Search

Start Over Place Chester County (Pa.)

Main content

United Political Action Committee of Chester County records, 1958-1996 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.0 boxes
Abstract:
“In 1966, several black civil rights workers decided to form a small organization whose purpose was to end racial discrimination in Chester County.” So began the United Political Action Committee of Chester County (UPAC). The founders included Charles A. Melton, Charles H. Butler, Norman W. Bond, Robert L. Wright, Willie Stokes, James Ward, Alston B. Meade, W.T.M. Johnson, Ernest Spriggs and Charles V. Hamilton. The records, 1958-1996, include biographical material on committee members and others associated with UPAC as well as correspondence, minutes, hand written notes, legal documents, newspaper clippings, news releases, memos, scrapbooks, programs and photographs of activities. Also in the collection are papers of Dr. W.T.M. Johnson. These include indexed compilations of his published letters as well as papers related to his time as a member of the faculty at Lincoln University.

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Worrall and John family papers and business records, 1830-1939 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
During the 1840s, Sharpless Worrall moved with his family to Sugartown in Willistown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he took over ownership of a general store and served as postmaster for 20 years. Upon his retirement, Worrall's son-in-law Hillery John took over the store, which he ran until his death. At that point it was taken over by Hillery's son, Clyde B. John, who eventually turned the business into an antiques shop. Worrall and John family papers and business records, 1830-1939, primarily consist of the business records of the general store under all three owners as well personal and family papers relating to the Worrall and John families.

Held at: Historic Sugartown, Inc. [Contact Us]

Main content

Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area photograph and film collection, circa 1880-2013

Extent:
36.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Phoenixville, which was incorporated as a borough in 1849 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, evolved from an early 18th century village. The history of the town largely mirrored the history of the Phoenix Iron Company which became hugely successful in the mid-19th century with the advent of the railroad. The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area photograph and film collection, circa 1880-2013, consists primarily of photographic prints, with some slides, picture postcards, film negatives, photograph albums, a few glass plate negatives, and 16mm film reels that document various aspects of Phoenixville's history.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Chester County Historic Preservation Office historic resource surveys for Phoenixville, 1985

Extent:
1.67 linear feet
Abstract:
Phoenixville has the largest registered historic district in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The Chester County Historic Preservation Office historic resource surveys for Phoenixville, 1985, consists of survey forms documenting properties in Phoenixville with site location, date of construction, condition, description, photographs, and other pertinent information about each property.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area collection of obituaries and wedding announcements, 1983-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Phoenixville, which was incorporated as a borough in 1849 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, evolved from an early 18th century village. The history of the town largely mirrored the history of the Phoenix Iron Company which became hugely successful in the mid-19th century with the advent of the railroad. The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area collection of obituaries and wedding announcements, 1983-2005, consists of newspaper clippings from The Phoenix, mostly obituaries with some coverage of other life events such as marriage announcements, birthdays, and profiles. The Historical Society tapered off clipping and filing in the late 1990s, but continues to maintain a database index of obituaries published after that time.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area local manuscripts collection, circa 1800-2000

Extent:
27.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Phoenixville, which was incorporated as a borough in 1849 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, evolved from a late-17th century village. The history of the town largely mirrored the history of the Phoenix Iron Company which became hugely successful in the mid-19th century with the advent of the railroad. The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area local manuscripts collection, circa 1800-2000, includes various original manuscript materials relating to the people, families, organizations, and businesses in the Phoenixville area.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Hungarian American Citizens Club records, 1937-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.75 linear feet
Abstract:
The Hungarian American Citizens Club was founded in Phoenixville (Chester County, Pennsylvania) in 1925. It offered members a place to socialize and celebrate Hungarian culture, while simultaneously encouraging them to learn English and practice good citizenship. The club closed in early 2001 due to waning membership. The Hungarian American Citizens Club records, 1937-1991, include minute books, financial records, and an attendance book.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Esther Leggett travel scrapbooks, 1901-1927 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Esther Griffin Leggett was born around 1855 and lived most of her life in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania. An active volunteer at the local public library, she was known as the "story hour lady" for decades. Leggett traveled extensively and internationally in the early 20th century before passing away in 1935. The Esther Leggett travel scrapbooks, 1901-1927, include diary entries by Leggett as well as photo postcards, photographs, maps, ephemera, and some botanical specimens. There are 31 volumes documenting Leggett's domestic and international travels; of special interest is a volume about the US's entry into World War I.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Woman's Club of Phoenixville records, 1903-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Woman's Club of Phoenixville, one of the two oldest women's clubs in the state, was organized in 1884, granted state federation in 1897, and incorporated into the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1901. As of 2013, its goal is "to develop the educational, civic and social interest of its members and to advance the welfare of the community." The Woman's Club of Phoenixville records, 1903-2010, consist of eight scrapbooks (1958-1978), about six minute books (1959-2010), annual reports/membership directories (1903-circa 2005, incomplete), and a few other materials from the Club.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Knights of the Golden Eagle, Washington Castle No. 45 (Phoenixville, Pa.) records, 1885-1969 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Founded in 1873, the Knights of the Golden Eagle is a fraternal organization with rituals based on those of the Crusaders with emphasis placed on the word of the Bible. In addition to giving moral and intellectual guidance, the society provides relief to sick or unemployed members and gives survivor benefits to widows and orphans. Washington Castle was the second Knights of the Golden Eagle branch formed in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Founded in the late 19th century, it dissolved in 1970. The Knights of the Golden Eagle, Washington Castle No. 45 (Phoenixville, Pa.) records, 1885-1969, consist mostly of minutes and membership records with some financial and other records.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Mill at Anselma Preservation and Educational Trust collection, 1844-2007 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Mill at Anselma (Chester County, Pennsylvania) was built in 1747 by Samuel Lightfoot to produce flour and animal feed. Its chain of private ownership, including the Oberholtzer and Simmers families, ended with the Collins family in 1982. After the passing of Oliver Collins, the mill was turned into an historic site. The Mill at Anselma Preservation and Educational Trust collection, 1844-2007, includes original manuscripts from previous owners of the Mill at Anselma, oral histories, photographs, blueprints of the mill and property, newspaper clippings, and other materials relating to the Mill at Anselma and surrounding locations.

Held at: Mill at Anselma Preservation and Educational Trust [Contact Us]

Main content

Malvern Historical Commission historic property research files, 1970-2015 (bulk) 1889-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Around the time of the United States bicentennial, the Chester County (Pennsylvania) Commissioners formed a partnership with the Chester County Historical Society, the Brandywine Conservancy and many volunteers to organize a Chester County Historic Sites Survey. This survey, conducted between 1979 and 1982, included all of Chester County except for the Boroughs of West Chester and Downingtown (which initiated separate survey projects around this time). The Malvern Historical Commission historic property files, 1889-2015 (bulk 1970-2015), consist of research compiled on historic homes in Malvern, including deed research, maps, atlases, and historic property survey forms that were originally created as part of the Chester County Historic Sites Survey. The collection is arranged into three series: I. Subject files, II. Property files, and III. Oversized materials.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Malvern Historical Commission subject files, 1985-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:
28.0 linear feet
Abstract:
In the 17th century, Welsh immigrants settled in the area that would later be known as Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Originally part of Willistown Township as a village called West Chester Intersection, the village was renamed Malvern in 1873 and incorporated in 1889 as the Borough of Malvern, formally separating it from Willistown Township. The Malvern Historical Commission subject files, 1985-2015, consist of topical files on the people, places, organizations, buildings, and events of Malvern Borough. The files consist mainly of secondary-source materials, such as newspaper clippings, printed matter, ephemera, and family genealogies, as well as a small amount of primary-source materials. The files are organized into six series: I. Business files, II. Citizens, III. Borough files, IV. Malvern files, V. General History, and VI. Malvern Area and Chester County.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Malvern Historical Commission oral histories, 1978-1989, 2000-2012

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
In the 17th century, Welsh immigrants settled in the area that would later be known as Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Originally part of Willistown Township as a village called West Chester Intersection, the village was renamed Malvern in 1873 and incorporated in 1889 as the Borough of Malvern, formally separating it from Willistown Township. The Malvern Historical Commission oral histories, 1978-1989, 2000-2012, consist of about fifty oral histories conducted by the Malvern Historical Commission during the 1980s and 2000s with residents or former residents of Malvern discussing their memories of the Borough and family members.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Malvern Historical Commission local history collection, 1880s-2000s

Extent:
11.0 linear feet
Abstract:
In the 17th century, Welsh immigrants settled in the area that would later be known as Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Originally part of Willistown Township as a village called West Chester Intersection, the village was renamed Malvern in 1873 and incorporated in 1889 as the Borough of Malvern, formally separating it from Willistown Township. The Malvern Historical Commission local history collection, 1880s-2000s, consists of primary-source materials such as manuscripts, scrapbooks, and photographs, as well as secondary-source materials including newspaper clippings, postcards, photocopies of primary-source documents, and other materials that document the history of Malvern and its residents.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

M. Elizabeth Burke papers, 1978-2001 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
M. Elizabeth "Betty" Burke (1920-2011) was a resident of Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania and a political and community activist. Betty was active with various Malvern community organizations, including the Malvern Public Library, the Malvern Historical Commission, the Paoli Memorial Association, and Girl Scouts. Betty served as Malvern Borough tax collector for thirty-four years (1966-2000) and was a Republican committee woman for thirty-eight years (1968-2006). The M. Elizabeth Burke papers, 1978-2001, consist of papers accumulated by M. Elizabeth Burke during her time as Malvern Borough Tax Collector, member of the Malvern Historical Commission, and her time in other roles in the Malvern community. The collection also includes some research on Malvern and Chester County history.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Christian C. Sanderson collection, 1900-1966 (bulk) 1842-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:
100.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Christian Carmack Sanderson (1882-1966) was an historian, collector, teacher, musician, lecturer, and radio broadcaster, who spent most of his life in the area of Chadds Ford, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Christian C. Sanderson collection, 1842-1966 (bulk 1900-1966), consists of Christian C. Sanderson's personal papers and the papers of his family members, as well as materials collected by him. It includes diaries, ephemera, notes, postcards, scrapbooks, slides and scripts from lectures given by Sanderson, artworks created by members of the Wyeth family, photographs, financial records, and more.

Held at: Christian C. Sanderson Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Seal family papers, 1752-1943 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
William Heyburn Seal (1822-1910) settled in Birmingham Township (now Chadds Ford), Delaware County, Pennsylvania before 1850. He and his wife Deborah Twaddell, had six children. The Seal family papers, 1752-1943, include ledgers, teacher's lists, deeds, school workbooks, marriage certificates, a scrapbook, correspondence, a tax record, and many other materials from the Seal, Twaddell, and related families. Mary Emma Seal (1865-1941) and William Heyburn Seal (1822-1910) are especially well documented.

Held at: Chadds Ford Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Dr. Benjamin S. and Dr. Isaac Anderson account books, 1821-1905 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Dr. Isaac Anderson (1796-1865) and his son Dr. Benjamin Smith Anderson (1821-1894) were both eminent physicians who practiced in the area of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Dr. Benjamin S. and Dr. Isaac Anderson account books, 1821-1905, consist of 32 volumes, mostly ledgers of medical practice from Dr. Isaac Anderson and his son Dr. Benjamin S. Anderson. There are also several ledgers of farm, business, real estate, and other transactions, and some volumes from other family members.

Held at: Chadds Ford Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Stinson Markley family papers, circa 1850-1995

Extent:
20.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Stinson Markley (1898-1995) was a prominent farmer, conservationist, and historian in Charlestown Township, Pennsylvania. He also was a founding member of the Charlestown Historical Society. Stinson's wife, Kathryn Donahue Markley (1903-1981), was a well known educator and elementary school principal in the same region. The Stinson Markley family papers, circa 1850-1995, contain material relating to Stinson Markley's farming operations, personal life, and interests and hobbies; Kathryn Donahue Markley's personal and professional life; and others in the Markley, Donahue, and Kerk families. The collection includes numerous photographs and slides, personal papers, farming business records, scrapbooks, and printed materials.

Held at: Charlestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Chemical Leaman Tank Lines Inc. collection, 1942-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Chemical Leaman Tank Lines was at one time the largest tank truck carrier in the nation, transporting chemicals, coal tar derivatives, petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, and other liquid, dry, and gas products throughout most of the United States and Canada. It grew from a family trucking operation that was started in 1913. Prior to a 1998 merger, the company was based in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The Chemical Leaman Tank Lines Inc. collection, 1942-1998, consists mainly of promotional materials such as printed annual reports, pamphlets, and press releases, as well as internal memos, press shots, financial documents, and a few other administrative records, mostly relating to the creation of the promotional materials.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Donald Greenleaf family papers, 1867-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Donald J. Greenleaf (born 1932) is a long-time resident of the Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania area, who has held multiple positions in the Borough of Downingtown's government. Other family members were also prominent citizens and businessmen in the community. The Donald Greenleaf family papers, circa 1880-2000, primarily consist of slides and some photographs and film negatives of Downingtown and nearby areas. Also present in the collection are materials from Greenleaf's Pharmacy, ephemera from Downingtown area organizations, newspaper clippings, deeds, borough government records, and other materials.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Northwood Cemetery Company records, 1871-1995 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Northwood Cemetery Company (Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania) was incorporated in 1871 with the goal of establishing and maintaining a burial site beautified through art and nature. The cemetery is still active as of 2014. The Northwood Cemetery Company records, 1871-1995, consist of administrative, financial, and burial records. Of note is a burial ledger, 1871-1907, listing the name, date and cause of death, and age of people buried in the cemetery.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Jane L. S. Davidson research files for "A History of Downingtown", 1914-1985 (bulk 1981)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Jane L. S. Davidson (1939-2012) of Chester County, Pennsylvania was an award-winning advocate for historic preservation, long-time Chester County Historic Preservation Coordinator, and co-founder of the Chester County Historic Preservation Network. The Jane L. S. Davidson research files for "A History of Downingtown," 1914-1985 (bulk 1981), consist of research materials and notes used by Davidson to write A History of Downingtown (1982).

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Rotary Club of Downingtown records, 1932-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Rotary Club of Downingtown was established in 1926 in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Part of Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Downingtown is a social and service organization dedicated to promoting service through four "avenues": Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service. The Rotary Club of Downingtown records, 1932-2005, consist of minutes, financial records, correspondence, membership materials, newsletters, clippings, photographs, and other materials relating to the Rotary Club of Downingtown, and the state, district, and national chapters of Rotary International to which it belonged.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Downingtown Area Historical Society General Archives collection, 1843-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
20.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Borough of Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania is located halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. Known as Milltown in the 18th century since it was the location of the last mills on the edge of the unsettled western frontier, the village became known as Downingtown after the War of 1812; the borough was incorporated in 1859. Improved transportation, by stagecoach, railroad, and eventually highways, drew increasing population and investment to Downingtown over the 19th and 20th centuries. The Downingtown Area Historical Society General Archives collection, 1843-2012, consists of various small accumulations of records (less than one linear foot) from businesses, clubs, organizations, individuals, and families based in or near Downingtown.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Howell family papers, 1830-1880 (bulk) 1798-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Howell family were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) who resided in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Howell family papers, 1798-1929 (bulk 1830-1880), consist substantially of routine personal correspondence between several generations of the Howell family, particularly Sally R. Howell, Israel Howell, Mary Mott Howell, Joshua R. Howell, and Elizabeth Howell. The collection also includes a sizeable amount of school records, about 17 manuscript volumes from the early to mid-1800s, and drafts of poems and other writings.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Radnor Hunt records, 1886-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:
53.1 linear feet
Abstract:
Founded in 1883 in Radnor, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, Radnor Hunt is the oldest continuously active fox hunt in the United States, as recognized by the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America (MFHA). The Hunt remained in Radnor until 1931, when encroaching development in the area led it to move about seven miles west to a new location near Malvern, Pennsylvania. While Radnor Hunt has remained at the Malvern location, it acquired additional hunting territory elsewhere in the region in the late 1990s as other hunts in the area disbanded. For more than 130 years, Radnor Hunt has been the focal point of an active sporting community carrying on not only its traditional activity of fox chasing, but also encouraging a great many other activities involving countryside pursuits, horses, hounds and good sportsmanship. Many prominent families and leading businessmen of the greater Philadelphia area have been among Radnor Hunt's members over the years. The Radnor Hunt records,...(see more)

Held at: Radnor Hunt Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

Spring-Ford Area Historical Society local history collection, 1880-1960 (bulk) 1789-2000 bulk, 1880-1960 (inclusive)

Extent:
34.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Previously a sparsely-settled farming area, early development in Spring City (Chester County, Pennsylvania) and adjacent Royersford (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania) coincided with the opening of the Schuylkill Navigation Canal in 1824. Industry in the two towns continued to grow during the 19th century, especially with the construction of major rail lines through both. By the early 20th century, Spring City and Royersford were booming industrial towns with extensive stove factories, glass and bottle works, and embroidery, hosiery, and knitting mills, among other businesses. The Spring-Ford Area Historical Society local history collection, 1789-2000 (bulk 1880-1960), consists of photographs, scrapbooks, manuscript volumes, pamphlets and ephemera, deeds, and various other documents relating to local history. Photographs form the largest portion of the collection.

Held at: Spring-Ford Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Spring-Ford Area Historical Society digital collection, circa 2000-2012

Extent:
50.0 gb
Abstract:
Previously a sparsely-settled farming area, early development in Spring City (Chester County, Pennsylvania) and adjacent Royersford (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania) coincided with the opening of the Schuylkill Navigation Canal in 1824. Industry in the two towns continued to grow during the 19th century, especially with the construction of major rail lines through both. By the early 20th century, Spring City and Royersford were booming industrial towns with extensive stove factories, glass and bottle works, and embroidery, hosiery, and knitting mills, among other businesses. The Spring-Ford Area Historical Society digital collection, circa 2000-2012, consists of over 30,000 digital images of various documents, particularly photographs and postcards, relating to Spring City and Royersford, Pennsylvania local history. Some, but not all, of the original items are owned by the Spring-Ford Area Historical Society.

Held at: Spring-Ford Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Joshua P. Lamborn glass plate negatives, circa 1914

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Joshua P. Lamborn (circa 1860 - circa 1930) was a resident of Chester County, Pennsylvania who was active as a photographer in the early 20th century. The Joshua P. Lamborn glass plate negatives, circa 1914, consist of about 180 4" x 5"-plates plus about six 5" x 7"-plates and a small photographic record book. Some of the images are identified.

Held at: Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Mauger family papers, 1841-1937, 1991

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Mauger family has been in the funeral home business in Chester County, Pennsylvania since Daniel B. Mauger (1815-1890) started offering undertaker services in Warwick, Pennsylvania in 1842. Daniel's grandson, W. Frank Mauger (1898-1987) began working at G. Birdsall Passmore's funeral home in nearby Malvern, PA in 1921, buying Passmore out of the business in 1931 and relocating it to Monument Avenue. As of 2016, the Mauger-Givnish Funeral Home continues to serve Chester County from its location on Monument Avenue in Malvern. Mauger family papers, 1841-1937, 1991, consist of materials from the Mauger family and their relations, including records from U. Grant Mauger's undertaking business, vital records, a family bible, property records and legal papers, diaries, address books, receipt books, and a couple of letters. The Dampman and Rock families are also represented in the collection.

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Tri-County Heritage Society obituary collection, circa 1970s-2016

Extent:
12.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The region of southeastern Pennsylvania where southern Berks, northern Chester, and eastern Lancaster counties meet is known locally as the "Tri-County" area. The Tri-County area was first settled by Welsh immigrants, and later by German, Irish, and Scottish immigrants. While the area was largely agricultural, it also developed into an important early industrial corridor. In the early twenty-first century, the Tri-County area is a mix of farmland, industry, and suburban real estate development. The Tri-County Heritage Society obituary collection, circa 1970s-2016, consists of obituaries from residents of the Tri-County area. There are original newspaper clippings as well as photocopies of the obituaries.

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

Main content

McElroy family collection on Tri-County (Pa.) history, 19th century-1960s

Extent:
5.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Walter (1903-1993) and Esther (Kline) (1903-1992) McElroy were school teachers and longtime residents of the Tri-County Pennsylvania area, where northwestern Chester, southeastern Berks, and northeastern Lancaster counties converge. The McElroys were interested in the local history and families of the this area and they collected materials throughout their lifetimes pertaining to the Tri-County area and its prominent individuals and families, including the Ames and Plank families. McElroy family collection on Tri-County (Pa.) history, circa 19th century-1960s, consists of materials related to the history, people, businesses (and other topics) of Berks, Chester, and Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania. The materials include subject files, newspaper clippings, printed matter, original artworks, photographs, and other materials.

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Brower family papers, circa 1750-1950s

Extent:
12.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Mennonites Hubert and Anna Brower left Germany and emigrated to Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1726. They settled in Coventry (now, East Coventry Township). Hubert and Anna's son, Henry Brower (1720-1784) purchased land and established a family farm in the Parker Ford area of Coventry. His descendents, many of who were farmers, doctors, and ministers, resided in this area of Chester County for several generations. The Brower family papers, circa 1750-1950s, consist of financial, legal, and property documents; letters; family records and genealogy research; school records and teacher certificates; photographs and scrapbooks; newspaper clippings, printed matter, and ephemera; and other materials. There are small amounts of materials from other families that are connected to the Brower family. Individuals well-represented in the collection include M. Bertha Brower (1900-2000), Dr. William Brower (1842-1919), Abraham Brower, and David Stiteler Taylor (1832-1925) and his second wife,...(see more)

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Upper Uwchlan Township Historic Commission local history collection, 1829-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:
17.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Upper Uwchlan Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, was established in 1858 when it broke off from Uwchlan Township. Its boundaries include the historic district of Byers Station and the Wheelen House (Fellowship Farm), a Georgian-style farmhouse built in the mid 18th century. Remaining a rural community for most of its existence, Upper Uwchlan experienced large population growth beginning in the 1980s, leading to an increase in area development and the construction of several new subdivisions. The Upper Uwchlan Township Historic Commission local history collection, 1829-2005, contains a mix of primary- and secondary-source materials relating to the people, buildings, property, organizations, and other aspects of Upper Uwchlan Township. The collection is organized into four series: I. Manuscripts (organized by family/donor), II. Property files (organized by location), III. Subject files (organized into sub-groupings: people, clippings by date, and other), and IV. Subject binders.

Held at: Upper Uwchlan Township Historic Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

West Caln Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1990-2013 (bulk) 1851-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.0 linear feet
Abstract:
West Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, was officially recognized as a Township in 1744. The area developed due to its location along what was known as Kings Highway (now Route 340), the main road between Philadelphia and Lancaster. The West Caln Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1851-2013 (bulk 1990-2013), consists mostly of secondary-source materials such as newspaper clippings, photocopies, and research notes, with some original documents including maps, photographs, letters, oral histories, and deeds. The collection documents various West Caln Township individuals, families, organizations, and properties. It is organized based on document type and subject: "I. Subject files," "II. Obituaries," "III. Genealogy reference," "IV. Census records," "V. Deeds," "VI. Tax records," "VII. House histories," "VIII. Audiovisual materials," "IX. Photographs," "X. Maps," and "XI. Local manuscripts."

Held at: West Caln Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Wallace Township local history collection, 1789-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
30.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Although the first official survey of Wallace Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania took place in 1729, the Township was formally created in 1852 and has had multiple changes to its boundaries since. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, farms, mills, and forges dotted the landscape, but the late 19th century brought the railroad and considerable development of the area. A Pennsylvania Turnpike entrance was created near Wallace in 1950, and during the late 20th century, many residential subdivisions were built in the Township resulting in a substantial population increase. The Wallace Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1789-2014, consists of a mix of primary and secondary-source material relating to the history and residents of Wallace Township. Materials include scrapbooks, maps and blueprints, deeds, financial and administrative records, photographs, audio recordings, ephemera, correspondence, posters, and genealogy and other research materials.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

John Shrader photographs and slides, 1975-1995 (bulk) 1940-1995 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.75 cubic feet
Abstract:
John J. S. Shrader (1914-2001) was an amateur archaeologist, photographer, and local historian who spent most of his life in Glenmoore, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The John Shrader photographs and slides, 1940-2005 (bulk 1975-1995), consist of over 1,000 slides and two albums of captioned photographs, in black and white and in color. Depicted are local sites, especially historic sites such as Springton Manor, events, landscapes, and buildings such as houses and churches.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

Westtown School Archives small manuscripts collection, 1769-2008 (inclusive)

Extent:
13.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Westtown School in Chester County, Pennsylvania is the oldest continuously operating coeducational boarding school in the United States. It was founded by the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1799 with the goal of educating Quaker children in an environment that fostered moral development consistent with their religious ideals. The Westtown School Archives small manuscripts collection, 1769-2008, consists of correspondence to and from various students, teachers, school officials, and other individuals and families affiliated with Westtown School. There is only one or a few documents associated with most of the individuals. These include mostly handwritten letters with some typescript and email print-outs. Also included are other materials, such as ephemera, account books, addresses and writings, school documents such as student lists and report cards, and receipts and other financial papers.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

Caroline Nicholson Jacob papers, 1920s-1982

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Caroline Lucile Nicholson Jacob (1891-1991) was a teacher at Westtown School, a prominent Quaker boarding school in Chester County, Pa. She taught from 1916-1939 in the subjects of German, Bible, French, and History; from 1926-1939 she served as Assistant Principal. Jacob was a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), working in Europe after World War I with the American Friends Service Committee, active with the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and authoring several books about Quakerism and individual Quakers. The Caroline Nicholson Jacob papers, 1920s-1982, document Jacob's travels, interests, and religious and social activities. Topics include her trips to Africa, Europe, the Western U.S., and to the Fourth Friends World Conference; her engagement to be married and her birthdays (including her 90th); and her time at Westtown School. The collection includes correspondence, a published transcript of an oral history interview by American Friends Service Committee in 1989,...(see more)

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

Everett and Grace Rodebaugh papers, circa 1890-1985

Extent:
24.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Everett G. Rodebaugh (1902-1983), a nationally prominent court reporter and founder of a court-reporting service in Philadelphia, Pa. married Grace M. Haspel (1905-1999) in 1925. A wealthy couple who never had children, the Rodebaughs were socialites, travelled extensively, and were active as philanthropists and conservationists. In 1935, they purchased "Welkinweir," a 162-acre farm estate in East Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pa., and converted part of the grounds into an arboretum. Welkinweir, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, as of 2013 is owned and administered by Green Valleys Association (an organization the Rodebaughs helped found in 1964). The Everett and Grace Rodebaugh papers, circa 1890-1985, consist of Everett Rodebaugh's professional papers, which include correspondence and legal/court records and transcripts; the personal papers of Everett and Grace, which largely include photographs, travel slides, and letters between the two; and...(see more)

Held at: Welkinweir [Contact Us]

Main content

Estelle Cremers collection on Welkinweir, circa 1975-2001 (bulk 1990-2001)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Estelle Cremers (1925-2010) was a historian in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, who served as the executrix for Grace Rodebaugh and her property, Welkinweir (East Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pa.) The Estelle Cremers collection on Welkinweir, circa 1975-2001 (bulk 1990-2001), consists of various materials compiled by Estelle Cremers about Welkinweir and the Rodebaugh estate, especially regarding her duty as Grace Rodebaugh's executrix. It includes Grace's will, documents relating to Grace's finances, materials about the donation of Welkinweir to West Chester State College and resultant controversy, materials relating to establishing Welkinweir as an historic site, inventories and other papers relating to Welkinweir, and photographs and slides of the property.

Held at: Welkinweir [Contact Us]

Main content

Buffington–Marshall papers, 1707-1876 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The manuscripts in the collection cover the years 1707 to 1876. The bulk of the collection is connected to two families, Buffington and Marshall. Buffington family manuscripts begin with emigrant Richard Buffington (d. 1747/8). He was married three times and his children included Ann, Ruth, Richard (d. 1741, married Phebe Grubb), Thomas, William, John, Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth, Lydia, Abigail, Joseph, and Alice. The Marshall family manuscripts originated from the family of emigrant Abraham Marshall (1669-1767) and his wife, Mary Hunt Marshall (d. 1769). Topics include: farming, botany, legal system, politics and elections, the poor, education, medicine, crime (includes murder, fornication and bastardy cases, etc.), slavery, etc.

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Colonel Richard Thomas papers, 1741-1919 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Richard Thomas (1744-1832) was a Revolutionary War colonel and a politician. He served in the Revolutionary War in the 5th Battalion Association despite his Quaker faith and served as an Assembly man from 1796 to 1790, as Pennsylvania Senator from 1790 to 1794, and as Congressman from 1794 to 1798. The collection dates from 1741 to 1919 with the bulk of materials dating from 1741 to 1857. The materials in the collection document the history of Chester County and the United States as well as the personal side of the Thomas family.

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Joseph B. Smith and Sons Funeral Home records, 1872-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Joseph B. Smith and Sons Funeral Home in West Chester, Pennsylvania was established in 1870, when Joseph B. Smith purchased the existing Hoffman Undertaking and Furniture Business. Smith’s firm, which was in business until 1994, was owned and operated by four successive generations of Smith men: Joseph B. Smith; his son, William B. Smith; his grandson, Ashton B.T. Smith; and his great-grandson, Ashton B.T. Smith, Jr. It ranked as one of the oldest funeral home businesses in Chester County. The Joseph B. Smith and Son Funeral Directors records houses the records produced by that funeral home from 1876 to 1946. In addition, there is a small cache of Smith family papers dating from 1883 to 1975. The bulk of the collection is made up of funeral home records. Included in the funeral home records are account books, funeral registries, bills, funeral home ephemera, and undertaker and coroner licenses. The Smith family papers section of the collection has very little to do with the...(see more)

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Joseph W. Thomas and Sons nursery records, 1884-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Joseph W. Thomas and Sons Nursery in Chester County was one of the oldest and longest running horticultural enterprises in the state of Pennsylvania. It operated from 1853 to 1990, and was owned by three successive generations of the Thomas family. The Thomas nursery actually began in 1828 as a small farm and orchard called “Maple Farm,” which was owned by Charles and Ruth Thomas. It was their son, Joseph Williams Thomas, who formally established the nursery on a small portion of the farm around 1853. He named his burgeoning business, Chester Valley Nursery. Later, he changed the company’s name to Joseph W. Thomas and Company. Around 1888, Joseph’s sons, Edwin and Charles Lincoln, joined him in business and the name of the firm was changed once more to Joseph W. Thomas and Sons, reflecting the new partnership. The Joseph W. Thomas and Sons Nursery records contains documents created by that business from 1884 to 1993. Researchers will find financial records; general business...(see more)

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Charlestown Historical Society subject files, circa 1900-2014 (bulk 1976-2014)

Extent:
16.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Charlestown Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania is named for Charles Pickering, who was granted the land from William Penn that today makes up a large portion of the Township. Charlestown was the site of the Valley Forge General Hospital during World War II. The Charlestown Historical Society subject files, circa 1900-2014 (bulk 1976-2014), contain materials that relate to Charlestown Township's history and residents; local historic districts, buildings, and organizations; other Chester County historic sites and organizations; and other topics of local interest. Although there are a small number of scattered primary source documents in the collection, materials are largely secondary-source, such as newspaper clippings, research notes, scholarly articles, photocopies of primary documents, and printed materials and ephemera. The collection is organized into three series: I. Subject files; II. Family files; and III. Scrapbooks.

Held at: Charlestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Charlestown Historical Society manuscripts collection, circa 1790-1990

Extent:
10.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Charlestown Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania is named for Charles Pickering, who was granted the land from William Penn that today makes up a large portion of the Township. Charlestown was the site of the Valley Forge General Hospital during World War II. The Charlestown Historical Society manuscripts collection, circa 1790-1990, includes photographs, slides, deeds, maps and atlases, family papers, business records, school and municipal records, scrapbooks and various other materials collected from local people and organizations from Charlestown Township and nearby areas.

Held at: Charlestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Woman's Club of Downingtown records, 1914-2007 (inclusive)

Extent:
15.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Woman's Club of Downingtown (Chester County, Pennsylvania) was organized in 1914 and is still active as of 2014. Its mission is "to develop the educational, civic, and special interests of its members and to advance the welfare of the community." It was federated in the General Federation of Women's Clubs for most of its history, but disaffiliated in 2001. The Woman's Club of Downingtown records, 1914-2007, consist of various administrative, financial, and other records from the club's founding in 1914 through the beginning of the 21st century. A detailed inventory of the collection is available on-site.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Downingtown Area Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1870-1991

Extent:
7.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Borough of Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania is located halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. Known as Milltown in the 18th century since it was the location of the last mills on the edge of the unsettled western frontier, the village became known as Downingtown after the War of 1812; the borough was incorporated in 1859. Improved transportation, by stagecoach, railroad, and eventually highways, drew increasing population and investment to Downingtown over the 19th and 20th centuries. The Downingtown Area Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1870-1991, consists of photographs and postcards depicting the people, businesses, churches, organizations, and schools of the Downingtown area.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Brandywine Lodge No. 388 (Downingtown, Pa.) records, 1850-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) is an altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization not based in any particular ethnic, religious, or trade affiliation. Brandywine Lodge No. 388, I.O.O.F. in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania was incorporated in 1852, absorbed Pilgrim's Lodge (Lionville, Pa.) in 1974, and itself merged into Star of Hope Lodge 199 I.O.O.F. (previously of Coatesville, Pa.) in 2001. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Brandywine Lodge No. 388 (Downingtown, Pa.) records, 1850-1980, include minute books (1918-1926), officers books (1850-1962), building-related documents, and other materials.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Downingtown Area Historical Society ephemera collection, 1978-2014 (bulk) 1909-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Borough of Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania is located halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. Known as Milltown in the 18th century since it was the location of the last mills on the edge of the unsettled western frontier, the village became known as Downingtown after the War of 1812; the borough was incorporated in 1859. Improved transportation, by stagecoach, railroad, and eventually highways, drew increasing population and investment to Downingtown over the 19th and 20th centuries. The Downingtown Area Historical Society ephemera collection, 1909-2014 (bulk 1978-2014), documents the people, businesses, churches, organizations, and schools of the Downingtown area. Newsletters, pamphlets, maps, programs, copies and print-outs of research articles, and other types of ephemera are included.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Will-Britt Books genealogy research files and books, 1965-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
44.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Mildred C. Williams and Janet R. Brittingham were genealogists who together self-published genealogy histories and genealogy-source transcripts, primarily focusing on Southeastern Pennsylvania, under the name Will-Britt Books. The Will-Britt Books genealogy research files and books, 1965-2012, consist of the working files, publications, and reference materials from the offices of Will-Britt Books. It is organized into three series: I. Genealogy research files; II. Will-Britt Books publications; and III. Reference materials and administrative records.

Held at: Doylestown 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

Reinhardt, Hawley and Hewes family papers, 1762-1955 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear ft. (9 boxes)
Abstract:
The Reinhardt, Hawley, Hewes and Meredith families are tied together through marriage and their Quaker faith across multiple generations. William Dell Reinhardt, a University of Pennsylvania graduate and doctor, married Rebecca Hawley, a teacher. They had six children: Jesse Hawley Reinhardt, Mary Bailey Reinhardt, Esther Meredith Reinhardt, Lydia Ludwig Reinhardt, Elizabeth Christina Reinhardt, and David Jones Reinhardt. David Jones Reinhardt married Anna Margaret Hewes in 1896. These individuals created the bulk of the material contained within this collection. This collection consists of correspondence; account books; certificates; diaries and household information lists; friendship books; land and insurance records; marriage certificates; miscellaneous family records; wills and estates; genealogical research; photographs; Quaker tracts and poetry; newspaper clippings; and Acts of the Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania. Before looking into the collection, a researcher...(see more)

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

Main content

Historic Sugartown local manuscripts collection, 1790s-1980s

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Sugartown, located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, was established in the early 1800s and became a vibrant crossroads that provided goods and services to the surrounding farming community. The Historic Sugartown local manuscripts collection, 1790s-1980s, consists of various materials such as letters, photographs, scrapbooks, and deeds that document some of Sugartown's early families and businesses. In particular, the Williams and Garrett families are well represented. Some items relating to the Hoopes family are also included.

Held at: Historic Sugartown, Inc. [Contact Us]

Main content

Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area subject files, circa 1850-2013

Extent:
53.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Phoenixville, which was incorporated as a borough in 1849 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, evolved from an early 18th century village. The history of the town largely mirrored the history of the Phoenix Iron Company which became hugely successful in the mid-19th century with the advent of the railroad. The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area subject files, circa 1850-2013, consist primarily of photocopied primary-source documents, newspaper clippings, and research articles that relate to numerous aspects of Phoenixville's history. It also contains a fair amount of original documents, principally pamphlets, small printed works, and ephemera, as well as some photographs, deeds, and manuscript pages. The collection is organized into series and subseries by subject; the largest series are Genealogy and Phoenix Iron Company / Phoenix Steel Company.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

F.B. Neiman & Son Funeral Home registers, 1905-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.2 linear feet
Abstract:
Frederick Bickel Neiman, Sr. (1879-1954) was an undertaker who owned and operated F.B. Neiman Funeral Home in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Frederick B. Neiman, Jr. (1905-1978), continued in his father's profession, and the business became F.B. Neiman & Son Funeral Home. F.B. Neiman & Son Funeral Home registers consist of the home's registers from its founding in 1905 until 1966, as well as some financial records. Most registers provide a significant amount of biographical information for each decedent.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Phoenixville lodges records, 1847-1974 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.75 linear feet
Abstract:
An altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) was originally organized in England in the 18th century. Established in the United States in 1819, it was the first national fraternity to include both men and women (beginning in 1851). Branches of the I.O.O.F. were started in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1847. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Phoenixville lodges records, 1847-1974, document the Phoenixville iterations of the I.O.O.F. over a 125-year period. The collection includes records of Phoenix Lodge No. 212, Phoenix Encampment No. 79, Adelaide Rebekah Lodge No. 42 (women's auxiliary), and the local Three Link Club (junior division). Minutes form the largest portion of the collection, but there are also membership records, financial records, ephemera, and other related materials.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Forge Theatre records, 1962-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Forge Theatre is a nonprofit community theater group based in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Formed 1962, the group is still active as of 2013. The Forge Theatre records, 1962-2003, include scrapbooks, newsletters, meeting minutes, programs, framed certificates, and banners from the group.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Phoenixville Chapter No. 713 of the American Association of Retired Persons scrapbooks and photograph albums, 1969-1986 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Chapter No. 713 of the American Association of Retired Persons in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania was founded in 1969 and is still active as of 2013. Nationally, the AARP promotes the well-being of older persons through advocacy, education, and service. The Phoenixville Chapter No. 713 of the American Association of Retired Persons scrapbooks and photograph albums, 1969-1986, consist of ten volumes. The scrapbooks include newsletters, clippings about the AARP, ephemera, and some administrative records such as membership lists, correspondence, and meeting minutes.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Phoenixville schools attendance registers, 1858-1900 and 1925-1957

Extent:
3.33 linear feet
Abstract:
Phoenixville, which was incorporated as a borough in 1849 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, evolved from an early 18th century village. The history of the town largely mirrored the history of the Phoenix Iron Company, which became hugely successful in the mid-19th century with the advent of the railroad. The Phoenixville Area School District is located in northern Chester County, several miles west of Valley Forge Park. The district covers three municipalities: Phoenixville Borough, Schuylkill Township, and East Pikeland Township. The Phoenixville schools attendance registers, 1858-1900 and 1925-1957, primarily are from elementary schools in the Phoenixville School District. Also included are some superintendent yearly reports and statistical information.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Central Evangelical Lutheran Church records, 1883-1968 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Central Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1875 and closed in the late 20th century. The Central Evangelical Lutheran Church records, 1883-1968, consist mostly of Church Council minutes and treasurer's reports, with some Ladies Aid Society minutes, membership lists, and various other records of the church.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Martha McAvoy King collection on Chester County (Pa.) human services, circa 1950-1980

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Martha McAvoy King (1904-1997) of Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania was a life-long activist-volunteer and leader in local civic affairs. Specifically, she was involved in numerous social service programs relating to health and human services, education, and housing. The Martha McAvoy King collection on Chester County (Pa.) human services, circa 1950-1980, includes papers relating to her volunteer activities, primarily her involvement with Chester County's Children's Services Advisory Committee and the county's housing authority. Materials include reports, correspondence, minutes, financial papers, and membership lists.

Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]

Main content

Kennett Township Historical Commission property research files, 1994-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The first recorded mention of "Kennett Township" in Chester County, Pennsylvania is from 1705. An abolitionist stronghold, Kennett was popular with freedom-seekers escaping slavery prior to the Civil War due to the presence of progressive Quakers and a community of free blacks that was established as early as 1830. Later, the Kennett area became known for producing more than half of the mushrooms consumed in the United States. The Kennett Township Historical Commission property research files, 1994-2011, consist of two surveys of historic sites in Kennett Township completed in 1994-1996 and 2009-2011, covering approximately 350 properties.

Held at: Kennett Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Kennett Township Historical Commission subject files, 1980-2014 (bulk) 1847-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The first recorded mention of "Kennett Township" in Chester County, Pennsylvania is from 1705. An abolitionist stronghold, Kennett was popular with freedom-seekers escaping slavery prior to the Civil War due to the presence of progressive Quakers and a community of free blacks that was established as early as 1830. Later, the Kennett area became known for producing more than half of the mushrooms consumed in the United States. The Kennett Township Historical Commission subject files, 1847-2014 (bulk 1980-2014), focus on people, places, organizations, buildings, and events of Kennett Township. The files consist mainly of secondary-source materials, such as clippings, pamphlets/ephemera, and family genealogies, as well as a small amount of primary-source materials.

Held at: Kennett Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Kennett (Pa. : Township). Board of Supervisors records, 1848-1974 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The first recorded mention of "Kennett Township" in Chester County, Pennsylvania is from 1705. An abolitionist stronghold, Kennett was popular with freedom-seekers escaping slavery prior to the Civil War due to the presence of progressive Quakers and a community of free blacks that was established as early as 1830. Later, the Kennett area became known for producing more than half of the mushrooms consumed in the United States. The Kennett (Pa. : Township). Board of Supervisors records, 1848-1974, consist of documents produced by the governing body and various administrative departments of Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania including minute books, correspondence, and tax and other financial records.

Held at: Kennett Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Hannum family papers, circa 1850-1950

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Hannum family were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) based in and around Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Charles Beverly Hannum (born 1861) was employed at times as a railroad agent and owner of a general store. One of his sons, Edward Darlington Hannum (1892-1977), worked variously as a postmaster, greenhouse manager, florist, and mushroom grower. The Hannum family papers, circa 1850-1950, consist of various materials from the Hannum, Cloud, and Darlington families, including photographs, scrapbooks, financial records, and other documents. Best represented are Charles B. Hannum and Edward D. Hannum.

Held at: Kennett Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Kennett Township Historical Commission oral histories, 1987-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The first recorded mention of "Kennett Township" in Chester County, Pennsylvania is from 1705. An abolitionist stronghold, Kennett was popular with freedom-seekers escaping slavery prior to the Civil War due to the presence of progressive Quakers and a community of free blacks that was established as early as 1830. Later, the Kennett area became known for producing more than half of the mushrooms consumed in the United States. The Kennett Township Historical Commission oral histories, 1987-2013, consist of cassette tape recordings of the recollections of about thirty members of the Kennett Township community.

Held at: Kennett Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Eleanor Morris papers on the Mill at Anselma, 1971-1999 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Eleanor May Morris (1919-2011) was an advocate for conservation of open space and farm land and preservation of historic buildings in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 1967, she co-founded with her husband the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust (FPCCT) and served as its president for thirty years. She was also a founding member of the Mill at Anselma Preservation and Educational Trust (MAAPET). The Eleanor Morris papers on the Mill at Anselma, 1971-1999, consist of records from FPCCT and MAAPET from Eleanor Morris' home office. The files relate to the Anselma Mill, including FPCCT's acquisition of its property and buildings in the early 1980s, the establishment of Mill at Anselma as an historic site, and the formation of MAAPET in 1998.

Held at: Mill at Anselma Preservation and Educational Trust [Contact Us]

Main content

Malin family papers, 1684-1880 (bulk) 1684-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Borough of Media, the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was settled by Europeans beginning in the 1680s. The area remained largely rural until the end of the 19th century. The Malin family was one of the first English Quaker families to settle in Pennsylvania when Randal Malin (1652-1729), a Quaker minister, emigrated from Cheshire, England upon purchasing 250 acres of land from William Penn in 1681. The Malin family papers, 1684-1992 (bulk, 1684-1880), include mostly estate records such as deeds, indentures, wills, bond and mortgages, and estate inventories with some financial papers such as a receipt book, miscellaneous receipts, and shilling notes. There is also a photocopy of a manuscript genealogy of Malin and Edwards families by Phyillis Centman.

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Malvern Historical Commission records, circa 1980s-2013

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Malvern Historical Commission in Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania was established by an ordinance of the Malvern Borough Council in 1983 to identify the various historic or otherwise significant structures, locations, and sites in Malvern and preserve them. The Malvern Historical Commission records, 1980s-2013, consist of administrative records from the Malvern Historical Commission and reference materials used by the organization during the course of its work.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Malvern Historical Commission collection on Malvern Public School, 1910s-1970s

Extent:
5.75 linear feet
Abstract:
From its building and dedication in 1899 to its closing in 1981, Malvern Public School, located on the southeast corner of 1st and Warren avenues in Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania, served the Borough of Malvern as a one room school house, a junior high, and an elementary school. The Malvern Historical Commission collection on Malvern Public School, 1910s-1970s, consists primarily of school records from Malvern Public School and includes materials such as excuse notes, guidance records with student permanent record cards, report cards, and individual scholarship records. Also in the collection is a small amount of printed and published materials relating to Chester County and Pennsylvania schools.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Nancy B. Schmitt scrapbooks and research on Malvern (Pa.) history, 1975-2010s

Extent:
8.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Nancy Blackstone Schmitt (1940-2013) was a Malvern resident, author, and community activist. She was the researcher and author of Malvern Treasures, the editor of A Century in Malvern, 1989, and the author of Malvern Items, 1870-2006. The Nancy B. Schmitt scrapbooks and research on Malvern (Pa.) history, 1975-2010s, consist of Nancy B. Schmitt's research for various books she wrote and edited on Malvern (Pa.), as well as several scrapbooks she compiled with clippings of newspaper articles she wrote for the Suburban Advertiser.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Malvern Retreat House records, circa 1910s-2016

Extent:
200.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Located in Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Malvern Retreat House (MRH) is the nation's oldest and largest Catholic retreat house, serving over 20,000 people annually. Owned and operated by Catholic laity since 1912, MRH serves the spiritual needs of lay men and women of all ages, as well as clergy and religious of many denominations, through the retreat experience. Malvern Retreat House records, circa 1910-2016, consist of subject files, files relating to the various groups that hold or have held regular retreats at Malvern Retreat House, board and committee minutes and administrative files, scrapbooks and binders, oral histories, newsletters and other publications, photographs and photograph albums, and framed and oversized materials.

Held at: William M. Lennox Archives Center at Malvern Retreat House [Contact Us]

Main content

G.O. Carlson, Inc. production records, 1953-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
450.0 linear feet
Abstract:
G.O. Carlson, Inc. is a producer of stainless and specialty steel. Founded by Gunard O. Carlson in Thorndale, Pennsylvania, its origins can be traced to 1936 although it was formally incorporated in 1940. Materials produced by the company were used in the first nuclear submarine, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and a space shuttle. The G. O. Carlson, Inc. production records, 1953-1998, include production orders, several record types relating to quality control and testing, various other production-related records. The collection also includes several binders of print outs of digital photographs of the G.O. Carlson lab, issues of Corrosion magazine, and a few other items not directly related to production.

Held at: National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Graystone Society collection on Coatesville history, 1880-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Coatesville in Chester County, Pennsylvania is home to the longest operating steel mill in America, Lukens Steel Company. Development in the area was spurred by convenient transport routes offered by America's first turnpike, the Philadelphia to Lancaster Turnpike (now U.S. Route 30), and the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, built in 1834. The Graystone Society, Inc. is today a not-for-profit educational institution dedicating to collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting iron and steel's history and its relationship to Coatesville, the region, and the nation. The Graystone Society collection on Coatesville history, 1880-2011, includes photographs, scrapbooks, minute books, clippings, school books, and various other family papers and organizational records relating to the people and organizations of Coatesville and the surrounding area. Of special interest are several 18th and early 19th century manuscript volumes relating to the Pennock and Lukens family. Some records...(see more)

Held at: National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

New London Area Historical Society local history collection, 1970-2000 (bulk) 1711-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
12.0 linear feet
Abstract:
New London Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania was chartered in 1723 and originally included the areas that now comprise adjacent Franklin Township and nearby London Britain Township. The New London Academy opened in 1743 and was responsible for educating a number of prominent colonial, revolutionary, and early American-era politicians, historians, clergy, and educators, including three signers of the Declaration of Independence. The New London Area Historical Society local history collection, 1711-2000 (bulk 1970-2000), consists of a mix of primary and secondary-source material relating to the history and residents of New London Township and nearby areas. Materials include manuscripts, property files, photographs, slides, newspaper clippings, subject files, and a small amount of records from various New London historical organizations.

Held at: New London Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Charles C. Walker Papers, 1940-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
25.67 linear ft. (21 record cartons and 1 flat box)
Abstract:
Minutes, reports, writings, notes, photographs, and printed material from Walker's work as an activist and nonviolent resistance trainer. Materials have been place in series based on how the subjects were identified in their original boxes.

Held at: Swarthmore College Peace Collection [Contact Us]

Main content

Spring-Ford Area Historical Society subject files, circa 1880s-2012

Extent:
45.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Previously a sparsely-settled farming area, early development in Spring City (Chester County, Pennsylvania) and adjacent Royersford (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania) coincided with the opening of the Schuylkill Navigation Canal in 1824. Industry in the two towns continued to grow during the 19th century, especially with the construction of major rail lines through both. By the early 20th century, Spring City and Royersford were booming industrial towns with extensive stove factories, glass and bottle works, and embroidery, hosiery, and knitting mills, among other businesses. The Spring-Ford Area Historical Society subject files, circa 1880s-2012, document various topics of local interest. The collection mostly contains photocopies, with some original materials, such as newspaper clippings, photographs, research notes, narrative histories, cemetery records and indexes, obituaries, and family histories. Major categories include: burial records, church histories and sacramental...(see more)

Held at: Spring-Ford Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Kimes and Nelson's Funeral Service funeral registers, 1884-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Servicing Spring City and Royersford, Pennsylvania, Kimes and Nelson's Funeral Service was in operation for close to a century, beginning in 1884. The Kimes and Nelson's funeral registers, 1884-1936, consist of 11 volumes that cover a 50-year period. Entries include a significant amount of information about decedents, including occupation, birth place, parents' names, and cause of death.

Held at: Spring-Ford Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Horace D. Heistand glass plate negatives, 1920-1924 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Horace Dayton Heistand (1880-1933) was a photographer based out of Spring City, Chester County, Pennsylvania in the early 20th century. The Horace D. Heistand glass plate negatives, 1920-1924, consist of 128 glass plate negatives of Spring City and nearby Royersford, with a few shots of Phoenixville.

Held at: Spring-Ford Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society manuscripts collection, 1732-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Both Tredyffrin and Easttown townships in the Upper Main Line area and eastern Chester County, Pennsylvania were settled by Welsh Quakers in 1682; they were incorporated in 1707 and 1704, respectively. Predominantly farming communities for most of their histories, commercial and residential development in both townships accelerated with the construction of the "Main Line" Pennsylvania Railroad Line in the 1830s and burgeoned after World War II. The Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society manuscripts collection, 1732-2010, includes various small accumulations of materials from local individuals, businesses, and organizations in the area of Tredyffrin and Easttown townships. Minute books, financial records, genealogy and local history research materials, school records, correspondence, and other family papers and organizational records are represented.

Held at: Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Joseph W. Sharp family diaries, 1818-1838, 1859-1910

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Sharp family was one of the more prominent in Berwyn (Chester County, Pennsylvania) during the period of its greatest growth. Joseph W. Sharp (1828-1908) purchased a farm of several hundred acres in Easttown Township, became active in local public affairs--he was a founder of Berwyn National Bank--and is considered the first regular commuter from Berwyn to Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Joseph W. Sharp family diaries, 1818-1838 and 1859-1910, consists of several dozen volumes. Most are his diaries from 1859 to 1910; the collection also includes some farm financial information, loose correspondence, an account ledger, a farm ledger (1818-1838), and scattered other materials.

Held at: Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Tri-County Heritage Society local history collection, 1735-1990s

Extent:
75.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The region of southeastern Pennsylvania where southern Berks, northern Chester, and eastern Lancaster counties meet is known locally as the "Tri-County" area. The Tri-County area was first settled by Welsh immigrants, and later by German, Irish, and Scottish immigrants. While the area was largely agricultural, it also developed into an important early industrial corridor. In the early twenty-first century, the Tri-County area is a mix of farmland, industry, and suburban real estate development. Tri-County Heritage Society local history collection, 1735-1990s, consists of manuscripts and other original materials, photographs and audiovisual materials, secondary-source materials, printed matter and ephemera, and other documents relating to the history, residents, organizations, and businesses of Berks, Chester, and Lancaster counties. There is also some material relating to Delaware, Montgomery, and other nearby counties in Pennsylvania.

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Estelle Cremers papers, circa 1982-2008

Extent:
13.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Estelle Harrop Cremers (1925-2010) was active in historic preservation, especially in Chester County, Pennsylvania, from the 1970s to the 2000s. Cremers served on boards and commissions of local historical organizations, helped develop the French and Pickering Creek Trust, worked as the coordinator for the Chester County Comprehensive Historic Sites Survey, researched and wrote nominations for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, free-lanced as a historic property and land researcher, and wrote five books on local townships. Estelle Cremers papers, circa 1982-2008, consist primarily of research materials accumulated or created by Cremers that relate to Chester County locations, properties, businesses, people, and other history related topics. Some of the research in the collection relates to locations in Montgomery, Berks, Lancaster, and other Pennsylvania counties. There is also some correspondence and other non-research related materials in the collection.

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

Main content

Uwchlan Township Historical Commission subject files, 1979-2014 (bulk) 1928-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
30.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Originally inhabited by Leni-Lenape (Delaware) and Iroquoian-speaking Susquehanuck peoples, Uwchlan Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania was settled by Welsh Quakers in the early 18th century. The township was founded in 1712. It remained a largely rural farming community until a post-World War II suburbanization boom. The Uwchlan Township Historical Commission subject files, 1928-2014 (bulk 1979-2014), consist largely of secondary-source materials with some primary-source documents. The collection is arranged into five series, each relating to the local history of the township: Subjects, People, Schools, Government records, and Binders.

Held at: Uwchlan Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Frances D. Matthews family papers, circa 1900-1980

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Frances Dinkel Matthews (1907-1999) spent her entire life in Uwchlan Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Very active in the Uwchlan community, she served at various times as a school director and as a tax collector. She was a member of the Women's Community Club of Uwchlan, Uwchlan Conservation Trust, and Uwchlan Township Historical Commission. Most of the materials in Frances D. Matthews family papers, circa 1900-1980, relate either to local tax collecting (1952-1979) or schools (1903-1958). While the majority of materials appear to have been created or collected by Frances Matthews, some intermixed documents seem to stem from other sources. There are only a few Frances Matthews items in the collection not related either to taxes or schools, such as a Women's Community Club scrapbook from the 1930s.

Held at: Uwchlan Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Israel R. Berry family papers, 1890-1940 (bulk) 1864-1940 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Israel R. Berry (born 1862) was an influential citizen of West Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, known for his successful farm and involvement with the township school board. His father, Milton Berry (born in West Caln in 1825), was a carpenter who acquired a 47-acre farm, and was active in township government. The Israel R. Berry family papers, 1864-1940 (bulk 1890-1940), include a large amount of records of the West Caln Township School Board as well as assorted personal papers and family papers (principally from Israel Berry and his father, Milton Berry).

Held at: West Caln Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Wharton Esherick family papers, 1920-1970 (bulk) 1895-1996 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Wharton Esherick (1887-1970) was a sculptor who worked primarily in wood, readily extending his unique forms to furniture, furnishings, utensils, interiors and buildings, creating sculptural environments. He has been called the link between the Arts and Crafts Movement and the resurgent interest in furniture making following World War II, the dean of American craftsmen, and the foundation of the current Studio Furniture Movement. The Wharton Esherick family papers, 1895-1996 (bulk 1920-1970), consist of correspondence, work documentation, financial papers, publicity clippings, photographs, and other materials that primarily document Esherick's work and to a lesser extent his personal life and the personal lives of his immediate family.

Held at: Wharton Esherick Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

Susan R. Hinkel research files on Wharton Esherick, 1989-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.75 linear feet
Abstract:
A friend of the Wharton Esherick family, Susan R. Hinkel began writing a biography about Wharton Esherick, the influential sculptor and craftsman, although she never finished the book. The Susan Hinkel research files on Wharton Esherick, 1989-2000, consist of materials that Hinkel compiled by while preparing the unfinished biography. The files are organized by subject and include chapter drafts, research-related correspondence, clippings and ephemera, and various other secondary-source materials. Of special interest are transcripts of oral histories that Hinkel conducted for the book, in particular interviews with Ruth Esherick and Mansfield "Bob" Bascom.

Held at: Wharton Esherick Museum [Contact Us]

Main content

West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1759-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
In the first decades of the 18th century, emigrants from Radnorshire, Wales settled in the area that would become Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Nantmeal Township was divided into East and West Nantmeal townships in 1739, and Honey Brook Township and Wallace Township later separated from West Nantmeal Township in 1789 and 1852, respectively. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, West Nantmeal was home to farms, mills and forges, including the Isabella Furnace. As of 2015, West Nantmeal remains a largely rural community. The West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1759-2015, consists of a mix of primary and secondary source materials relating to the history, residents, businesses, and other topics related to West Nantmeal Township. The materials include manuscripts, subject files, oral histories, CDs and DVDs, maps, and other materials.

Held at: West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission historic property research files, circa 1980-1982

Extent:
1.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Around the time of the United States bicentennial, the Chester County Commissioners formed a partnership with the Chester County Historical Society, the Brandywine Conservancy and many volunteers to organize a Chester County Historic Sites Survey. This survey, conducted between 1979 and 1982, included all of Chester County except for the Boroughs of West Chester and Downingtown (which initiated separate survey projects around this time). The West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission historic property research files, circa 1980-1982, consist of folders with photocopies of Chester County's Architectural Inventory Form (AIF) for buildings more than fifty years old in West Nantmeal Township at the time of the survey. Some files have photographs.

Held at: West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Main content

Henry Howson family papers, 1849-1952 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 cubic feet
Abstract:
Henry Howson, Sr. (1823-1885), trained as an engineer in his native England before establishing a patent law firm in Philadelphia in 1853. Henry Howson, Jr. (1859-1937) joined the family practice in 1875. He maintained residences in Philadelphia, but also enjoyed the family's country home, "Brae Head Farm," in Glenmoore (Wallace Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania). The Henry Howson family papers, 1849-1952, mostly pertain to Henry Howson, Jr., with some documents from his father, and a sizeable quantity of papers from his daughter, Margaret, relative to Henry Howson, Jr.'s estate. Most materials relate to properties owned by the family in Philadelphia and in Chester County, Pennsylvania (Brae Head Farm) or the Howson patent law firm; there are a few items about Henry Howson, Sr.'s engineering work, Henry Howson, Jr.'s involvement with the Fairview Presbyterian Church's annual flower, fruit, and vegetable exhibition, and other topics.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

Abraham R. McIlvaine correspondence, 1836-1857 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Abraham Robinson McIlvaine (1804-1863) was a farmer and United States Congressman from Pennsylvania. In office from 1843-1849, he befriended future president Abraham Lincoln during Lincoln's only term in Congress. The Abraham R. McIlvaine correspondence, 1836-1857, consists entirely of incoming and outgoing letters between Abraham McIlvaine and various family members. There are 556 letters, spanning the time period during Abraham McIlvaine's career as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, a U.S. Congressman and chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of War, and his post-political life. At least some of McIlvaine's letters from 1843-1849 discuss his activities in Congress.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

Helen Wright Prince family papers regarding Westtown School, 1904-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Helen Wright Prince (1911-2013) entered Westtown School in 1922 and graduated in 1929. Her father, William and brother, Herbert were also Westtown graduates. While at Westtown, Helen was very involved with student activities, playing on several varsity sports teams, active in art and music clubs, and serving on student council and various committees. The Helen Wright Prince family papers regarding Westtown School, 1904-1929, consist primarily of letters from Helen to her mother while a student. The collection also features a scrapbook, autograph album, reports, various ephemera, and some school notebooks created by Helen while she was a student, as well as some materials from Helen's brother Herbert and father William while they attended Westtown.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

Main content

William F. Wickersham family papers, circa 1813-1982 (bulk 1877-1925)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
William F. Wickersham (1864-1927) served as the principal of Westtown School, a prominent Quaker boarding school in Chester County, Pennsylvania, from 1896 to 1913. Wickersham was a graduate of the school and also worked as a teacher there for many years. He also served as the school's bookkeeper and was president of the Alumni Association. The William F. Wickersham family papers, circa 1813-1982 (bulk, 1877-1925), primarily consist of correspondence, student exercise books and notebooks, essays and addresses, school administrative and financial records, ephemera, and other materials that document Wickersham's time at Westtown School as a student, teacher, and administrator. Also included in the collection are various materials relating to William F. Wickersham's son, Wilfred H. Wickersham, and other Wickersham and related family members during their time as students at Westtown School.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

Limit your search

more »

more »

more »

more »

more »

more »

more »

Current results range from 1682 to 2016

View larger »