregation. The records consist of vestry minutes, parish records, accounting and financial records, deeds, architectural drawings, photographs, and audiovisual materials. In addition, there are materials from parish organizations and affiliated institutions such as Christ Church Hospital, Episcopal School, Christ Church Burial Ground, and Christ Church Preservation Trust. A detailed finding aid is available on-site.

Held at: Christ Church Archives [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Records: Annual Sessions, 1662-2022 (inclusive)

Extent:
60 linear ft. and 0.1 gb
Abstract:
A general meeting for Friends in the Delaware Valley area was first convened at Burlington in 1681. The first general meeting held in Philadelphia was in 1683, and in 1685, it was agreed that the meetings in New Jersey and Pennsylvania should be combined into one yearly meeting with alternate sessions at Philadelphia and at Burlington. The great Separation among Philadelphia Friends into Orthodox and Hicksite branches occurred at the Yearly Meeting of 1827. Through the course of the early 20th century, the PYMs began to draw back together until 1955 when organic union was formally approved, and a reunited PYM, the present organization, was created. Records of the annual sessions of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting include minutes and other records such as epistles sent and recieved which pertain to those annual sessions. Also included are the records of those committees charged with the preparations for the annual sessions.

Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Francis Daniel Pastorius Frankfort Land Company papers, 1683-1721 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (15 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes photocopies of papers relating to Francis Daniel Pastorius in his role as agent for the Frankfort Land Company. In particular they refer to the legal dispute over the ownership of the land in 1708.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Parrish family papers, 1662-1873 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (21 items (in 8 folders)))
Abstract:
Collection of family papers includes letters received by Abraham Scott, 1700-1704, a volume containing copies of letters written by George Dillwyn in relation to his wife's inheritance of part of the estate of Richard Hill, Hannah Moore, and Henry Hill, including a house in Madeira, 1799-1816, and an almanac with notations by Captain John Hollitt. Of particular interest is John Parrish's diary of his journey in the ministry from Philadelphia to Virginia in 1782. Also included are copies of letters to and from William Penn, a copy of a marriage certificate in a Quaker style between William Boin and Dido, a "negro woman" 1763, and other miscellaneous manuscripts.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Quaker Disciplines, 1689-2018 (inclusive)

Extent:
9 linear ft.
Abstract:
The Society of Friends or Quakers (the terms are synonymous) was founded in the middle of the seventeenth century in England by George Fox and others. The Friends Historical Library has collected Quaker disciplines since its founding in 1871. FHL is also the official repository for the records of seven American yearly meetings.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Gathered Leaves: Miscellaneous Papers from New York Yearly Meeting, 1694-1871 (inclusive)

Extent:
.75 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Abstract:
The bulk of the collection is epistles, sorted roughly by topic. William Wood, the Clerk of New York Yearly Meeting who arranged the collection, was particularly interested in the issues of slavery, freedmen, peace testimony, and religious education. Also included are correspondence, Quaker documents, and miscellaneous papers. Correspondents include Moses Brown, William Rickman, John Pemberton.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Public Friends manuscripts collection, 1656-1899 (inclusive)

Extent:
.3 linear ft. (1 document box)
Abstract:
While the Society of Friends is a "ministry of all believers," historically certain members have been recognized for their spiritual gifts. Those who undertake to travel and preach with the approbation of their home meeting are known as Public Friends. Especially in the 17th, 18th, and 19th century, traveling ministers served a key role in forming Quaker social and theological networks, fostering unity within the Society of Friends, and providing spiritual enrichment to Quakers across the world. Ministers who felt a spiritual opening directing them to travel would tell their Monthly Meeting, and if approved, the meeting would write a minute for the minister to carry on their journey and present to the Meeting(s) they visited. Quaker Meetings would often keep records of the Public Friends who visited them. This collection consists of lists of Public Friends, as well as minutes from Quaker meetings approving ministers to travel. Items were written by various Quaker meetings or...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Friends Historical Library collection of certificates of removal, 1685-1850 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft.
Abstract:
A certificate of removal is a document given to persons who are transferring their membership from one monthly meeting to another. Their removal testifies that they are members in good standing with the meeting they are leaving. This collection consists of miscellaneous certificates of removal, from various meetings and regarding various Friends, collected by the Friends Historical Library over time. It contains a mix of original documents and copies.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Historical Society of Montgomery County family papers collection, 1690-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
51.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Historical Society of Montgomery County family papers collection, 1690-2000, consists of miscellaneous original papers from families and individuals in the vicinity of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Over 150 different family names are represented, including several significant individuals such as John F. Hartranft (1830-1889), Governor of Pennsylvania from 1873 to 1879. There are myriad record types, including account books and financial records, diaries, letters, docket books, certificates and vital records, and genealogical research notes.

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

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LMHS.08: Roberts Family Collection, 1677-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.0 linear feet
Abstract:
John Roberts was among the first settlers of Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in 1683. His descendants included civic leaders, a physician, a president of the Pennsylvania Railroad and a state senator; the businesses his family started included a model dairy farm and the Pencoyd Iron Works. The Roberts Family Collection, 1677-1998, includes indentures and deeds, maps, tax receipts, wills, correspondence, photograph albums and a daguerreotype, genealogical research, and diaries. The highlight of this collection is a series of private letter books of George Brooke Roberts (president of the Pennsylvania Railroad), 1833-1897.

Held at: Lower Merion Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Bassett Family Papers, 1676-1846 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
This collection contains deeds, will, land and other property documents of the Bassett, Wright, and other families of Salem County, NJ, many of whom were Quakers.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Walker-Conard-Cowgill Family Papers, 1699-1912 [bulk 1792-1912] (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Abstract:
The Walkers, Conard, and Cowgills were Quaker families of Frederick County, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The collections contains papers of the Walker and allied Coates, Cowgill, and Conard families, including general correspondence (1792-1912), Civil War correspondence and diaries (1893-1900) of Union soldier Edward B. Conard (ca. 1844-1917), diaries (1896-1898) of Jacob Walker, ledger (1847-1887) of David Walker (1818-1889), journals, financial and legal papers, genealogical material, and memorabilia. Correspondents include Eliza Coates Cowgill (ca. 1790-ca. 1871) and Eliza C. Conard Walker, both of Montgomery County.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Anna C. Stabler Family Papers, 1675-1864 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
The Amna C. Stabler Family Papers are a collection of miscellaneous manuscripts relating to Quakers and the Society of Friends in southeastern New York State.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Fisher-Warner Family Papers, 1684-1924 (inclusive)

Extent:
7 linear ft. (17 boxes)
Abstract:
Miers Fisher (1748-1819), a birthright Quaker, was a prominent lawyer, legislator, philanthropist, merchant, and scientist in early Federal Philadelphia. Benjamin Warner, publisher and bookseller, married Fisher's daughter, Lydia, in 1814. Born in 1748 in Philadelphia, the son of Joshua and Sarah Rowland Fisher, Miers Fisher married Sarah Redwood in 1774. He was among a group of prominent Quaker merchants who were temporarily exiled to Winchester, Virginia, during the Revolution. Miers and Sarah had sixteen children, only five of which survived him. Their youngest son, Jabez Maud Fisher, was trained as an Engineer, and worked for a railway company and as a Naval Officer for the port of Providence; he moved to Denver, Colorado, in the early 1860's to be with his sons who had built a ranch. The collection includes journals, correspondence, and financial records of Miers Fisher, his daughter, Lydia Fisher Warner, his son, Jabez Maud Fisher, and their respective families.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Painter Family Papers, 1687-1948 (inclusive)

Extent:
24 linear ft. (47 boxes)
Abstract:
The Painter family was an early Pennsylvania Quaker family that married into the Minshall family of Delaware County. In 1681, William Penn granted Thomas Minshall a land tract which now includes the Tyler Arboretum. The property was home to eight generations of the same family. The collection includes family correspondence, business and legal papers, property records, papers on interests and concerns of the Painter brothers, genealogical papers, and miscellaneous deeds and other papers collected by Minshall Painter. It is a rich source of information not only on the Painter family of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and the origins of the Tyler Arboretum, but also on agriculture, social life and customs, and nineteenth century Quaker concerns through day books, account books, financial records, correspondence, and other documents.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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New York Monthly Meeting (Pre-Separation) Records (including Flushing Monthly Meeting), 1640-1828 (inclusive)

Extent:
12 linear ft. (42 volumes and 1 folder)
Abstract:
Records of the pre-Separation New York Monthly Meeting, also called Flushing Monthly Meeting, 1640-1828. Includes men's & women's minutes, vital Records and records of Building Committees for Queen Street, 1774-76, and Rose Street, 1823-24. Earliest volume of minutes, 1671-1703, also contains minutes of New York Yearly Meeting and Westbury Quarterly Meeting.

Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Institute of Science manuscript collection, 1686-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
20.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Delaware County was the first section of Pennsylvania to be settled by Europeans, specifically Swedes in 1643. The Borough of Media, located about 12 miles outside of Philadelphia, has been the county seat of Delaware County since 1850. A largely rural area prior to that point, the town grew rapidly in the second half of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. The Delaware County Institute of Science manuscript collection, 1686-2014, consists of a variety of local history materials including organizational records, business records, personal papers, photographs, scrapbooks, blueprints, subject files, maps and atlases, and other materials. Most of the materials relate to Delaware County (Pennsylvania), but some items pertain to other locations in Pennsylvania and other states. Although the 19th century is the best represented among the materials, there is a significant amount of materials from the 18th century and a few items from the 17th century.

Held at: Delaware County Institute of Science [Contact Us]

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First Baptist Church of Philadelphia records, 1690-1906, 1690-1906 (inclusive)

Extent:
8 boxes
Abstract:
Notable for its early leadership in Baptist organization and evangelism, the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia was prominent both in its region and city and in the transatlantic community of Baptists. Records include annual reports, membership records, bulletins, scrapbooks, and biographies as well as records specific to the Board of Deacons, Board of Trustees, Treasurer, Pew Committee, Bible School, Board of Christian Education, and various women's and missionary groups.

Held at: American Baptist Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Fairmount Park Maps, Plans and Drawings collection, 1684-2010

Extent:
98.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Items in this collection relate to East and West Fairmount Park, the original components of what has become the vast Fairmount Park system. Unique in its composition, these areas not only contain naturalist landscapes, but they are also home to a truly diverse set of historic and functional structures. In addition to a vast trail system and traditional recreational facilities (such as swimming pools and baseball diamonds), these parks are also home to an array of 18th and 19th century historic houses, the nation's first zoo, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the imposing Fairmount Water Works, and Philadelphia's iconic Boathouse Row.

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

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Henry Howard Houston Estate Papers, 1698-1989 (inclusive) 1830-1953 (bulk)

Extent:
26 cubic feet
Abstract:
The Henry Howard Houston Estate Papers document the creation and development of a large real estate investment in late nineteenth and early twentieth century Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties. The collection also provides extension information on land ownership in this area from the late eighteenth to mid nineteenth century through the original deeds, which form the title papers series of the collection.

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

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American Friends' letters, 1682-1986 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.25 linear ft. (10 boxes)
Abstract:
The collection is composed chiefly of letters of members of the Society of Friends in the United States from the 17th to the 20th centuries; there are also documents, clippings, published articles, and miscellaneous manuscripts.

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

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British Friends' letters, 1650-1985 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Abstract:
Letters of English Friends containing information on Quaker history as well as religious and cultural activities. The collection also includes letters relating to the activities of early Friends.

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

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Haddon-Estaugh-Hopkins papers, 1676-1841 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear ft. (5 boxes)
Abstract:
Letters and documents relating chiefly to John Haddon, Quaker and anchor maker of England, to his purchases of land in New Jersey, and the founding and establishing of Haddonfield, New Jersey by Elizabeth, his daughter, who came to the colony in 1701, "to take up her father's land," and who married John Estaugh, a young Quaker preacher, in 1702.

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

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Charles Evans papers, 1681-1860 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
Jonathan Evans's papers, ca. 1818-38, shed light on the religious, doctrinal controversies, and differences arising among the members of the Society of Friends related to the preachings of Elias Hicks, Nicholas Brown, and Elisha Bates. There are also letters of the Cope and Evans families relating to the Hicksite Separation.

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

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George Fox papers, 1660-1952 (inclusive)

Extent:
.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
Includes letters, portraits, photographs, illustrations, articles, clippings, pamphlets, and a map concerning the life and times of George Fox. Topics covered include Fox's itinerary of his trip to America, the Dutch Bible Fox carried with him on his trip to Holland in 1677, pictures of places associated with Fox, birthplace, funeral, and grave of Fox. Includes material from the George Fox tercentary of 1924 (on the 300th anniversary of his birth).

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

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Kirk Family collection, 1688-1897 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.25 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
A collection of legal documents and other papers, including land deeds, wills, and surveys from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, primarily relating to the Kirk family. All the deeded property was in Darby Township, Pennsylvania.

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

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William Penn papers, 1673-1987 (inclusive) 1673-1925 (bulk)

Extent:
1.25 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Abstract:
A collection of letters and deeds of William Penn (1644-1718), along with biographical and historical material, graphic representations of Penn and photographs of pages from published works.

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

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Dorothy Merriman Schall papers, 1686-1897 (inclusive)

Extent:
6 linear ft. (12 boxes)
Abstract:
A view of 18th-century Philadelphia with especial emphasis on legal matters in which Burd, Hubley, Patterson, Schall and Shippen family members participated. The main protagonists were Edward Shippen, Sr., Edward Shippen, Jr., and Edward Burd.

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

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Edward Wanton Smith papers, 1681-1971 (inclusive)

Extent:
12.5 linear ft. (26 boxes)
Abstract:
This collection includes letters, biographical accounts of Friends, genealogical material, legal and financial papers, business accounts, minutes, accounts of dreams and visions of Friends, essays, notebooks, epistles of Friends' Meetings, marriage certificates, maps, pictures, deeds, and other material of the Smith and Atwater families.

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

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William Penn Charter School archives, 1611-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:
17 linear ft. (24 boxes, 1 oversized drawer, 150+ books, 24 microfilm reels, 1 box of 3-dimensional objects, 1 box of stereopticon photographs)
Abstract:
The William Penn Charter School archives contain the financial, historical, business, and social records of the school, dating back as far as 1611. Documents signed by William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, and former Philadelphia mayors William Hudson and Edward Shippen, are included as well as a variety of school texts and memorabilia, which illuminate the traditions and history of the William Penn Charter School.

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

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Elizabeth Webb diary, 1697-1699 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.04 linear ft. (1 volume)
Abstract:
Diary of Elizabeth Webb's religious visit to the American Colonies. Diary entries describe Webb's voyage from England to Virginia, and her travels to Quaker meetings as far south as North Carolina and as far north as New Hampshire. Entries include references to places visited, especially meetings in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island, as well as religious reflection and details about the difficulty of overland travel.

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

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William Leddra court records, 1660

Extent:
.01 linear ft. (1 folder)
Abstract:
This collection is comprised of typed transcripts and photocopies of the original court documents of William Leddra's arrest in 1660. The documents describe Leddra's arrest by the Last Court of Assistants at Boston, after returning to an area he had previously been banished from.

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

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Philadelphia Yearly Meeting papers, 1692, 1917

Extent:
.01 linear ft. (1 folder)
Abstract:
This collection is comprised of a single folder of miscellaneous papers related to the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The collection includes three handwritten pages of journal fragments, a handwritten interview with George Keith, as reported to PYM (1692), a photocopy and typed transcript of the PYM Declaration of Beliefs, three handwritten pages of minutes for the PYM Meeting for Suffering, and a typed informal report concerning Emergency Service Work (1917).

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

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Haines and Bunting family papers, 1682-1863 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (5 folders)
Abstract:
This collection is comprised of the papers of the Bunting and Haines families, and includes clippings, correspondence, financial records, legal documents, and marriage certificates of the family. While the majority of materials focus on Samuel Bunting Haines, other members of the family are represented among the materials as well.

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

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Radcliffe Family Papers, 1530-1779 (inclusive) 1699-1757 (bulk)

Extent:
2 boxes and 0.84 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists primarily of letters and assorted documents of the Radcliffe Family of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, partly concerning trade with the Ottoman Empire. Also included are letters and legal documents pertaining to the Clarke and Evelyn families of England.

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

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Ogden Family Collection, 1682-1853 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes, 6 items, and 0.6 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of miscellaneous letters and documents--originals as well as copies--relating to multiple generations of the Ogden family of Elizabeth (formerly Elizabethtown), New Jersey.

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

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Compagnie de Commerce de Lorraine financial records, 1694-1791 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Compagnie de Commerce de Lorraine was founded by Duke Leopold of Lorraine in 1724, with Regard d'Aubonne as director general and Claude Regnault among its other directors, and dissolved by the 1760s. One purpose of the company was to protect commerce in the duchy from the French economic crisis precipitated by the inflation and crash of the stock of John Law's Compagnie des Indes. These 31 files include a few printed documents pertaining to the establishment of the Compagnie and numerous account calculations and documents concerning the liquidation of the Compagnie.

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

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Jean-Baptiste Colbert letters to Gabriel de La Reynie, 1667-1678 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Jean Baptiste Colbert served as the French minister of finance under King Louis XIV and achieved a reputation for his work of improving French manufacturing and bringing the economy back from bankruptcy. The letters deal with a variety of subjects ranging from trade regulations, licensing, taxes, and imprisonment to simple requests for the expedition of certain orders.

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

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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]

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Roberto Morgadanes collection of Mexican religious dramas, 1684-1942 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Roberto Morgadanes, a native of Mexico, studied for his doctorate in Romance languages at the University of Pennsylvania from 1940 to 1942, specializing in the origin of colonial Mexican drama. This collection consists of documents relating to Roberto Morgadanes's studies as well as original Mexican religious dramas, mainly dating from the late 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century.

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

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Sydney S. Keil collection of Latin Americana, 1615-1863 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.75 linear feet (6 boxes)
Abstract:
The Sydney S. Keil Collection of Latin Americana contains broadsides and other printed material from Latin America dating from the 17th to 19th centuries with the majority dating from the 18th and early 19th centuries. The majority of these items were printed in Mexico, but the collection also includes material printed in Spain, Peru, and Columbia. The collection is particularly strong in printed novenas and other devotional work, as well as government decrees and laws.

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

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Miscellaneous Deeds Collection, 1591-1898 (inclusive)

Extent:
3 boxes and 2.83 linear feet
Abstract:
This is an open collection of deeds and indentures from England, Ireland, North Africa, and the United States, excluding New Jersey.

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

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17th-Century Italian Letters Collection, 1598-1699 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of 97 letters and documents of various Italian church and political figures of the 17th century, primarily in Florence, Pisa, and Rome, chiefly in Italian but also including some in Latin, dating from 1598 to 1699.

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

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Chalfant Robinson Collection, 1198-1935 (inclusive)

Extent:
3 boxes and 4.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists mainly of original manuscripts, photostats, and transcripts of German, French, and Italian Medieval and Renaissance legal documents, including papal bulls, passports, wills, deeds, petitions, wax seals, and manor rolls collected by Chalfant Robinson.

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

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Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of New Jersey, 1664-1961 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of copies of fundamental legal instruments of government (1664-1961) under which people have lived in New Jersey for the last 300 years, gathered by historian, Julian P. Boyd, for the book Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of New Jersey (1964), which he edited.

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

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Melanie Atherton Updegraff Collection, 1910s-1980s (bulk) 1685-2020 (inclusive)

Extent:
4 linear ft. (4 boxes and 10 folders)
Abstract:
Melanie Atherton Updegraff (1886-1973) was a 1908 graduate of Bryn Mawr who went on to do missionary work for the Presbyterian Mission Board alongside her husband, Reverend David Benjamin Updegraff. The two were primarily stationed in Kolhapur and later Nipani, in West India. The collection includes correspondence between Updegraff and her sisters, children, and sister-in-law, among other family members, photographs of the Atherton and Updegraff families, an autograph collection, and brochures, pamphlets, and official documentation pertaining to Updegraff's missionary work. Updegraff's four sisters and three daughters all went to Bryn Mawr, and we hear about entrance exams, musical productions, and other campus activities in their letters.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

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Joshua Humphreys papers, 1660-1931, undated; bulk circa 1770 - 1931

Extent:
4.0 linear feet (; 19 volumes, 5 boxes)
Abstract:
In 1751, Joshua Humphreys was born in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and became the nation's most important naval architect in the post-Revolutionary era concerned with building and retrofitting military fleets. His most well-known ship is the Constitution, which is known as "Old Ironsides" and is the oldest commissioned U.S. naval vessel still afloat. In 1803, Humphreys retired, and his son Samuel continued the business. This collection consists of volumes, including daybooks and financial records; correspondence; family papers; and legal documents.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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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]

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Francis Daniel Pastorius papers, 1693-1719 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (; 10 volumes, 1 folder)
Abstract:
This collection contains the personal papers of Francis Daniel Pastorius, a German immigrant who founded the settlement of Germantown, which would later be incorporated into Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pastorius was trained as a lawyer, and in 1683 purchased land in Pennsylvania on behalf of members of the German Frankfort Company. He is also known for his anti-slavery stance, joining the Pennsylvania Quakers in signing a protest against slavery in 1688 (the first anti-slavery document written in the United States). This collection dates from 1683-1719 and contains ten bound volumes and one folder of loose manuscripts of Pastorius’ personal papers. This includes his writings on farming and beekeeping, poetry, the beginnings of a German dictionary, a commonplace book, letters, and a book of medical ailments and remedies.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Claude W. Unger collection, 1790-1870 (bulk) 1647-1921 (inclusive)

Extent:
34.0 linear feet (; 40 boxes, 112 volumes)
Abstract:
Most of the Claude W. Unger collection at HSP once formed part of the extensive stock of Unger, a book and manuscript dealer in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, who was most active between 1925 and 1937. The collection contains letters and documents representing some 2,000 individuals connected to a wide range of subjects. People from the 19th century such as abolitionists, women’s suffragists, scientists, and politicians (particularly Pennsylvania politicians) are the most commonly represented individuals in the collection. In addition to the 40 document boxes, there are 112 volumes in the collection. The volumes consist of account books, court dockets, and school exercise books representing a variety of Pennsylvania Germans covering from the the late 18th to 19th centuries.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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The Life, Studies, and Works of Benjamin West, Esq., by John Galt, in extra-illustrated form, 1792-1820 (bulk) 1682-1844 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.2 linear feet (; 3 boxes; 9 flat files)
Abstract:
In 1816 and 1820, Scottish author John Galt produced a two-volume biography of Benjamin West entitled The Life, Works, and Studies of Benjamin West, Esq. This collection consists of pages from seven disbound extra-illustrated volumes of Galt's book comprising numerous original letters to and from Benjamin West, some pieces of original art by West, and many other engravings, documents, and prints.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Montgomery, Scott, and Wheeler families papers, 1675-2018, bulk 1840-1995

Extent:
60.6 linear feet (; 103 boxes, 142 volumes, 11 flat files)
Abstract:
This collection from the Montgomery, Scott, and Wheeler families, spanning 60 linear feet, documents the history of Ardrossan, an estate in Villanova, Pennsylvania -- one of the largest on Philadelphia's Main Line -- and its residents over the course of more than two centuries. In 1911, local investment banker Colonel Robert Leaming Montgomery (1879-1949) hired Horace Trumbauer to design the residence on the family's 800-acre plot, complete with a dairy farm and horse stables. The son of William Woodrow Montgomery and Rebecca Waln Leaming, Robert L. Montgomery would go onto to establish what is now the investment firm of Janney Montgomery Scott. He married Charlotte Hope Binney Tyler (1881-1970) in 1902, and the couple had four children: Helen Hope, Mary Binney, Robert Alexander, and Charlotte Ives. Their eldest daughter, Helen Hope Montgomery (1904-1995), became well known in Philadelphia's social circles, and she went on to marry Edgar Scott (1899-1995), grandson of Thomas A....(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Germantown (Philadelphia, Pa.) general court records, 1691-1707 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (; 2 volumes)
Abstract:
This collection contains the records of the Germantown (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) town council or General Court and the civil court or Court of Record, dating from 1691 to 1707. The matters addressed by these court sessions include property disputes and transfers, apprenticeships, deeds of sale for goods and land, assault and battery, violations of liquor laws, and other matters.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Smith family papers, 1680-1880 (bulk) 1660-1941 (inclusive)

Extent:
19.0 linear feet (, 14 boxes, 82 volumes)
Abstract:
The Smith family papers contain materials compiled and authored by John Jay Smith as well as several of his descendants. John Jay Smith (1798-1881) was librarian of the Library Company of Philadelphia from 1829 to 1851 and founder of Laurel Hill Cemetery. As a member of an influential Quaker family, Smith was the descendant of several prominent early Philadelphians including James Logan and Richard Hill. Much of the collection consists of deeds and other land transactions as well as correspondence and diaries originating with these ancestors. Smith’s own papers document his wide range of interests as well as his personal and professional relationships through correspondence, financial records, and memorabilia. The collection also contains materials originating from the families of two of Smith’s sons: Lloyd Pearsall Smith (1822-1886) and Horace John Smith (1832-1906). This collection is particularly rich in documenting the history of two prominent Philadelphia institutions, the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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George B. Jackson (George Bement) Family Papers, 1694-1986 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear ft. (6 boxes)
Abstract:
George B. Jackson, Swarthmore College Class of 1921, was a New York Quaker businessman. A member of New York Monthly Meeting, he was interested in family history and compiled the collection which contains farm daybooks of his great grandfather James M. Jackson of Quakertown and the memoirs of his grandfather, William Morris Jackson, Quaker businessman, reformer, and Trustee of Swarthmore College. The collection also contains genealogical information on the Jackson, Bacon, Chapin and Morris families, as well as personal correspondence and other papers.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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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]

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Taylor, Harris, Roman, Frazer, and Smith families papers, 1683-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.0 boxes
Abstract:
The families in the Taylor, Harris, Roman, Frazer, and Smith family papers, 1633 to 1980 (bulk 1685 to 1851) are all related by the marriage of Marianne Smith to Dr. Stephen Harris on April 14, 1833. Both sides of the lineage represented in this collection immigrated to Pennsylvania because of religious persecution in England and Ireland. As Presbyterians and Quakers, they no longer wished to live under a series of laws which forced non-Anglicans out of public office, schools and the church as well as prohibiting meetings for non-Anglican worship. These newcomers contributed to the establishment of the government and religious expression in early Chester County. The documents, covering topics such as land surveying, Native Americans, the Revolutionary War, astronomy, publishing, the iron industry, and religious persecution, provide a broad picture of early Chester County and its residents as they interacted with each other at home and in Philadelphia through business, religious, and...(see more)

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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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]

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Gloria Dei records, 1636-1927 (inclusive)

Extent:
14 manuscripts
Abstract:
Gloria Dei, founded by 17th century Swedish settlers, is Pennsylvania’s oldest congregation. The archives of Gloria Dei include journal entries, correspondence, financial records, vestry minutes, and records of marriages, births and deaths.

Held at: Gloria Dei Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) [Contact Us]

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Barclay letters, 1688-1794

Extent:
0.5 linear ft. (1 document box)
Abstract:
Primarily letters of Robert Barclay, a Quaker of the 18th and early 19th century, who established a brewery in England, on topics ranging from financial affairs and land transactions to personal matters.

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

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Yearly Meeting Epistles and Extracts, 1668-1944 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.1 linear ft. (5 boxes)
Abstract:
Contemporary copies of epistles and extracts of Yearly Meeting minutes, of Meeting for Sufferings, and of Women Friends, of London, Dublin, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Virginia, Rhode Island from 1698-1944.

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

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Scattergood Family papers, 1681-1909 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear ft. (1 box, 9 volumes)
Abstract:
Chiefly the correspondence of Thomas Scattergood (1748-1814) with family and friends discussing spiritual matters and his travels in Great Britain, New England, North and South Carolina, Virginia, etc. Correspondents include Jonathan Binns, Josiah Bunting, John Cox, William Dillwyn, Henry Drinker, William Forster, Susanna Horne, Rebecca Jones, John Pemberton, Joseph Scattergood, Rebecca Scattergood, Rachel Smith, and others.

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

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Sheppard Family papers, 1656-1887 (inclusive)

Extent:
.8 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
The collection particularly provides connections between the Irish and Philadelphia Friends in the 18th century, especially by the Sheppard and Wansborough families who intermarried. Included are letters of John Wilbur, central in the Gurney-Wilbur controversy.

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

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Vaux collection of correspondence, documents and graphics, 1659-1978 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.5 linear ft. (18 boxes and 2 volumes)
Abstract:
The collection provides insights into several issues important within the history of Quakerism, such as the abolition of slavery, education and Native American rights, as well as graphics depicting American travel views, Native American sites, Haverford College, Quaker individuals and places associated with Quakers.

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

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Cope-Evans Family papers, 1683-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.5 linear ft. (18 boxes)
Abstract:
The Cope-Evans papers cover the years 1683 to 2012, and detail the history of the inter-related Cope and Evans families, important Philadelphia-area Quakers. The papers are divided into four series: Personal and Family papers, Business papers, J. Morris Evans papers, and Miscellaneous.

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

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Swarthmore College property records, 1687-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:
65 linear ft.
Abstract:
The Swarthmore College property records include real estate and building appraisals; deeds, mortgages, and leases; reports by Swarthmore committees and external consultants; administrative documents such as budgets and correspondence; blueprints, maps, and plans; and other records pertaining to college buildings and grounds, construction and maintenance, and utilities and resource use.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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John Whiting Severall Book and Papers, 1679-1695 (bulk) (bulk) 1679-1695, 1955 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (1 folder.))
Abstract:
This collection contains a bound volume of manuscript essays by early English Quaker John Whiting, most written during his imprisonment for failing to pay tithes. These essays include accounts of his confinement, testimonies on tiths, and accounts of Mary Whiting and of William Penn. Also included is typescript of a 1955 article written for the Journal of the Friends Historical Society by Frederick B. Tolles which describes the contents and significance of the volume.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Thomas Bissell family papers, 1640-1835 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (2 folders.))
Abstract:
Includes genealogical data on the Bissell Family in the 17th century as well as two apprenticeship indentures, to patton ringmaking in Worcester County, England, dated 1704, and to farming in New Jersey, dated 1835.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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