Place: Chester County (Pa.) - Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

Miller-Dickey Family papers, 1786-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 boxes
Abstract:: This collection consists of papers of the Cross, Dickey, and Miller families of Chester County, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland. John Miller and his wife, Margaret, emigrated from Scotland to Pennsylvania with their young daughter, Jane, in 1786. Miller, who was trained as a stone cutter in Scotland, developed a thriving marble business in Philadelphia; he also owned a farm in Great Valley, Pennsylvania. John was active in the Philadelphia community; he was an early member of the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society, and a supporter of the Magdalene and Missionary Societies. The papers in this collection consist primarily of personal correspondence, business records, genealogical notes, diaries, and family photographs, of the Cross, Dickey and Miller families. The collection is particularly strong on relationships between women, family health, Presbyterian church, the history of Oxford, Pennsylvania, marble cutting business, and the genealogy of the Miller, Dickey,...(see more)

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Neighborhood Visiting Nurse Association records, 1900-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 13.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Neighborhood Visting Nurse Association grew from the merger of several eastern Pennsylvania community and home health service agencies. These records document services provided to communities in Chester and Delaware counties during the 20th century. Materials include board minutes and reports, correspondence, photographs, financial information, and other administrative records.

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

Chadds Ford Historical Society vertical files, circa 1968-2013

Extent:: 7.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Chadds Ford in Delaware County, Pennsylvania was historically a crossroads, first a fording point across the Brandywine River and later near the intersection of two train lines. It is known for its role in the Revolutionary War--the Battle of the Brandywine was fought here in 1777--and in art history--Howard Pyle's studio and students gave rise to the Brandywine School of Art, fostered by three generations of the Wyeth family. The Chadds Ford Historical Society vertical files, circa 1968-2013, consist of secondary-source materials on various local history topics and people. There are also transcripts and copies of census and tax records, 1715-1790, and historic resource surveys of sites in Chadds Ford Township and along the Route 202 corridor, 1994.

Held at: Chadds Ford Historical Society [Contact Us]

Harman D. Rees family papers, 1890-1964 (bulk) 1710-1964 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Harman D. Rees was (1873-1964) was a farmer and active public servant in Charlestown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He wrote a detailed history of the township, Historical Sketches of Charlestown Township, completed around 1943. The Harman D. Rees family papers, 1710-1964 (bulk 1890-1964), include scrapbooks, newspaper issues and clippings, research notes, correspondence, family papers, hand drawn maps and blueprints, photographs, and other documents relating to Rees's research interests--Charlestown Township history, birds, plants, and Rees family genealogy--as well as farming practices, family life, municipal affairs, and additional topics.

Held at: Charlestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Downingtown Area Historical Society clippings collection, 1978-2014 (bulk) 1930-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 30.0 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 clippings collection, 1930-2014 (bulk 1978-2014), documents the people, businesses, churches, organizations, and schools of the Downingtown area. It is arranged in two series: I. Family files and II. Topic files.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Downingtown Area Historical Society collection on schools, 1890-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 linear feet
Abstract:: A number of small, mostly one-room schoolhouses already existed in the area of Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania when the first high school was constructed there in 1874. In 1958, the nearby townships of East Caln, Uwchlan, West Bradford, East Brandywine, and Wallace united with Downingtown Borough to form a school district system; West Pikeland and Upper Uwchlan townships joined the district in 1961. The Downingtown Area Historical Society collection on schools, 1890-2013, consists of yearbooks, photographs, programs/invitations, scrapbooks, and other materials relating to Downingtown area schools, especially Downingtown High School. Because the Chester County Farm Show was held at Downingtown High School for many years, scrapbooks, slides, and photographs from the farm show, 1944-1963, also form part of this collection.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Downingtown Paper Company collection, 1880-1924 (bulk) 1839-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Frank P. Miller (1859-1923) started his first paper mill near Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1881. His company was known as the Downingtown Paper Company, or "Dopaco," from 1924 until it became a subsidiary of Sonoco Products Company in 1968. After a fire in 2005, Sonoco permanently closed the mill, which by that time was producing paperboard. The Downingtown Paper Company collection, 1839-1980 (bulk 1880-1924), consists primarily of financial records from the Frank P. Miller Paper Company era; there are also some later records of Downingtown Paper Company (Dopaco), especially relating to longtime employee Thomas Brookover. A detailed inventory of the collection is available on-site.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Patriotic Order Sons of America, Washington Camp No. 338 (Downingtown, Pa.) records, 1880-1988 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The Patriotic Order Sons of America was organized by Dr. Reynell Coates of Philadelphia, PA on December 10, 1847. The purpose of the organization was to educate young men about American ideals and inspire them to uphold and defend the "American way of life." Patriotic Order Sons of America, Washington Camp #338 was established in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1888. The Patriotic Order Sons of America. Washington Camp No. 338 (Downingtown, Pa.) records, 1880-1988, consist of administrative and financial records, legal and property related papers, ephemera such as pamphlets and programs, publications produced by Camp #338, and other materials.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Borough of Phoenixville records, 1880-1960 (bulk) 1858-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:: 15.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Phoenixville in Chester County, Pennsylvania was settled in 1732 and incorporated as a borough in 1849. In its industrial heyday early in the twentieth century, it was an important manufacturing center. The Borough of Phoenixville records, 1858-1998 (bulk 1880-1960), include borough financial records, water department records, police department records, ordinances, and various other materials from the Borough of Phoenixville and subsidiary departments.

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

A.C. Bishop Funeral Home registers, 1862-1968 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.25 linear feet
Abstract:: The A.C. Bishop Funeral Home, located in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania, was owned and operated by three generations of the Bishop family. George M. Bishop (1836-1914) ran the business from 1862 until his death in 1914, when his son, Alonzo C. Bishop (1858-1949), took over. A.C. Bishop's sons, Francis A. and Cooper T. Bishop, succeeded their father as proprietors. The business was very successful, operating for over 100 years. The A.C Bishop Funeral Home registers, 1862-1968, consist of over 30 funeral home registers and coffin records, 1862-1911 and 1931-1968, that provide names of decedents and often biographical information.

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

W.S. Sample, Jr. film reels and scrapbooks of Phoenixville High School music, 1934-1955 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Walter Scott Sample, Jr. was a well-known band director in Phoenixville (Chester County, Pennsylvania), known as "the John Philip Sousa of the area." After becoming music director for Phoenixville High School in 1934, Sample started a marching band that gained attention for innovative routines and high quality of performance. The W.S. Sample, Jr. film reels and scrapbooks of Phoenixville High School music, 1934-1955, document Sample's work with the Phoenixville High School music department. It includes about one dozen 16mm color and black and white film reels of performances and seven scrapbooks of photographs, programs and ephemera, clippings, and related materials.

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

Phoenix Iron Company records, 1879-1986 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Established in 1790 and incorporated in 1855, the Phoenix "works" produced nails, railroad rails, Civil War cannons, and structural steel. Among its well known products were the Griffen Gun, 1861, and the Phoenix Column, 1862. In the 1860s the Phoenix Bridge Company was created as a separate division. The Phoenix works closed in 1987. The Phoenix Iron Company records, 1879-1985, include employee records, utility usage readings, stockholder minutes, correspondence, specifications and work orders, financial papers, contracts, shipping postcards, annual reports, and various other company records.

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

Historic Waynesborough collection, 1712-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 12.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Wayne family purchased the land on which the home "Historic Waynesborough" still stands in 1724 and the family's descendants continued to own it until 1965. One of Waynesborough's residents was Major General Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary War hero, who was also instrumental in the Northwest Indian War (1785–1795). The Historic Waynesborough collection, 1712-1990, consists largely of secondary-source materials, such as photocopies, but there is also a significant amount of primary documents. Materials pertain largely to various members of the Wayne family and include photographs, financial documents, correspondence, genealogical research, and various other documents.

Held at: Historic Waynesborough [Contact Us]

Historic Yellow Springs collection, 1823-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 140.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Historic Yellow Springs is a non-profit organization in Chester County, Pennsylvania that preserves and promotes the history and arts of Yellow Springs village. The village was the site of 18th and 19th century spas; the first military hospital in North America, built during the Revolutionary War; an orphan school for children of Civil War Soldiers; the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)'s Country School; Good News Productions, the film studio that created The Blob; and Chester Springs Studio, a vibrant arts center that merged with Historic Yellow Springs in 2007. The Historic Yellow Springs collection, 1823-2013, is a combination of original records and collected secondary-source materials about the several organizations that have occupied the village of Historic Yellow Springs over its long history from 1722 into the 21st century.

Held at: Moore Archives at Historic Yellow Springs [Contact Us]

The Club of Little Gardens of Malvern (Pa.) records, 1930-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Club of Little Gardens of Malvern was founded in May of 1930 to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening among amateurs, to aid in the protection of native trees, plants, and birds, and to encourage civic interest in horticulture. The Club has hosted and participated in various flower shows, planned trips to see local gardens and arboretums, and taken on projects to help beautify the local community. The Club of Little Gardens of Malvern (Pa.) records, 1930-2010, consist primarily of scrapbooks and yearly programs. The collection also includes some awards and administrative records.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Malvern Historical Commission photographs, slides, and negatives, 2001-2012 (bulk) 1954-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 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. As of 2015, the Borough of Malvern remains a small town with a railway station and a variety of cultural and civic organizations, and as a result of recent revitalization efforts, boasts a wide assortment of local shops in its business district. The Malvern Historical Commission photographs, slides, and negatives, 1954-2012 (bulk 2001-2012), consist of photographs, slides, and negatives pertaining to people, organizations, and events in Malvern, taken primarily by members of the Malvern Historical Commission.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Junior Women's Club of Malvern scrapbooks, 1965-1974 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Junior Women's Club of Malvern was organized and federated in 1950. The Club supported various activities in the community including annual fashion shows, dinner dances, and educational programs. There was a gradual dissolution of the Club in 1982, as women's roles changed and time management of their home, work, and community commitments became an issue. The Junior Women's Club of Malvern scrapbooks, 1965-1974, consist of five scrapbooks compiled by the Junior Women's Club of Malvern documenting the Club's activities.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Monday Afternoon Club of Malvern records, 1909-2000s

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Monday Afternoon Club of Malvern in Chester County, Pennsylvania was organized in 1909 as a women's club "for the uplift of all its members thereof and the social and civic improvement of the community." The Club hosted a variety of programs, such as readings, men's nights, vocal and instrumental music events, hat design parties, luncheons, dinners, flower shows, trips, and teas from the 1920s to 2000s. The Club continued its commitment to encourage and support the young people of the area and community organizations until 2002, when the Monday Afternoon Club of Malvern was disbanded. The Monday Afternoon Club of Malvern records, 1909-2000s, consist of minutes, scrapbooks, and other materials that document the activities of the Monday Afternoon Club of Malvern.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund records, 1996-2004 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.83 linear feet
Abstract:: The Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund is a non-profit corporation that was established in 1996 to preserve the historic battlefield in present-day Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania and to prevent the site from suburban development. The Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund records, 1996-2004, consist of donation accounts, meeting minutes, agendas, brochures, fundraising materials, and newspaper clippings.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Malvern Public Library records, 1926-1989 (bulk) 1873-2004 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The Malvern Public Library was founded in Malvern, Chester County, Pennsylvania as the Malvern Public Library and Reading Room Association in 1894, supported by the Malvern Friends Library Company. The Association changed its name to the Malvern Public Library in 1899 when it received its charter and certificate of incorporation. The Malvern Public Library became associated with Malvern Borough in 1912 and a part of the Chester County Library System in 1964. The Malvern Public Library is still operational as of 2015. The Malvern Public Library records, 1873-2004 (bulk 1926-1989), consist of minute books, circulation records, financial records, other administrative papers, photographs, and various other materials from the Malvern Public Library and its predecessor organizations, the Malvern Library Company and the Malvern Public Library and Reading Room Association.

Held at: Malvern Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Lukens Steel Company records, 1960-1998 (bulk) 1861-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:: 350.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Founded in 1810 by Isaac Pennock (1767-1824) in Coatesville (Chester Country, Pennsylvania), Lukens Steel Company became a huge force in the United States' iron and steel industry as a result of innovative methods and production. It was run for a time by the first female chief executive officer of an industrial company in the country, Rebecca Webb Pennock Lukens (1794-1854). In 1998, Lukens was purchased by Bethlehem Steel; as of 2013, under the ownership ArcelorMittal Steel, the Coatesville mill stands as the oldest continuously operating steel mill in the country. The Lukens Steel Company records, 1861-1998 (bulk, 1960-1998), consist of numerous materials that document the history of Lukens Steel Company, including administrative and employee records; research and development records, financial records, executive records, Lukens Store records, special formats, and company publications.

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

Phoenix Iron Company technical drawings, 1855-1985 (inclusive)

Extent:: 35.0 cubic feet
Abstract:: Established in 1790 and incorporated in 1855, the Phoenix "works" in Phoenixville (Chester County, Pa.) produced nails, railroad rails, Civil War cannons, weaponry for 20th century wars, and structural steel. Among its well known products were the Griffen Gun, 1861, and the Phoenix Column, 1862. It closed in 1987. The Phoenix Iron Company technical drawings, 1855-1985, are mostly of equipment used by the company, as well as items they produced and a few maps.

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

Trustees of Old Eagle School records, 1865-2000s (bulk 1920s-1990s)

Extent:: 8.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Old Eagle School is an 18th-century schoolhouse located in the community of Strafford, Pennsylvania, part of Tredyffrin Township, Chester County. Initially, donated by Jacob Sharraden, a German Lutheran, for 'religious and educational purposes,' the land also includes burial grounds with the remains of Revolutionary War soldiers. In 1895, after a legal dispute between the local community and the Tredyffrin School District over ownership of the schoolhouse, the title to the property was granted to a local group of trustees. As of 2016, Old Eagle School continues to be overseen by a board of trustees, who are responsible for the upkeep of the school and grounds, and is largely used for community events. The Trustees of Old Eagle School records, 1865-2000s (bulk 1920s-1990s), consist of correspondence, deeds, minutes, financial records, and property materials, as well as histories of the school, newspaper clippings and research materials relating to the school, photographs, and other...(see more)

Held at: Old Eagle School [Contact Us]

Radnor Hunt Archives manuscripts collection, 1887-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.2 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 Archives...(see more)

Held at: Radnor Hunt Archives [Contact Us]

Radnor Historical Society map, atlas, and blueprint collection, 1872-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Radnor Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania was founded in 1682, shortly after Welsh Quakers arrived on the lands previously home to the original inhabitants, the Lenni Lenape Indians. Development in the area increased when new transportation routes passed through the area, first the Lancaster Turnpike (the first toll road in America) in 1794, and then the Columbia (later Pennsylvania) Railroad in 1832. The township's population doubled between 1880 and 1890 with the birth of one of the country's first planned suburban developments, Wayne. Development and population boomed again in the wake of World War II and has continued to grow in the 21st century. The Radnor Historical Society map, atlas, and blueprint collection, 1872-2014, consists of several dozen atlases (including railroad maps, business atlases, property atlases, and other atlases); loose maps; and blueprints for private homes and for businesses. The geographic foci of the collection are Wayne, Radnor Township, the...(see more)

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society research files, circa 1940-2013

Extent:: 12.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Both Tredyffrin and Easttown townships in the Upper Main Line area of 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 research files, circa 1940-2013, contain primarily newspaper clippings, with smaller amounts of printed matter, photocopies, researcher notes, and original research and artwork used to produce articles in the Tredyffrin Easttown History Quarterly. The files are organized into three series: I. Biographical Files; II. Files on Municipalities; and III. Subject files.

Held at: Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1880-2000

Extent:: 8.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Both Tredyffrin and Easttown townships in the Upper Main Line area of 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 photograph collection, circa 1880-2000, is comprised of paper prints in black and white and color, as well as a significant number of glass plate negatives, film negatives, and slides. It includes seven small sub-collections of photographs arranged by creator/donor, 15 binders of additional photographs, and some oversized items.

Held at: Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Bard and McCord families papers, circa 1880s-1970s

Extent:: 13.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Bard family of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania is descended from German immigrant Jacob Bard (1813-circa 1887). The Bards are perhaps best known for Jacob's five grandsons who were renowned acrobats in the circus and vaudeville circuit in the early 20th century. The McCord family is descended from Scottish immigrants who settled in Berks County and Chester County, Pennsylvania in the 18th century. Bard and McCord families papers, circa 1880s-1970s, consist primarily of materials from and relating to the McCord and Bard families. A small amount of materials are from other families associated with the McCords and Bards, including the Clingaman, Haas, Mast, and Fisher families. Materials include subject and genealogical files, journals, scrapbooks, several photographs and slides, lantern slides and glass plate negatives, film reels, printed matter and ephemera, and other materials.

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

Grace United Methodist Church records, 1909-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Grace United Methodist Church of Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania was established in 1907. In 2002, Grace United Methodist Church merged with Asbury Community United Methodist Church to establish Faith Community United Methodist Church in Parkesburg (Chester County). The Grace United Methodist Church records, 1909-1991, consist of official board minutes (1909-1947), Charge Conference and administrative board minutes (1971-1983), and various other documents including administrative reports, a membership directory, anniversary materials, and photographs.

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

Atglen United Methodist Church records, 1920-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Penningtonville Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1853 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Penningtonville became a borough in 1876 and changed its name to Atglen, at which point the church changed its name to Atglen Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1997, Atglen United Methodist Church and nearby Gap United Methodist Church merged, creating Asbury Community United Methodist Church, which met at the Atglen location until it was discontinued in 2002. The Atglen United Methodist Church records, 1920-2000, consist primarily of trustee minutes (1932-1995) and membership and vital records such as baptisms, marriages, and deaths, (1920-1987), with a small amount of board minutes, annual budgets, cemetery records, newspaper clippings, church history, and a building sketch.

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

Exton Area Jaycee Wives local history clippings scrapbooks, 1964-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Uwchlan Township and adjacent Exton (Chester County, Pennsylvania) were settled by Europeans in the early 18th century. The area was sparsely populated by farmers until a development boom following the end of World War II. The Exton Area Jaycee Wives local history clippings scrapbooks, 1964-1991, consist of five volumes about Uwchlan Township and Exton local history compiled by the Exton Area Jaycee Wives, a local branch of the service group Junior Chamber International.

Held at: Uwchlan Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Uwchlan Township Historical Commission historic property research files, 1982-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 18.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Uwchlan Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania was settled by Welsh Quakers in the early 18th century, remaining a largely rural farming community until a post-World War II suburbanization boom. Uwchlan embraces the Lionville Historic District, a crossroads community registered as a national historic district with 39 contributing historic buildings. The Uwchlan Township Historical Commission historic property research files, 1982-2014, cover every building more than fifty years old in Uwchlan Township, plus some parks and open spaces. Each folder contains a master file with forms and materials from historic resource surveys (floor plans, maps, correspondence, tax duplicates, survey forms) as well as photographs, more recent research, and other relevant documents.

Held at: Uwchlan Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Uwchlan Township Historical Commission manuscripts collection, 1742-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 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 manuscripts collection, 1742-2000, includes photographs, deeds, maps, family papers, business records, municipal records, and various other materials collected from local people and organizations from Uwchlan and nearby areas. Of special interest are a dozen Civil War letters.

Held at: Uwchlan Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

Jane L. S. Davidson papers, 1984-2006 (bulk) 1952-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.25 linear feet
Abstract:: Jane L. S. Davidson (1939-2012) of Chester County, Pennsylvania was an award-winning advocate for historic preservation, long-time county Historic Preservation Coordinator, and co-founder of the Chester County Historic Preservation Network. The Jane L. S. Davidson papers, 1952-2006 (bulk 1984-2006), relate mostly to her work as preservation coordinator for Chester County, such as historic site research, correspondence, and an historic resource atlas. Unrelated to Davidson's work for the county, there is also a folder of her family genealogy research, and a packet of clippings on Wallace Township history.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Wallace Township clippings files, 1950-2014 (bulk) 1914-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.5 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 clippings files, 1914-2014 (bulk 1950-2014), consist of newspaper clippings about people, places, organizations, and other topics relating to Wallace Township, as well as topics of national interest.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Wallace Township historic property research files, 1977-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.0 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). Glenmoore Historic District, consisting of about 50 buildings in Wallace Township, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. The Wallace Township Historical Commission historic property research files, 1977-2011, consist of folders for buildings more than fifty years old in Wallace Township at the time of the survey. Most files contain photocopies of Chester County's Architectural Inventory Form (AIF), and/or Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Historic Resource Survey forms. Several files contain additional...(see more)

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Westtown School records, 1799-2013 (bulk) 1682-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 600.0 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 records, 1682-2013 (bulk 1799-2013), include records created by Westtown Boarding School, including its various administrative offices, Board of Trustees, faculty, and students. It is organized into nine series: "19th century records," "20th century records," "Board of Trustees," "Farm and Orchard," "Student papers," "Westtown Old Scholars Association and Westtown Alumni Association," "Subject files," "Special formats," and "Publications." Inventories for some sections of the collection are available on site.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

Westtown School Archives collection of personal and family papers, circa 1780-2000

Extent:: 20.0 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 collection of personal and family papers, circa 1780-2000, consists of several small collections of personal and family papers. The individuals and families represented were affiliated with Westtown School, and many papers document their time at the school although a fair amount of materials are unrelated. Documents in the collection include: correspondence, scrapbooks, writings, portfolios, ephemera, school records such as class papers and report cards, published works, and a few photographs.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

J. Bernard Haviland papers, 1929-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.25 linear feet
Abstract:: J. (John) Bernard Haviland (1915-2004) attended Westtown School and then taught English and Bible there for several decades. He was an active member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), registering as a Conscientious Objector during World War II, serving Philadelphia Yearly Meeting on their Standing Committee on Spiritual Life, and writing widely on Quaker topics. The J. Bernard Haviland papers, 1929-1998, consist of files created by Haviland while a student at Princeton (1930s), a teacher at Westtown School (1940s-1960s), a graduate student at Harvard University (1940s) and at University College, Dublin (1960s), and notes for courses he taught at Pendle Hill. Of special interest are materials relating to Haviland's status as a Conscientious Objector during World War II.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

Albert L. Baily, Jr. papers, 1940-1974 (bulk) 1931-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.25 linear feet
Abstract:: Albert L. Baily, Jr. (1890-1974) was a teacher at Westtown School (a prominent Quaker boarding school in Chester County, Pennsylvania) from 1921 to 1955, where he taught French, botany, biology and Bible, and was involved in music and theater. As a scholar, Baily was interested in studies about the New Testament Gospels, specifically Henry B. Sharman's (1865-1953) study, Records of the Life of Jesus (1917). The Albert L. Baily, Jr. papers, 1931-1990 (bulk, 1940-1974), consist primarily of materials relating to Baily's studies, teachings, and writings of the New Testament Gospels. Also included are oral histories about a student work camp, "Three Fevers Camp," that Baily and his wife ran in the fishing town of Sebasco, Maine during the Great Depression; as well as materials relating to Baily's music compositions.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

S. Francis Nicholson papers, 1914-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: S. Francis Nicholson (1900-2005) was a prominent Quaker investment banker, longtime officer of Provident National Bank, Philadelphia, and active in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, American Friends Service Committee, and Friends Fiduciary Corporation. He graduated from Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) in 1917. The S. Francis Nicholson papers, 1914-1998, include documents produced or collected by Nicholson in his activities as a Westtown student and as a General Committee member and investment advisor for the school. It includes one small file of student papers, report cards and notebooks; one file on his activities on the Music Committee at the school; and numerous files with financial reports, fundraising fliers, correspondence, agendas, minutes, Alumni Day materials, and drafts of articles on principles of investing and account reporting.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

John H. Foster papers, circa 1941-1999

Extent:: 1.25 linear feet
Abstract:: John Henry Foster was born in 1926 and entered Westtown School, a prominent Quaker boarding school located in Chester County, Pa., in 1941. After graduating from Westtown in 1944, he received B.S. and Ph.D. degrees at Cornell and served on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, teaching Agricultural Economics. The John H. Foster papers, circa 1941-1999, include materials gathered by Foster during his three student years at Westtown School, 1941-1944, and later as an active alumnus of the Class of 1944.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

Mary Larkin Thomas family papers, 1807-1981 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.0 linear feet
Abstract:: A graduate of Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.), Mary Larkin Thomas (1886-1981) was a horticulturalist who was known, along with her mother and sister, in the area of Chester County, Pennsylvania as an "herb doctor." Thomas practiced herbal medicine; in particular, she used these skills to care for the infants of local Quaker families. She was also involved in numerous organizations, particularly Quaker associations. The Mary Larkin Thomas family papers, 1807-1981, include mostly correspondence, photographs, and other personal papers of Mary Larkin Thomas as well as papers of her immediate family members, in particular her sister Rachel C. Thomas and her mother Rebecca J. (Hallowell) Thomas. There are also some financial records of Mary's father, R. Henry Thomas.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

Roberts Family Correspondence, 1815-1922, undated (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.832 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:: This collections contains materials belonging to the Roberts Family from 1815-1922. The bulk of this collections consists of correspondence with Elizabeth T. Roberts.

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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