Place: Philadelphia (Pa.) / Year: <span class="from" data-blrl-begin="1895">1895</span> to <span class="to" data-blrl-end="1899">1899</span> - Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

Edwin S. Stuart papers, 1884-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:: 40.0 boxes
Abstract:: Edwin Sydney Stuart (1853-1937) was a Philadelphia businessman and politician during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to owning and operating a successful bookstore, Stuart also served as mayor of Philadelphia from 1891 to 1995 and governor of Pennsylvania from 1907 to 1911. The Edwin S. Stuart papers, as received by Temple University, reflect a portion of the files from the Stuart/Emmons family and material stored at Leary & Co. prior to the closing of the firm in 1969. The records date from 1884 to 1937, and reflect both the archives of the Leary firm and the political and social activities of Governor Stuart. His papers document a variety of personal activities and social functions as well as his work with Girard College and the Union League. While the papers do document some of his political functions in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, this collection does not contain his formal political office files.

Held at: Temple University Libraries Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

Bären-Bund des Philadelphia Turnbezirks minute book, 1891-1915 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.06 linear feet (1 volume)
Abstract:: Handwritten minute book of the Bären-Bund des Philadelphia Turnbezirks, from the founding, 23 March 1891, to 19 April 1915. The Bären-Bund was an alliance of senior gymnast squads, or Bären-Riege, of gymnastics clubs (Turnvereine) in the Philadelphia Turner district. The minutes include financial records and a copy of the constitution that was adopted upon the founding.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

German Society of Pennsylvania Agentur records, 1854-1938 (bulk) 1847-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 linear feet (52 boxes)
Abstract:: 72 volumes of handwritten ledgers, indexes, logs, reports, and letter books, recording the efforts of the Agentur to help needy German immigrants and Philadelphia residents of German origin over a period of a hundred years. Valuable biographical information for local history, social history, labor history, immigration research, genealogy.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Männerchor records, 1868-1985

Extent:: 1.63 linear feet (4 boxes + 1 oversized folder)
Abstract:: This small collection comprises a bound volume containing a constitution and by-laws, a charter, ephemera, photographs, songbooks from festivals, and memorabilia related to the Männerchor, the first German-American singing society in the United States, founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 15 December 1835. The specific items include the original handwritten charter, signed by 13 members, in March 1868; a summer season concert program from 1887; a banner dedicated to the society in 1925 from its women's chorus (Damenchor); the program and menu for the 100th anniversary celebration in 1935, along with a miniature souvenir banner dedicated to the Männerchor on that occasion, by the Vereinigten Sänger von Baltimore (United Singers of Baltimore); and two photographs taken at the Männerchor's 150th anniversary celebration, in 1985, on which occasion the society was officially dissolved, according to a note on the verso of one of the photographs, signed by Herbert Schmidt, one of the...(see more)

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Philadelphia Turngemeinde collection, 1883-1958 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.17 linear feet (1 box + 1 oversize folder)
Abstract:: Collection of miscellaneous records as well as ephemera of the Philadelphia Turngemeinde (also known as the Philadelphia Turners), one of the oldest German-American Turner, or gymnastics clubs in the United States, founded in 1849. The records include a letter dated 1900 from Turngemeinde vice president Louis F. Schuck to the Academy of Music; an original manuscript (4 leaves), dated 1911, by member Casper Fischer, telling the history of the organization from the founding until 1899; and a guest register for events of the club from 1956 to 1958. The ephemera include invitation letters, program and admission ticket to the dedication ceremony of the new Turngemeinde hall in 1883 and the first two leaves of the Philadelphia newspaper Vereins und Logen Zeitung for 20 May 1899 containing the report of the Turngemeinde's 50th anniversary celebration.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

John Wanamaker collection, 1827-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:: 193.2 linear feet (; 316 volumes, 438 boxes)
Abstract:: John Wanamaker (1838-1922) was a well-known merchant, entrepreneur, and lifelong resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was active in the city's religious, political, and philanthropic areas, founded several Presbyterian churches and Sunday schools, and served as postmaster general under President Benjamin Harrison from 1889 to 1893. He opened his first Philadelphia clothing store, Oak Hall, with partner Nathan Brown in 1861, and founded John Wanamaker and Co. in 1869. In 1876, he opened "A New Kind of Store" known as the Grand Depot at Thirteenth and Market Streets. This store later became the flagship store, with satellite stores eventually established in central and southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as New Jersey, Delaware, and New York City. Wanamaker was at the forefront in many areas of retailing including merchandising, employee relations and advertising. His sons Thomas B. Wanamaker and L. Rodman Wanamaker were also active in the business. Thomas ran John Wanamaker and...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Mutual Assurance Company (Green Tree) records, 1784-1995 (inclusive)

Extent:: 455.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring Houses from Loss by Fire was organized in Philadelphia in 1784, in order to make fire insurance available to those citizens who wished to have trees in front of their houses. A group of sixty-one men met on July 8, 1784 at the City (or London) Coffee House and agreed to create a new mutual fire insurance company. A deed of settlement was adopted and a green tree was selected as a symbol to appear on the company's policies and fire marks. The company archives of The Mutual Assurance Company, familiarly known as the Green Tree, consist of financial accounts and receipts, correspondence, histories, cancelled insurance surveys and policies, and miscellaneous material. The records date from the formation of the company in 1784 to 1995.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society minute books, 1827-2001 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.3 linear feet (27 containers)
Abstract:: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) was founded on November 24, 1827 by fifty-three prominent Philadelphians; among them Horace Binney, David Landreth Jr., William Davidson, George Pepper, Nicolas Biddle and Moses Brown. Emulating similar societies existing in England at the time, the men formed their Society to promote “a highly instructive and interesting science for the purpose of improving the growth of vegetables, plants, trees, fruits and flowers.” Since that time, the Society and its membership has fostered “…an appreciation of plants, acquiring scientific knowledge about them, disseminating horticultural information, and involving the public in gardening and beautifying the City of Philadelphia.” More recently, the Society has worked specifically to beautify the city and help realize William Penn’s founding vision for Philadelphia to be a “greene countrie towne.” This is a collection of meeting minutes of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Horticultural...(see more)

Held at: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society [Contact Us]

Wagner Free Institute of Science Director's files, 1883-1948 (inclusive)

Extent:: 36.42 linear feet (37 containers)
Abstract:: Incorporated by William Wagner (1796-1885) in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution in Philadelphia that is dedicated to providing free public education in the sciences. This collection contains records of the operations of the Wagner Free Institute of Science from 1883 to 1948, including the Institute’s financial records; rental property records; and museum, library and instruction program records. The bulk of the collection is financial material and correspondence.

Held at: Wagner Free Institute of Science [Contact Us]

Union League archives, 1833-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1643.0 items
Abstract:: Founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the Union and the policies of President Abraham Lincoln, the Union League of Philadelphia laid the philosophical foundation of other Union Leagues across a nation torn by Civil War. From its founding to the present, the League has been a leading civic organization and has played an important role in the history of our country and the City of Philadelphia. Over the past 150 years, this service has ranged from raising troops during the Civil War and lobbying for enforcement of the “freedom” amendments during Reconstruction, to feeding the hungry during the Great Depression, to finding jobs for returning veterans after World War II. The Union League archives houses a wide variety of records related to the general administration of the Union League, its mission, building and history. Additionally, researchers will find a small sampling of papers more generally related to the Civil War, including some letters written by Abraham Lincoln....(see more)

Held at: Union League of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Conner family papers, 1832-1856 (bulk) 1832-1856 1816-1903 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.0 folders
Abstract:: Susan Dillwyn Physick was born on June 22, 1803, in Philadelphia, the second of four children. Her parents were Elizabeth Emlen, whose family was one of the wealthiest in Philadelphia, and Philip Syng Physick, the prominent physician. In 1824 she met naval Master-Commandant David Conner, and the two married on June 25, 1828. The Conner family papers consist primarily of 23 journals kept by Susan Dillwyn Physick Conner from 1832 to 1856. The collection also includes her unfinished autobiography with amendments by her son, a scrapbook, two notebooks, two journals by her son, one journal by Philip Conner’s wife, two letters (one by Mary Lewis, one by Philip Conner), three account books, two published books owned by Susan Physick Conner, and notes and drafts by Arthur Hale, Philip Conner’s son-in-law.

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

John E. Hand & Sons Co. records, 1865-2002, undated [bulk dates: 1900-1980]

Extent:: 26.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The John E. Hand & Sons Company was founded in Philadelphia in 1873. The Hand Company built navigational equipment for all varieties of floating vessels, and operated a chain of retail outlets with “service stations” in numerous port cities, including Baltimore and New Orleans, until 1956. Service stations sold Hand instruments as well as other nautical paraphernalia and provided compass adjusting services. The collection documents the business activities of the John E. Hand & Sons Company from its institution in 1873 to 1997, when the company was sold. The collection boasts a wide breadth of material that includes legal documents, financial records, patents, correspondence, contracts, reports, catalogs and other ephemera, photographs, and engineering plans. Together, the records provide a thorough account of the firm’s operations.

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

H. A. Pilsbry papers, 1900-1953 (bulk) 1885-1957 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.75 linear feet (8 containers)
Abstract:: Henry Augustus Pilsbry, Dean of American Malacologists, was the conservator, curator and head of the Department of Shells at the Academy of Natural Sciences for 70 years. He was also the internationally recognized authority in the field of land mollusks. He wrote and edited many volumes of the Manual of Conchology and from 1889 until his death was an editor of the journal Nautilus, which he founded. A member of many scientific expeditions, he traveled all over the United States, to the Caribbean, South America, Mexico, Hawaii and other Pacific Islands, and to Australia. This collection contains the professional papers of Henry A. Pilsbry between the years 1885 and 1957. The bulk of this collection consists of Pilsbry’s working files and drafts of published material that came from those files, including a draft of the second volume of Land Mollusks of North America. Pilsbry’s correspondence is by far the most valuable part of this...(see more)

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Library Company of Philadelphia minute books, 1731-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 46.0 volumes
Abstract:: In 1731, Benjamin Franklin and a group of intellectual Philadelphians established the Library Company of Philadelphia, a subscription library supported by its shareholders. The Library Company flourished because it adopted a purchasing policy responsive to the needs of its intellectually alert, economically ambitious, but non-elite membership. The Library Company of Philadelphia is now an independent research library specializing in American society and culture from the 17th to 19th centuries. The history of this organization is best documented by its minute books dating from 1731 to 2000. The collection consists of minute books documenting the meetings of the Directors (both the final approved version of the minutes and the rough drafts of the minutes), 1731 to 2000; the Trustees of the Loganian Library, 1853 to 1876; and the Committee for Fixing the Value of Lost Books, 1785 to 1848. In addition to meeting minutes, the minute books include financial reports, and supporting...(see more)

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Stevens-Cogdell-Sanders-Venning collection, 1734-1982 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Stevens-Cogdell-Sanders-Venning family papers document the development of a white family and a prominent middle-class African American family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning with the 1760s emigration of John Stevens from England to South Carolina. The materials date from 1734 to 1982 and consist of scrapbooks, ephemera, newspaper clippings, Common Prayer books, invitations, holiday cards, correspondence, business papers, and a variety of personal papers. The materials document the Stevens-Cogdell-Sanders-Venning families’ professional, family, and personal lives as well as the development of a prominent middle-class African American family.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Catholic Club of Philadelphia records, 1871-1923 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.8 linear feet (; 2 boxes)
Abstract:: The Catholic Club of Philadelphia, formerly the De Sales Institute of Philadelphia, was founded January 2, 1877. The Club offered wealthy men of a certain socioeconomic background cultural, intellectual, and social opportunities. This collection contains administrative records, including by-laws and reports, as well as general correspondence. Programs, souvenirs, and ephemera related to club-sponsored events and events sponsored by other local Catholic societies are also included. The collection also contains newspaper clippings, N.C.W.C. news releases from May- July 1923, and miscellaneous pamphlets, cards and circulars.

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

Carolyn Haywood papers, 1884-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:: 42.0 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection contains the personal and literary papers of children's author and illustrator Carolyn Haywood. The collection consists of manuscripts, illustrations, proofs, sketchbooks, correspondence, clippings, audiovisual materials, photographs, scrapbooks, diplomas, and awards.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

19th Century playbills, 1852-1902 (bulk) 1803-1939 (inclusive)

Extent:: 29.25 linear feet (117 volumes (many volumes are boxed))
Abstract:: The 19th Century playbills collection contains a range of material related to theater culture in nineteenth century Philadelphia and in selected other theaters across the northeastern United States. Researchers will find nineteenth century playbills from the following Philadelphia theaters: the Walnut Street Theatre, the Academy of Music, the Arch Street Theatre, the Chestnut Street Theatre, National Theatre (Walnut Street), the National Theatre (Chestnut Street), the Melodeon, and the Continental Theatre. There are also playbills from the Chestnut Street, Arch Street, and 11th Street opera houses. This collection contains an assortment of scrapbooks which include newspaper clippings, photographs, and reviews of actors and performances. The majority of scrapbooks were assembled by various theater enthusiasts; however ten were compiled by theater producer and director Paul E. Glase, who was active in the Philadelphia theater scene during the early twentieth century. Because the...(see more)

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

Ed Wynn papers, 1907-1966 (bulk) 1890-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.0 linear feet (8 boxes)
Abstract:: This collection contains the correspondence and papers of actor and comedian Ed Wynn. The collection includes ideas for gags, box office records for staged productions, telegrams, postcards, 65 publicity photographs, 50 gag magazines, and family papers and mementos. There are also approximately 300 newspaper and magazine clippings about Wynn and his productions as well as 20 printed posters and artwork in various media of Wynn.

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

Bradford collection of biographies of Homoeopathic Physicians, 1868-1918 (inclusive)

Extent:: 36.0 containers
Abstract:: Dr. Thomas L. Bradford (1847-1918) was a practicing homeopathic physician in Maine, Europe and Philadelphia. While practicing and teaching in Philadelphia he served as curator for the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital of Philadelphia. From 1896 to 1916, he collected, organized and maintained material for 35 scrapbooks of biographical information about homeopathic physicians.

Held at: Drexel University: College of Medicine Legacy Center [Contact Us]

Eyre Family Papers, 1840-1912 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Abstract:: The collection contains papers concerning the Eyre family, Pennsylvania Quakers. descendents of Isaac and Eleanor (Cooper) Eyre, of Philadelphia and Bucks County. Isaac Eyre (1778-1843) was a prominent Philadelphia shipbuilder. In 1828, he removed to a farm in Bucks County, Pa. William Eyre (1804-1885) was their oldest son, a Philadelphia master builder. His brother, Isaac (1819-1904) was a farmer and promoter of the railroad from Bucks County, Pa. He was also one of the founders of the George School, Newtown, Pa., and active in Quaker concerns. The collection contains correspondence of Isaac Eyre largely to Isaac Hicks (1815-1900) Quaker interests, prominent Friends, farming, and railroad projects; also eighteen diaries of William Eyre (1840-1880, gaps 1841-1849 and 1855-1857, microfilmed), and some miscellaneous family material.

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

1st Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania records, 1812-1970 (inclusive)

Extent:: 16.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The First Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania, or "The Dandy First," is considered by some to be the oldest continuously existing troop in the United States National Guard, and the only existing Pennsylvania unit that served in the Continental Army. The unit, which today is known as the 103rd Engineer Battalion, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, has fought in nearly every major American battle beginning with the Revolutionary War. The 1st Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania records, 1812-1970, consist of about 100 record books of the regiment and its predecessor and successor units, as well as several photograph albums and scrapbooks.

Held at: 1st Regiment Infantry Museum [Contact Us]

Awbury Arboretum Association records, 1868-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:: 24.3 linear feet
Abstract:: Henry Cope purchased 40 acres of land in East Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1852 where he built a home for his growing family. Over the next 70 years, his descendants build 24 houses representing a variety of architectural styles. A portion of this land, now known as the Awbury Arboretum, was left to the City Parks Association in 1916 to protect it from development. The Awbury Arboretum Association records, 1868-2011, includes administrative records, financial records, and research compiled by Awbury Arboretum staff. There are also a large number of transcribed oral histories included in this collection.

Held at: Awbury Arboretum [Contact Us]

Awbury Arboretum Association photograph collection, circa 1860-2011

Extent:: 23.4 linear feet
Abstract:: Henry Cope purchased 40 acres of land in East Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1852 where he built a home for his growing family. Over the next 70 years, his descendants build 24 houses representing a variety of architectural styles. A portion of this land, now known as the Awbury Arboretum, was left to the City Parks Association in 1916 to protect it from development. The Awbury Arboretum Association photograph collection, circa 1860-2011, includes family photographs and Awbury Arboretum Association photographs.

Held at: Awbury Arboretum [Contact Us]

Doris Bullock collection, circa 1890-1995 (bulk 1960-1995)

Extent:: 19.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Doris Virginia Powers Bullock (1924-2000) was a school teacher and counselor in the School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was heavily involved in promoting and supporting African American culture, especially African American artists and opera singers. The Doris Bullock collection, circa 1890-1995 (bulk 1960-1995), contains a large amount of material relating to African American culture with an emphasis on theater, opera, visual arts, and politicians, as well as a small amount of personal material including photograph albums and correspondence.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Anna Russell Jones papers, 1892-1989 (inclusive)

Extent:: 17.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Anna Russell Jones (1902-1995) was the first African American woman from Philadelphia to join the Armed Forces during World War II and the first African American graduate of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (now Moore College of Art and Design). She was a talented artist who worked as a wallpaper and carpet designer, civil service illustrator, and freelance artist. Her life evidenced her interest in African American history and civil rights, commitment to public service, and fascination with medical practice. The Anna Russell Jones papers, 1892-1989, primarily document her time in the military and as a civil service illustrator through scrapbooks, photographs, illustrations, sketches, and related correspondence and personnel records. There are also materials relating to her art education and some family papers, as well as correspondence, artworks, and documents from later in Jones' life.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Frank McGlinn collection on African American theater, 1920-1992 (bulk) 1850-1994 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frank McGlinn collection on African American theater, 1850-1994 (bulk 1920-1992), richly documents Philadelphia's theatrical past through the performances of African Americans. It consists largely of posters, programs, broadsides, clippings and advertisements. There are small amounts of photographs and correspondence (mostly in the form of invitations received). The collection is mainly about 20th century plays, performers, musicals and films.

Held at: African American Museum in Philadelphia [Contact Us]

American Swedish Historical Museum document and photograph collection, 1702-1981 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The American Swedish Historical Museum document and photograph collection, 1702-1981, consists of miscellaneous documents and photographs collected by the American Swedish Historical Museum. It includes correspondence, printed broadsides, certificates, deeds, manuscripts and stage scripts, photographs, glass and film negatives, Speakophone recordings, and many other document types. The materials relate to Americans of Swedish descent, Sweden and Swedish culture, the founding of the Swedish American Historical Museum, and associated topics.

Held at: American Swedish Historical Museum [Contact Us]

American Swedish Historical Museum scrapbook collection, 1920-1960 (bulk) 1861-1976 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The American Swedish Historical Museum scrapbook collection, 1861-1976, contains various scrapbooks--mostly newspaper clippings scrapbooks--relating to topics of interest to Swedes in America. Major subjects include visits of the Swedish royal family to America, the American Swedish Historical Museum, and specific Swedish or Swedish-American personalities including Jenny Lind and Charles Lindberg.

Held at: American Swedish Historical Museum [Contact Us]

Edwin N. Benson papers, 1885-1909 (bulk) 1885-1999 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.2 linear feet
Abstract:: Edwin N. Benson (1840-1909) was a resident of Chestnut Hill and president of the Union League in Philadelphia. He built Lynnewood Hall. The Edwin N. Benson papers, 1885-1999, consist of seven scrapbooks about Lynnewood Hall; a site plan of Lynnebrook Road and print of Lynnewood Hall; three books; and additional miscellaneous items.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Elizabeth Shantz Bourquin Collection, 1899-1984 (bulk) 1800-1999 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:: Elizabeth Shantz Bourquin, born in 1917, was a resident of the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. The Elizabeth Shantz Bourquin Collection, 1800-1999, consists of an oral history transcript, photographs of Chestnut Hill scenes and carriage driving, and other items. The oral history is a conversation between Elizabeth Bourquin and her brother Raymond Schantz, discussing their childhood in Chestnut Hill.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Rex family papers, 1850-1920 (bulk) 1798-2002 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The Rex family, descended from German immigrants, settled in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. The Rex family papers, 1798-2002, includes photographs, a scrapbook, a sampler, certificates, published books, and other items created by Rex family members.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

David K. Eichler Collection, 1925-1994 (bulk) 1898-1994 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.1 linear feet
Abstract:: David Kemble Eichler (1913-2003) was a real estate agent and "popular local personality" in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served in the military during World War II and briefly worked for the state department. He was friends with actress Katharine Hepburn. The David K. Eichler collection, 1898-1994, includes correspondence, working files, publications, books, floor plans and photographs. Subjects cover a range of interest and experience such as art, drama, travel, World War II service and subsequent diplomatic service, graduate school, employment, current events, business enterprises, community work, politics, and personal relationships.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Chestnut Hill Historical Society architectural drawings, land deeds, and titles, 1802-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.4 linear feet
Abstract:: Chestnut Hill, in northwest Philadelphia, was a village of farmers and millers during the Colonial period. After the railroad reached the area in 1854, Chestnut Hill became a popular spot for Philadelphia's wealthy and it soon boasted magnificent estates designed by Frank Furness, T.P. Chandler, and Horace Trumbauer. Chestnut Hill Historical Society architectural drawings, land deeds, and titles, 1802-2010, consists of landscape drawings, blueprints of houses, and surveys of properties in Chestnut Hill (1927 to 2010), as well as land deeds and titles (1802-1955).

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Chestnut Hill Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1850-2011

Extent:: 30.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Chestnut Hill, in northwest Philadelphia, was a village of farmers and millers during the Colonial period. After the railroad reached the area in 1854, Chestnut Hill became a popular spot for Philadelphia's wealthy and it soon boasted magnificent estates designed by Frank Furness, T.P. Chandler, and Horace Trumbauer. The Chestnut Hill Historical Society photograph collection, circa 1850-2011, consists of two series: subject-related and family/organization photographs.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

Chestnut Hill Historical Society Wissahickon collection, 1970-2011 (bulk) 1760-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:: 26.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The 1,800 acres of Wissahickon Valley Park are part of Philadelphia's 9,200-acre Fairmount Park, one of the largest city parks in the world. The Chestnut Hill Historical Society Wissahickon collection, 1760-2011 (bulk 1970-2011) consists of ephemera, memorabilia and records relating to the Wissahickon, created by various sources and collected by the Historical Society. There are newspaper and magazine clippings, scholarly research and governmental reports, prints and photographs, slides, music CDs, and VHS tapes. A large collection of stereoviews of the Wissahickon is a highlight of the collection.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

St. Paul's Episcopal Church records, 1759-1904, and Journal of the meetings that led to the formation of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, 1784-1790, 1759-1904 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8 linear feet
Abstract:: St. Paul’s, which opened in 1762, was formed by congregants of Christ Church who supported Reverend William Macclanachan. The records of St. Paul's include vestry minutes; baptismal, marriage, and burial records; Sunday School records; and miscellaneous financial records. After the American Revolution, Anglicans became Episcopalians. Led by the Reverend William White, they organized the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania in 1784. Included in this project is a journal of the meetings that led to the formation of the diocese, dating from 1784 to 1790.

Held at: The Archives of the Episcopal Church [Contact Us]

East Falls Historical Society local history collection, 1897-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The East Falls Historical Society local history collection, 1897-2012, is comprised mostly of newspaper clippings with some pamphlets, invitations, and ephemera. Some files focus on individuals or families, while others cover businesses, schools, churches, community organizations, or historic sites/houses significant in the history of the East Falls section of Philadelphia.

Held at: East Falls Historical Society [Contact Us]

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]

State Penitentiary for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania records, circa 1830-1970

Extent:: 31.0 linear feet
Abstract:: When it opened in 1829, the State Penitentiary for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ("Eastern State Penitentiary") was the world's first true "penitentiary" in the sense that it was designed to inspire true feelings of penitence in the hearts of inmates. Initially characterized by its system of strict isolation and grand architecture, more than 300 prisons on five continents were modeled after Eastern State Penitentiary. Over 142 years of operation, the system of isolation was gradually abandoned and the penitentiary became a traditional modern prison; in 1971, the facility was closed. The State Penitentiary for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania records, circa 1830-1970, is comprised of various fragmentary records of the "Eastern State Penitentiary" that were either found on-site after the prison was closed, or donated by various individuals with connections to the prison. There are records relating to the operations and administration of the prison as a whole, as well as...(see more)

Held at: Eastern State Penitentiary [Contact Us]

Friends' Central School records, 1845-2016 (bulk) 1785-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:: 150.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Friends' Central School is a Quaker (Religious Society of Friends), co-educational, private school for children in nursery school through 12th grade. The school was established in 1845 in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and moved to its current location on City Avenue in Wynnewood, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in 1925. The Friends' Central School records, 1785-2016 (bulk 1845-2016), consist of administrative and financial records, enrollment records, personal papers, school publications and ephemera, photographs, scrapbooks, slides, various audiovisual materials, objects and other materials from and relating to the administration, faculty and staff, students, and alumni of Friends' Central School. The collection is arranged into seven series: I. Administration, II. Faculty and staff, III. Students, IV. Alumni, V. Publications, VI. Audiovisual materials, and VII. Objects.

Held at: Friends' Central School Archives [Contact Us]

The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute stereoscope card collection, circa 1873-1914

Extent:: 3.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1824, in honor of America's first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most important science institutes in the nation. Its mission is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute stereoscope card collection, circa 1873-1914, consists of small amounts of stereoviews depicting various scenery from the United States and locations in Europe and Asia. Also in the collection are images related to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia, PA and Coleman Sellers's Kinematoscope.

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

The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute subject files, 1792-1943 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1824, in honor of America's first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most important science institutes in the nation. Its mission is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute subject files, 1792-1943, consist of files arranged alphabetically by subject containing a variety of primary and secondary-source documents related to each topic. The subject headings in the collection include Assorted Industry, Assorted Machines/Technology, Aviation, Cars, Deeds, Electricity, Maps, People, Newspaper Clippings, Patents, The Franklin Institute, Trains, Printing/Typing, and other topics.

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

William N. Jennings scrapbook, photographs, and negatives, 1882-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: William N. Jennings (1860-1946) was a photographer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania best known for being credited with the first successful photograph of lightning and his work in aerial photography. William N. Jennings scrapbook, photographs, and negatives, 1882-1937, consist of Jennings's scrapbook documenting his efforts to photograph lightning, including prints of the first photograph of lightning, as well as photographs, film negatives, and glass plate negatives of people at street scenes in Philadelphia, PA and nearby areas. There is also one oversized item consisting of mounted images of lightning.

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

Friends of Northeast Philadelphia History local history collection, 1796-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Northeast Philadelphia is one of the largest sections of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bounded by the Delaware River, Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Tacony and Frankford Creeks. Before the City of Philadelphia was consolidated in 1854, the area was made up of several independent townships and boroughs, many of which had been settled in the 17th century by Swedes and Welsh and English Quakers. Industry developed early in the Northeast's history due to its proximity to several creeks and Philadelphia, but its population did not experience large growth until the 20th century. The Friends of Northeast Philadelphia History local history collection, 1796-2009, is comprised of small groups of materials from various local families, businesses, and historians.

Held at: Friends of Northeast Philadelphia History [Contact Us]

First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia records, 1796-circa 2000s

Extent:: 70.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia is a Unitarian Universalist congregation located in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the longest continually functioning Unitarian church in the United States. The Church was first formed as the Society of Unitarian Christians of Philadelphia in 1796. In 1825, Reverend William Henry Furness (1801-1896) became the Society's first regularly ordained, full-time minister and led the Church for fifty years. As of 2015, the church continues to operate in a building designed for them in 1885 by noted architect Frank Furness (1839-1912), one of the sons of William Henry Furness. The First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia records, 1796-circa 2000s, consist of administrative and financial records, church registers, correspondence, history materials, and other materials related to the Church, as well as papers of the Church's first minister, William Henry Furness, and other individuals associated or involved with the Church such as...(see more)

Held at: First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia Archives [Contact Us]

Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library scrapbook collection, 1862-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The bulk of the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library scrapbook collection, 1862-2000, consists of scrapbooks about the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). There are also scrapbooks on the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) and personal scrapbooks on other topics.

Held at: Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library [Contact Us]

Records of the Home for Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic and Wives, 1892-1951 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The Home for Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic and Wives in Philadelphia was established in 1894 as a place for Civil War veterans and their spouses to spend their later years. The records of the Home for Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic and Wives, 1892-1951, document the administration of the Home and many aspects of the daily lives of the residents.

Held at: Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library [Contact Us]

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.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Henry George family papers, circa 1844-2000 (bulk 1880-1950)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Henry George (1839-1897) was a journalist and political economist best known for writing about and popularizing the idea of the "single tax." His work led to several reform movements in the Progressive Era and inspired the economic philosophy known today as "Georgism." Two of George's children, Henry George Jr. and Anna George de Mille, continued to be active in the single tax movement and promoting their father's legacy after his death in 1897. The Henry George family papers, circa 1844-2000 (bulk 1880-1950), consist of correspondence, published and unpublished works, and other materials from and about Henry George, Henry George Jr., and Agnes George de Mille. There are also photographs, prints, and illustrations of the George family and of Anna George de Mille's family.

Held at: The Henry George Birthplace, Archive and Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

Visiting Nurse Society of Philadelphia records, 1855-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:: 23.8 linear feet
Abstract:: The records of the Visiting Nurse Society of Philadelphia document a wide range of themes and issues in home nursing and the care of the indigent poor. The collection includes trustees' minutes, board correspondence, committee reports, and branch association files. Also included is a well documented collection of photographs.

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

Alumni Association of the Albert Einstein Medical Center School of Nursing records and historical collection, 1895-1954 (inclusive)

Extent:: 44.5 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection contains materials documenting the development of nursing and nurse alumni groups at institutions founded by Jewish benevolent groups and organizations in Philadelphia from the 1890s through the 1990s. The historical material includes minutes, reports, administrative files, artifacts, and photographs depicting nursing and nurse education. These materials primarily concern three establishments which were merged to form the Albert Einstein Medical Center in 1952: the Jewish Hospital, established 1867; the Mt. Sinai Hospital, established in 1905; and the Northern Liberties Hospital established in 1920. (It should be noted that there are no significant records of the Northern Liberties Hospital in this collection.)

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

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing records, 1886-1989 (inclusive)

Extent:: 36.25 linear feet
Abstract:: This unprocessed collection contains the records of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing. It primarily consists of administrative files such as reports, minutes, memos, correspondence, and handbooks and manuals, among other materials.

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

Mercy-Douglass Hospital records, 1896-1977 (inclusive)

Extent:: 26.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Mercy-Douglass Hospital was an African-American hospital and the first black nurse training school in in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It existed from 1895-1960. This collection contains the institutional records of Mercy-Douglass, along with over 200 photographs of the hospital and nursing school.

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

Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing student files, 1885-1940 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet (7 reels of microfilm)
Abstract:: These microfilm reels contain the records of students and nurses at Philadelphia General Hospital (PGH) in the early 20th century.

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

Alumni Association of the Training School for Nurses of Philadelphia General Hospital collection, 1874-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:: 18.0 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection consists of papers, administrative records, artifacts, and photographs that document many operational aspects of the Alumnae Association of the Philadelphia General Hospital. Of note are the personal papers of Alice Fisher.

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

Globe Dye Works records, 1865-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:: 17.0 linear feet ((12 boxes and various oversize items))
Abstract:: Globe Dye Works, established in 1865 by Richard Greenwood and William Bault, was a textile dying plant located in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania specializing in the bleaching and dying of yard and thread. The plant was owned and operated by the Greenwood family until its closure in 2005. The Globe Dye Works records, 1865-2005, consist of financial and administrative records, employee records, board and stockholder meeting minutes, maps, scrapbooks, photographs, photograph albums, property documents relating to the ownership and sales of the Globe Dye Works and Greenwood family properties, and other materials.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Wright's Industrial and Beneficial Institute of Frankford records, 1855-1946 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Wright's Industrial and Beneficial Institute was founded in the mid-19th century by Joseph Wright (1792-1858) as a charitable institution for the community, which was initially supported by his estate. The Institute was to maintain organizations geared towards the improvement of the industrial, literary, and scientific pursuits of the young people of the community. The Wright's Industrial and Beneficial Institute of Frankford records, 1855-1964, consist of financial records, administrative records, property documents and volumes from the Wright's Industrial and Beneficial Institute, as well as a few of the organizations it supported.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Horace William Castor family papers, 1827-1964 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection consists of several generations of Castor family papers and provides insight into the wide interest in family history and the history of Frankford and Philadelphia cultivated by noted architect Horace W. Castor. It also documents financial, real estate, and legal transactions conducted not only by Mr. Castor but by his father and grandfather as well. Historical research notes and genealogical notes, personal correspondence and wills document family relationships among the three generations of Castors represented in the collection. Besides collecting and preserving these documents, Horace W. Castor wrote several papers on subjects of local history. A copy of one of these: "A Story of Pine Street Church and Frankford Gun Powder Mill," written for The Historical Society of Frankford, March 11, 1948, is in the collection.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

George W. Holstein family papers, 1817-1927 (inclusive)

Extent:: 17.0 linear feet
Abstract:: George Washington Holstein, M.D., was a prominent citizen of Bridgeport in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was at times a burgess, postmaster, and school director. He was a Civil War veteran and long-time member of the Odd Fellows. The George W. Holstein family papers, 1817-1927, consist primarily of Dr. Holstein's journals, notebooks, essays, and correspondence. There are also some journals and papers from other family members.

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

Frank Blase collection on North Penn History, 1930-1997 (bulk) 1884-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Francis "Frank" Blase Jr. (1938-1999) was a Pennsylvania resident was devoted to local and coal mining history. He was a member of the Lansdale Historical Society (Montgomery County, Pa.) and founded the North Penn Historical Library (Montgomery County, Pa.) and the Research Library for Coal Mining (Pottsville, Pa.). The Frank Blase collection on North Penn History, 1884-1997, consists almost entirely of newspaper clippings, with a few original photographs (circa 1900-1915), handwritten notes, and pamphlets. The collection focuses on the North Penn region of Montgomery County (near Lansdale, Pa.); parts of Philadelphia, Berks, Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh, and Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania are also covered in the collection.

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

Phoenix Iron Company records, 1879-1986 (inclusive)

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

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

LMHS.15: Levering family papers, 1807-1973 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:: Born in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, John Levering (1789-1878) was a graduate of the University Academy and a noted mathematician and surveyor. The Levering family papers, 1807-1973, consist of a family bible, a burial plot deed, two obituaries, two photographs, and genealogical notes.

Held at: Lower Merion Historical Society [Contact Us]

Mummers Museum photograph collection, circa 1899-2010

Extent:: 21.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The tradition of mummery dates back to the late 17th century, but the parade was first sponsored by the City of Philadelphia in 1901. The Philadelphia New Years Shooters and Mummers Association administers the annual Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mummers Museum photograph collection, circa 1899-2010, is comprised of photographs and slides of the Mummers Parade, Mummers, and associated individuals.

Held at: Mummers Museum [Contact Us]

Old York Road Historical Society deeds collection, circa 1680-1950

Extent:: 7.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Montgomery County, situated in southeastern Pennsylvania and established in 1784 out of the western portion of Philadelphia County, has played an important role in U.S. history. Since its founding, it has experienced "booming industry and manufacturing, rich farm fields, advanced transportation, artistic endeavors and unique religious beliefs." The history of the area of eastern Montgomery County has been documented significantly through the collecting efforts of the Old York Road Historical Society. The Old York Road Historical Society deeds collection, circa 1680-1950, consists of about 600 deeds, indentures, and property records dating from the 17th century to the 20th century. Most are from the region of eastern Montgomery County.

Held at: Old York Road Historical Society [Contact Us]

Comfort-Dern family papers and memorabilia, 1848-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Charles L. Comfort (1835-1913) was a Confederate Civil War veteran who settled in Philadelphia and opened a business in botanical preparations and flavoring extracts. His second wife was Ellen Lister Dern. The Comfort-Dern family papers, 1848-1925, are a miscellaneous accumulation of papers primarily relating to Charles L. Comfort and his father-in-law Conrad Dern. It includes receipted bills, family correspondence, photographs, business accounts, Badger/Comfort family genealogical notes, and various family documents and ephemera. There are also small amounts of records from two clubs in which family members were involved: the Utah Club and the Men's Chapter of the Guild of the Church of Our Savior (Jenkintown).

Held at: Old York Road Historical Society [Contact Us]

Richard Rothe photographs and diaries, 1895-1930 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Internationally-known horticulturalist Richard Herman Rothe was the developer of what he called the "American rock garden." The Richard Rothe photographs and diaries, 1895-1930, consist of 250 lantern slides and color prints of garden views of Pennsylvania estates in eastern Montgomery County, Philadelphia, and the western Main Line as well as family scenes and views on Mount Desert Island, Maine. The collection also contains copies and originals of some of Rothe's diaries, photocopies of articles he published, and research materials on him.

Held at: Old York Road Historical Society [Contact Us]

Danenhower family papers, 1866-1973 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:: The Danenhower family at one time operated a mill on Pennypack Creek and were long-time residents of the Abington area in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The Danenhower family papers, 1866-1973, consist primarily of Eva C. Danenhower Davis diaries, 1967-1973, that record her daily activities while living in Gulfport, Mississippi, and in Philadelphia. Other family records include two autograph albums and a scrapbook.

Held at: Old York Road Historical Society [Contact Us]

Lippincott Family Papers, 1752-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6 linear ft. (9 boxes, 2 oversize folders, and photographs)
Abstract:: Horace Mather Lippincott (1877-1967) was a Quaker editor and historian. The collection contains his speeches and writings on topics primarily concerning the Society of Friends and the history of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of particular interest is the scrapbook he compiled in 1946 of papers and photographs of the 1913-1914 Joint Group which met weekly to study the Separation in the Society of Friends, along with other papers on the topic and on the first joint meeting of the two Philadelphia Yearly Meetings in 1946. The collection includes genealogical research by Horace Mather Lippincott and his brother George E. Lippincott, deeds, and some family papers.

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

Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records, 1771-1956, 1771-1956 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.75 cubic feet
Abstract:: Third Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (“Old Pine Street”) began as a collegiate congregation to First Presbyterian Church and shared a board of trustees. In 1771, the congregations separated. Records include: charters and deeds; other legal and financial documents; correspondence; publications; records of the Trustees, Sunday school and missionary society; session minutes; pew rents; dismission and reception certificate stubs; and registers of baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials.

Held at: Presbyterian Historical Society [Contact Us]

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]

Colonial Dames Stenton records, 1898-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 45.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Stenton is an historic site administered by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 1899. James Logan erected this example of early Georgian architecture between 1723 and 1730 in what was countryside in Philadelphia County but is now part of the City of Philadelphia, near the neighborhood of Germantown. Logan had come to Philadelphia with William Penn in 1699 as his secretary, and for the rest of his life remained the Penn family’s representative in the colony and was at the center of Pennsylvania’s political life. The Colonial Dames Stenton records, 1898-2013, document the Dames administration of Stenton as an historic site. The collection includes copies of primary-source Logan family papers; secondary-source research on the Logan family and Stenton; site maintenance studies, plans, and records; administrative records of the Colonial Dames, including various committees' records, financial records, and the correspondence and...(see more)

Held at: Stenton [Contact Us]

The Central High School of Philadelphia records, 1838-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 125.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Central High School of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) is the second oldest continuously public high school in the United States, operating as a magnet school within the School District of Philadelphia. Chartered in 1836 as an all-boys school, its first building opened its doors in 1838. The school moved to its current building in 1939 and began admitting female students in 1983. The Central High School of Philadelphia records, 1838-2014, consist primarily of student records and publications, with a large number of 19th and 20th century photographs and some other materials including audiovisual materials, faculty papers, ephemera, and blueprints.

Held at: Archives of the Associated Alumni of the Central High School of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

The Associated Alumni of the Central High School of Philadelphia subject files on the Central High School of Philadelphia, 1880-2014 (bulk) 1818-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 50.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Central High School of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) is the second oldest continuously public high school in the United States, operating as a magnet school within the School District of Philadelphia. Chartered in 1836 as an all-boys school, its first building opened its doors in 1838. The school moved to its current building in 1939 and began admitting female students in 1983. The Associated Alumni of the Central High School of Philadelphia subject files on the Central High School of Philadelphia, 1818-2014 (bulk 1880-2014), consist of subject, class, faculty, distinguished visitors, and alumni files. A minute book of the Board of Public Education of the First School District of Pennsylvania, 1818-1823, is also available. Certain items within the files may be of particular interest including letters from famous people such as Margaret Mead, Robert Kennedy, and John Wanamaker and materials relating to former Unites States presidents.

Held at: Archives of the Associated Alumni of the Central High School of Philadelphia [Contact Us]