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Painter Family Papers, 1687-1948 (inclusive)

Extent:
24 linear ft. (47 boxes)
Abstract:
The Painter family was an early Pennsylvania Quaker family that married into the Minshall family of Delaware County. In 1681, William Penn granted Thomas Minshall a land tract which now includes the Tyler Arboretum. The property was home to eight generations of the same family. The collection includes family correspondence, business and legal papers, property records, papers on interests and concerns of the Painter brothers, genealogical papers, and miscellaneous deeds and other papers collected by Minshall Painter. It is a rich source of information not only on the Painter family of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and the origins of the Tyler Arboretum, but also on agriculture, social life and customs, and nineteenth century Quaker concerns through day books, account books, financial records, correspondence, and other documents.

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

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Priscilla Walker Streets Genealogical Research Papers,, 1779-ca. 1923 (bulk 1880-1923) (inclusive)

Extent:
0.25 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
Priscilla Walker Streets (1848-1927) was a birthright member of Radnor Monthly Meeting (Quaker) and a genealogist of the Walker family of Chester Valley, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Thomas R. and Mary Baynes Walker and in 1875 was married to Dr. Thomas Hale Streets. These papers are largely genealogical data compiled on the Walker family for her book, Lewis Walker of Chester Valley and His Descendents, 1686-1896, and correspondence after its publication.

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

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Florence E. Taylor Papers, 1806-1995 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Abstract:
Florence E. Taylor was the descendant of a Quaker family whose roots went back to the settlement of Pennsylvania. Her parents were Frederick W. Taylor (1848-1919) and Emily Hunt Taylor (d. 1942). Fred Taylor, a wealthy Philadelphia businessman and philanthropist to the Society of Friends, was the son of Charles Maus Taylor and Anna E. W. Sterling Taylor. His grandfather was Israel Taylor (1782-1850). The collection includes correspondence of Israel Taylor (1782-1850) and Charles M. Taylor (1817-1893), diary (1932-1939) and other writings of Emily H. Taylor, and biographical data concerning the Taylor and Sterling families, including memorabilia and pictures.

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

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Aaron White Family Papers, 1805-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Abstract:
Contains the papers of Aaron White (1793-1863) and his family. He was a birthright member of Pasquotank Monthly Meeting, N.C., and transferred to Milford Monthly Meeting, Indiana, in 1829. The Whites were active in Quaker affairs and concerns, including abolition and controversies within Indiana Yearly Meeting. Aaron, as the oldest son in his family, played a central role in the family both in business and personal matters. The bulk of the collection is the correspondence of Aaron and Margaret White, letters sent and received. Their extended family and concerns include relatives in Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The letters chronicle the migration of Quakers to the mid-West as well as touch on Quaker activities and issues, slavery in North Carolina, and personal concerns through three generations. Prominent Quaker correspondents include Thomas Shillitoe, Thomas Edgerton, Josiah Forster, and Elijah Coffin. Also of interest are business papers and some family...(see more)

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

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Papers of James Curtis Booth, 1785-1944 (inclusive) 1830-1895 (bulk)

Extent:
5.1 linear feet (14 boxes)
Abstract:
This collection represents material created by several generations of the Booth Family. The material created by James Curtis Booth is professional in nature. Material by his daughters and other family members is more personal in nature. There are also literary works, some of them published by George ("Amyntor") Booth, the father of James.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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Edward Ambler Estate Papers, 1776-1879 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (1 folder (4 items)))
Abstract:
Collection includes miscellaneous estate papers, including Edward Ambler's will, dated 1831, and Ann's uncle Richard's estate inventory from 1776.

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

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Lippincott-Dillwyn papers, 1738-1824 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (4 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes a daily journal and spiritual essays by William Lippincott and extracts on theological themes by George Dillwyn. Also included is the copy book of Edward Randolph, dated 1822, and a bound manuscript entitled The Experiences of Margret Bispham, of Mount Holly, 1769. This manuscript reflects the influence of Quakerism and spirituality on the choices of an 18th century Quaker woman.

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

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Jacob Decou family papers, 1724-1830 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (11 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes miscellaneous papers of the Decow family, including wills, financial papers, personal correspondence, and legal documents. Notable among these is the daily journal of Isaac Decow, the son of Jacob Decou.

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

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Elizabeth Gurney Fry collection, 1800-1845 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (51 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes letters of Elizabeth Fry, both original and photocopies. The letters cover a wide range of subjects, from personal news to prison reform. Her correspondence is particularly concerned with education and religious instruction of prisoners, and the treatment of women and children prisoners. One letter describes the philosophy of Quaker marriages. Most of the recipients are unnamed. Also included are several letters of Joseph Fry, passes to visit Newgate prison, and photographs of Elizabeth Fry.

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

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George M. Justice papers, 1818-1853 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (4 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes various business correspondence, including a letter and testimony by John Comly encouraging changes in the Quaker discipline regarding marriage. Also contained are extracts of minutes from Abington Quarterly Meeting discussing marriage, a letter from George M. Justice to his sons, and a hymn printed in raised type for the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind. Also included are unsigned writings on the subjects of a possible war between the U.S. and France and public education.

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

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David Seaman correspondence, 1808-1843 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (5 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes the correspondence of David Seaman, primarily relating to the Hicksite controversy. Correspondents include Edward Hicks, Samuel Mott, Halliday Jackson, and John Comly.

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

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Maria Fox family correspondence, 1809-1825 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (2 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection primarily includes letters written by Maria Fox to her parents in Philadelphia while she was a student at Wilmington Boarding School. Also included are two letters from Maria's sister, Sarah Ann. The correspondence gives an account of the daily experiences of a student at Wilmington Boarding School. One letter briefly mentions a talk given at the school by the Quaker minister, Emmor Kimber.

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

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Grellet-Gurney correspondence, 1799-1859 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (17 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes correspondence of members of the Grellet and Gurney families. Letters between Stephen and Rebecca Collins Grellet to her Collins and Longstreth relations relate primarily family news. Also included are letters of the Gurneys, Joseph John and his wife, Elizabeth Paul, from William Forster, and from Stephan Grellet. These letters share news of traveling ministers and discussions of spiritual issues. Also of interest are a letter of Edward Pease, a letter from Mary Anna Longstreth to John Pease, a copy of the testimony of Stephen Grellet at Burlington Monthly Meeting of Friends in 1829, and the manuscript copy of a letter from Daniel Wheeler.

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

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Rachel Hunt correspondence, 1793-1840 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (2 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes letters received by Rachel Hunt and her husband, John. Among these are letters from other Quaker ministers on the topic of Quaker spirituality. A letter from Rachel Hunt's brother, John Gibbons, discusses the issue of self will in religion. Other correspondents include Thomas Scattergood, Mary S. Lippincott, Edward Hicks, and Jesse Kersey.

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

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Abel Minshall family papers, 1797-1826 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (1 folder.))
Abstract:
This collection includes photocopies of the legal and financial papers of Abel Minshall and his father Thomas. Included are land surveys, wills, and genealogical information.

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

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Laurie-Robbins family papers, 1761-1859 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (1 folder.))
Abstract:
This collection consists of the papers of the Laurie and Robbins families. Included are the copy books of Abigail and Jane Laurie, in which are their own poetry and works by various authors. Also included are fragments of the marriage certificate of Thomas Laurie and the will of Jacob Laurie. Various unsigned letters addressed to Hannah L. Robbins and an undated arithmetic worksheet are included as well.

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

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Daniel Wheeler family papers, 1820-1843 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (11 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes papers of Daniel Wheeler. Included are accounts of the family while living in Russia, a description of the death of Daniel's wife Jane, letters from Daniel and his daughter Sarah to their friend Ellis Yarnall and his daughter Sarah. Also included are letters to various other Quakers, concerning issues of Quaker spirituality, and an account of the death of Daniel Wheeler by his daughter Sarah.

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

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Thomas Wetherald papers, 1823-1828 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (2 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes letters from Thomas Wetherald written to his family while he traveled in the ministry. Some of his letters concern Elias Hicks and the Hicksite controversy. Also included is a sermon of Thomas Wetherald.

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

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Arthur Lyon Mitchell family papers, 1786-1989-1815-1861 (bulk)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (17 items (4 folders)))
Abstract:
Includes: Letters written by or to family members, including Peter Lyon, 1815 and 1849; John Lyon, 1849; Asahel Lyon (d. 1830), n.d.; Amelia Coffin, 1864 (2); and Mary Lyon, 1827. Also: Hannah Lyon's notes on Quaker meetings, n.d.; death notice of Joseph Mitchell, 1786; statement of Charles Coffin's inability to serve in the military, 1837; Amelia Coffin's teacher certificate, 1861; program for Nine Partners School, 1861; grant of property, Mary Lyon to Peter Lyon, 1833; grant of property, Richard Mitchell to David L. Mitchell, 1865; "Society of Friends in Seoul, Korea-Early History" and "The Establishment of a Quaker Meeting in Seoul, Korea", n.d., and an obituary of Ham Sok Hon, 1989. Topics of interest are: Quaker women, pacifism, celibacy, and Select meetings.

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

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Post family papers, 1742-1908 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (25 folders.))
Abstract:
Correspondence received by Mary and Joseph Post from 1833 to 1882. Also includes a letter from Elias Hicks to Willet Robbins, a letter received from the English Quaker minister, Martha Routh (1782), and a number of family deeds and other papers. Correspondents of Joseph and Mary Post include Anna Greene, John Ketcham, Amy (Kirby) and Isaac Post, Joseph Dugdale, James and Lucretia Mott, and Cyrus Peirce. Topics include the illness of Priscilla Cadwallader"modern" abolitionism, spiritualism and the "Rochester rappings," freedom seekers in Rochester, the Pennsylvania Yearly Meeting of Progressive Friends, Rowland Johnson, the ministry of Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony, and related topics.

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

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Parrish family papers, 1662-1873 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (21 items (in 8 folders)))
Abstract:
Collection of family papers includes letters received by Abraham Scott, 1700-1704, a volume containing copies of letters written by George Dillwyn in relation to his wife's inheritance of part of the estate of Richard Hill, Hannah Moore, and Henry Hill, including a house in Madeira, 1799-1816, and an almanac with notations by Captain John Hollitt. Of particular interest is John Parrish's diary of his journey in the ministry from Philadelphia to Virginia in 1782. Also included are copies of letters to and from William Penn, a copy of a marriage certificate in a Quaker style between William Boin and Dido, a "negro woman" 1763, and other miscellaneous manuscripts.

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

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Joseph Tallcot correspondence, 1814-1824 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (5 items (1 folder)))
Abstract:
Contains five letters from Quaker educator Joseph Talcot, including one to New York Yearly Meeting for Sufferings and four to Samuel Parsons (1744-1841), long-time elder and clerk of New York Yearly Meeting. The letters deal with concerns of the Meeting for Suffering and providing literature to Friends in remote quarterly meetings.

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

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West family correspondence, 1782-1841 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (15 items (1 folder)))
Abstract:
Collection of miscellaneous letters, mostly relating to family and affairs of Samuel West, a Quaker merchant of London and Maidenhead, England. Of particular interest is a letter from Henry Tuke concerning proposed admission of a patient to The Retreat, a home for the mentally ill in Leeds.

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

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Alsop Family Papers, 1795-1830 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (1 folder.))
Abstract:
This collection contains the correspondence of the Alsop and Brown families, particularly Othniel Alsop, Hannah Brown Alsop, and Othneil's English siblings, Ann and Robert Alsop. Other correspondents include Alice Jackson, Mary Coffin, and Ann Douglas. Also included are Othniel's naturalization documents, various wills, and calling cards from friends. Of particular interest is a letter dated 1799 from Othniel Alsop to sister in England, describing the "contagious fever" (yellow fever), a letter dated 1803 from John Ives describing sickness in Philadelphia, and one dated 1815 from R. Redman writing to his cousin Hannah Brown Alsop"a good account of Quakers helping one another in time of need." Also included is a letter dated 1828 from Othniel Alsop to wife Sarah, describing travels as a Quaker minister, a letter dated in 1829 from Othniel to his brother Robert, describing religious journeys and societies in New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, and N.Y., and an undated letter from Othniel Alsop...(see more)

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

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Carman family papers, 1786-1894 (bulk)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (13 folders.))
Abstract:
The collections contain journals, correspondence, and miscellaneous Quaker papers. A small journal kept by Thomas Carman, 1864 and 1867, describes his travels which included upstate New York, Baltimore, and Richmond (where he attended general Quaker meetings and visited African American services). Also a photocopy of a journal kept by Catharine Williams, describing a trip to Iowa in 1864 where she attended Yearly Meeting. Correspondents include Benjamin Angell, Edward Dorland, George M. Sisson, and Jeremiah Hubbard. Quaker materials include a 1786 manuscript describing a newspaper article on Quakers in France, an 1805 acrostic by William Hawkins devised for Mary Roach who was accompanying a traveling minister, copied poems and essays on religious themes, and a folder of miscellaneous materials which reflect the Carmans' support of organizations such as the Friends Academy at Union Springs, N.Y., a fair held in New York City to raise funds for freedmen, the Home for the Friendless...(see more)

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

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Samuel Parsons correspondence, 1805-1831 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (1 folder ; 11 items.))
Abstract:
The collection contains correspondence received by Samuel Parsons of New York Monthly Meeting. Correspondents include William and Hannah Jackson, ministers of New Garden Monthly Meeting, Pa.; London Friends writing to James Mott, Parsons, and Richard R. Lawrence in response to their report of Friends' activities with native Americans; Samuel Bettle of Philadelphia concerning the Separation, offering advice for New York Yearly Meeting; Daniel Comstock describing the program of study at the Rensselaer School in Troy, NY; and Ann Shipley of Wilmington, Ohio, describing visits from Quaker ministers including John and Elizabeth Meader.

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

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Lewis-Pratt Family Papers, ca.1790-1851 & n.d (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (6 folders.))
Abstract:
Collection of manuscripts of the Lewis and Pratt families of Delaware County in Pennsylvania. Includes bible pages with births, marriages, and deaths, as well as Quaker documents. Of particular interest is a letter from Thomas H. Speakman to his sister, M.M. Jenkinson on an inheritance which also includes a reference to Rowland Johnson, Lucretia Mott, Clement Biddle, and James Martin at the Cherry Street meeting house.

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

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New York Yearly Meeting collection of Quaker poetry, 1761-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (32 items ; 5 folders.))
Abstract:
Contains poetry collected by New York Yearly Meeting as a topical collection. Folder 1 contains the commonplace book by an anonymous Quaker man which contains both original and copied works [n.d.]; Folder 2 contains the commonplace book of Aaron Baker (1772-1855) containing original and copies, ca. 1799-1855; Folder 3 holds loose manuscript poems; Folder 4 contains typed and printed poems and a detailed list of all the poems in the collection; Folder 5 contains loose poems by Benjamin Burling of New York City on religious themes, 1794.

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

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Balderston Collected Manuscripts, 1735-1822 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. ((19 items.))
Abstract:
Most of the correspondence in this collection is addressed to Henry Drinker concerning trivial and more substantive matters of his business and that of the Society of Friends, including a letter from William Savery in 1794 from Canadagua describing a visit to the Oneidas. Also included are a document from the Philadelphia Committee to Joseph Elkinton in Tunesassah (1822) and a subscription list (1831) for J.J. Foster's publication on the New Jersey Crosswicks trial, signed by Roberts Vaux and others.

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

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Quaker Disciplines, 1689-2018 (inclusive)

Extent:
9 linear ft.
Abstract:
The Society of Friends or Quakers (the terms are synonymous) was founded in the middle of the seventeenth century in England by George Fox and others. The Friends Historical Library has collected Quaker disciplines since its founding in 1871. FHL is also the official repository for the records of seven American yearly meetings.

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

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Sharpless Family Papers, 1792-1892 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Abstract:
The collection represents two branches of the Sharpless family of Pennsylvania descended from Joseph and Lydia (Lewis) Sharpless). It contains correspondence between extended Sharpless family relations including Sharpless, Hunn, Jones, Drinker families and journals of Joshua Sharpless, a Quaker minister who worked with Native Americans and visited Quaker meetings in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Canada. Correspondence covers various topics including the travels of women ministers, yellow fever, and contemporary events. The second series contains primarily nineteenth century correspondence of the extended family of Townsend and Mary Brinton (Jones) Sharpless. It includes letters written by Henry H. G. Sharpless during his European tour and extensive correspondence received by Ezekiel Hunn who served briefly in the Union Army during the Civil War.

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

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Gathered Leaves: Miscellaneous Papers from New York Yearly Meeting, 1694-1871 (inclusive)

Extent:
.75 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Abstract:
The bulk of the collection is epistles, sorted roughly by topic. William Wood, the Clerk of New York Yearly Meeting who arranged the collection, was particularly interested in the issues of slavery, freedmen, peace testimony, and religious education. Also included are correspondence, Quaker documents, and miscellaneous papers. Correspondents include Moses Brown, William Rickman, John Pemberton.

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

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John Greenleaf Whittier Manuscript Collection, 1708-1896 (inclusive)

Extent:
6 linear ft. (11 boxes)
Abstract:
John Greenleaf Whittier was a New England Quaker poet, journalist, and abolitionist. His poetry, inspired by his religious and moral beliefs, was well regarded during his lifetime, and he was respected by both Orthodox and Hicksite Quakers. The collection contains Whittier correspondence, manuscript poetry, books, photographs and miscellaneous material.

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

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Grant family papers, 1813-1847 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 folders (1 folder. (.1 linear feet))
Abstract:
Mary Lukens, a birthright member of Abington Monthly Meeting, acknowledged marrying out of unity in 1801 and remained a member of the Society of Friends. Her husband, William Grant (d. 1849) became a member of Abington Monthly Meeting in 1811, and in 1818 the couple requested membership for their four children: Gulielma, Lukens, Mary, and John M. Grant. Their daughter Jane L. Grant, was born 1817, a birthright member of Abington Monthly Meeting. The family affiliated with the Hicksite branch in the Separation.

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

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Stackhouse Family Papers, 1804-1951 (inclusive) 1820-1916 (bulk) (bulk)

Extent:
3.5 linear ft. (5 hollinger boxes and 1 carton)
Abstract:
The Stackhouse family was a Pennsylvania and New Jersey Quaker family with roots in the earliest settlement of America. The papers include diaries, ledgers, correspondence and other family papers and voluminous genealogical research conducted by Powell Stackhouse, Jr. They were united by the descendants of two sons of Amos and Mary (Powell) Stackhouse who shared an interest in family history. Powell Stackhouse, Jr., (1827-1900) was a real estate lawyer and conveyancer who pursued a "scientific" method of genealogical research in the 1890s. His cousin, Dr. Asa Matlack Stackhouse (1845-1916) also was interested in publishing a family genealogy, a project that was assumed but not completed by his son, William R. Stackhouse. Of special interest are family letters including a group which concerns Sharon Boarding School in Darby, Pennsylvania, and a small number of account books and diaries.

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

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Friends Historical Library account book collection, 1729-1946 (inclusive)

Extent:
7 linear ft.
Abstract:
Account books are ledgers in which commercial and personal financial accounts are recorded. This collection consists of individual account books that were given to the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College as single accessions.

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

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Collection of Bringhurst Family Correspondence, 1780-1811 (bulk) 1780-1941 (inclusive)

Extent:
6 linear ft.
Abstract:
Contains the collected correspondence of the Bringhurst family, largely compiled by C. Marshall Taylor. It includes correspondence, 1780-1806, of Philadelphia Quaker businessman James Bringhurst and his letters received from John Murray of New York City. Bringhurst corresponded with family and prominent friends including John Dickinson, Job Scott, Nathan Hunt, James Pemberton, Jesse Kersey, Lindley Murray and Moses Brown. Of particular interest are descriptions of life in Philadelphia and the conditions of free blacks, as well as Quaker religious and social concerns and visits from traveling ministers. A second group of letters contains primarily letters from Joseph Bringhurst, the brother of James, to his niece, Elizabeth Foulke while she was traveling in the ministry.

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

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Smedley Family Scrapbook, 1700-1833 (inclusive)

Extent:
.25 linear ft. (1 volume)
Abstract:
These manuscripts of the Smedley family, Quakers of Chester County, Pennsylvania, were collected by Mary (Green) Smedley in the early 20th century. The scrapbook contains primarily 18th century legal and property documents concerning Thomas Smedley (1688?-1758) of Willistown, Chester County, a member of Goshen Monthly Meeting, and his descendants, particularly George Smedley (d. 1783) and family. The scrapbook includes records relating to a property dispute between George Smedley and George Albridg(e) which was taken up by Goshen Monthly Meeting and led to Smedley's disownment by the Meeting on 1766 12 month 5. His appeal to the Yearly Meeting was rejected the following year. Of particular interest is a 1759 manumission document for James Thompson, signed by George, Francis, John, and Thomas Smedley, as willed by their father Thomas Smedley. The collection also includes family wills, distribution of the estate of George Smedley by the executor, his wife Patience (1731-1812), and...(see more)

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

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Bernard Barton Correspondence, 1818-1848 (inclusive)

Extent:
.2 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
The collection contains primarily the corrrespondence of Bernard Barton, English Quaker poet and bank clerk. Most of the letters are to William S. Fitch, a chemist and druggist, and other correspondents include R. Ackerman and Edward Moxon. Many of the letters concern Barton's poetry. Also included are few poems and other papers. All items in the collection were written by Bernard Barton; most were written from the location of Woodbridge (Suffolk, England).

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

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Truman-Underhill Photograph Collection, 1819-1896 (inclusive) 1860-1890 (bulk)

Extent:
1 cubic ft. (2 flat boxes and 2 custom enclosures)
Abstract:
This collection consists of six photograph albums and other loose photographs, most dating from approximately 1860-1890, from the Truman and Underhill families, Philadelphia-area Quaker families with close ties to Swarthmore College and active in social concerns. In addition to the family members, prominent Quakers (some associated with the family, and some simply admired by them) and abolitionists and other social reformers are included in this collection. Some individuals of special interest include James and Lucretia Mott, Joseph John Gurney and Elizabeth Gurney Fry, Richard P. and Jane C. Hunt, Rachel and John Jackson, Franklin B. Gowan, and Fredrick Gutekunst.

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

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Public Friends manuscripts collection, 1656-1899 (inclusive)

Extent:
.3 linear ft. (1 document box)
Abstract:
While the Society of Friends is a "ministry of all believers," historically certain members have been recognized for their spiritual gifts. Those who undertake to travel and preach with the approbation of their home meeting are known as Public Friends. Especially in the 17th, 18th, and 19th century, traveling ministers served a key role in forming Quaker social and theological networks, fostering unity within the Society of Friends, and providing spiritual enrichment to Quakers across the world. Ministers who felt a spiritual opening directing them to travel would tell their Monthly Meeting, and if approved, the meeting would write a minute for the minister to carry on their journey and present to the Meeting(s) they visited. Quaker Meetings would often keep records of the Public Friends who visited them. This collection consists of lists of Public Friends, as well as minutes from Quaker meetings approving ministers to travel. Items were written by various Quaker meetings or...(see more)

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

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Friends Historical Library collection of memorials, 1760-1920 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft.
Abstract:
Memorials are brief biographical essays which testify to the spiritual values of a Quaker's life. Early meetings only wrote memorials for ministers, but today some meetings continue the practice to memorialize all deceased members. In the 19th century, in particular, some Yearly Meetings periodically published compilations of memorials. This collection consists of miscellaneous memorials, from various meetings and regarding various Friends, collected by the Friends Historical Library over time.

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

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Friends Historical Library collection of certificates of removal, 1685-1850 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft.
Abstract:
A certificate of removal is a document given to persons who are transferring their membership from one monthly meeting to another. Their removal testifies that they are members in good standing with the meeting they are leaving. This collection consists of miscellaneous certificates of removal, from various meetings and regarding various Friends, collected by the Friends Historical Library over time. It contains a mix of original documents and copies.

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

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Longstreth family photographs, 1735-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:
.7 cubic ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
The Longstreth family were Pennsylvania Quakers who married into the Cook and Noble families. Thomas B. Longstreth (1796-1867) was a Philadelphia building contractor who married Lydia Noble (1803-1879), and both were active members of Green Street Monthly Meeting. Lydia was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tompkins) Noble, members of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Northern District. Samuel Noble was a successful tanner. This collection is composed primarily of black and white albums, loose photographs, and card photos. Most photographs are portraits of family members.

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

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Jenkins family photograph albums, 1800-1900 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.06 cubic ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
Walter Hallowell Jenkins was a storekeeper in Gwynedd, served as Clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and operated the Friends Book Store in Philadelphia. His wife, Esther Peterman Lukens, was the daughter of Alan R. and Mary B. (Butcher) Lukens. Of their five children, only Sarah married. The family had many connections to Swarthmore College. This collection consists of four family albums.

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

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Moore-Tyson family photographs, 1803-1986 (inclusive)

Extent:
.3 cubic ft. (1 box, stored with pa152: biddle family swarthmore college photographs)
Abstract:
The Moores and Tysons were Maryland Quaker families. Prominent family members include abolitionist Elisha Tyson, George Ellicott of Ellicott City, Maryland, and Swarthmore College founder Martha Ellicott Tyson.

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

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Mary Sullivan Patterson photograph collection, 1819-1968 (inclusive)

Extent:
.4 cubic ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
Mary Sullivan Patterson (1906-1987) was a Quaker historian and genealogist from Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. This collection includes photographs from Mary Sullivan Patterson's life, including her time at Swarthmore College, as well as family photographs and photographs of Quaker meeting houses.

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

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Richardson-Yarnall family pictures, 1806-1958 (inclusive)

Extent:
.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
The collection contains photographs and other images of members of the Richardson and Yarnall families, Pennsylvania Quakers who lived in Philadelpia and Byberry, Pennsylvania. The families were united by the marriage in 1816 of Nathaniel Richardson and Hannah Yarnall of Byberry. Of special interest are the silhouettes of members of the Richardson and Yarnall families created in the Peale Museum, Philadelphia

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

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Smedley Family Papers, 1751-1996 (inclusive) 1821-1950 (bulk)

Extent:
12 linear ft. (23 boxes plus photographs)
Abstract:
The collection contains correspondence, journals and other writings, business and legal papers, and miscellaneous items of the Smedley family, a large and prominent Quaker family of Penncrest Farm, Middletown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The family was related to the Kite and Sharples/Sharpless families of Chester and Delaware Counties. The papers include significant correspondence of the Kite family, especially Thomas Kite (1785-1845) and Mary Kite (1792-1861), both prominent Quaker ministers, and Thomas's daughter, Susanna Kite (1809-1844) who married Aaron Sharpless. Their daughter, Elizabeth S. Sharpless married Edward G. Smedley of Middletown, thus merging the Smedley-Sharples-Kite families. In the 20th century, the property became the home of Edward Smedley's nephew, Walter Smedley (1862-1939), a Philadelphia architect, and his wife, Ida Wilkins Roberts Smedley (1896-1993). She married second C. Canby Balderston. The papers cover a wide range of subjects...(see more)

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

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Mira Sharpless Townsend Papers, 1815-1858 (bulk) 1806-1910 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
The collection contains papers of Mira Sharpless Townsend, a major Quaker social activist and reformer in Philadelphia. Mira Sharpless Townsend (1798-1859) was born in Philadelphia, attended Friends Select School, and in 1828 married Samuel Townsend (1800-1887). He was a member of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting by whom she had six children, only two surviving to adulthood: Emily Sharpless Townsend who married Powell Stackhouse and Clara Gordon Townsend, married William Penn Troth. During the 1840's, Mira Townsend became an active and vocal social activist who wrote and published a variety of poetry and articles which reflected her strong views regarding women, slavery, temperance and capital punishment. She also was the driving force behind the founding of the Rosine Association. In January 1847, at a meeting of the Society for the Abolition of Capital Punishment, she announced her desire to form a society "to open a house for the reformation, employment and instruction of...(see more)

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

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Hunn-Karsner Family Papers, 1809-1985 (inclusive) 1947-1974 (bulk)

Extent:
4.75 linear ft. (10 boxes)
Abstract:
The collection contains correspondence, writings, and other papers of the family of Ezekiel Hunn and Lydia Jones Sharpless Hunn, Philadelphia and Delaware Quakers. The papers were compiled by their granddaughter Katherine Hunn Karsner (1899-1993). She was a Philadelphia Quaker minister and married Joseph Reed Karsner in 1930 under the care of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite). The bulk of the collection is composed of correspondence from their daughter, Mary Ann Karsner Kegler (1932-1983) who moved to Alaska in 1950 and was one of the founders of Chena Ridge Monthly Meeting. The collection also contains earlier family correspondence between Ezekiel and Lydia Jenkins Hunn and other members of the Hunn family. The writings include diaries and writings by Katherine Hunn Karsner, her sister Lydia Hunn Williamson, Joseph Karsner, and Mary Ann Karsner Kegler.

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

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Ann Jones Papers, 1793-1831 (inclusive)

Extent:
6 folders
Abstract:
This collection contains letters and other manuscripts relating to visits of English Friends to America in the 1820s and the controversies which led to the Hicksite-Orthodox Separation. Also included are letters from Elizabeth Rathbone, Liverpool, England, to "My Beloved Uncle;" Joseph Bringhurst, Philadelphia, to "My Esteemed Friend;" also Abel Thomas to Thomas and Mary Wistar (copy) as well as some miscellaneous Quaker papers.

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

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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]

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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]

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Tomlinson, Foehr, and Peters families papers, 1870-1970 (bulk) 1713-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Ritner W. Tomlinson (1880-1949) was raised on his family's farm in the Bustleton neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ritner married Caroline F. Foehr (1890-1981) in 1911 and together they had four children: twins Isabel R. (1915-2010) and Esther R. (1915-1938), Ritner Pierson "Buddy" (1922-1944), and Thelma Claire (1924-2006). Ritner and Caroline raised their family on the Tomlinson Farm, which Ritner had inherited from his parents in the 1920s. In the mid-1930s, the Tomlinsons lost this farm due to financial difficulties, and relocated to another farm property in nearby Huntingdon Valley (Montgomery County). The Tomlinson, Foehr, and Peters families papers, 1713-1998 (bulk 1870-1970), consist of photographs, legal and financial documents, correspondence, diaries, ephemera, and other materials related to the Tomlinson, Foehr, and Peters families. The bulk of the material is from the Tomlinson family and predominately relates to Ritner W., his wife Caroline, and their children.

Held at: Historical Society of Frankford [Contact Us]

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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]

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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]

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Historical Society of Montgomery County family papers collection, 1690-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
51.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Historical Society of Montgomery County family papers collection, 1690-2000, consists of miscellaneous original papers from families and individuals in the vicinity of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Over 150 different family names are represented, including several significant individuals such as John F. Hartranft (1830-1889), Governor of Pennsylvania from 1873 to 1879. There are myriad record types, including account books and financial records, diaries, letters, docket books, certificates and vital records, and genealogical research notes.

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

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Historical Society of Montgomery County club and society records collection, 1751-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:
15.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Historical Society of Montgomery County club and society records collection, 1751-1991, consists of miscellaneous records from clubs, societies, associations, and social organizations in the vicinity of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Many different types of organizations are included in this collection, which is grouped into seven broad categories: Agricultural Associations, Charitable Groups, Civic Groups, Fraternal Societies, Horse Companies, Literary Societies, and Social Clubs. Minute books are the most common document type, but ledgers, membership records, correspondence, and many other types of records are also represented in the collection.

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

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Fornance family papers, 1794-1989 (inclusive)

Extent:
26.0 linear feet (59 boxes and 4 volumes)
Abstract:
Joseph Fornance (1804-1852) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Norristown, Pennsylvania. Like the elder Joseph, his son Joseph Fornance (1841-1923) and grandson Joseph Knox Fornance (1882-1965) were lawyers involved with politics. The Fornance family papers, 1794-1989, is an extensive collection of correspondence, ledgers, diaries, photograph albums, scrapbooks, and documents covering several generations of one family. Family members were involved in numerous matters over more than one-and-a-half centuries, so among other subjects, there is rich documentation of military service during the Civil War and World War I, the election of Woodrow Wilson, and early efforts at historic preservation (the Fornance family home is considered the oldest in Norristown).

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

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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]

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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]

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William L. Lathrop papers, 1741-2000s

Extent:
12.25 linear feet
Abstract:
William Langson Lathrop (1859-1938) was an artist, teacher, and sailor. He helped establish the artists colony in New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. When he was not working on his own art or teaching others, he would sail on his boat The Widge. William L. Lathrop papers, 1741-2000s, consist of both original Lathrop papers and materials about him that were created or collected by his descendants. Materials include personal and professional/exhibition-related correspondence, exhibition materials, diaries, photographs, slides, scrapbooks, newspaper and magazine clippings, genealogical research on the Lathrop family, artworks, and other materials. There are some 18th century documents from the Langson family. Several items relate to Lathrop's boat, The Widge.

Held at: James A. Michener Art Museum Archives [Contact Us]

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Johnson House Historic Site collection on the Johnson family, 1794-circa 1994

Extent:
0.5 linear feet
Abstract:
John Johnson built a house in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1768. A family of ardent Quakers, the Johnsons did not participate in the Revolutionary War and were vocal abolitionists. The Johnson House was a documented stop along the Underground Railroad for African Americans escaping North from slavery prior to the Civil War. Johnson House Historic Site collection on the Johnson family, 1794-circa 1994, includes several original manuscript volumes and photographs from the Johnson family, as well as secondary-source materials such as photocopies and genealogical information about the family.

Held at: Johnson House Historic Site [Contact Us]

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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]

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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]

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LMHS.08: Roberts Family Collection, 1677-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.0 linear feet
Abstract:
John Roberts was among the first settlers of Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in 1683. His descendants included civic leaders, a physician, a president of the Pennsylvania Railroad and a state senator; the businesses his family started included a model dairy farm and the Pencoyd Iron Works. The Roberts Family Collection, 1677-1998, includes indentures and deeds, maps, tax receipts, wills, correspondence, photograph albums and a daguerreotype, genealogical research, and diaries. The highlight of this collection is a series of private letter books of George Brooke Roberts (president of the Pennsylvania Railroad), 1833-1897.

Held at: Lower Merion Historical Society [Contact Us]

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LMHS.16: Lower Merion Historical Society collection on the Lower Merion Academy, 1814-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Lower Merion Academy in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was created at the bequest of Quaker Jacob Jones in 1812. The Academy was one of the first public schools in the United States and was one of the first in Lower Merion township to provide a free education. The Lower Merion Historical Society collection on the Lower Merion Academy, 1814-2010, includes administrative records for the building and of the Academy, and a small amount of financial records.

Held at: Lower Merion Historical Society [Contact Us]

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LMHS.18: Lower Merion Historical Society ledger collection, 1802-1953 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Lower Merion Historical Society ledger collection, 1802-1953, is a collection of miscellaneous ledgers, journals, and other manuscript volumes collected by the Lower Merion Historical Society. It includes records from local organizations, businesses, and schools, as well as family papers and diaries. The township of Lower Merion in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania was first settled by Welsh Quakers in 1682. It is part of the "Main Line," a collection of affluent Philadelphia suburbs located alongside the Pennsylvania Railroad line that was built between Philadelphia and Harrisburg in the mid-19th century.

Held at: Lower Merion Historical Society [Contact Us]

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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]

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John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove collection, 1726-2002 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.5 linear feet
Abstract:
John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter known for his The Birds of North America. Mill Grove, the first home of John James Audubon in America, was sold to Montgomery County in 1951 and turned into a museum. The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove collection, 1726-2002, contains miscellaneous photographs, pamphlets, documents, scrapbooks, and other materials relating to the Mill Grove Audubon Center, the Audubon Society, the property at Mill Grove before and after Audbudon occupancy, and the Audubon family.

Held at: John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove [Contact Us]

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Bristol Borough (Pa.) municipal records, 1730-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
35.0 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 (Pa.) Borough municipal records, 1730 to 1998, consist of Borough Council meeting minutes, roll books, ordinances, and financial records. Also included are records from various departments and subgroups of the Borough, in particular Bristol Water Department and Police Department records, and Justice of the Peace dockets.

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

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Newtown Historic Association collection on Newtown Reliance Company and other horse protection companies, 1819-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.75 linear feet
Abstract:
The Newtown Reliance Company for the Detecting and Apprehending of Horse Thieves and Other Villains, founded in 1819, is the third oldest 'Horse Company' in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The organization still meets, primarily for fellowship, as of 2013. The Newtown Historic Association collection on Newtown Reliance Company and other horse protection companies, 1819-1992, contains records of the Newtown Reliance Company; research, publications, and ephemera on Newtown Reliance Company and other horse protection societies (mostly compiled by historian Edward R. Barnsley); and a small amount of original records of other horse protection societies.

Held at: Newtown Historic Association [Contact Us]

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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]

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New Hope Historical Society collection on the Parry family, 1840-1900 (bulk) 1801-1978 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Parry family of New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was a prominent Quaker family. The New Hope Historical Society collection on the Parry family, 1801-1978 (bulk 1840-1900), includes various scattered documents relating to family members, including deeds and other property records, genealogical papers and memoranda, financial papers including receipts, newspaper clippings, photographs, a small amount of printed matter, and journals. Richard Randolph Parry, Oliver R. Parry, and Gertrude Parry are the best-represented family members.

Held at: New Hope Historical Society [Contact Us]

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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]

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Abington Library Society miscellaneous records, 1803-1988 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet
Abstract:
The Abington Library Society was established in 1803 as a subscription library. In 1908 it purchased the Jenkinstown Lyceum building on Old York Road and, after major remodeling, opened its doors there in 1910. The Abington Library Society continues as the governing body of the Jenkintown Library, still located in the 1910 building as of 2015. The Abington Library Society miscellaneous records, 1803-1988, include extracts of minutes, financial records, and records of books.

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

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John Wagner and Sons, Inc. records, 1847-1980 (bulk) 1772-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.75 linear feet
Abstract:
John Wagner and Sons, Inc. began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1847 as a cigar importing business, but soon added wines, teas, and spices to its list of imports. Later on, the company expanded into the specialty food market. The Wagner family sold the business in 1950 and it changed hands a few more times until 2000, when it was purchased by Williams Foods, Inc., which as of 2014, still sells Wagner's brand products. The John Wagner and Sons, Inc. records, 1772-1990 (bulk 1847-1980), consist primarily of documents relating to John Wagner and Sons, including financial ledgers and receipts, photographs, letters, delivery records, property documents, price lists, product labels, publicity materials, employee records, and other materials. Also present in the collection is a small amount of materials that pre-date the business.

Held at: Philadelphia History Museum [Contact Us]

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"The Making of Modern Law: Trials, 1600-1926 Digital Archive" Tapes, 1600-1926 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box
Abstract:
The Making of Modern Law is a three part series that contains a vast array of information on legal history. This collection consists of the backfiles of the The Making of Modern Law: Trials, 1600-1926, which is the third series. The bulk of the collection consists of 10 Super DLT Tapes which contain files on unofficially published accounts of trials; official trial documents, briefs and arguments; and official records of legislative proceedings, administrative proceedings and arbitrations. The collection also has a complete file list which is included on the CD disc.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library [Contact Us]

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

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

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

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Seal family papers, 1752-1943 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
William Heyburn Seal (1822-1910) settled in Birmingham Township (now Chadds Ford), Delaware County, Pennsylvania before 1850. He and his wife Deborah Twaddell, had six children. The Seal family papers, 1752-1943, include ledgers, teacher's lists, deeds, school workbooks, marriage certificates, a scrapbook, correspondence, a tax record, and many other materials from the Seal, Twaddell, and related families. Mary Emma Seal (1865-1941) and William Heyburn Seal (1822-1910) are especially well documented.

Held at: Chadds Ford Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Dr. Benjamin S. and Dr. Isaac Anderson account books, 1821-1905 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Dr. Isaac Anderson (1796-1865) and his son Dr. Benjamin Smith Anderson (1821-1894) were both eminent physicians who practiced in the area of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Dr. Benjamin S. and Dr. Isaac Anderson account books, 1821-1905, consist of 32 volumes, mostly ledgers of medical practice from Dr. Isaac Anderson and his son Dr. Benjamin S. Anderson. There are also several ledgers of farm, business, real estate, and other transactions, and some volumes from other family members.

Held at: Chadds Ford Historical Society [Contact Us]

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James J. Reis Deed Collection, 1717-1881 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.25 linear feet
Abstract:
James J. Reis, a commercial real estate broker in Ambler, Pennsylvania, began collecting old deeds around 1987. The James J. Reis Deed Collection, 1717-1881, consists of 125 deeds for properties in the Philadelphia neighborhoods of Roxborough, Germantown, Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy, as well as Whitemarsh and Springfield townships in Montgomery County.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Chestnut Hill Historical Society local history collection, 1900-2011 (bulk) 1755-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
18.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Chestnut Hill, in northwest Philadelphia, was a village of farmers and millers during the Colonial period. After the railroad reached the area in 1854, Chestnut Hill became a popular spot for Philadelphia's wealthy and it soon boasted magnificent estates designed by Frank Furness, T.P. Chandler, and Horace Trumbauer. The Chestnut Hill Historical Society local history collection, 1755-2011 (bulk 1900-2011) consists primarily of newspaper clippings and other printed materials, such as pamphlets, publications, and ephemera, relating to the Chestnut Hill neighborhood. There are some original records of local organizations, such as minute books and ledgers, as well as some family papers.

Held at: Chestnut Hill Historical Society [Contact Us]

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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]

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Howell family papers, 1830-1880 (bulk) 1798-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Howell family were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) who resided in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Howell family papers, 1798-1929 (bulk 1830-1880), consist substantially of routine personal correspondence between several generations of the Howell family, particularly Sally R. Howell, Israel Howell, Mary Mott Howell, Joshua R. Howell, and Elizabeth Howell. The collection also includes a sizeable amount of school records, about 17 manuscript volumes from the early to mid-1800s, and drafts of poems and other writings.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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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]

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Darby Library Company records, 1743-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Darby Free Library is one of the oldest public libraries in the United States, and the first cultural institution in Darby, now part of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1743 as a subscription library, it became free to the public in 1898 and part of the Delaware County Library System in 1981. The Darby Free Library is still operational as of 2014. The Darby Library Company records, 1743-2012, include Board of Directors and stockholders' minute books, book acquisition and circulation records, financial records, other administrative papers, and various other materials from the Darby Free Library and the Darby Library Company, as well as other organizations that merged with the Darby Library Company, including the Delaware County Society for the Detection of Horse Thieves and the Recovery of Stolen Horses, and the Darby Home Protection Society.

Held at: Darby Free Library [Contact Us]

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Melinda Cox Library records, 1915-1993 (bulk) 1819-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Currently serving as the Doylestown branch of the Bucks County (Pa.) Free Library, the Melinda Cox Library was Doylestown's first free library. It opened in 1917 through a bequest of Doylestown resident Charles Cox (1832-1914) who left his entire estate to create a community library named after his mother, Melinda Hines Cox (1803-1890). The library merged with the county library in 1981. The Melinda Cox Library records, 1819-1993 (bulk 1915-1993), consist primarily of various library records, including circulation and registration ledgers, financial records, statistics, correspondence, and clippings, as well as some correspondence and other records of the Friends of the Library (established in 1944). There are also papers, photographs, and research materials relating to the library's buildings, its librarians, and its history as well as genealogy research and papers from the Cox and Hines families.

Held at: Doylestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Orphan Society of Philadelphia records, 1930-1965 (bulk) 1815-1965 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Orphan Society of Philadelphia, founded in 1814, was the first non-sectarian orphanage in Pennsylvania. In 1965, due to low enrollment and financial and staffing issues, the Orphan Society merged with the Elwyn School, now known as Elwyn, in Delaware County, Pa. The Orphan Society of Philadelphia records, 1815-1965 (bulk 1930-1965), consist of administrative and financial records, legal documents, historical files, orphan records, and other materials. Of special interest is an Orphan Asylum register listing orphan admissions (name, birth date, admission date) and dates of discharge or death from 1815 to 1896.

Held at: Elwyn Historical Archives and Museum [Contact Us]

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First Baptist Church of Philadelphia records, 1690-1906, 1690-1906 (inclusive)

Extent:
8 boxes
Abstract:
Notable for its early leadership in Baptist organization and evangelism, the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia was prominent both in its region and city and in the transatlantic community of Baptists. Records include annual reports, membership records, bulletins, scrapbooks, and biographies as well as records specific to the Board of Deacons, Board of Trustees, Treasurer, Pew Committee, Bible School, Board of Christian Education, and various women's and missionary groups.

Held at: American Baptist Historical Society [Contact Us]

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