Subject: Local history - Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

Elizabeth McQue lantern slide collection, 19th century

Extent:: 2.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. The Elizabeth McQue lantern slide collection, 19th century, consists of ten lantern slides of North Frankford Baptist Church and fifty lantern slides showing national patriotic/historical images.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

T. Comly Hunter photograph collection, late 19th century-early 20th century

Extent:: 12.0 linear feet
Abstract:: T. Comly Hunter (1848-1931) was a Frankford businessman and philanthropist. Hunter was one of the original members of the Historical Society of Frankford when it was established in 1905. The T. Comly Hunter photograph collection, late 19th century-early 20th century, consists of 1,094 late nineteenth to early twentieth century photographs, primarily of Frankford area buildings, landscapes, and street scenes, but also many images of other Northeast Philadelphia areas and some of the Greater Philadelphia region.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Frankford photograph collection, mid-19th century to mid-20th century

Extent:: 11.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. The Historical Society of Frankford photograph collection consists of approximately 1,132 mid-nineteenth through mid-twentieth century photographs, negatives, drawings, and prints depicting Frankford and other Northeast Philadelphia area buildings, landscapes, and street scenes. There are also some images of individuals...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Frankford miscellaneous photograph collection, circa late 19th century-20th century

Extent:: 13.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. The Historical Society of Frankford miscellaneous photograph collection, circa late 19th century-20th century, consists of various photographs depicting buildings, landscapes, people, and other subjects in Frankford and other areas of Northeast Philadelphia, as well as the Greater Philadelphia area. Approximately half of...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Concord Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

Horsham Preservation and Historical Association manuscript collection, 1684-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Welsh Strawbridge (1878-1969) and his new wife Margaret E. Marhsall Strawbridge (1898-1969) moved to Graeme Park, the estate of colonial Governor Sir William Keith, in 1922. They raised thoroughbred horses on the land before donating it to Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in 1958. The Horsham Preservation and Historical Association manuscript collection, 1684-1975, is comprised of Strawbridge family papers, township records, Graeme Park property records, and various other documents.

Held at: Horsham Preservation and Historical Association [Contact Us]

Marple Historical Society local history collection, 1685-circa 2000

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

Held at: Marple Historical Society [Contact Us]

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

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

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

Newtown Historic Association small collections, circa 1700-2013

Extent:: 30.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Newtown, the county seat of Bucks County from 1726 to 1813, is one of the most historic areas in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The Newtown Historic Association small collections, circa 1700 to 2013, consist of small collections of mostly original archival material from families, businesses, and organizations from Newtown and surrounding areas.

Held at: Newtown Historic Association [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Radnor Historical Society manuscript collection, 1702-circa 2010

Extent:: 25.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Radnor Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania was founded in 1682, shortly after Welsh Quakers arrived on the lands previously home to the original inhabitants, the Lenni Lenape Indians. Development in the area increased when new transportation routes passed through the area, first the Lancaster Turnpike (the first toll road in America) in 1794, and then the Columbia (later Pennsylvania) Railroad in 1832. The township's population doubled between 1880 and 1890 with the birth of one of the country's first planned suburban developments, Wayne. Development and population boomed again in the wake of World War II and has continued to grow in the 21st century. The Radnor Historical Society manuscript collection, 1702-circa 2010, consists of a variety of original manuscript materials relating to the people, businesses, and organizations of Radnor Township and its vicinity. It includes photographs (prints, albums, and glass plate and film negatives), scrapbooks, financial records,...(see more)

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

Plymouth Meeting Historical Society small collections, 1709-1976 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Plymouth Meeting (in Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was settled during the late 17th century by English and Welsh Quaker and German immigrants. In 1686, the discovery of limestone drew more settlers to the area. Several railroad lines were constructed in the area during the 19th century, which encouraged a growth in industry. Plymouth and Whitemarsh grew significantly after World War II, especially during the latter decades of the 20th century after completion of the Blue Route (Interstate 476) with its major interchange in Plymouth Township. Plymouth Meeting Historical Society small collections, 1709-1976, consist of various small collections held by the Plymouth Meeting Historical Society. The collections document local families, including the Lukens, Corson, and Zimmerman and Dager families. There is also documentation of local properties, in the form of deeds and tax assessments.

Held at: Plymouth Meeting Historical Society [Contact Us]

Harman D. Rees family papers, 1890-1964 (bulk) 1710-1964 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Harman D. Rees was (1873-1964) was a farmer and active public servant in Charlestown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He wrote a detailed history of the township, Historical Sketches of Charlestown Township, completed around 1943. The Harman D. Rees family papers, 1710-1964 (bulk 1890-1964), include scrapbooks, newspaper issues and clippings, research notes, correspondence, family papers, hand drawn maps and blueprints, photographs, and other documents relating to Rees's research interests--Charlestown Township history, birds, plants, and Rees family genealogy--as well as farming practices, family life, municipal affairs, and additional topics.

Held at: Charlestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

New London Area Historical Society local history collection, 1970-2000 (bulk) 1711-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 12.0 linear feet
Abstract:: New London Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania was chartered in 1723 and originally included the areas that now comprise adjacent Franklin Township and nearby London Britain Township. The New London Academy opened in 1743 and was responsible for educating a number of prominent colonial, revolutionary, and early American-era politicians, historians, clergy, and educators, including three signers of the Declaration of Independence. The New London Area Historical Society local history collection, 1711-2000 (bulk 1970-2000), consists of a mix of primary and secondary-source material relating to the history and residents of New London Township and nearby areas. Materials include manuscripts, property files, photographs, slides, newspaper clippings, subject files, and a small amount of records from various New London historical organizations.

Held at: New London Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Fort Washington manuscript volumes and deeds collection, 1721-1978 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.25 linear feet
Abstract:: Fort Washington, Pennsylvania (now part of Upper Dublin Township and Whitemarsh Township) was settled in the 18th century by German immigrants and is a known for its role in the Revolutionary War. The Historical Society of Fort Washington manuscript volumes and deeds collection, 1721-1978, includes records of local organizations, people, businesses, and townships, as well as multiple deeds.

Held at: Historical Society of Fort Washington [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historic Fallsington, Inc. manuscript collection, 1729-1984 (inclusive)

Extent:: 15.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Settled by English Quakers in the late 17th century, the village of Fallsington in Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania became significant as a religious, social and commercial center for the surrounding community. It served as a popular stopover point for travelers due to its location along several major transportation systems. Fallsington became the first historic district in Bucks County (1955) and was subsequently placed on the National Register of Historic Places (1971). The Historic Fallsington, Inc. manuscript collection includes the papers of numerous Fallsington families and individuals, as well as other materials that document the history of the village. Items include personal papers, account books and other financial papers, diaries, photographs, deeds, maps, and genealogy research.

Held at: Historic Fallsington, Inc. [Contact Us]

Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society manuscripts collection, 1732-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Both Tredyffrin and Easttown townships in the Upper Main Line area and eastern Chester County, Pennsylvania were settled by Welsh Quakers in 1682; they were incorporated in 1707 and 1704, respectively. Predominantly farming communities for most of their histories, commercial and residential development in both townships accelerated with the construction of the "Main Line" Pennsylvania Railroad Line in the 1830s and burgeoned after World War II. The Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society manuscripts collection, 1732-2010, includes various small accumulations of materials from local individuals, businesses, and organizations in the area of Tredyffrin and Easttown townships. Minute books, financial records, genealogy and local history research materials, school records, correspondence, and other family papers and organizational records are represented.

Held at: Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historic Langhorne Association local history collection, 1733-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 18.33 linear feet
Abstract:: Settled by Quakers beginning in 1680, the small town of Langhorne in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, grew as an important transportation center between Trenton and Philadelphia due to its location at the intersection of major roads connecting the two cities. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the town, which served as a stop along the rail line, became a popular summer vacation destination for wealthy Philadelphians. The Historic Langhorne Association local history collection, 1733-2012, consists of various materials relating to local history topics in or around Langhorne, Pennsylvania, including families, individuals, businesses, organizations, and property. It includes four series: subject files, small collections, oral histories, and oversize materials.

Held at: Historic Langhorne Association [Contact Us]

Tri-County Heritage Society local history collection, 1735-1990s

Extent:: 75.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The region of southeastern Pennsylvania where southern Berks, northern Chester, and eastern Lancaster counties meet is known locally as the "Tri-County" area. The Tri-County area was first settled by Welsh immigrants, and later by German, Irish, and Scottish immigrants. While the area was largely agricultural, it also developed into an important early industrial corridor. In the early twenty-first century, the Tri-County area is a mix of farmland, industry, and suburban real estate development. Tri-County Heritage Society local history collection, 1735-1990s, consists of manuscripts and other original materials, photographs and audiovisual materials, secondary-source materials, printed matter and ephemera, and other documents relating to the history, residents, organizations, and businesses of Berks, Chester, and Lancaster counties. There is also some material relating to Delaware, Montgomery, and other nearby counties in Pennsylvania.

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

Springfield Township Historical Society small collections, 1950-2012 (bulk) 1739-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8.67 linear feet
Abstract:: The Springfield Township Historical Society small collections, 1739-2012, consist of small groupings of records gathered from many different sources, relating to various subjects relative to Springfield Township and local history. About half of this collection is comprised of files arranged alphabetically by subject, consisting mostly of secondary materials. The other half is mostly primary-source materials such as minute books, scrapbooks, family papers, and deeds, organized into groupings by donor.

Held at: Springfield Township Historical Society (Montgomery County, Pa.) [Contact Us]

Yardley Historical Association local history collection, 1883-2013 (bulk) 1741-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 9.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Yardley Borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was settled in 1682 by Quaker minister William Yeardley who purchased a tract of land from William Penn. Following the completion of the Bristol-New Hope section of the Delaware Canal in 1831, new commerce and trade poured into the town, then called "Yardleyville." The town continued to grow following the completion of the New York branch of the railroad in 1876 that included a nearby station. Yardley was incorporated as a borough in 1895. The Yardley Historical Association local history collection, 1741-2013 (bulk 1883-2013), is organized into two series: I. Subject files and II. Manuscripts. The Subject files include pamphlets and ephemera, photocopies of historical documents, and photographs, relating to local history topics, such as floods and Black history in Yardley. The Manuscripts include various materials, such as documents, minute books, photographs, scrapbooks, and oral histories, that document Yardley individuals, families,...(see more)

Held at: Yardley Historical Association [Contact Us]

Uwchlan Township Historical Commission manuscripts collection, 1742-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Originally inhabited by Leni-Lenape (Delaware) and Iroquoian-speaking Susquehanuck peoples, Uwchlan Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania was settled by Welsh Quakers in the early 18th century. The township was founded in 1712. It remained a largely rural farming community until a post-World War II suburbanization boom. The Uwchlan Township Historical Commission manuscripts collection, 1742-2000, includes photographs, deeds, maps, family papers, business records, municipal records, and various other materials collected from local people and organizations from Uwchlan and nearby areas. Of special interest are a dozen Civil War letters.

Held at: Uwchlan Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Newtown Square Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Trappe, Collegeville, Perkiomen Valley collection of personal papers and organizational records, 1747-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Historical Society of Trappe, Collegeville, Perkiomen Valley collection of personal papers and organizational records, 1747-1998, is comprised of small groupings of family papers, organizational records, and miscellaneous original archival items. It includes photographs, deeds, scrapbooks, minute books, ledgers, financial papers, estate papers, and diaries. Of special interest is a record book kept by Henry Vanderslice, a wagonmaster who served under General Muhlenburg during the Revolutionary War, and was stationed at Pennsylvania Camp, Reading, 1777-1780.

Held at: The Historical Society of Trappe, Collegeville, Perkiomen Valley [Contact Us]

Bristol History small collections, 1749-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 25.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Bristol Borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, became an important area due to its location along the Delaware River, a major land route, and subsequent rail line linking Philadelphia and New York City. Incorporated in 1720, it served as the county seat from 1705 to 1726. The Bristol History small collections, 1749-2013, consist of various individual manuscript volumes and small collections relating to the people, businesses, properties, and organizations of Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Of special interest are Doron Green and William Kinsey scrapbooks, and a collection of William Bache papers.

Held at: Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Brower family papers, circa 1750-1950s

Extent:: 12.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Mennonites Hubert and Anna Brower left Germany and emigrated to Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1726. They settled in Coventry (now, East Coventry Township). Hubert and Anna's son, Henry Brower (1720-1784) purchased land and established a family farm in the Parker Ford area of Coventry. His descendents, many of who were farmers, doctors, and ministers, resided in this area of Chester County for several generations. The Brower family papers, circa 1750-1950s, consist of financial, legal, and property documents; letters; family records and genealogy research; school records and teacher certificates; photographs and scrapbooks; newspaper clippings, printed matter, and ephemera; and other materials. There are small amounts of materials from other families that are connected to the Brower family. Individuals well-represented in the collection include M. Bertha Brower (1900-2000), Dr. William Brower (1842-1919), Abraham Brower, and David Stiteler Taylor (1832-1925) and his second wife,...(see more)

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

Warren K. Schlotterer family papers and local history collection, circa 1750-1960

Extent:: 5.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Warren K. Schlotterer (1881-1968) was a local historian in Schwenksville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Warren K. Schlotterer family papers and local history collection, circa 1750-1960, includes papers from Warren K. Schlotterer's family, as well as materials collected by him on local history topics focused around Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

Held at: Goschenhoppen Historians, Inc. [Contact Us]

Goschenhoppen Historians document and ephemera collection, 1758-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Goschenhoppen, one of the oldest continuously existing Pennsylvania German communities in America, is a geographic region in Montgomery County. The Goschenhoppen Historians document and ephemera collection, 1758-1992, documents local history and is rich in genealogical data. It includes receipts and accounts, indentures, vital records, correspondence, and other original documents; ephemera, such as advertisements, pamphlets, broadsides, and sheet music, are also in the collection. Fine examples of Fraktur are of special interest.

Held at: Goschenhoppen Historians, Inc. [Contact Us]

West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1759-2015 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: In the first decades of the 18th century, emigrants from Radnorshire, Wales settled in the area that would become Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Nantmeal Township was divided into East and West Nantmeal townships in 1739, and Honey Brook Township and Wallace Township later separated from West Nantmeal Township in 1789 and 1852, respectively. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, West Nantmeal was home to farms, mills and forges, including the Isabella Furnace. As of 2015, West Nantmeal remains a largely rural community. The West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1759-2015, consists of a mix of primary and secondary source materials relating to the history, residents, businesses, and other topics related to West Nantmeal Township. The materials include manuscripts, subject files, oral histories, CDs and DVDs, maps, and other materials.

Held at: West Nantmeal Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Haverford Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

Lansdale Historical Society local history subject files, 1970-2012 (bulk) 1762-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 22.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Lansdale in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania became a boom town during the mid-19th century when a junction of the North Pennsylvania Railroad was established where the center of the town is now located. The Borough of Lansdale was incorporated on August 24, 1872. The Lansdale Historical Society local history subject files, 1762-2012 (bulk 1970-2012), are comprised of newspaper clippings, copies of secondary research materials, some pamphlets and ephemera, and a very small amount of original primary documents. Materials document churches, community histories, people, organizations, businesses and local government agencies.

Held at: Lansdale Historical Society [Contact Us]

New Hope Historical Society local history collection, 1970-2013 (bulk) 1763-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.0 linear feet
Abstract:: New Hope in Bucks County, Pennsylvania is at the half-way point between Philadelphia and New York City along Old York Road. The borough was incorporated in 1837. The New Hope Historical Society local history collection, 1763-2013 (bulk 1970-2013), includes subject files with newspaper clippings and ephemera as well as scattered original documents and manuscripts. There are ten volumes of New Hope Borough tax records, circa 1860-1890.

Held at: New Hope Historical Society [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Quakertown Historical Society collection of ledgers and deeds, 1767-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Quakertown, Pennsylvania, incorporated in 1855, is a town located in the northeast portion of Upper Bucks County. The town remained quite small until the mid-nineteenth century, when the construction of the North Pennsylvania Railroad helped turn it into a significant commercial center. The Quakertown Historical Society collection of ledgers and deeds, 1767-1991, consists of various ledgers from different creators, as well as an assemblage of local deeds. It seems likely that the majority of ledgers are Quakertown Borough records, although many are not clearly identified. The collection also includes record books from Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, Camp #489 (Quakertown, Pa.), Powelton Cut Glass Company, and several unidentified sources.

Held at: Quakertown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Bensalem Township local history collection, 1770-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 12.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Settled by the Dutch, Swedes, and English, Bensalem Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was a farming community until the 1950s and 1960s when the area underwent a significant amount of suburban development. Historical Society of Bensalem Township local history collection, 1770-2013, consists of maps, deeds, photographs, ledgers, and other original, primary-source documents relating to the history of Bensalem Township and surrounding areas.

Held at: Historical Society of Bensalem Township [Contact Us]

Sellersville Museum local history collection, 1770-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 15.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Originally settled in 1738, Sellersville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania was incorporated as a borough in 1874. In the second half of the 19th century, cigar, textile, and other industries established companies in Sellersville. As of 2014, Sellersville is mainly a commuter town, although some historic structures, including the Sellersville Theater and the Washington House, have been restored and are local attractions. The Sellersville Museum local history collection, 1770-2014, contains both primary and secondary-source materials, such as business ledgers, deeds, scrapbooks, photograph albums, newspaper clippings, and subject files relating to the people, businesses, organizations, and other aspects of Sellersville.

Held at: Sellersville Museum [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Frankford manuscript collection, 1773-1952 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. The Historical Society of Frankford manuscript collection, 1773-1952, consists of a variety of original manuscript and printed materials relating to the people, businesses, and organizations of the neighborhood of Frankford in Northeast Philadelphia and its vicinity. It consists of newspapers, ephemera, programs,...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Craven Hall Historical Society local history collection, 1774-1973 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Warminster Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania was established 1711. It was home to religious leader William Tennent, steamboat inventor John Fitch, and the world's largest human centrifuge. The Craven Hall Historical Society local history collection, 1774-1973, contains ciphering books, account books, photographs, tax ledgers, deeds, scrapbooks, and other documents from local people, families, and organizations.

Held at: Craven Hall Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Frankford small manuscripts collection, circa 1774-1990s

Extent:: 20.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. The Historical Society of Frankford small manuscripts collection, circa 1774-1990s, consists of groups (less than 1 linear foot each) of various manuscript materials from local individuals, families, and businesses in the Frankford neighborhood. The materials include financial and insurance papers, property documents,...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Whitpain local history collection, 1778-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.3 linear feet
Abstract:: Whitpain Township, one of the oldest townships of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was settled as early as 1685. The Historical Society of Whitpain local history collection, 1778-2011, contains newspaper clippings, ledgers and other manuscript volumes, pamphlets and ephemera, and original and copy photographs. It is covers various topics of local interest, including locally significant churches, organizations, historic buildings, schools, individuals and families.

Held at: Wissahickon Valley Historical Society [Contact Us]

Limerick Township Historical Society vertical files, 1920-2012 (bulk) 1783-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.75 linear feet
Abstract:: The Limerick Township Historical Society vertical files, 1783-2012, are comprised of materials relating to local history, general topics, local historical societies, Limerick Township schools, and deeds. The materials include deeds, newspaper clippings, photographs, and photocopies of primary source materials.

Held at: Limerick Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

Carl Schultheis local history collection, 1786-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.25 linear feet
Abstract:: Carl F. Schultheis, Jr. (born 1930) is a pediatrician at the King of Prussia Medical Center in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and known as a local historian in Upper Merion Township, PA. The Carl Schultheis local history collection, 1786-2012, consists of photographs, deeds, marriage certificates, letters, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and other materials documenting the local history and people of King of Prussia (Montgomery County, PA) and nearby areas.

Held at: King of Prussia Historical Society [Contact Us]

Plymouth Meeting Historical Society subject files, 1950-1990 (bulk) 1787-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 19.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Plymouth Meeting (in Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was settled during the late 17th century by English and Welsh Quaker and German immigrants. In 1686, the discovery of limestone drew more settlers to the area. Several railroad lines were constructed in the area during the 19th century, which encouraged a growth in industry. Plymouth and Whitemarsh grew significantly after World War II, especially during the latter decades of the 20th century after completion of the Blue Route (Interstate 476) with its major interchange in Plymouth Township. The Plymouth Meeting Historical Society subject files, 1787-2012, document Plymouth and Whitemarsh local history including people, families, buildings and locales, events, and organizations. Most of the materials are secondary-source, such as newspaper clippings, photocopies, research notes, pamphlets, and ephemera with a small amount of original, primary source documents.

Held at: Plymouth Meeting Historical Society [Contact Us]

Headley family papers, circa 1788-1981

Extent:: 3.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The Headley family was a prominent and socially-active family from Fallsington, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The Headley family papers, circa 1788- 1981, document several generations of the Headley family and related family members, particularly the family of Charles Moon Headley (b. 1865) and Elizabeth Schurz Headley (b. 1871), including their daughters Alice Headley Woodruff (1894-1989) and Eleanor Christina Headley (b. 1897). The collection is largely made up of photographs that document the family and the village of Fallsington, circa 1850-1950, and bound volumes including account books, minute books, and diaries. The collection also contains legal papers, personal papers, correspondence, genealogy research, and papers relating to Historic Fallsington, Inc.

Held at: Historic Fallsington, Inc. [Contact Us]

Papers Read Before the Historical Society of Frankford, 1788-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. Papers Read Before the Historical Society of Frankford, 1788-2009, consists of original lecture and research materials, booklets, and bound volumes of the Papers Read Before the Historical Society of Frankford. The Papers Read began in 1906 as a lecture series, with some...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Worcester Historical Society local history collection, 1788-1999 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Worcester Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania was formed in 1733. It is comprised of three villages: Center Point, Fairview Village, and Cedars. The Worcester Historical Society local history collection, 1788-1999, includes documents, ephemera, photographs, correspondence, and other records from several local clubs, associations, and schools.

Held at: Worcester Historical Society [Contact Us]

Spring-Ford Area Historical Society local history collection, 1880-1960 (bulk) 1789-2000 bulk, 1880-1960 (inclusive)

Extent:: 34.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Previously a sparsely-settled farming area, early development in Spring City (Chester County, Pennsylvania) and adjacent Royersford (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania) coincided with the opening of the Schuylkill Navigation Canal in 1824. Industry in the two towns continued to grow during the 19th century, especially with the construction of major rail lines through both. By the early 20th century, Spring City and Royersford were booming industrial towns with extensive stove factories, glass and bottle works, and embroidery, hosiery, and knitting mills, among other businesses. The Spring-Ford Area Historical Society local history collection, 1789-2000 (bulk 1880-1960), consists of photographs, scrapbooks, manuscript volumes, pamphlets and ephemera, deeds, and various other documents relating to local history. Photographs form the largest portion of the collection.

Held at: Spring-Ford Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Wallace Township local history collection, 1789-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 30.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Although the first official survey of Wallace Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania took place in 1729, the Township was formally created in 1852 and has had multiple changes to its boundaries since. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, farms, mills, and forges dotted the landscape, but the late 19th century brought the railroad and considerable development of the area. A Pennsylvania Turnpike entrance was created near Wallace in 1950, and during the late 20th century, many residential subdivisions were built in the Township resulting in a substantial population increase. The Wallace Township Historical Commission local history collection, 1789-2014, consists of a mix of primary and secondary-source material relating to the history and residents of Wallace Township. Materials include scrapbooks, maps and blueprints, deeds, financial and administrative records, photographs, audio recordings, ephemera, correspondence, posters, and genealogy and other research materials.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

Springfield Township Historical Society photograph, manuscript, and deed collection, 1789-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Springfield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania was surveyed and laid out in 1743. The township was primarily a rural farming community for most of its history, although population increased with suburbanization in the late 20th century. The Springfield Township Historical Society photograph, manuscript, and deed collection, 1789-1987, consists of various materials from numerous inhabitants and organizations from the township. A large number of oral histories on audiocassette tapes also form part of the collection.

Held at: Springfield Township Historical Society (Bucks County, Pa.) [Contact Us]

Charlestown Historical Society manuscripts collection, circa 1790-1990

Extent:: 10.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Charlestown Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania is named for Charles Pickering, who was granted the land from William Penn that today makes up a large portion of the Township. Charlestown was the site of the Valley Forge General Hospital during World War II. The Charlestown Historical Society manuscripts collection, circa 1790-1990, includes photographs, slides, deeds, maps and atlases, family papers, business records, school and municipal records, scrapbooks and various other materials collected from local people and organizations from Charlestown Township and nearby areas.

Held at: Charlestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Hilltown Township local history collection, 1790-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Established in 1721, Hilltown Township (Bucks County, Pennsylvania) remained a farming community up until the end of World War II. Construction of large housing developments started at the end of the 1970s. The Historical Society of Hilltown Township local history collection, 1790-2012, consists of various primary-source materials that document Hilltown Township individuals, families, businesses, and properties. These include deeds, personal papers relating to some of the first families of Hilltown, materials relating to area schools, historic site survey forms, photographs, and records of local businesses and organizations.

Held at: Historical Society of Hilltown Township [Contact Us]

Historic Sugartown local manuscripts collection, 1790s-1980s

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Sugartown, located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, was established in the early 1800s and became a vibrant crossroads that provided goods and services to the surrounding farming community. The Historic Sugartown local manuscripts collection, 1790s-1980s, consists of various materials such as letters, photographs, scrapbooks, and deeds that document some of Sugartown's early families and businesses. In particular, the Williams and Garrett families are well represented. Some items relating to the Hoopes family are also included.

Held at: Historic Sugartown, Inc. [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Tinicum Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historic Carversville Society local history collection, 1970-1990 (bulk) 1793-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.5 linear feet
Abstract:: A prime example of a 19th-century farming community, Carversville in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was one of the first districts to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The Historic Carversville Society local history collection, 1793-2013 (bulk 1970-1990), contains various materials, including oral histories, photographs, newspaper clippings, ephemera, and two deeds, that document Carversville local history.

Held at: Historic Carversville Society [Contact Us]

George F. P. Wanger genealogical research, 1794-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.5 linear feet
Abstract:: George F. P. Wanger, 1863-1938, was an author, historian, and genealogist who published materials relating to his family and to the local history of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The bulk of the George F. P. Wanger genealogical research, 1794-1937, is comprised of research materials gathered by Wanger while compiling his family history. The collection also includes primary source materials such as marriage certificates and land deeds.

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

Pottstown Historical Society subject files, 1900-2012 (bulk) 1795-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 68.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Pottstown Historical Society subject files, 1795-2012, are comprised of copy and original newspaper clippings, pamphlets, ephemera, and miscellaneous documents relating to various Pottstown local history topics.

Held at: Pottstown Historical Society [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]

Union Library of Hatboro local history collection, 1799-1999 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.2 linear feet
Abstract:: In 1715, the Crooked Billet Inn was built by John Dawson in what is now known as Hatboro Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It was a farming village that boasted one of the first rural libraries in Pennsylvania, the Union Library Company. The Union Library of Hatboro local history collection, 1799-1999, contains primary and secondary materials relating to Hatboro history and events.

Held at: Union Library of Hatboro [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Upper Darby Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area local manuscripts collection, circa 1800-2000

Extent:: 27.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Phoenixville, which was incorporated as a borough in 1849 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, evolved from a late-17th century village. The history of the town largely mirrored the history of the Phoenix Iron Company which became hugely successful in the mid-19th century with the advent of the railroad. The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area local manuscripts collection, circa 1800-2000, includes various original manuscript materials relating to the people, families, organizations, and businesses in the Phoenixville area.

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

Lansdale Historical Society small collections and scrapbooks, 1930-2012 (bulk) 1800-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.33 linear feet
Abstract:: Lansdale, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania became a boom town during the mid-19th century when a junction of the North Pennsylvania Railroad was established where the center of the town is now located. The Borough of Lansdale was incorporated on August 24, 1872. This collection, which documents the history of Lansdale, its organizations, and residents, consists of various scrapbooks, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, photograph albums, deeds, letters, primary source documents relating to particular organizations, and other miscellaneous materials.

Held at: Lansdale Historical Society [Contact Us]

Newtown Historic Association maps, blueprints, and plans collection, circa 1800-2007

Extent:: 5.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Newtown, the county seat of Bucks County from 1726 to 1813, is one of the most historic areas in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The Newtown Historic Association maps, blueprints, and plans collection, circa 1800-2007, consists of various maps, blueprints, and plans of Newtown (Bucks County, Pennsylvania) and surrounding areas, and includes originals as well as copies and reproductions.

Held at: Newtown Historic Association [Contact Us]

Glendinning collection, 1800-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.2 linear feet
Abstract:: The Glendinning's are a local Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia family. The Glendinning collection, 1800-1980, is comprised of family histories and documentation of local events.

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]

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]

St. James' Community History Center collection on local and church history, 1803-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The bulk of the St. James' Community History Center collection on local and church history, 1803-2012, is alphabetically-arranged subject files. These files include information on local history and are made up of pamphlets, research notes, copies of articles, correspondence, church records, newspaper clippings, and maps. The collection also includes photographs, deeds, a Girls' Friendly Society scrapbook, and correspondence of Rev. Edward Platt (a past rector of St. James').

Held at: St. James' Community History Center [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Aston Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

Pottstown Historical Society manuscript volumes collection, 1808-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Pottstown Historical Society manuscript volumes collection, 1808-1990, consists of eight scrapbooks, five ledgers, and three volumes of doctor's records. The doctor's records are a highlight of the collection, and were created by Dr. George Van Buskirk circa 1808-1823

Held at: Pottstown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Plumstead Historical Society local history collection, 1809-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The area of Plumstead Township (Bucks County, Pa.) was originally settled in the early 18th century by English Quakers, but soon grew into a diverse community. The township was officially established in 1725 and was initially an agrarian community, although many businesses and industries were eventually established due to the presence of a nearby highway. The Plumstead Historical Society local history collection, 1809-2014, consists of various primary and secondary-source materials donated to or collected by the Plumstead Historical Society relating to the history and residents of Plumstead Township.

Held at: Plumstead Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Frankford small collections of Frankford organizational and business records, circa 1809-1986

Extent:: 10.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. The Historical Society of Frankford small collections of Frankford organizational and business records, circa 1809-1986, consist of small amounts of materials collected by the Historical Society of Frankford relating to various organizations and businesses in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Frankford printed matter and ephemera collection, 1813-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.25 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. The Frankford Historical Society printed matter and ephemera collection, 1813-1997, consists of pamphlets, booklets, invitations, programs and other printed matter relating to organizations, businesses, events, and other topics. A majority of these document the Frankford area, but there are also a large number of materials...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Bridesburg Historical Society local history collection, 1816-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Bridesburg Historical Society local history collection, 1812-2012, includes original and reproduction photographs, newsletters and ephemera, clippings, research materials, and a small amount of original documents and deeds relating to Bridesburg in northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Held at: Bridesburg Historical Society [Contact Us]

Carn-Buchanan family papers, 1817-1897 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.3 linear feet
Abstract:: Hannah B. Lester (b. 1815) was a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) who lived in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Abram Carn was the proprietor of a general store and post office in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. The Carn-Buchanan family papers, 1817-1897, are made up of personal correspondence of Hannah B. Lester and three receipt books attributed to Abram Carn and an unknown person with the surname Donut.

Held at: Historical Society of Fort Washington [Contact Us]

Plank family papers, circa 1820s-1980s

Extent:: 30.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Plank family of Oley and Morgantown, Berks County, Pennsylvania is descended from French Huguenot and physician, Jacques De La Planche, or Jacob Plank (circa 1680-1760). Plank came to Pennsylvania around 1710 and settled in Oley about ten years later. His children and their descendents married into several influential families in Berks County and were actively involved in the communities of Oley and Morgantown. Plank family papers, circa 1820s-1980s, consist of materials that document the professional and personal lives of various members of the Plank family and their relations. Individuals well-represented in the collection include Dr. D. Heber Plank, William Bertolet Plank and others. Materials in the collection include diaries, correspondence, financial records, property documents, legal papers, scrapbooks, photographs and negatives, family records and genealogical research, records from organizations connected to the family, architectural and other technical drawings,...(see more)

Held at: Tri-County Heritage Society [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Nether Providence Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Frankford scrapbook and photograph album collection, 1826-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.5 linear feet
Abstract:: The Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is located in the lower northeast section of the city and is bordered by the Frankford Creek on the south, Castor Avenue on the west, Cheltenham Avenue on the north, and roughly the I-95 expressway on the east. Originally a village, Frankford was incorporated as a borough in 1800 and was later absorbed into the City of Philadelphia in the 1854 Philadelphia city/county consolidation. As of 2015, Frankford is a working-class neighborhood with a diverse population, including a large number of African Americans, Asian Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and West Indian Americans. The Historical Society of Frankford scrapbook and photograph album collection, 1826-1975, consists of various scrapbooks and photograph albums that document the people, businesses, organizations, and general history of Frankford and Northeast Philadelphia.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

Upper Uwchlan Township Historic Commission local history collection, 1829-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:: 17.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Upper Uwchlan Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, was established in 1858 when it broke off from Uwchlan Township. Its boundaries include the historic district of Byers Station and the Wheelen House (Fellowship Farm), a Georgian-style farmhouse built in the mid 18th century. Remaining a rural community for most of its existence, Upper Uwchlan experienced large population growth beginning in the 1980s, leading to an increase in area development and the construction of several new subdivisions. The Upper Uwchlan Township Historic Commission local history collection, 1829-2005, contains a mix of primary- and secondary-source materials relating to the people, buildings, property, organizations, and other aspects of Upper Uwchlan Township. The collection is organized into four series: I. Manuscripts (organized by family/donor), II. Property files (organized by location), III. Subject files (organized into sub-groupings: people, clippings by date, and other), and IV. Subject binders.

Held at: Upper Uwchlan Township Historic Commission [Contact Us]

Worrall and John family papers and business records, 1830-1939 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 linear feet
Abstract:: During the 1840s, Sharpless Worrall moved with his family to Sugartown in Willistown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he took over ownership of a general store and served as postmaster for 20 years. Upon his retirement, Worrall's son-in-law Hillery John took over the store, which he ran until his death. At that point it was taken over by Hillery's son, Clyde B. John, who eventually turned the business into an antiques shop. Worrall and John family papers and business records, 1830-1939, primarily consist of the business records of the general store under all three owners as well personal and family papers relating to the Worrall and John families.

Held at: Historic Sugartown, Inc. [Contact Us]

Mather family papers, 1830-1920 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:: Isaac B. Mather (1806-1907) operated a gristmill at Washington Lane and Tacony Creek in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The Mather family papers, 1830-1920, consist of papers from Isaac Mather and his descendants, chiefly business and financial records.

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

Springfield Township Historical Society genealogy and subject files, 1985-2013 (bulk) 1832-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 14.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Springfield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania was surveyed and laid out in 1743. The township was primarily a rural farming community for most of its history, although its population increased with suburbanization in the late 20th century. The Springfield Township Historical Society genealogy and subject files, 1832-2013 (bulk 1985-2013), cover numerous local history topics and local families. The collection consists largely of secondary-source materials, principally newspaper clippings, research notes, and narrative histories. A small quantity of original documents is mixed in.

Held at: Springfield Township Historical Society (Bucks County, Pa.) [Contact Us]

Doylestown Historical Society local history collection, 1832-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:: 18.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The area now known as Doylestown (Bucks County, Pennsylvania) was given to Edward Doyle as a land grant from William Penn in 1692. Doylestown became the county seat of Bucks County in 1812, and the area flourished when a railroad line was completed between Doylestown and Philadelphia in 1856. Doylestown's historic downtown began to deteriorate in the early 1960s, but the town was revitalized in part due to an architectural preservation movement. The Doylestown Historical Society local history collection, 1832-2009, consists of manuscripts, such as organizational records, ledgers, photographs, ephemera, genealogy records, maps, and blueprints, that document various Doylestown individuals, families, businesses, and organizations.

Held at: Doylestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Fort Washington subject files, 1832-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:: 16.75 linear feet
Abstract:: Fort Washington, Pennsylvania (now a part of Upper Dublin Township and Whitemarsh Township) was settled in the 18th century by German immigrants and is known for its role in the Revolutionary War. The Historical Society of Fort Washington subject files, 1832-2010, are on topics of local interest, such as churches, schools, and businesses; monuments and historic sites; battles and wars; family genealogies and genealogical research aids; mills and farms; etc. Most of the collection consists of newspaper clippings and secondary histories, but there are some pamphlets, photographs, and scattered primary materials.

Held at: Historical Society of Fort Washington [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society local history collection, 1838-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 15.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Roxborough and Manayunk are neighborhoods in the northwest section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, adjacent to Wissahickon Valley Park. In the 19th century the Wissahickon Creek was lined with mills and the neighborhoods were industrial and working class, but the Wissahickon was later turned into a public park and Roxborough and Manayunk underwent substantial gentrification during the latter part of the 20th century. The Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society local history collection, 1838-2012, consists primarily of newspaper clippings, articles, unpublished genealogies, copies of primary-source documents, and other secondary-source materials relating to local history. The collection also includes a small amount of original primary-source materials, such as receipts and invoices, correspondence, photographs, meeting minutes, and ephemera.

Held at: Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society [Contact Us]

Historical Society of Montgomery County scrapbooks collection, 1839-1982 (inclusive)

Extent:: 42.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Historical Society of Montgomery County scrapbooks collection, 1839-1982, consists primarily of scrapbooks compiled by various individuals, along with some compiled by HSMC staff and volunteers. The majority have a local focus and consist primarily of newspaper clippings. There are scrapbooks devoted to prominent local citizens, nearby regions, or national events; and there are also numerous scrapbooks by named individuals with items of personal interest.

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

Bruce Conner collection on Philadelphia history, circa 1840-2011

Extent:: 7.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Bruce M. Conner (1951-2011) was a local historian and resident of Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An avid supporter of preserving the history and historic buildings of the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods, he was actively involved in many Northeast history organizations and established the Friends of Lower Dublin Academy in 2008. The Bruce Conner collection on Philadelphia history, circa 1840-2011, consists of 19th and 20th century manuscripts collected by Conner as well as secondary-source research materials and papers by Conner on Northeast Philadelphia history.

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

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

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

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

Quakertown Historical Society local history "blue books", circa 1842-2013

Extent:: 20.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Quakertown, Pennsylvania, incorporated in 1855, is a town located in the northeast portion of Upper Bucks County. The town remained quite small until the mid-nineteenth century, when the construction of the North Pennsylvania Railroad helped turn it into a significant commercial center. The Quakertown Historical Society local history "blue books," circa 1842-2013, consist primarily of newspaper clippings, with a fair amount of primary-source documents including photographs, ephemera, and scattered original documents, all pertaining to the subject of Quakertown and its history.

Held at: Quakertown Historical Society [Contact Us]

Downingtown Area Historical Society General Archives collection, 1843-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 20.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Borough of Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania is located halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. Known as Milltown in the 18th century since it was the location of the last mills on the edge of the unsettled western frontier, the village became known as Downingtown after the War of 1812; the borough was incorporated in 1859. Improved transportation, by stagecoach, railroad, and eventually highways, drew increasing population and investment to Downingtown over the 19th and 20th centuries. The Downingtown Area Historical Society General Archives collection, 1843-2012, consists of various small accumulations of records (less than one linear foot) from businesses, clubs, organizations, individuals, and families based in or near Downingtown.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

Holt family papers, 1843-1897 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:: Charles Holt (1821-1892) was a farmer in what is now Lower Moreland Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The Holt family papers, 1843-1897, include a diary begun in 1855 and continued by Holt's daughter until 1893. There are also account books and a recipe book of cures.

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

Conshohocken Historical Society local history collection, 1846-1979 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8.2 linear feet
Abstract:: The Conshohocken Historical Society local history collection, 1846-1979, consists of miscellaneous original records and papers from organizations and individuals based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. It includes scrapbooks, minute books, pamphlets, reports, ledgers, correspondence, blueprints, and maps.

Held at: Conshohocken Historical Society [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Radnor Historical Society [Contact Us]

Kennett Township Historical Commission subject files, 1980-2014 (bulk) 1847-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The first recorded mention of "Kennett Township" in Chester County, Pennsylvania is from 1705. An abolitionist stronghold, Kennett was popular with freedom-seekers escaping slavery prior to the Civil War due to the presence of progressive Quakers and a community of free blacks that was established as early as 1830. Later, the Kennett area became known for producing more than half of the mushrooms consumed in the United States. The Kennett Township Historical Commission subject files, 1847-2014 (bulk 1980-2014), focus on people, places, organizations, buildings, and events of Kennett Township. The files consist mainly of secondary-source materials, such as clippings, pamphlets/ephemera, and family genealogies, as well as a small amount of primary-source materials.

Held at: Kennett Township Historical Commission [Contact Us]

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

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

Held at: Media Historic Archives Commission [Contact Us]

Solebury Township Historical Society local history collection, 1980-2013 (bulk) 1847-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Originally part of Buckingham Township, the township of Solebury in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was incorporated circa 1702. Industries, particularly farming, became prevalent in the area by the 19th century; the picturesque landscape also drew many prominent artists to the area. The Solebury Township Historical Society local history collection, 1847-2013 (bulk 1980-2013), consists largely of subject files on local history topics that include newspaper clippings, ephemera, printed materials, Ned Harrington (Hillside Press) publications, and pamphlets, with some original documents. Also included in the collection are some original photographs, and to a lesser extent manuscripts and oral histories. Of special interest are two minute books of the nativist fraternal organization, Order of United Americans, Cuttalossa Temple No. 15 (Solebury, Pa.), 1898-1900 and 1905-1915.

Held at: Solebury Township Historical Society [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]

Perkasie Historical Society local history collection, 1848-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Perkasie is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania midway between Philadelphia and Allentown. The site of William Penn's 'Perkasie Manor,' the town was incorporated in 1879 and by the turn of the century had become the third largest station on the North Penn railroad line. The Perkasie Historical Society local history collection, 1848-2000, consists of various materials including scrapbooks, deeds, maps, business and organizational records, personal papers, receipts and invoices, and other documents relating to the people and organizations based in and around Perkasie, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Held at: Perkasie Historical Society [Contact Us]

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