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Start Over Repository Germantown Historical Society Place Philadelphia (Pa.)

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Germantown Historical Society deed collection, 1688-1952 (inclusive)

Extent:
12.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown, a section of northwest Philadelphia, was settled in the late 1600s. It is well known as the site of the first American anti-slavery protest, the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown, and the seat of the National government during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The Germantown Historical Society deed collection, 1688-1952, contains original deeds and land titles for properties in the region of Germantown, Philadelphia.

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Germantown Historical Society small manuscripts collection, 1701-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.0 linear feet (one filing cabinet ("box 1"), two boxes ("box 2" and "box 3"))
Abstract:
Germantown, a neighborhood in the northwest section of Philadelphia, was the site of several nationally significant events. It was settled in the late 1600s by Mennonite and Quaker German-speaking emigrants and incorporated as a borough in 1689. Germantown is sometimes called the home of the American anti-slavery movement; the first organized protest against slavery in the Americas was begun by four members of the Germantown Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1688. In 1777, the courage displayed by American troops at the Battle of Germantown helped to spur the French to assist the United States in the Revolutionary War. During the yellow fever outbreak of 1793, government officials escaping the epidemic in Philadelphia relocated to Germantown, and it served as the temporary home of George Washington and the First Bank of the United States. Germantown was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia in 1854. The Germantown Historical Society small manuscript...(see more)

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Michael Billmeyer family papers, 1719-circa 1940

Extent:
1.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Michael Billmeyer (1752-1837) was a well-known printer and bookseller in the Germantown section of Philadelphia who catered especially to Pennsylvania German and Mennonite communities. The Michael Billmeyer family papers, 1719-circa 1940, are comprised primarily of materials relating to Michael Billmeyer (1752-1837) and his publishing company, with a small amount of materials relating to other family members and the family home.

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Germantown Historical Society small collections, 1764-1989 (inclusive)

Extent:
42.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown Historical Society small collections, 1764-1989, consists of small accumulations of records and papers from various families, individuals, and organizations based in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. There are four general groups of materials: "Organizational records," "Family and personal papers," "Unprocessed papers," and "Small manuscript collection." Rough, preliminary inventories exist for the first three groups and are provided below. There is an online finding aid for the fourth group, "Small manuscript collection," at http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/d/pacscl/HSP_GHS34SM.

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Dr. Naaman H. Keyser family papers, 1802-1924 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Naaman Henry Keyser (1867-1922) was a dentist and historian who resided in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the author of many dental journal articles, historical addresses, and local histories. The Dr. Naaman H. Keyser family papers, 1802-1924, are comprised of family documents assembled by Dr. Naaman H. Keyser for his genealogical and local history research, as well as some of his research notes and manuscripts. The family documents date from about 1802 to the 1870s, and Naaman H. Keyser's research dates from the 1920s.

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Germantown Historical Society collection on the Wister family, 1814-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.8 linear feet
Abstract:
The Wisters were a prominent merchant family, established in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 18th century. The family built many homes in the area which are now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Germantown Historical Society collection on the Wister family, 1814-1966, is comprised of materials created by various members of the Wister family, such as business records, correspondence, diaries, knitting patterns, and photographs.

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Perot family papers, 1816-1940 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.8 linear feet
Abstract:
The Perot family were residents of the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Perot family papers, 1816-1940, include correspondence, scrapbooks, account books, and ephemera relating to various members of the Perot family, especially Mary Lea Perot.

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Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Rail Road Company records, 1831-1981 (inclusive)

Extent:
80.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Rail Road Company, one of the first railroads in the Philadelphia area, was incorporated in 1831 and liquidated in the late 1970s. The PG&N became part of the Reading Railroad system under lease in 1869 and became the Reading's primary entrance for passenger trains into Philadelphia. The Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail Road Company records, 1831-1981, include executive business records, financial records, and stock records. There are also materials relating to property and depots owned by PG&N, and records from subsidiary and other rail companies.

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Naaman K. Ployd scrapbooks, 1901-1912 (bulk) 1849-1912 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.7 linear feet
Abstract:
Naaman K. Ployd (1840-1918) was a Civil War veteran, newspaper columnist, and local historian who lived in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Naaman K. Ployd scrapbooks, 1849-1912, consist of ten scrapbooks relating largely to the Civil War and Germantown history.

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Foulke and Long Institute for Orphan Girls records, 1857-1948 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.75 linear feet
Abstract:
The Foulke and Long Institute for Orphan Girls was established in Philadelphia in 1882 for orphaned daughters of soldiers, firemen, and others sacrificed for the public benefit. In 1888, Foulke and Long merged with the Industrial Home for the Training of Girls in the Arts of Housewifery and Sewing. Foulke and Long moved to the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia in 1913, where it remained until the institute merged with the Youth Study Center of Philadelphia in 1960. The Foulke and Long Institute for Orphan Girls records, 1857-1948, are primarily comprised of administrative, financial, and pupil records for the Foulke and Long Institute, with some materials from the Industrial Home for Girls. There are Admission and Dismission Committee records, meeting minutes, account books and ledgers, and many other document types.

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Germantown Historical Society photograph collection, 1858-circa 1990

Extent:
32.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown, a section of northwest Philadelphia, was settled in the late 1600s. It is well known as the site of the first American anti-slavery protest, the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown, and the seat of the National government during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The Germantown Historical Society photograph collection, 1856-circa 1990, consists of images of individuals, families, and scenes of the Germantown area. It includes photographic prints, photograph albums, glass plates, film negatives, and cased photographs.

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Saving Fund Society of Germantown and its Vicinity records, 1860-1951 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Saving Fund Society of Germantown and its Vicinity was founded in 1854 in the Germantown Section of Philadelphia. At the outset, the Saving Fund Society of Germantown set out to be more than a money-making and money-lending institution--its founders wished to help the working classes accumulate sufficient funds to purchase homes or pay for financial emergencies. The Society changed its name to Germantown Savings Bank in 1987, and later merged into Corestates Bank. Corestates was absorbed into another bank, which itself was absorbed and renamed several times thereafter. The Saving Fund Society of Germantown and its Vicinity records, 1860-1951, is comprised of about 43 volumes of financial transactions and account books, 1860-1951; a small quantity of loose early records, circa 1874; and seven atlases of Philadelphia.

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Germantown Hospital records, 1863-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:
58.0 linear feet
Abstract:
A medical dispensary was started in the Germantown section of Philadelphia in 1863, and seven years later the doors of Germantown Hospital opened to the public. In 1997 the hospital was acquired by Einstein medical group, and it was merged into Albert Einstein Medical Center in 1999.

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Germantown Historical Society family files, 1864-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
31.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown, a section of northwest Philadelphia, was settled in the late 1600s. It is well known as the site of the first American anti-slavery protest, the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown, and the seat of the National government during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The Germantown Historical Society family files, 1864-2012, contains research relating to prominent or long established families in Germantown. It consists primarily of research notes and copies, although there is a small amount of original primary source material in the collection.

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General Louis Wagner scrapbooks, circa 1869-1897

Extent:
14.0 linear feet
Abstract:
General Louis Wagner (1838-1914) was a Civil War veteran who served as Commander of Camp William Penn, and a Philadelphia city official. He served as Director of Public Works for the City of Philadelphia. The General Louis Wagner scrapbooks, circa 1873-1897, are mainly comprised of newspaper clippings relating to Philadelphia utilities. There are also clippings on Philadelphia politics, temperance, Girard College, the German Society of Philadelphia, and other subjects. Of special interest is a volume of autographs of army officers and other dignitaries at Ulysses S. Grant's reception in Philadelphia, December 1879.

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John F. Keator family papers, 1872-circa 1940s

Extent:
1.4 linear feet
Abstract:
John Frisbee Keator (1850-1910) was a representative of the 21st District in the Pennsylvania Assembly from 1897 to 1900, and a practicing attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The John F. Keator family papers, 1872-circa 1940s, consist of materials relating to the political career, work, and personal life of Keator, as well as materials (chiefly correspondence) belonging to Keator's wife and children.

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Germantown Relief Society records, 1873-1953 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Germantown Relief Society, founded in Philadelphia in 1873, was the first society in the United States to organize charitable work. It aimed to make sure charity reached those who needed it most, and avoid wasting effort on those who did not really need it. The Germantown Relief Society records, 1873-1953, consist of minute books, financial records, correspondence, scrapbooks, and other records.

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Edwin C. Jellett papers, 1874-1931 (inclusive)

Extent:
9.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Edwin Costley Jellett (1860-1929) was an engineer and amateur botanist, gardener and local historian known for his various books about Germantown, its environment, gardens, old homes and residents of the area. He was very active in the Germantown Horticultural Society and in the Germantown Historical Society. The Edwin C. Jellett papers, 1874-1931, contain scrapbooks, manuscripts, photographs, notes, and journals. Major subjects in the collection include the Wissahickon park, Germantown history, and Jellett's daily life.

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Germantown Historical Society pamphlet boxes, circa 1875-2012

Extent:
163.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown, a section of northwest Philadelphia, was settled in the late 1600s. It is well known as the site of the first American anti-slavery protest, the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown, and the seat of the National government during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The Germantown Historical Society pamphlet boxes, circa 1875-2012, contain files on various topics relating to Germantown and surrounding areas.

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Germantown Historical Society scrapbook and photograph album collection, circa 1880-1989

Extent:
14.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown, a section of northwest Philadelphia, was settled in the late 1600s. It is well known as the site of the first American anti-slavery protest, the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown, and the seat of the National government during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The Germantown Historical Society scrapbook collection, circa 1880-1989, contains scrapbooks from multiple creators relating to local Germantown families, events, and organizations.

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Mermaid Club records, 1881-1922 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of the records of the Mermaid Club, a literary society founded in 1877 in Germantown, Philadelphia. Included are copies of the club's publications written by Edwin Jellett: "The Mermaid Club: Its Past and Present," "The Mermaid of the Past," "The Record of a Reading Club," meeting minutes, Courses of Readings, bound copies of the Mermaid Inn, printed Rules and Regulations, correspondence.

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Giles S. Stafford papers, 1923-1937 (bulk) 1882-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Giles Spranklin Stafford (1856-) was a policeman, poet, and resident of the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Giles S. Stafford papers, 1882-1937, consist of manuscripts of poems, short stories, and historical essays, as well as correspondence.

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Edward W. Hocker papers, 1886-1959 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.33 linear feet
Abstract:
Edward W. Hocker (1872-1962) was a librarian at the Germantown Historical Society, a local historian, and a journalist who wrote the popular column "Up and Down Montgomery County." The Edward W. Hocker papers, 1886-1959, include manuscripts for Hocker's books and articles, his correspondence as librarian for the Germantown Historical Society, genealogical research on the Hartman family, scrapbooks, and correspondence.

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Jeannette Meehan Anderson collection on Thomas Meehan, 1985-1994 (bulk) 1890-1994 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Thomas Meehan (1826-1901) was a horticulturalist and nursery owner in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His nursery shipped plants across the globe, and his writings on horticulture influenced taste and design. The Jeannette Meehan Anderson collection on Thomas Meehan, 1890-1994, is comprised almost entirely of photocopies (primary source materials, contemporary articles on Meehan, and more recent scholarly articles). There are also drafts of articles by Anderson about Meehan, Anderson's correspondence about Meehan, Sotheby's appraisals of original Meehan papers and objects, and small number of original Thomas Meehan documents.

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Edward P. Haines, Sr. and Edward P. Haines, Jr. papers, 1892-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Ed Preston Haines, Sr. (1873-1937) was an engineer and inventor who resided in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His son Edward Preston Haines, Jr. (b. 1918) attended the Fox School of Business at Temple University. The Edward P. Haines, Sr. and Edward P. Haines, Jr. papers, 1892-1991, are comprised of papers from both father and son. These materials include photographs and negatives, audio tapes, correspondence, technical drawings, and financial records.

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Mothers in Council of Germantown records, 1897-1968 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Mothers in Council of Germantown was founded in Philadelphia in 1897 to provide parenting education for its members. The Mothers in Council of Germantown records, 1897-1968, contain administrative and financial records as well as scrapbooks, meeting programs, and clippings.

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Germantown Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution records, 1898-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.25 linear feet
Abstract:
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and American history that is open to any woman who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. The DAR was founded in 1890, and a chapter in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia was established eight years later. The Germantown Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution records, 1898-1998, contain scrapbooks, administrative records, and pamphlets/ephemera. Scrapbooks dating from 1898 to 1978 make up the bulk of the collection.

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Germantown Historical Society records, 1900-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:
27.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Germantown Historical Society was founded in 1900 as the Site and Relic Society of Germantown. It is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the rich and diverse history of the historic German Township (now Germantown, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill) in northwest Philadelphia. The Germantown Historical Society records, 1900-1987, consist primarily of minute books, visitor registers, correspondence, and financial records. This collection consists of the archival records of the Germantown Historical Society; active records are not included.

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Benjamin H. Shoemaker III papers, circa 1900-1987

Extent:
2.2 linear feet
Abstract:
Benjamin H. Shoemaker III (1901-1987) was a resident of the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the author of the two-volume series of genealogical works titled Shoemaker Pioneers. The Benjamin H. Shoemaker III papers, circa 1900-1987, are comprised of genealogical research compiled by Shoemaker, as well as personal papers. There is a small amount of records relating to Shoemaker's father's company, Benjamin Shoemaker, Inc., importers and distributors of window glass.

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Germantown and Chestnut Hill Improvement Association records, 1906-1950 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Germantown and Chestnut Hill Improvement Association was formed in 1906, and focused on issues affecting the 22nd Ward of Philadelphia--encompassing the neighborhoods of Germantown, Chestnut Hill, and Mount Airy. Its concerns included roads and sewers, zoning, and fire and police protection; it helped to bring new schools, elevated train crossings, and reliable trash pick-up to the area. The Germantown and Chestnut Hill Improvement Association records, 1906-1950, include minutes, annual reports, a scrapbook, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

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Jane Campbell scrapbooks, 1906-1924 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Jane Campbell (d. 1928) was a Philadelphia resident interested in civic associations, the women's suffrage movement and education. At one point she was secretary of the American Catholic Historical Society. The Jane Campbell scrapbooks, 1906-1924, contain newspaper clippings on the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Science and Art Club of Germantown records, 1960-2008 (bulk) 1908-2008 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Science and Art Club of Germantown is a social group in the Germantown section of Philadelphia that was founded in 1879. As of 2012, the group still met regularly to hear lectures on topics relating to science and the arts. The Science and Art Club of Germantown records, 1908-2008 (bulk 1960-2008) include attendance, membership, officers and address lists; minutes of presentations; event programs, menus, and invitations; a small amount of financial records and secretary's records; by-laws and printed pamphlets; and correspondence.

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Germantown Theatre Guild records, 1910-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:
50.58 linear feet
Abstract:
The Germantown Theatre Guild (GTG) in Philadelphia is one of the oldest small non-profit regional theatres in the country. Founded in 1933, the Theatre Guild continued (as of 2014) to operate out of the small carriage-house theatre and offices which are part of the historic residence built in 1742. The stage was the site of the first live televised theatre performance in the world in 1947. In 1970, the School District of Philadelphia built a theatre in the John B. Kelly school for the GTG to use for its Free Theatre for Children program. Known for years as “the theatre with a social conscience,” the GTG has had as its mission serving audiences that are out of the mainstream of the cultural experience, taking plays into rural communities, inner city schools, libraries, senior citizen and recreation centers, as well as prisons in three states. The Germantown Theatre Guild records document the institutional history of the Germantown Theatre Guild. This collection dates from 1910 to...(see more)

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George P. Darrow scrapbooks, 1913-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet
Abstract:
George P. Darrow (1859-1943) was a United States Congressman (1915-1937, 1939-1941) and a resident of the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The George P. Darrow scrapbooks, 1913-1936, comprise seven volumes relating to Darrow's political career and issues with which he was involved. Darrow worked to avert lay-offs at the Navy Yard, opposed Prohibition, and supported women's suffrage.

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Margaret Halsey papers, 1955-1980 (bulk) 1917-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.75 linear feet
Abstract:
Margaret Halsey (1913-1984) wrote for the Germantown Courier about local history and architecture. The Margaret Halsey papers, 1917-1987, consist of newspaper clippings, press researches, pamphlets, reports, and event invitations.

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Patricia Henning papers, 1980-2004 (bulk) 1922-2004 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Pat Henning (1933-2005) was a social activist and local historian who resided in the West Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pat Henning papers, 1922-2004, are comprised of newspaper clippings, copies of primary materials, articles, pamphlets, and brochures. There is also a small amount of primary material in the collection, of which the majority is correspondence of Mrs. Francis A. Wister (1920s-1930s) and records of the Mount Airy Express.

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Colonial Germantown Inc. records, 1963-1977 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Colonial Germantown Inc. was formed in 1956 and held its last formal meeting in 1975. Its goal was to revitalize the Germantown section of Philadelphia through both historic preservation and modern development. The Colonial Germantown Inc. records, 1963-1977, consist of administrative and financial records, including meeting minutes, reports, tax returns, and other document types.

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Germantown Historical Society oral history projects, circa 1992-1993

Extent:
10.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown and Mount Airy are neighborhoods in the northwest section of Philadelphia which underwent dramatic demographic change, from nearly all Caucasian to significantly African-American, over the course of the 20th century. During the early 1990s, the Germantown Historical Society, in conjunction with other groups, conducted three oral history projects. The Germantown Historical Society oral history projects, circa 1992-1993, contains about 140 tapes of interviews, as well as some transcripts, interviewee data sheets, and other associated documents. The three oral history projects focused on the topics of Integration in West Mount Airy, African-Americans in Germantown between the World Wars, and Awbury Arboretum.

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