Place: Philadelphia (Pa.) / Year: <span class="from" data-blrl-begin="2000">2000</span> to <span class="to" data-blrl-end="2024">2024</span> - Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

Lubin Manufacturing Company records, 1881-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 9.6 linear feet (41 containers, 1 flatfile drawer, 3 artifacts)
Abstract:: Siegmund Lubin (1851-1923) founded the Lubin Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which, from 1895 to just before its collapse in 1916, grew to be one of the largest motion picture production companies in the world. His moviemaking empire started with the purchase of one film projector in 1895. Before long, it included a chain of movie theaters, multiple state-of-the-art production studios across the United States, hundreds of employees, numerous patents for recording and projecting equipment, and international movie distribution. Lubin's logo and motto, "Clear As A Bell," referred to the superior quality of his motion picture images. The Lubin Manufacturing Company records, 1881-2006, contains photographs, advertisements, business records, publicity materials, and artifacts documenting Siegmund Lubin’s short-lived career as one of America’s most successful film producers during the silent film era. While the collection does not include any full-length Lubin films,...(see more)

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

Library records, 1891-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:: 23.25 cubic feet (44 containers)
Abstract:: The Library records contains documentation of the Drexel University Library from its creation in 1891 to 2003. Drexel University Library has been housed in three different buildings; the Main Building (1891-1958), the Korman Center (1959-1982) and W.W. Hagerty Library (1983-2010). The library was also responsible for running the library school until 1962, with the exception of the years 1914 to 1922 when the library school was suspended. The documents in this collection constitute a record of the activities of the directors, the internal library departments, and the intensive planning of the form and function of the two library buildings.

Held at: Drexel University: Archives and Special Collections [Contact Us]

Friends Housing Cooperative, Inc. records, 1948-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Two Quaker Organizations concerned about urban housing, The American Friends Service Committee and the Friends Neighborhood Guild (FNG) formed the Friends "self-help" Corporation (now called the Friends Housing Cooperative, Inc.) in 1952. The collection, consisting of three linear feet, covers the time period from 1948 to 2009, with the bulk of the materials dating from 2001 to 2009. Materials include correspondence; administrative, legal and financial records; and information regarding membership, projects and publications.

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

Philadelphia General Hospital (PGH) Training School for Nurses Miscellaneous Collection, 1918-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.8 linear feet
Abstract:: This artificial collection contains miscellaneous small donations related to the Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing. They were primarily given by alumni over a period of many years, but some items are of unknown provenance. This collection may include artifacts, publications, personal papers, photographs, and records related to the PGH Training School for Nurses.

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

Alumni Association of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing collection, circa 1875-2012

Extent:: 48.0 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection contains records and other materials relating to the Society of the Alumni Association of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

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

Ellen D. Baer papers, 1970-2013 (bulk) 1939-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 13.0 linear feet (8.5 container boxes of documents .5 container boxes of photographs and other items 1 container box of artifacts 2 small flat size boxes 5 oversized framed items)
Abstract:: Ellen D. Baer was a prominent history scholar and nursing figure at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing as well as in nursing centers and colleges in New York. This collection documents her nursing career, federally funded nursing courses in oncology and in AIDS, research projects and prolific writing career as well as insight into her personal life.

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

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society records, 1791-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 22.0 linear feet
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 administrative records from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The...(see more)

Held at: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society [Contact Us]

President's Office and Administrative Records, 1874-2003, 1939-1993 (bulk) 1874-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:: 82.6 linear feet (146 containers)
Abstract:: The oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (ANSP) was founded in 1812 "for the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences, and the advancement of useful learning." Since the founding of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, there have been twenty-eight presidents and five acting presidents. From 1937 to 1995, there were four presidents and one acting president who left their administrations well documented: Charles M.B. Cadwalader (1937-1951), William M. Marvel (1971-1974), Milton H. Wahl (1974-1976), Thomas Peter Bennett (1976-1985) and Keith Stewart Thomson (1986-1995). In addition, several key staff members who worked closely with these presidents left a record of their influence and contributions. This collection contains papers kept by the Office of the President as well as some of the various divisions of the Academy overseen by the President from 1874 to 2003. The bulk of the...(see more)

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

United Singers of Philadelphia records, 1880-1926 (bulk) 1880-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8.0 linear feet (27 boxes + 8 oversize folders)
Abstract:: The collection comprises the records of the umbrella organization United Singers of Philadelphia (Vereinigte Sänger von Philadelphia) from its founding, in 1881, until 1926, with some scattered ephemera dating as late as 2006; included are the records of several regional singing festivals held in Philadelphia (in 1882, 1897, 1912, and 1926) under the auspices of the Nordöstlicher Sängerbund, an alliance of singing societies in the Mid-Atlantic region. The collection includes minute books, financial records, correspondence, membership lists, scrapbooks, three newspaper issues related to Saengerfests (1897, 1912), and ephemera, including souvenir programs, admission tickets, fliers, and singers' badges. Also included are manuscripts in the hand of William A. Haussmann, of essays written for a souvenir program of 1912, and the rehearsal attendance list of the Ladies' Chorus, dated 1925.

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

Women's Auxiliary of the German Society of Pennsylvania (Frauen-Hilfsverein) records, 1900-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.25 linear feet (5 paige boxes)
Abstract:: The Women’s Auxiliary of the German Society of Pennsylvania was founded in 1900 to serve as an additional charitable arm of the Society, with particular emphasis on charity for families in distress in the Philadelphia area. Since its founding in 1764, the German Society had provided charitable assistance to German-speaking immigrants in the community, especially those newly arrived in the country. With German immigration on the decline in the early 20th century, the Women's Auxiliary assumed the greater portion of the Society's charitable work. After the First and Second World Wars the Auxiliary engaged in war relief to German speaking lands directly and in cooperation with Quaker relief agencies. As state and federal government undertook more and more welfare work in the city, the auxiliary charter was changed in the 1950s to provide scholarship aid to students who majored in German language study. The records include annual reports, charters, bylaws, minute books, treasurer’s...(see more)

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

William Way LGBT Community Center clippings file, 1979-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 12 linear feet
Abstract:: The William Way LGBT Community Center clippings file, 1979-2012, consists of clippings related to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) issues collected by volunteers of the William Way Community Center.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Kay Lahusen papers, 1961-2021 (inclusive)

Extent:: 23.84 linear feet (39 document boxes, 2 photo boxes, 1 record carton, 1 custom keepsakes box, 4 flat boxes, 2 oversized flat boxes, 1 oversized folder, and 2 oversized framed items.)
Abstract:: Katherine "Kay" Lahusen (1930–2021) was a photojournalist, author, activist, and longtime partner of Barbara Gittings (1961–2007), considered by many to be the mother of the LGBT movement in the United States. Lahusen's photography and activism was integral to the organizing work of Gittings and fellow activist Frank Kameny. The Kay Lahusen papers are comprised primarily of content Lahusen retained, created, or consumed in the fourteen years following Barbara Gittings' death in 2007 until her own passing in 2021.

Held at: John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Montgomery County oversized documents collection, circa 1816-2010

Extent:: 18.9 linear feet
Abstract:: The Historical Society of Montgomery County oversize documents collection, circa 1816-2010, is comprised of oversized maps, photographs, blueprints, and documents which depict or are related to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and the United States.

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

First African Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) records, circa 1840-2014 [bulk 1950-2014]

Extent:: 20.0 linear feet
Abstract:: First African Presbyterian Church was the first African American Presbyterian congregation in the United States. It was founded in 1807 and received its charter in 1809. The Church has a history of pastors notable in African American Presbyterianism beginning with its first pastor, John Gloucester (1776-1822), who was a former slave. The First African Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) records, circa 1840-2014 (bulk 1950-2014), include minutes, membership materials, correspondence, financial documents, photographs, and various other administrative records of the church. There are also some secondary materials collected by church members about the church, its members, and various other organizations and topics. The highlight of the collection is a set of three 1840s ledgers: a membership listing with pew rentals, trustee records, and internment listing.

Held at: John Gloucester Memorial and Historical Society [Contact Us]

Laurel Hill Cemetery records, 1836-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:: 525.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Founded in 1836 in what is now the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Laurel Hill Cemetery is one of the first rural cemeteries to be established in the United States and is one of only a few cemeteries to be designated a National Historic Landmark. Numerous prominent local and national figures are interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery. The Laurel Hill Cemetery records, 1836-2015, consist of minute books, legal documents, administrative records, accounting and financial records, photographs, ephemera, prints, and other documents related to Laurel Hill Cemetery. In addition, there is a large collection of burial cards with corresponding lot books and interment records that document the sale of lots and burials at the Cemetery from 1836 to the present.

Held at: Laurel Hill Cemetery [Contact Us]

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Historic Image Collection, 1885-1950 (bulk) 1885-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 12.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The land that is now the Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania, the official Arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was previously the private estate of Quaker siblings John Thompson Morris (1847-1915) and Lydia Thompson Morris (1849-1932). The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Historic Image Collection, 1885-2000, includes photographs, lantern slides, glass plates, postcards, and film negatives, primarily depicting the botanical features and buildings of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania.

Held at: Morris Arboretum Archives [Contact Us]

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania plans, drawings, and maps collection, 1909-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The land that is now the Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania, the official Arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was previously the private estate of Quaker siblings John Thompson Morris (1847-1915) and Lydia Thompson Morris (1849-1932). The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania plans, drawings, and maps collection, 1909-2013, depicts the lands, gardens, buildings, and landscape features of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania.

Held at: Morris Arboretum Archives [Contact Us]

Old York Road Historical Society atlas and map collection, 1848-circa 2000

Extent:: 9.0 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 atlas and map collection, 1848-circa 2000, documents Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, and parts of the Delaware Valley.

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

Old York Road Historical Society obituaries collection, 1991-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 12.0 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 obituaries collection, 1991-2013, consists of alphabetically-organized obituaries of local residents clipped from newspapers.

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

Pennepack Baptist Church collection, 1844-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Pennepack Baptist Church, established in 1688 in what is now Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the oldest existing Baptist church in the state. The church, also known as Lower Dublin Baptist Church, has had several notable pastors and parishioners throughout its history. The Pennepack Baptist Historical Foundation was established in 2010 to preserve the Church and promote its history. The Pennepack Baptist Church collection, 1844-2013, consists primarily of scrapbooks with photocopied and printed materials and some original documents. Additionally, the collection contains original manuscript materials such as late nineteenth and early twentieth century photographs, administrative volumes, cemetery deed certificates, and legal papers. Newspaper clippings, genealogy and other materials are also present in the collection.

Held at: Pennepack Baptist Historical Foundation [Contact Us]

Philadelphia Folksong Society records, 1957-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 130.0 cubic feet
Abstract:: The Philadelphia Folksong Society began meeting in 1957 and was formally incorporated in 1963. Since 1962, the Society has produced the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Held annually outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it is the longest continuously-running folk festival in the United States and among the largest and most influential festivals of its genre, with a legacy of prominent performers including Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Pete Seeger, and many more. As of 2014, the Philadelphia Folksong Society continues to put on the Philadelphia Folk Festival annually, and holds or sponsors various other programs and events related to folk and traditional music. The Philadelphia Folksong Society records, 1957-2014, consist primarily of audio and audiovisual recordings of the Philadelphia Folk Festival (1962-2014), as well as photographs, clippings, programs, and ephemera relating to the Festival. There is also documentation of other Philadelphia Folksong Society events, especially recordings...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Folksong Society [Contact Us]

Joseph M. Harrison subject files on 1st Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania, circa 1870-2004

Extent:: 96.0 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 Joseph M. Harrison subject files on 1st Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania, circa 1870-2004, are comprised of several hundred binders assembled by the former Regimental Historian and Curator of the 1st Regiment Museum. The vast majority of materials in the binders are secondary, but there is a small amount of original photographs, ephemera, and documents in some of the binders.

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

African American Museum in Philadelphia small collections, circa 1850-2014

Extent:: 45.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Founded in 1976 in celebration of the nation's Bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. The museum is committed to telling the story of African Americans in all its permutations: family life, the Civil Rights movement, arts and entertainment, sports, medicine, architecture, politics, religion, law, and technology. The African American Museum in Philadelphia small collections, circa 1850-2014, consist of various small accumulations (less than one linear foot) of archival materials acquired from a variety of sources at various times. The collection focuses on, but is not limited to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, touching on all aspects of African American life and culture. It features a great variety of document types, such as correspondence, minute books, ephemera, photographs, clippings, scrapbooks, film reels, and much more.

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

Jack T. Franklin photographs, 1956-1990 (bulk) 1925-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:: 140.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Jack T. Franklin (1922-2009) was a Philadelphia-based photojournalist and photographer known for his pictures of 1960s Civil Rights events. The Jack T. Franklin photographs, 1925-2009 (bulk 1956-1990), consist of over 500,000 negatives and photographs that document almost every social, cultural, and political event in the Philadelphia's African American community during Franklin's lifetime, as well as all of the major events of the 1960s Civil Rights movement. The collection includes contact sheets and prints, negatives, and color photographs.

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

James T. Townsend papers of African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, 1975-2001 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: James T. Townsend (1915-2000), formerly a state welfare supervisor and veteran of the United States Navy, was organist and choirmaster at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for more than fifty years. Named in his honor, the James T. Townsend Vocal Scholarship Award is given annually by the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Music Committee to an African American student under age 25 who is pursuing studies and training in voice at an accredited college or university, or with a master teacher affiliated with an accredited school of music. Most of the James T. Townsend papers of African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, 1975-2001, are applications for the Townsend scholarship. Additionally, the collection includes church and vestry records, church history research, clippings, correspondence, and photographs. Of special interest are illustrations of church vestments and a rectory drawn in 1941 by Dorothy Young (James Townsend's future wife).

Held at: African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas [Contact Us]

John Bartram Association collection on the Bartram family, 1768-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 19.0 linear feet
Abstract:: John Bartram (1699-1777), the "Father of American Botany," created a botanic garden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is widely considered the first true botanic collection in North America. In 1891 the City of Philadelphia purchased his estate as a historic site, and the John Bartram Association--primarily constituted of his descendants--was established in 1893 to help with the administration and interpretation of the property. The John Bartram Association collection on the Bartram family, 1768-2012, includes various materials created by or on the subject of John Bartram (1699-1777) and his descendants. It includes some original and many copies of Bartram family documents, photographs, book research, genealogical research, and plant information.

Held at: John Bowman Bartram Special Collections Library [Contact Us]

John Grass Wood Turning Company records, 1910-1952, 1993-2002

Extent:: 30.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The John Grass Wood Turning Company, in business in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia from 1863 to 2003, specialized in creating tool handles, flag poles, furniture legs, and other wooden objects shaped on a lathe. Its longevity illustrates Philadelphia's importance as a longstanding industrial center in America's history. The John Grass Wood Turning Company records, 1910-1952, 1993-2002, consist primarily of financial records of the John Grass Wood Turning Company from two significant periods in its history: a forty-year duration beginning just before the company's incorporation in 1911, and a decade-long span leading up to the company's closure in 2003.

Held at: The Center for Art in Wood [Contact Us]