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Start Over Place Delaware County (Pa.) Year 1850 to 1899

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Gibbons Home (Springfield, Pa.) records, ca.1880-ca.1987 (bulk: 1892-1969) (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear ft. (3 boxes plus 2 boxes of photographs)
Abstract:
The Gibbons Home was a residential home in Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pa., for elderly women of limited income. It was established in 1918 by the will of Sallie P. Gibbons, the last survivor of a family which had local Quaker roots. The Home was finally opened in the family house on Baltimore Pike in 1940. The house was torn down in 1970 to make way for a mall, and the Gibbons Home moved to a new building on Lincoln Avenue in Springfield. In 2000 the assets of the Home were transferred to Presbyterian Homes, and the property was sold. The collection contains legal, property, and financial records of the Gibbons Home, and Gibbons family photographs, paintings, and some Gibbons family memorabilia which was retained when the Home moved to its new location.

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

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Darlington Family Papers, 1831-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
28 linear ft. (57 boxes (and photographs))
Abstract:
This collection contains the papers of the Darlington family of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and Woodstown, New Jersey. Quakers with strong ties to Swarthmore College, the family was involved in education, social and peace concerns, and businesses in the Philadelphia area. Charles J. Darlington (1894-1966) served as Clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends during the reunification of the two Philadelphia Yearly Meetings. The collection includes family correspondence relating to the Darlington, Shortlidge, Gause, and Palmer families as well as genealogical research and 20th century Quaker activities.

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

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Painter Family Papers, 1687-1948 (inclusive)

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

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

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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]

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Willard Sharpless family papers, 1927-1936 (bulk) 1871-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Willard Sharpless Jr. (1884-1959) was a blacksmith in Chadds Ford, Delaware County, Pennsylvania in the early 20th century. In 1944, one of his legs had to be amputated and Christian Sanderson, who rented the back portion of the house in which Sharpless lived, initiated a fundraising campaign to raise money for an artificial leg for Sharpless. The Willard Sharpless family papers, 1871-1936 (bulk 1927-1936), consist of daybooks, an account book, invoices, an autograph book, and a fundraising book tracking the donations for Sharpless's artificial leg.

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

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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]

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Chichester Historical Society local history collection, 1980-2005 (bulk) 1880-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
9.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Chichester, located along the southeastern border of Pennsylvania in Delaware County, encompasses Marcus Hook and Trainer Boroughs as well as Upper and Lower Chichester Townships. Originally inhabited by Lenni Lenape, it was settled fifty years before William Penn by Swedes and Finns. The river tier area provided fertile water meadows for farming; later, the river made the location ideal for mercantile ventures and powered industrial development. The Chichester Historical Society local history collection, 1880-2013, consists primarily of secondary-source materials, such as newspaper clippings, copies of historical documents and photographs, pamphlets and ephemera. There is a small quantity of original and primary-source documents. The most prominent subjects are: Marcus Hook, Trainer, Upper Chichester, Lower Chichester, Delaware County, Delaware River and Ships, and Swedes and Finns.

Held at: Chichester Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Chester F. Baker local history research and family papers, 1925-1960 (bulk) 1864-1960 (inclusive)

Extent:
28.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Chester F. Baker (1891-1963) was a municipal engineer and amateur historian from the city of Chester in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Among his many affiliations with historical and genealogical organizations, Baker was president of the Chester Rural Cemetery Association and director of the Delaware County Historical Society. The Chester F. Baker local history research and family papers, 1864-1960 (bulk 1925-1960), consist of well over 100 binders with research materials on history topics, papers from organizations with which Baker was involved, and papers relating to his work as a surveyor. There are also a few personal and family photograph albums and scrapbooks.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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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]

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Dr. Anna E. Broomall scrapbooks, 1900-1922 (bulk) 1841-1922 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Anna Elizabeth Broomall (1847-1931), from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was a prominent physician who established one of the first clinics for out-practice maternity care in the United States. She was chief resident physician and instructor of obstetrics at the Woman's Hospital of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. Having an active interest in history, Broomall served as librarian and curator of the Delaware County Historical Society after she retired from medicine. The Dr. Anna E. Broomall scrapbooks, 1841-1922 (bulk 1900-1922) primarily consist of volumes of clippings that focus on historically-significant people, organizations, buildings, and events in Delaware County and Philadelphia. The collection also includes some glass-plate and film negatives as well as items, such as letters and ephemera, of historical and personal interest to Dr. Broomall.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Louise Deshong Woodbridge glass negatives, 1884-1905 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Louise Deshong Woodbridge (1848-1925), a member of the prominent Deshong family of Chester (Delaware County, Pennsylvania) was an active socialite as well as an amateur photographer and painter. Taking up photography in the early 1880s, Woodbridge had a fairly successful career with her work being exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Louise Deshong Woodbridge glass negatives, 1884-1905, consist of approximately 200 primarily glass plate negatives with some 4x5" film negatives that document the creator's family, friends, and social activities. They also document Delaware County and the surrounding area around the turn of the 20th century, particularly historic structures, such as the Woodbridge and Deshong mansions, and landscapes. Of special interest are some photographs of the White House, including the White House conservatory, and First Lady Ida McKinley.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Historical Society vertical files, circa 1850-2013

Extent:
85.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Delaware County was the first section of Pennsylvania to be settled by Europeans, specifically Swedes in 1643. It was in the city of Chester, the original county seat of Delaware County, that William Penn and the General Assembly of Pennsylvania adopted Penn's "Great Law of Pennsylvania," which granted the right to vote, citizenship, freedom of religion and trial by jury to all settlers. Located adjacent to Philadelphia, Delaware County's suburban population grew rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Delaware County Historical Society vertical files, circa 1850-2013, cover various local topics. Materials are mostly newspaper clippings, photocopies of newspaper articles, pamphlets and ephemera, research notes, narrative histories, transcripts, indexes, printed materials, copies of church and civil records, death and funeral records, and census and tax records, as well as some original documents and oral histories on audiocassette tapes and CDs.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Historical Society map, atlas, and blueprint collection, circa 1870-2013

Extent:
15.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Delaware County was the first section of Pennsylvania to be settled by Europeans, specifically Swedes in 1643. It was in the city of Chester, the original county seat of Delaware County, that William Penn and the General Assembly of Pennsylvania adopted Penn's "Great Law of Pennsylvania," which granted the right to vote, citizenship, freedom of religion and trial by jury to all settlers. Located adjacent to Philadelphia, Delaware County's suburban population grew rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Delaware County Historical Society map, atlas, and blueprint collection, circa 1870-2013, includes maps, surveys, technical drawings, and atlases, mostly for the City of Chester and Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Wilde Post No. 25 (Chester, Pa.), Grand Army of the Republic records, 1865-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Soldiers' Union of Chester, a non-political beneficial society for veterans in Chester (Delaware County, Pennsylvania) was formed in 1865. Slightly over a year later, it reorganized under the auspices of the national fraternal organization of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) as Wilde Post No. 25. With slightly over 1,000 members at its peak, the Post's last surviving member passed away in 1939. The Wilde Post No. 25 (Chester, Pa.), Grand Army of the Republic records, 1865-1929, consist of minute books, membership records, financial records, and publications and ephemera from Wilde Post. The records include a small amount of material from the G.A.R. Post's predecessor, the Soldiers' Union of Chester.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Superintendent of Schools records, 1863-1972 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 cubic feet
Abstract:
An act of general public education for Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was passed in 1834. The Delaware County Superintendent of Schools records, 1863-1972, document teachers employed in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The collection consists largely of examinations of teachers and teachers' reports; there is also some financial information, several published volumes, a few photographs, and an audio recording.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Graceanna Lewis natural history papers, 1869-1890 (bulk) 1869-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Graceanna Lewis (1821-1912) was a published scholar, naturalist, lecturer, abolitionist and social reformer. This collection contains research and lecture notes on a variety of topics including: botany, ornithology, crystallography, mineralogy, zoology, ichthyology, embryology, neurology, and chemistry. There are botanical illustrations, leaf and ornithology charts, prints and sketches depicting the classification of the animal and plant kingdoms, and botanical sketches on wood blocks. In addition to scientific notes, there are notes and lectures depicting her views on the abolition of slavery, women's equality, and the force of nature and its place in the universe.

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

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

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

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

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Darby Library Company records, 1743-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Darby Free Library is one of the oldest public libraries in the United States, and the first cultural institution in Darby, now part of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1743 as a subscription library, it became free to the public in 1898 and part of the Delaware County Library System in 1981. The Darby Free Library is still operational as of 2014. The Darby Library Company records, 1743-2012, include Board of Directors and stockholders' minute books, book acquisition and circulation records, financial records, other administrative papers, and various other materials from the Darby Free Library and the Darby Library Company, as well as other organizations that merged with the Darby Library Company, including the Delaware County Society for the Detection of Horse Thieves and the Recovery of Stolen Horses, and the Darby Home Protection Society.

Held at: Darby Free Library [Contact Us]

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Orphan Society of Philadelphia records, 1930-1965 (bulk) 1815-1965 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Orphan Society of Philadelphia, founded in 1814, was the first non-sectarian orphanage in Pennsylvania. In 1965, due to low enrollment and financial and staffing issues, the Orphan Society merged with the Elwyn School, now known as Elwyn, in Delaware County, Pa. The Orphan Society of Philadelphia records, 1815-1965 (bulk 1930-1965), consist of administrative and financial records, legal documents, historical files, orphan records, and other materials. Of special interest is an Orphan Asylum register listing orphan admissions (name, birth date, admission date) and dates of discharge or death from 1815 to 1896.

Held at: Elwyn Historical Archives and Museum [Contact Us]

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Levi Lukens family papers, 1854-1923 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Levi Lukens (1835-1915) was a leader in his hometown of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, who helped bring the railroad to the area. He took over the running of his father's farm in the mid-19th century, focusing on dairy farming. In 1884, Levi turned the running of the farm over to his son, John Shaffner Lukens (1867-1936). The Levi Lukens family papers, 1854-1923, consist of a few volumes, largely pertaining to the finances of the Lukens farm. A couple of volumes in the collection are from the Penn Hall Association.

Held at: Haverford Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Charles R. Barker papers, 1876-1961 (inclusive)

Extent:
17.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Charles Reed Barker (1875-1961) was a very active genealogist and historian in the Philadelphia area. The Charles R. Barker papers, 1876-1961, consist of diaries, scrapbooks, historic document abstracts/transcriptions, and a small amount of loose documents and ephemera. At the heart of the collection are Barker's diaries, which provide a comprehensive and intimate view of his daily activities over nearly three-quarters of a century, 1889-1961.

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

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Grace Erwin Jenkins genealogy research files, circa 1870-1952

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Grace Erwin Jenkins was a resident of Media, Pennsylvania and an avid genealogist. The Grace Erwin Jenkins genealogical research files, 1870-1952, is comprised of genealogical research and primary materials gathered by Jenkins.

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

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Media Historic Archives Commission subject files, 1842-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
41.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, located about 12 miles outside of Philadelphia. The area was settled by Europeans beginning in the 1680s, Media became the county seat in 1850. A largely rural area prior to that point, the town grew rapidly in the second half of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. About half of the materials in the Media Historic Archives Commission subject files, 1842-2013, are secondary source (newspaper clippings, narrative histories, and photocopies and transcriptions of original documents), and the other half is primary source (largely pamphlets and ephemera and photographs, with some correspondence, financial papers, organizational records, maps, and other documents). The collection focuses on various local history topics relating to Media and vicinity, such as local schools, churches, organizations and associations, people, military, black history, and other topics.

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

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First National Bank of Media records, 1865-1951 (inclusive)

Extent:
13.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The First National Bank of Media in the Borough of Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was formed in 1864. It went out of business some time after 1951, but its distinctive 1899 headquarters is still in use as of 2013 as a PNC Bank. The First National Bank of Media records, 1865-1951, include general/financial ledgers, Board of Directors meeting minutes, and various other stock and banking records.

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

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Media Historic Archives Commission photograph collection, circa 1880-1990

Extent:
3.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, located about 12 miles outside of Philadelphia. The area was settled by Europeans beginning in the 1680s; Media became the county seat in 1850. A largely rural area prior to that point, the town grew rapidly in the second half of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. The Media Historic Archives Commission photographs, circa 1880-1990, consist of roughly 500 photographic prints of various Media area subjects. Most of the photographs are original with some reproductions.

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

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Nicholas Newlin Foundation records, 1959-2013 (bulk) 1834-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
55.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Newlin Grist Mill was built in Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 1704 by Nathaniel Newlin, a Quaker settler who came to Pennsylvania in 1683 with his father Nicholas. It changed hands and names several times before ceasing operations in 1943. E. Mortimer Newlin, a descendant of Nicholas and Nathaniel Newlin, purchased the mill in 1956 and began renovating it; in 1960 he established the Nicholas Newlin Foundation, a nonprofit corporation which took title of the property and opened it as an historic site. The Nicholas Newlin Foundation records, 1834-2013 (bulk 1959-2013), consist largely of paper documents with information on board and staff members, financial information, information on buildings and grounds, on public relations and programming, and other aspects of the organization. There are also photographs, negatives and slides; maps and architectural drawings; three dimensional art works; and publications and reference materials from other organizations collected by Newlin...(see more)

Held at: Dabbs Woodfin Library and Archives at Newlin Grist Mill [Contact Us]

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Newtown Square Historical Society local history collection, 1744-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Established in 1681, Newtown Township (Newtown Square), is the oldest township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and has over 100 historic structures still standing. Newtown Square Historical Society local history collection, 1744-2013, includes various original manuscripts, secondary-source materials, and digital files that document the individuals, families, organizations, and landscape of the Newtown Square area. Materials in the collection include ledgers, photographs, letters, deeds, pamphlets, ephemera, maps, newspaper clippings, and photocopies and scans of articles and primary source documents.

Held at: Newtown Square Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Radnor School District teachers' monthly reports, 1866-1918 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.33 linear feet
Abstract:
The Free School Act of 1834 established a system of public schools in Pennsylvania. As of 2014, the Radnor Township School District has three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school under its purview. The Radnor School District teachers' monthly reports, 1866-1918, are in the form of annual volumes for individual schools in the district. The reports include teachers' names, student names, and daily attendance records. About one-half dozen schools are represented.

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Kedron United Methodist Church records, 1871-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Kedron Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Morton, Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 1860. Circa 2006, Kedron United Methodist Church was discontinued and several, if not all, of its remaining members transferred to C. C. Hancock Memorial United Methodist Church in nearby Springfield Township (Delaware County, Pennsylvania). The Kedron United Methodist Church records, 1871-2006, consist largely of membership and vital records such as baptisms, marriages, deaths, and transfers. Also included are some minutes of the Official Board, Charge Conference records, photographs, anniversary programs, historical materials, directories, bulletins, and other documents.

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

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

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

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

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Chadds Ford Historical Society photograph and document collection, circa 1865-2013

Extent:
10.0 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 photograph and document collection, circa 1865-2013, consists of various documents, such as deeds, correspondence, and financial papers; photographs, including daguerreotypes and tintypes; and maps; that document the people, places, and landscape of the Chadds Ford area.

Held at: Chadds Ford Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Chester Heights CampMeeting Association records, 1920-2015 (bulk) 1812-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:
12.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Chester Heights CampMeeting Association (CHCMA), located in Chester Heights, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, is a non-profit, parachurch, interdenominational, religious organization dedicated to the evangelical ministry of proclaiming Christianity to the world. Chartered in 1872, the Association was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 and, as of 2015, continues to host an annual summer concert series, as well as walking tours, membership meetings, banquets, and annual service days. The Chester Heights CampMeeting Association records, 1812-2015 (bulk 1920-2015), consist of administrative and financial records, legal documents, photographs, scrapbooks, and other materials relating to the CHCMA. There is also a small portion of research, reference materials, printed matter, and other documents related to camp meetings and camp meeting organizations.

Held at: Chester Heights CampMeeting Association [Contact Us]

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Beulah Newlin Pennington papers, 1890-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Beulah Newlin Pennington (1896-1990), who was born and lived all her life in Concord Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, taught in public schools there for 45 years before retiring in 1966. Concord Elementary School was renamed The Pennington School in her honor. The Beulah Newlin Pennington papers, 1890-2003, primarily consist of materials relating to Pennington's work as a teacher in Concord, personal papers, and some local history research materials.

Held at: Concord Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1870-1990

Extent:
36.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Delaware County was the first section of Pennsylvania to be settled by Europeans, specifically Swedes in 1643. It was in the city of Chester, the original county seat of Delaware County, that William Penn and the General Assembly of Pennsylvania adopted Penn's "Great Law of Pennsylvania," which granted the right to vote, citizenship, freedom of religion and trial by jury to all settlers. Located adjacent to Philadelphia, Delaware County's suburban population grew rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Delaware County Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1870-1990, consists largely of original photographs, with some photocopies and copies of lithographs and prints, of local people, organizations, and events. There are also glass and film negatives, postcards, slides and photograph albums.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Historical Society miscellaneous manuscripts, 1728-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:
134.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Delaware County was the first section of Pennsylvania to be settled by Europeans, specifically Swedes in 1643. It was in the city of Chester, the original county seat of Delaware County, that William Penn and the General Assembly of Pennsylvania adopted Penn's "Great Law of Pennsylvania," which granted the right to vote, citizenship, freedom of religion and trial by jury to all settlers. Located adjacent to Philadelphia, Delaware County's suburban population grew rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Delaware County Historical Society miscellaneous manuscripts, 1728-1997, consist of miscellaneous original manuscript and printed/ephemera materials relating to local people, organizations, and businesses in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Types of materials include: ledgers, diaries, correspondence, ephemera, pamphlets, and scrapbooks.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Historical Society records, 1980-2000 (bulk) 1895-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
30.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Founded in 1895, Delaware County Historical Society is the oldest historical society in Delaware County. Its mission is to acquire, preserve and make available documentation of Delaware County history; to provide and support educational programs on the history of Delaware County; and to publish materials relevant to this history. The Delaware County Historical Society records, 1895-2013 (bulk, 1980-2000), consist of the Society's inactive records, including administrative and financial records, correspondence and newsletters, and materials relating to members, events, and programs. Also included are the minutes and financial papers of the Eastern Chapter of the Delaware County Historical Society.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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New Century Club of Chester records, 1893-1996 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The New Century Club of Chester, part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, was founded in 1893 in the city of Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. In addition to holding lectures and classes for members on science, literature, languages, and other topics, the club established a free kindergarten and was involved in other philanthropic projects. The New Century Club of Chester records, 1893-1993, include annual reports, guest books, materials about the building and selling of the clubhouse, clippings, and other materials.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Darby Free Library local history collection, 1970-2000 (bulk) 1873-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
12.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Darby Borough is located west of Cobbs Creek in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The village of Darby had its first town meeting in 1683 and was incorporated as a borough in 1852. Nicknamed "The Gateway To The South" because of its status as a popular way station for travelers between Baltimore and Philadelphia, Darby was also an important stop for many freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. The Darby Free Library local history collection, 1873-2014 (bulk 1970-2000), consists mostly of secondary-source materials, such as newspaper clippings, photocopies, computer print outs, color photographs from the late 20th century, flyers and pamphlets, and ephemera. There are also some original, primary-source documents, and a few maps and about half a dozen atlases of Darby, Delaware County, and vicinity.

Held at: Darby Free Library [Contact Us]

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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]

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Haverford Township Historical Society photograph collection, 1895-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Haverford Township is a suburb of Philadelphia situated near the wealthy "Main Line" west of the city. It encompasses the community of Havertown and parts of Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Drexel Hill, and Wynnewood in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Haverford Township Historical Society photograph collection, 1895-2014, depicts the people, buildings, and scenery of Haverford Township (Delaware County, Pennsylvania). Buildings, especially historic sites, are particularly well represented, but there are also family photographs and photographs of other subjects.

Held at: Haverford Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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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]

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Media Historic Archives Commission local manuscripts collection, 1847-circa 1975

Extent:
13.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, located about 12 miles outside of Philadelphia. The area was settled by Europeans beginning in the 1680s; Media became the county seat in 1850. A largely rural area prior to that point, the town grew rapidly in the second half of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. The Media Historic Archives Commission local manuscripts collection, 1847-circa 1975, includes scrapbooks, ledgers, organizational records, bank records, film reels, postcards, audio and video cassettes, slides, blueprints, charters, broadsides, maps, atlases, and various other documents relating to the people, businesses, and organizations of Media.

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

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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]

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Stephen H. Appleton glass plate negatives, circa 1880-1900

Extent:
20.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Stephen H. Appleton (b. 1854) of Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was editor of a local newspaper and a professional photographer around the turn of the 20th century. The Stephen H. Appleton glass plate negatives, circa 1880-1900, depict people and buildings mostly located in Media and Delaware County.

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

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Marple Historical Society local history collection, 1685-circa 2000

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Marple Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania was settled by English members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1683. It was primarily agrarian for most of its history, until after World War II when improvement to roads, public transportation and the availability of the automobile made Marple Township a suburban community. The Marple Historical Society local history collection, 1685-circa 2000, consists of various primary- and secondary-source materials that document the history of Marple Township and the people, businesses, and organizations in the township and vicinity. Featured in the collection are 17th century deeds, ledgers from the Bonsall Brothers general store (1873-1918), and 1930s military photographs.

Held at: Marple Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Nether Providence Historical Society local history collection, 1995-2014 (bulk) 1825-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Nether Providence Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was incorporated in 1687. Over time, it progressed from a farming economy, to a manufacturing center with over a dozen mills, to a resort destination for wealthy Philadelphians, to a residential community. The Nether Providence Historical Society local history collection, 1825-2014 (bulk 1995-2014), consists of primary- and secondary-source materials relating to the residents, events, organizations, and structures, of Nether Providence Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Most of the collection is organized into subject files, but there are additional materials stored separately, including a sizeable accumulation of 19th and early 20th century papers from the Byer family.

Held at: Nether Providence Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Edward N. G. Davis family papers, 1796-1973 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Davis family moved to Newtown Square, Delaware County, Pennsylvania around 1850. William Thomas Davis bought the Newtown Square Inn in 1866 and held livestock auctions at the hotel. His son, Edward N. G. Davis, operated a grocery store in town before becoming a real estate broker. The Edward N. G. Davis family papers, 1896-1973, consist largely of financial ledgers with some correspondence, photographs, and other document types. Most items relate to Edward N. G. Davis, with another large portion of items from his father, William T. Davis. There are also materials from several other family members and the first minute book of the Improvement Association of West Chester Road, 1909-1910.

Held at: Newtown Square Historical Society [Contact Us]

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L. K. Burket and Brother ledgers, 1887-1913 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
L. K. Burket and Brother was a fuel supply company located in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The company began in 1887 and lasted until 2005, when it closed after several generations of family management. The L. K. Burket and Brother ledgers, 1887-1913, consist mostly of financial volumes such as daybooks and account books. There is also some correspondence and a receipt scrapbook in the collection.

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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North Wayne Protective Association records, 1890-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:
9.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The North Wayne Protective Association (NWPA) was organized in 1885 as a civic association. It was incorporated in 1890 and still exists as of 2014, making it the oldest continuing civic organization in the country. The NWPA was originally formed to improve the neighborhood by addressing issues such as street lighting and road paving, but over the years the Association has developed a wider range of activities for the community. The North Wayne Protective Association records, 1890-2003, contain financial and administrative records, including an almost complete set of meeting minutes; correspondence; printed materials, such as newsletters and flyers; photographs; and ephemera.

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Radnor Historical Society manuscript collection, 1702-circa 2010

Extent:
25.0 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 manuscript collection, 1702-circa 2010, consists of a variety of original manuscript materials relating to the people, businesses, and organizations of Radnor Township and its vicinity. It includes photographs (prints, albums, and glass plate and film negatives), scrapbooks, financial records,...(see more)

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Frances Sausser papers, 1931-1962 (bulk) 1846-1962 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Frances Hughs Sausser (1882-1963) was one of the founders of the Radnor Historical Society in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Married twice but with no children, Sausser was active in her church and in researching her family genealogy. The Frances Sausser papers, 1846-1962 (bulk 1931-1962), include a large amount of Mrs. Sausser's correspondence and genealogy research notes, and a small amount of family papers including photographs. The collection documents the life of an early to mid-twentieth century upper-middle class woman, her family genealogy, and the genealogy research process.

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Emilie Sayen Schultz family scrapbooks, 1892-1950 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Emilie Longstreth Sayen (1873-1950) and George W. Schultz (1864-1957) both came from upper class families and married in 1892 in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Among other interests, Emilie enjoyed the popular Victorian hobby of scrapbooking. George held many patents, and was an amateur photographer and illustrator. They had five children together before separating around 1904 and divorcing in 1913. The Emilie Sayen Schultz family scrapbooks, 1892-1950, are from Emilie Sayen Schultz, the Sayen family, and Emilie's husband, George W. Schultz. Most of the scrapbooks document the lives of wealthy Philadelphia suburbanites from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, although one is focused on World War I. The photograph albums depict scenes from Wayne, Pennsylvania and other areas nearby.

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Radnor Historical Society subject files, circa 1860-2014

Extent:
27.0 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 subject files, circa 1860-2014, contain a general subject file with separate series for Streets, Estates, and Genealogy. Materials are mostly secondary-source, such as newspaper clippings, photocopies, printed materials, and ephemera, but there are also a large number of original photographs,...(see more)

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Wayne Public Safety Association records, 1891-1940 (bulk) 1890-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Initially established in 1890 as the Wayne Municipal Association, the Wayne Public Safety Association was officially incorporated in 1891, at which time it also changed its name. The Association is committed to protecting the property and citizens in the South Wayne neighborhood of Wayne, Pennsylvania, and also encourages appropriate development of the area through various programs and activities. The Wayne Public Safety Association records, 1890-1987 (bulk 1891-1940), contain administrative and financial records, as well printed material, correspondence, and other materials relating to the organization.

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Sharon Hill Historical Society local history collection, 1879-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Sharon Hill is a community in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. Largely undeveloped until 1872, the construction of a railroad in the area spurred residential and commercial growth. Sharon Hill separated from Darby Township and incorporated as a borough in 1890. The Sharon Hill Historical Society local history collection, 1879-2013, consists mostly of secondary-source and copied materials with a sizeable amount of photographs and scattered other primary-source documents relating to Sharon Hill and its history.

Held at: Sharon Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Tyler family papers, 1681-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Tyler Arboretum in Delaware County, Pennsylvania is one of the oldest arboretums in the northeastern United States. It began as a private horticultural collection developed in the mid 19th century by brothers Minshall and Jacob Painter, and was turned into a not-for-profit public garden by John J. and Laura Hoopes Tyler in 1944. John and Laura Tyler both descended via the Painter family from Thomas Minshall, a Quaker "First Purchaser" who acquired land from William Penn in 1681. The Tyler family papers, 1681-1937, consist of various papers from John J. Tyler and his wife Laura, the Painter Brothers (Jacob and Minshall Painter), and other members of the Painter and Minshall families.

Held at: Tyler Arboretum [Contact Us]

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Tinicum Township Historical Society local history collection, 1900-2000 (bulk) 1791-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
25.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Tinicum Township is located along the Delaware River in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Credited as the first recorded European settlement in Pennsylvania, it became capital of the New Sweden Colony in 1643 under Governor Johan Printz. Later, its prominent features became the Lazaretto, a quarantine station erected along the Delaware River in 1801; Westinghouse Electric Company; and Lester Piano Works. The Tinicum Township Historical Society local history collection, 1791-2013 (bulk 1900-2000), includes a wide variety of materials on the local history of Tinicum. It is largely made up of secondary-source materials and ephemera, although it also contains a significant amount of photographs, architectural drawings, and maps.

Held at: Tinicum Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Isaiah V. Williamson financial papers, 1835-1898 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Isaiah V. Williamson (1803-1889) was born in Fallsington, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. After becoming a successful merchant in Philadelphia and retiring in 1838, Williamson turned to investing and philanthropy. In 1888, Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades (now known as Williamson College of the Trades) in Middletown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was established with an endowment from Williamson. The Isaiah V. Williamson financial papers, 1835-1898, consist of various documents and volumes relating to Isaiah Williamson's financial interests, including some legal and estate papers dating from after his death. There is also a small amount of secondary-source materials, such as newspaper clippings of Williamson's obituary and research on Williamson and his family members and associates.

Held at: Williamson College of the Trades (Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades) [Contact Us]

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Samuel J. Bunting, Jr., Family Papers, 1789-1959 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Abstract:
Samuel J. Bunting, Jr., (1889-1966) was a birthright Hicksite Friend descended from a family that was associated for many generations with the Society of Friends in Pennsylvania and, in particular, with the Darby Monthly Meeting. A graduate of Swarthmore College and banker by profession, he was interested in genealogy and worked over a long period of time to compile family records. Included is material on the Bunting, Ridgways, Andrews, and Lloyd families as well as original documents, such as the correspondence of Josiah Bunting, Quaker minister, and others, and the genealogical manuscript written by Martha Bunting in 1934. The collection illustrates the correspondence and related materials which sometimes descended in Quaker families with deep roots in America.

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

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Aston Township Historical Society local history collection, circa 1806-2015

Extent:
75.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The area that is known as Aston Township was incorporated as a township of Chester County in 1688 and became a part of Delaware County when the latter county was established in 1789. Today, due to its proximity to both Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, Aston Township is predominantly a residential area with various local organizations and community events. The Aston Township Historical Society local history collection, circa 1806-2015, consists of various materials, including organizational, church, township, and school records; scrapbooks and photographs; subject and vertical files; and other materials that document the history, residents, businesses, and other aspects of Aston Township.

Held at: Aston Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Concord Township Historical Society local history manuscripts collection, 1682-2004 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.3 linear feet
Abstract:
Concord Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania was incorporated in 1683, and includes the four villages of Concordville, Elam, Markham and Ward. Originally in Chester County, the township became part of Delaware County when Chester County was partitioned in 1789. The Concord Township Historical Society local history manuscripts collection, 1682-2004, includes organizational records, family and personal papers, photographs, and other manuscript materials relating to local people and groups from Concord Township.

Held at: Concord Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Willits family papers, circa 1850-1971

Extent:
1.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Francis P. Willits (born 1856) was a farmer in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He is credited as among the first to cultivate mushrooms in the United States, importing spores in 1892 to grow on his farm. The Willits family papers, circa 1850-1971, consist largely of family photographs, with additional materials including deeds, genealogical materials, and correspondence. Of special interest are a minute book of the Concord Mushroom Co., Inc. (1959-1971), and a typescript draft of A Quaker Forty-Niner: The Adventures of Charles Edward Pancoast on the American Frontier.

Held at: Concord Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Twentieth Century Club of Lansdowne records, 1897-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Twentieth Century Club of Lansdowne, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was organized in 1897. The club organized social, educational, and philanthropic activities for its members to participate in. The club house building, designed by the architectural firm Heacock and Hokanson, opened in 1911 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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T. Chalkley Palmer natural science teaching collection, circa 1880-1930

Extent:
8.0 cubic feet
Abstract:
T. Chalkley Palmer (1860-1934) was a chemist who worked for the Sharpless Dye-Wood Extract Company near Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He was also interested in botany and mineralogy and served as president of both the Delaware County Institute of Science (Media, PA) and the Academy of Natural Sciences (Philadelphia, PA). The T. Chalkley Palmer natural science teaching collection, circa 1880-1930, largely consists of biological, botanical, mineral specimens, and microscopic slides. A card catalog that corresponds to the specimens and some of Palmer's lecture notes are also present.

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

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Delaware County Institute of Science herbaria collection, 1833-1910 (bulk) 1833-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:
20.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Delaware County Institute of Science, located in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was established in 1833 by local residents with a common interest in science and natural history. Shortly after its founding, the Institute started its herbarium, a collection of pressed, dried plants. The Delaware County Institute of Science herbaria collection, 1833-2010 (bulk 1833-1910), consists of the Delaware County Institute of Science's herbarium and additional small herbaria donated by others. Over 5,700 specimens, mostly from the 19th century and the United States (although there are international and later specimens) are included.

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

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Elwyn records, 1852-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:
125.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Elwyn is one of the oldest service organizations in the United States for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Tracing its roots to a Philadelphia school for "mental defectives" founded in 1852, and officially incorporated in 1853 as The Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-Minded Children, Elwyn has remained at the vanguard in the understanding, care, and treatment of intellectual disability for over 150 years. One of its most influential staff members, Superintendent Dr. Isaac Kerlin, was instrumental in organizing the field's national professional organization, today known as the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The Elwyn records, 1852-2006, consist of materials from Elwyn's administrative bodies and staff members including past superintendents and presidents, student records, materials published by Elwyn including publicity materials, photographs, and various audio and audiovisual materials. The collection is organized into six...(see more)

Held at: Elwyn Historical Archives and Museum [Contact Us]

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Ivy Mills financial records, 1783-1866 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Ivy Mills, located in what is now the community of Glen Mills in Concord Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was established in 1729 by Thomas Willcox and his partner Thomas Brown. One of the earliest paper mills in operation in the American colonies, Ivy Mills rose to prominence, supplying paper to Benjamin Franklin for his print shop and to the American colonies and the Continental Congress for their currency. After the establishment of the United States, Ivy Mills continued to be the leading supplier of bank note paper for the federal government and also supplied banks across the western hemisphere with paper. The mill's ownership passed down through the Willcox family until 1866 when it ceased operations. Ivy Mills financial records, 1783-1866, consist of the mill's financial records, a glass plate negative of the mill, and paper samples.

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

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Haverford Township Historical Society local manuscript collection, 1759-1995 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Haverford Township is a suburb of Philadelphia situated near the wealthy "Main Line" west of the city. It encompasses the community of Havertown and parts of Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Drexel Hill, and Wynnewood in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Haverford Township Historical Society local manuscript collection, 1759-1995, consists of a variety of original manuscript materials relating to the people, organizations, and property of Haverford Township. It includes family papers, organizational records, photographs, maps and architectural drawings, deeds, tax records, a small amount of secondary-source research material, and more. Of special interest is an 1864 Civil War diary written by Charles S. Bailey.

Held at: Haverford Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Edward V. Streeper book research scrapbooks on Delaware County (Pa.) history, 1923-1937 (bulk) 1833-1977 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Edward V. Streeper (1876-1951) was a resident of Delaware County, Pennsylvania for most of his life and an avid local historian. Streeper was involved with the Delaware County Institute of Science, serving as the chairman of its Historical Section. The Edward V. Streeper book research scrapbooks on Delaware County (Pa.) history, 1833-1977 (bulk 1923-1937), consist of 28 volumes of newspaper clippings, research notes, and a smaller quantity of photographs, ephemera, manuscript documents, and other primary-source materials. The volumes focus on local subjects such as biographies, schools, taverns/cafes/restaurants, and politics.

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

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Concord Flour Mills records, 1867-1941 (inclusive)

Extent:
19.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Newlin Grist Mill was built in Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 1704 by Nathaniel Newlin. After changing hands and changing names several times, it was acquired by Samuel N. Hill, who operated it as Concord Flour Mills. Concord Flour Mills ceased operations in 1943, and subsequently reopened as an historic site around 1960. The Concord Flour Mills records, 1867-1941, consist mostly of financial records of Concord Flour Mills with some scattered Samuel N. Hill papers.

Held at: Dabbs Woodfin Library and Archives at Newlin Grist Mill [Contact Us]

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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]

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Wendell-Heilner negatives, 1870-1951 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Herman Wendell (born 1852), along with Walter Bassett Smith, was a general contractor and manager for developers Anthony J. Drexel and George W. Childs. In this capacity, the firm of Wendell and Smith played a significant role in the planning and development of the suburban community of Wayne, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Herman's son, Evert "Ted" Jansen Wendell (1884-1973), was next-door neighbor to Marcus "Mark" Edmund Heilner (born 1886). The Wendell-Heilner negatives, 1870-1951, depict scenes from Wayne, Radnor Township, and other nearby locations in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Images depict trains, buildings, landscapes, and people, especially the Wendell and Heilner families. The earlier negatives are glass plates, the later ones are film.

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Morrison family glass plate negatives, circa 1870-1906

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
John W. Morrison, born in 1842, worked in a Photo Supply House as a youth before he joined the Union Army during the Civil War, served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and was appointed to posts as State Treasurer of Pennsylvania and Deputy Commissioner of Banking for the State of Pennsylvania. His family home in Wayne, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was located at 425 Chestnut Lane. The Morrison family glass plate negatives, circa 1870-1906, consist of about 100 plates depicting Morrison family members or buildings and scenery in Wayne or other locations along the Main Line.

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Radnor Historical Society architectural drawings collection, 1885-1972 (inclusive)

Extent:
872.0 items
Abstract:
The Radnor Historical Society architectural drawings collection, 1885-1972, contains the records of a number of Delaware and Montgomery County (Pa.) and West Philadelphia residential developers, architects, and builders, much of which reflects the rapid suburban development of this area circa 1890-1930. The collection is organized in three series: I. Architectural drawings & prints. II. Maps, survey drawings and ground plans. III. Specifications and other manuscript project file materials. The collection is on loan to the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, with the support of the Pew Charitable Trusts through its Museum Loan Program; contact the Athenaeum of Philadelphia to access this collection.

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Thornbury Historical Society local history collection, 1881-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The area now known as Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was populated by Lenni-Lenape Native Americans when Europeans began to settle there in the 17th century. Influenced in part by its Quaker roots, Thornbury was an historically tolerant community, home of the oldest historically black college in the United States: the Institute for Colored Youth, now known as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, relocated there from Philadelphia in 1902. Largely rural for most of its history, commercial and residential development in Thornbury expanded throughout the 20th century. The Thornbury Historical Society local history collection, 1881-2014, consists of various primary-source and secondary-source materials documenting people, places, organizations, and other topics relating to Thornbury Township and nearby areas. In addition to newspaper clippings, ephemera, and narrative historical essays, the collection features small amounts of World War I letters, Thornbury School...(see more)

Held at: Thornbury Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Upper Darby Historical Society local history collection, 1920-2013 (bulk) 1799-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
40.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Upper Darby in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was one of the earliest settlements west of Philadelphia. It incorporated from Darby Township in 1736. Primarily an area of mills and farms, the township experienced rapid development beginning in 1907 when the Sixty-Ninth Street Terminal, a transportation hub for those going farther west, was built. The Upper Darby Historical Society local history collection, 1799-2013 (bulk 1920-2013), consists of various materials that document Upper Darby families, individuals, organizations, institutions, and events over time. Most materials are secondary-source, such as newspaper clippings, photocopies or photographs of original documents, narrative histories, research notes, and printed or published works. There are also some primary-source documents, including maps, scrapbooks, deeds, photographs, slides, ephemera, correspondence, autograph books, and more.

Held at: Upper Darby Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Crozerville United Methodist Church records, 1851-1983 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Rockdale Methodist Episcopal Church in Aston Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was established in 1851 and formally became a separate charge in 1852. The following year, the congregation voted to change its name to Crozerville Methodist Episcopal Church in recognition of a generous donor, John P. Crozer. Crozerville United Methodist Church was discontinued around 2010. The Crozerville United Methodist Church records, 1851-1983, consist of: trustee, Leaders and Stewards, official board, and Quarterly Conference minutes; Charge Conference records; and membership and vital records such as baptisms and probationers lists.

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

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Upland United Methodist Church records, 1873-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.75 linear feet
Abstract:
The congregation for Upland United Methodist Church began meeting in 1866, although it was not until 1873 that construction began on a new church building, at Church and Eighth Streets in the nearby Borough of Brookhaven, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The final service was held at Upland United Methodist Church on Sunday July 13, 2003. The Upland United Methodist Church records, 1873-2003, consist largely of minutes of the official board, administrative board, and board of trustees; Charge Conference reports; and membership and vital records such as baptisms, marriages, and deaths. Also included are a small amount of property-related records (featuring blueprints of the church organ and a photograph of the church building), directories, bulletins, budgets, and other documents.

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

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Mariner's Bethel United Methodist Church records, 1948-2006 (bulk) 1833-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Mariner's Bethel United Methodist Church in Collingdale, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was founded as Central Methodist Church in 1924, and changed its name in 1948. The church closed in 2010. The Mariner's Bethel United Methodist Church records, 1833-2006 (bulk 1948-2006), include administrative records, such as minutes, treasurer's reports, and budgets; membership and vital records, including baptisms, marriages, and deaths; photographs; anniversary pamphlets; and various other materials relating to the church and its history.

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

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Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades records, 1888-2014 (bulk) 1746-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
150.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades (now known as Williamson College of the Trades) in Middletown Township, Pennsylvania (Delaware County) was established in 1888 with an endowment from Philadelphia merchant and philanthropist Isaiah V. Williamson. The tuition-free school initially offered vocational training for high school-aged men in areas such as bricklaying, carpentry, and machine shop. Since becoming a post-secondary institution in 1961, the school now offers associate degrees in various fields of specialized technology. The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades records, 1746-2014 (bulk 1888-2014), consist of administrative and financial records; a variety of visual, audio, and audiovisual materials; alumni and student publications; alumni records and personal papers; blueprints, deeds, and other documents relating to the School's property; and several other materials that document the functions of the School and the individual experiences of its students,...(see more)

Held at: Williamson College of the Trades (Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades) [Contact Us]

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