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A. A. Fesquet drawings and notebooks, 1841-1865 (inclusive)

Extent:

1.55 linear feet

Abstract:

Adolphe Amdée Fesquet was a French chemist and engineer, active during the second half of the 19th century. He attended the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in France and later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a chemical engineer and became involved in translating various French technical books into English. The A. A. Fesquet drawings and notebooks, 1841-1865, consist of pencil and ink drawings annotated in French, notebooks and unbound notes, and two unlabeled portraits.

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

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Sellers family papers on machinery, 1845-1893 (inclusive)

Extent:

30.0 linear feet

Abstract:

The Sellers family was active in engineering and manufacturing in Philadelphia in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Brothers Charles (1806-1898), George Escol (1808-1899), and Coleman II (1827-1907) Sellers and their cousin William Sellers (1824-1905) were prominent Philadelphia industrialists, inventors, and mechanical engineers in the nineteenth century, responsible for important innovations in engineering and manufacturing while also running major industrial companies and taking an active role in civic affairs. Sellers family papers on machinery, 1845-1893, consist of hand drawn technical drawings for metal parts and machinery, patents and awards from exhibitions relating to machinery, certificates, and photographs of machinery, such as lathes, railroad cars, steam engines, and other mechanical engineering examples.

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

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Oliver Wolcott Gibbs papers, 1847-1910 (inclusive)

Extent:

4.2 linear feet

Abstract:

Oliver Wolcott Gibbs (February 21, 1822-December 9, 1908) was an American chemist who is best known for his work in inorganic and analytical chemistry, specifically with the cobalt-amines, platinum metals, and complex acids. He is also known for performing the first electrogravimetric analyses and serving as president of various national science organizations. The Oliver Wolcott Gibbs papers, 1847-1910, consist largely of correspondence and other papers relating to scientific matters and Gibbs' roles in various organizations, especially the National Academy of Sciences. A significant amount of printed matter, such as pamphlets, reprints of articles written by Gibbs, Gibbs' speeches/addresses, and obituaries of him; a few photographs and objects; and a small amount of other materials are also present in the collection.

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

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Wynn Laurence LePage papers, 1857-1869, 1929-1974

Extent:

7.42 linear feet

Abstract:

Wynn Laurence LePage (1902-1985) was an aeronautical engineer, well-known for having a major influence on the development of the autogiro and the helicopter by designing rotary wings. Together, LePage and Haviland Hull Platt, established the Platt-LePage Aircraft Company, which produced the first helicopter officially acquired by the United States Army Air Forces (XR-1) during World War II. The Wynn Laurence LePage papers, 1857-1869, 1929-1974, contain reports on the XR-1 and XR-1A helicopters, correspondence, notes, awards, lectures, newspaper clippings, photographs, a couple of scrapbooks, and objects.

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

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The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute photograph and negatives collection, circa 1860-1990s

Extent:

6.06 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 photograph and negatives collection, circa 1860-1990s, includes small collections of photographs and photograph albums as well as other photographic materials collected by The Franklin Institute over time. The materials consist of images related to science, industry and technology, engineering, transportation, and other related topics. There are also portrait, landscape, and aerial images. The collection includes prints, negatives, slides, and some early forms of photographs, including talbotypes/calotypes and albumen prints. Some photographs are oversized.

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

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Frederic E. Ives papers, 1870-1938 (inclusive)

Extent:

4.16 linear feet

Abstract:

Frederic Eugene Ives (1856-1937) was a scientist and inventor known for his work in color photography. Frederic E. Ives papers, 1870-1938, consist of photographs, materials from the Hess-Ives Corporation, approximately a dozen scrapbooks, and other materials.

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

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Midvale Steel Company records, 1920-1978 (bulk) 1873-1978 (inclusive)

Extent:

20.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Midvale Steel was originally established in the Nicetown neighborhood of North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1867 by William Butcher under the name Butcher Steel Works. Renamed Midvale Steel Works in 1873, it was one of the main steel suppliers to the United States military from 1875 through World War II and was also where Frederick Taylor developed his theory of scientific management. The Nicetown plant closed in 1976. Midvale Steel Company records, 1873-1978 (bulk 1920-1978), consist of photographs, glass plate negatives, scrapbooks, and printed matter from or relating to Midvale Steel. There is a small amount of manuscript materials, including a company activity log book, 1876-1889, and a notebook from Charles Brinley, 1873.

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

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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]

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Henry R. Heyl papers, 1876-1917 (inclusive)

Extent:

1.25 linear feet

Abstract:

Henry Renno Heyl (1842-1919) was an inventor active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Heyl was a longtime member of The Franklin Institute and is best known for creating the phasmatrope, an early simulation of moving pictures, and receiving the first United States patent for a stapler. Henry R. Heyl papers, 1876-1917, consist of numerous patents, drawings and explanations of Heyl's inventions. There is a large amount of materials pertaining to his paper milk bottle and wire book sewing machine inventions. Also included are some photographs and a glass plate negative, a scrapbook, correspondence, graphs, diagrams and blueprints, notes, reports, notebooks, manuals, and books.

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

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American Temperance Society lantern slides, circa 1880-1920

Extent:

1.5 linear feet

Abstract:

The American Temperance Society, also known as the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance, was established in 1826 in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the first formal national temperance movement in the United States. The American Temperance Society and other temperance movements would hold events and write literature warning people of the dangers of alcohol. American Temperance Society lantern slides, circa 1880-1920, consist of approximately ninety lantern slides, including slides that depict the sad stories of those who give in to the temptation of drinking alcohol, as well as slides of temperance related poems, sheet music, and cartoons. Many of the stories and other slides were intended to inspire guilt among those feeling tempted by alcohol.

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