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Grim-McFarland-Woodbridge family history collection, circa 1905-2007, undated

Extent:
2.6 linear feet (; 7 boxes, 2 flat files)
Abstract:
This family history collection documents several members of the Grim, McFarland, and Woodbridge families over several generations and can be divided into two parts. Approximately one half of the collection documents family history and genealogy while the remaining material centers on the life and work of Katherine Adele McFarland-Gerken. The Grim and McFarland families came together with the eighteen-month marriage of Joseph McFarland (1833-1867) and Susan Elmira Grim (1842-1927) beginning in August 1866. Katherine Adele McFarland-Gerken, the granddaughter of Joseph and Susan McFarland, served abroad as a Red Cross nurse in the 1920s, and much of the material records her nursing and travel experiences from 1921-1925. The collection includes family correspondence, memoirs, photographs, travel souvenirs, genealogical charts, and other items. There are several Civil War letters addressed to Susan Grim McFarland from her cousin Nicholas Grim, who served with the 28th Regiment...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Valley Mutual Insurance Company records, 1900-1985 (bulk) 1831-1991 (inclusive)

Extent:
25.3 linear feet (; 42 boxes, 82 volumes)
Abstract:
The Valley Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated in 1963 in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and was formed as the result of the merger of five small farmers’ mutual insurance companies in the Cumberland Valley region: Centennial Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Cumberland Valley Farmer’s Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Lurgan Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Franklin County, Franklin County Mutual Insurance Company, and Friendship Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Franklin County. These companies provided property insurance to homeowners, farm owners, and rural communities in Cumberland and Franklin Counties and the surrounding region. The Valley Mutual Insurance Company records consist of the administrative and financial materials of that company as well as those of the five companies out of which it merged. This collection includes extensive information on the administrative activities and governance of the companies as well as some materials on policyholders and their properties. The...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Stuart F. Feldman papers, 1937-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:
34.8 linear feet (; 88 boxes, 2 volumes)
Abstract:
Stuart F. Feldman (1937-2010) was a lawyer, author, consultant, and independent advocate who was active in a wide variety of civic and cultural programs and projects. Initiatives that he proposed and successfully spearheaded included creation of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia; legislation that made billions of dollars available to Vietnam veterans for education, counseling, and jobs; and the Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, DC. Mr. Feldman worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission (1961-1963), Appalachian Regional Commission (1965-1967), Department of Transportation (1967-1969), U.S. Conference of Mayors (1969-1979), and as senior vice president of the National Constitution Center (1994-1997), among other positions. Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from Cheltenham High School and received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, 1958, and a doctoral degree from Penn’s Law School, 1961. The Stuart F. Feldman Papers...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Girls' Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania records, 1976-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet (; 3 boxes)
Abstract:
The Girls’ Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania was an advocacy group for girls and women that was active in the Philadelphia area from 1980-2001. The organization worked to promote the self-esteem and visibility of young girls as leaders through hosting conferences and forums covering various issues that included the education of girls, mother-daughter relationships, and girls in sports. Reports of these conferences were published and distributed nationally, impacting the advocacy and study of girls. The Coalition also established the annual Estey Award, named after one of the founding members that recognized the achievements of girls and programs in the community that promoted the self-esteem and leadership of girls. The collection consists mainly of the records of the board of directors as well as materials pertaining to the conferences and Estey Awards sponsored by the coalition.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Cadwalader estate volume, 1786-1796

Extent:
0.1 linear feet (1 volume)
Abstract:
John Cadwalader was born January 10, 1742 in Trenton, New Jersey to Dr. Thomas Cadwalader (1706-1779) and Hannah Lambert (1712-1786). John worked as a merchant before establishing for himself a successful military career. During the Revolutionary War he organized 84 men into the volunteer “Greens,” or “Silk Stocking Company,” which trained at his house in Philadelphia. After the war, he moved to Shrewsbury, Maryland, where he eventually served three terms in Maryland's House of Delegates. John died February 10, 1786 after catching pneumonia at his estate on the banks of the Sassafras River at Shrewsbury, Kent County, Maryland. This estate volume The ledger documenting the administration of John Cadwalader's estate is maintained in two back to back sections, one entitled Book of memorandums, inventories, and miscellaneous transactions of the Exter [Executor] to the estate of John Cadwalader, Esqr (begun March 1786), and the second untitled section consisting of memoranda and receipts...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Brandywine Workshop records, 1982-2014 (bulk) 1972-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.4 linear feet ( (21 boxes))
Abstract:
The Brandywine Workshop of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an urban arts organization dedicated to the “creation, documentation and preservation of a legacy of culturally diverse American art” while “ensuring the participation of multi-ethnic artists in the field of fine arts printmaking and related media technologies.” In addition to offering an array of educational programming and community outreach initiatives, the workshop has sponsored nearly 300 artist residencies and encourages the sharing of diverse international communities through its cultural exchange programs. In 2012, the Brandywine Workshop celebrated its 40th anniversary. The Brandywine Workshop records house the institutional records of the Brandywine Workshop. This collection dates from 1972 to 2014, with bulk dates of 1982 to 2014, and consists of a range of printed and graphic materials that document the workshop’s organizational initiatives and range of activities. Specifically this collection includes audio-visual...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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George Vaux Jr. diary of a trip to Yellowstone Park, 1885

Extent:
0.05 linear feet (; 1 volume and 3 photographs)
Abstract:
In 1885 George Vaux, Jr. made an excursion toYellowstone National Park (a national park located primarily in the state of Wyoming that extends into Montana and Idaho). The trip was from August 11 to September 10. He travelled with a small group, most probably consisting of family members. Vaux made entries in a diary almost every day detailing the sites he visited and the people he came in contact with, usually in the form of a letter to “M.” Throughout the diary Vaux shows a great appreciation and love for the western wilderness. The group travelled by train, making many stops. The diaries give the reader a glimpse into leisure travel by prosperous Philadelphia families of the time.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia Record World War II casualty cards, 1944-1945 (inclusive)

Extent:
10.5 linear feet (; 21 boxes)
Abstract:
Between 1944 and 1945 the Philadelphia Record newspaper routinely published lists of those servicemen who were killed, wounded, missing or imprisoned during World War II, primarily from Philadelphia and the surrounding regions. The resultant collection is comprised of the index cards generated by the newspaper for publication, and later, reference purposes.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue Reference Library, 1920-1945 (bulk) circa 1900-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.25 linear feet (; 7 boxes)
Abstract:
The Philadelphia Record, which was established in 1897 and closed in 1947, was for a time one of the leading newspapers in the United States. The Philadelphia Record photograph morgue reference library is comprised of non-photographic reference material, c. 1900-1947, pertaining to select topics within the Subject series of the Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue (Collection V07).

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Montgomery, Scott, and Wheeler families papers, 1675-2018, bulk 1840-1995

Extent:
60.6 linear feet (; 103 boxes, 142 volumes, 11 flat files)
Abstract:
This collection from the Montgomery, Scott, and Wheeler families, spanning 60 linear feet, documents the history of Ardrossan, an estate in Villanova, Pennsylvania -- one of the largest on Philadelphia's Main Line -- and its residents over the course of more than two centuries. In 1911, local investment banker Colonel Robert Leaming Montgomery (1879-1949) hired Horace Trumbauer to design the residence on the family's 800-acre plot, complete with a dairy farm and horse stables. The son of William Woodrow Montgomery and Rebecca Waln Leaming, Robert L. Montgomery would go onto to establish what is now the investment firm of Janney Montgomery Scott. He married Charlotte Hope Binney Tyler (1881-1970) in 1902, and the couple had four children: Helen Hope, Mary Binney, Robert Alexander, and Charlotte Ives. Their eldest daughter, Helen Hope Montgomery (1904-1995), became well known in Philadelphia's social circles, and she went on to marry Edgar Scott (1899-1995), grandson of Thomas A....(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Hughes Memorandum Book, 1704-1762

Extent:
0.08 linear feet (; 1 volume)
Abstract:
John Hughes was a yeoman from Wales who came with his family to Pennsylvania in 1698. He was among the first to settle in Gwynedd in what is now Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Hughes was a member of the Society of Friends and opened his house to worshipers until a meeting house was built. He had three children with his first wife, Martha Caimot, and two with his second wife, Ellen. He moved to Exeter, Berks County in 1731 with his son Ellis and grandson John and died there in 1736. John Hughes's memorandum book contains the records of some of his business affairs, including accounts of goods given out on credit, goods received, and money paid and received. The most substantive portions of the volume consist of entries made during conferences held in Easton, Pennsylvania, between Native Americans and Pennsylvanians during July and November 1756. The volume also includes records for travel expenses incurred in April 1757. These later entries, written after Hughes death, were made by...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Johannes Kelpius collection of German hymns, 1707-1772

Extent:
0.15 linear feet ( (1 volume))
Abstract:
This collection contains one volume of German hymns hand-written by Johannes Kelpius, known as the hermit of the Wissahickon; also included are hymns by Johann Gottfried Seelig, Bernhard Kasten, and others.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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William Strahan letters, 1766-1772 (bulk) 1751-1777 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
These letters of William Strahan, London printer, bookseller, and associate of Benjamin Franklin, are addressed to David Hall, printer and merchant of Philadelphia, and to his son, William Hall. Many of the letters provide richly detailed and intelligent commentary on British politics and other current events. There are also discussions of trade, finances, and family matters.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Germantown (Philadelphia, Pa.) general court records, 1691-1707 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (; 2 volumes)
Abstract:
This collection contains the records of the Germantown (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) town council or General Court and the civil court or Court of Record, dating from 1691 to 1707. The matters addressed by these court sessions include property disputes and transfers, apprenticeships, deeds of sale for goods and land, assault and battery, violations of liquor laws, and other matters.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Susan Ritter Trautwine MacManus diaries, 1857-1881 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Susan Ritter Trautwine MacManus was a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the wife of Charles V. MacManus, a conveyancer. She was also a Philadelphia Moravian evangelical. Her diaries describe social and family activities, household duties, and nationally important events, including those leading up to and during the Civil War. Entries for 1863-65 contain notes on Union soldiers in Philadelphia hospitals, including Chestnut Hill. The collection is comprised of fourteen volumes, three folders, and a short transcript of five entries from 1863 and 1864.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Register of German redemptioners, 1785-1831 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.28 linear feet (; 2 volumes)
Abstract:
This collection contains two registers of German immigrants who became indentured as servants in Philadelphia in order to repay the cost of their trans-Atlantic voyage. These volumes cover the years 1785-1804 and 1817-1831. The registers record the names of individuals and families involved, county and state of residence, duration of service, what servants will receive upon their freedom, and occasionally further contract particulars, such as if the servant is to receive some education. Indentures are listed chronologically and both volumes are indexed.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Daniel Follmer diary and memoir, 1862-1865

Extent:
0.02 linear feet (; 3 volumes)
Abstract:
Typed transcript of the Civil War diary of John Daniel Follmer, Quartermaster Sergeant of Company F, 161st Pennsylvania Volunteers (16th Cavalry). In 1864 he was promoted to Regimental Commissary Sergeant. After the war he moved to Michigan with his family and remained there until his death. This transcript was made by his grandaughter.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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William Redwood account books, 1775-1790 (bulk) 1749-1814 (bulk 1775-1790) (inclusive)

Extent:
1.25 linear feet (; 10 volumes)
Abstract:
William Redwood, son of Abraham Redwood and his second wife Patience Phillips, was born in 1726 in Newport, Rhode Island. There he worked for a number of years as a merchant in partnership with Elias Bland. Redwood moved to Philadelphia 1772 where he continued business. From 1782 to 1787, Redwood lived at and helped maintain the family's plantation on the island of Antigua in the West Indies. This collection consists of ten account books (ledgers, journals, and daybooks) associated with Redwood. Most of them document his work in Philadelphia; however two volumes contain information on his Newport business and partnership, and two contain detailed financial records concerning the family's Antigua plantation.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Gilbert And Joseph Cope genealogical research materials, 1908-1968 (bulk) 1729-1979 (inclusive)

Extent:
22.4 linear feet (; 49 boxes, 11 volumes)
Abstract:
Gilbert Cope (1840-1928) was a well-known Quaker genealogist and local historian who compiled comprehensive genealogical records of Pennsylvania families. Cope was one of the founders of the Chester County Historical Society and served it as secretary, director, and honorary director. He was a member of the Friends’ Historical Association and a corresponding member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the New England Historic Genealogical Society. In 1912, he was elected an honorary member of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania and became one of its honorary vice presidents in 1924. Additionally, he served as president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies from 1911 to 1912, overseeing 75 historical organizations in Pennsylvania. Gilbert’s son Joseph Cope continued his father’s work, augmenting the Cope family’s genealogy and those of other prominent families. Gilbert Cope’s collections were acquired by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Stout collection, 1925-2003, undated (bulk, 1980-1990)

Extent:
5.3 linear feet (; 9 boxes, 6 volumes)
Abstract:
The Stout Collection consists of virtually all of Reverend Edmond Stout's efforts in researching the history of the Stout/Stoudt/Stoudt family that originated in Germany. The early research and German ancestry work in the collection was begun by Rear Admiral (RADM) Herald F. Stout, U.S.N. Retired, San Diego, California. The collection includes genealogical research and other information about many members of the Stout family. Materials include: listings of Stout family members; family charts and datasheets; correspondence; photocopies of clippings and primary sources; notes and extracts from marriage records, court records, church records and other sources; issues of the Stout family newsletter; bound, published family histories; copies of photographs, obituaries, churches, and other information related to various family members; and a small number of slides.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Smith family papers, 1680-1880 (bulk) 1660-1941 (inclusive)

Extent:
19.0 linear feet (, 14 boxes, 82 volumes)
Abstract:
The Smith family papers contain materials compiled and authored by John Jay Smith as well as several of his descendants. John Jay Smith (1798-1881) was librarian of the Library Company of Philadelphia from 1829 to 1851 and founder of Laurel Hill Cemetery. As a member of an influential Quaker family, Smith was the descendant of several prominent early Philadelphians including James Logan and Richard Hill. Much of the collection consists of deeds and other land transactions as well as correspondence and diaries originating with these ancestors. Smith’s own papers document his wide range of interests as well as his personal and professional relationships through correspondence, financial records, and memorabilia. The collection also contains materials originating from the families of two of Smith’s sons: Lloyd Pearsall Smith (1822-1886) and Horace John Smith (1832-1906). This collection is particularly rich in documenting the history of two prominent Philadelphia institutions, the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Historical Society of Pennsylvania poster and broadside collection, 1777-circa 2005

Extent:
2.2 linear feet (; 7 boxes, 9 flat files)
Abstract:
HSP staff assembled this collection of broadsides, circulars, facsimiles, prints, blotters, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other material largely related to Philadelphia businesses and institutions. Subjects within the collection are quite varied and include auctions, banks, insurance companies, museums, printing establishments, the Civil War, labor strikes, Washingtoniana, Lincolniana (mostly remembrances of his assassination), and transportation. In addition to items documenting Philadelphia, the collection includes materials from several other Pennsylvania counties and states along the Eastern seaboard. The collection is divided into four categories: three according to location and one solely for advertisements. It is further arranged alphabetically within each category according to subject. Oversized items have been moved to flat files. A detailed inventory is available in the Historical Society’s library.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Work Projects Administration posters collection, 1933-1941, undated

Extent:
2.3 linear feet (7 boxes)
Abstract:
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created in 1935 and renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939. Part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, it was a federal agency to provide work to unemployed people. The Federal Art Project (FAP) was formed as a part of the WPA in 1935. The primary goals of FAP were to promote American art and artists; increase art education, especially for children; and research the history of American art and design. FAP subsidiaries were eventually formed in each state; in Pennsylvania the program was called the Pennsylvania Art Project (PAP). It employed artists such as Charles Reed Gardner (1901-1974), Dox Thrash (1892-1965), and Michael J. Gallagher (1898-1965), who created numerous works for the war effort; public buildings, displays, and exhibitions; and for the general support of American art and graphic design. At the beginning of the project, posters were created by hand. By the project’s final years, most posters were being mass...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Edwin Atlee Barber records, 1901-1916 (bulk) 1898-1933 (inclusive)

Extent:
19.6 linear feet (47 document boxes)
Abstract:
Edwin Atlee Barber was Curator/Secretary of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art from 1901to 1907, Director/Curator from 1907 to 1916 and Honorary Curator of American Pottery and Porcelain from 1893 to 1916. His great interest was in pottery, porcelain, and ceramics, primarily early American works. A scholar and prolific writer, Barber wrote and published numerous articles on his specialty. He is considered a pioneering scholar in his field. The Edwin Atlee Barber records include both general and administrative correspondence from Barber’s tenure at the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art. The Museum was know as the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art until 1938, when it was changed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Materials date from 1898 to 1933. Included in the collection are letters sent to Barber after his death; some of these letters were answered by Barber’s wife or daughter. This collection contains correspondence covering a broad...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Jean Sutherland Boggs records, 1977-1983 (inclusive)

Extent:
41.04 linear feet (99 document boxes)
Abstract:
Dr. Jean Sutherland Boggs is a prominent art historian and expert scholar on Degas who served as Director of several major North American Museums. She was appointed as the first female Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and served from 1970 to 1982. Part of her legacy was establishing new written Museum policies on important topics and setting into motion long-term plans for the reinstallation of the European galleries. During her tenure, the Museum acquired Degas’ “Red Nude” and installed the Thomas Eakins retrospective. Boggs also mounted two monumental exhibitions of non-Western art, “Manifestations of Shiva” (1981) and “Treasures of Ancient Nigeria” (1982), each of which presented great works of art in a scholarly context, and was well-received by the diverse communities the Museum sought to serve. The Jean Sutherland Boggs records contain the general correspondence and administrative records Dr. Jean Sutherland Boggs. The records date from 1977 to 1983 and include...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Henri Gabriel Marceau Director records, 1955-1964 (bulk) 1933-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:
53.2 linear feet (135 document boxes)
Abstract:
Henri Gabriel Marceau was an internationally known scholar, art historian, and architect, and served as Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1955 to 1964. R. Sturgess Ingersoll, President of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made the following comments upon Marceau’s retirement from the post of Director: “Mr. Marceau has been a tower of strength through the period of the development of the Philadelphia Museum of Art…His authoritative publications on Thomas Eakins, Cezanne, William Rush, Benjamin West, Flemish paintings and Corot represent an amazing range of scholarship. He has always been particularly interested in sculpture, and the three international exhibitions of sculpture, - held in 1933, 1940 and 1949 in the courtyard of the Museum, - did much to bring about the present refreshing interest in sculptors and sculpture. He has probably had closer relations with contemporary artists than any twentieth century museum director” (Box 103, folder 4). The Henri Gabriel...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Director's Exhibition records, 1915-1983 (inclusive)

Extent:
25.42 linear feet (61 document boxes)
Abstract:
The Director's Exhibition records of the Philadelphia Museum of Art contain documentation of exhibition activities at the Museum. These records are not a comprehensive account of exhibitions held by the Museum, but an ongoing file produced by the executive office in the course of administering exhibitions for the Museum, kept in the Director’s office between 1915 and 1981. Additional exhibition records may be located within a specific Director’s records, or in Curatorial records; Museum Directors during this period included Edwin Atlee Barber, Langdon Warner, Fiske Kimball, Henri Marceau, Evan Turner, and Jean Sutherland Boggs.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Arthur Edwin Bye Papers, 1903-1907, 1920-1965, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
4 linear feet
Abstract:
During his 80+ years of life, Arthur Edwin Bye (1885-1969) worked as an artist, art dealer, art restorer, curator and scholar. Based on the content of his four unidentified scrapbooks as well as the two short writings, this collection reflects a few of Bye's multiple interests and practices in the fine and decorative arts, including graphic design and printmaking.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Earl Horter Collection, 1908-1980, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear feet
Abstract:
Philadelphia-area artist, teacher and collector Earl Horter (1881-1940) was one of the city's most influential practitioners and promoters of modern art. This collection consists primarily of photographs, clippings, and exhibition catalogues and checklists pertaining to Horter during his lifetime, as well as some correspondence, writings and ephemera. Several items, particularly newsclippings of posthumous retrospective exhibitions are also included as well as a death mask and hand of the artist, given by his widow. Item-level inventories were prepared in 1995 and 1999.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Frances Lichten Research Collection, circa 1850-1961, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
8 cubic feet
Abstract:
The Frances Lichten Research Collection covers a broad range of styles and subjects within the broad category of "decorative arts." Lichten's work as a Research Associate at the Philadelphia Museum of Art was concentrated on Pennsylvania German folk art, the foundation of which was Ms. Lichten's work on the WPA Index of American Design project in the 1930s. This series contains many photographs and drawings, as well as magazine and newspaper clippings. Frances Lichten published numerous books, the last of which was "Decorative Arts of Victoria's Era." The Research Collection contains the majority of research files for this book, which are rich in illustrations, Victorian paper artifacts, and records of the social standards of this era. This collection contains also materials relating to general categories within decorative arts, mainly in the form of clippings from magazines and newspapers.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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George Kubler Records of the Arensberg Collection Catalog, 1954 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear foot
Abstract:
In preparing a catalog of the pre-Columbian sculpture in the Louise and Walter Arensberg art collection, the Philadelphia Museum of Art called upon the expertise of Yale art historian George Kubler to classify and annotate each object. This collection consists of the annotated photographs of each of the 197 objects illustrated in the catalog, which was published in 1954. Based on certain markings, these were the photographs used by the printer. A second "Miscellaneous" series of photographs, some with annotations, primarily document other objects in the Arensberg collection that did not appear in the catalog. Some are unidentified.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Joan Root Collections, 1876-1926, 1969-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.25 linear foot
Abstract:
Most of the material comprising the Joan Root Collections consists of correspondence she received from Carl Otto Kretzschmar von Kienbusch, who amassed one of the world's greatest private collections of arms and armor, which he bequeathed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Their correspondence began in 1969 when Mrs. Root became vice chair (and later chairman) of the Museum's Guides, and continued until von Kienbusch's death in 1976. There are also a few pieces of correspondence from some of von Kienbusch's associates and other PMA staff members. Other related material includes writings about von Kienbusch and the PMA's acquisition of his collection as well as photographs. The second subgroup highlights a completely different interest of Mrs. Root--a small compilation of ephemera pertaining to the City of Philadelphia, namely the Centennial, Sesqui-centennial and dedication of the equestrian monument of George Washington in Fairmount Park.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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John G. Johnson Papers, 1846-1918, 1927-1955, 1973-1993, undated [bulk: 1880-1918] (inclusive)

Extent:
26.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Born, raised and educated in Philadelphia, John Graver Johnson (1841-1917) became one of the city's preeminent citizens, noted not only for his long and successful practice as a corporate lawyer but also for his extensive collection of European art. The John G. Johnson Papers consist of correspondence, hundreds of photographs and other documents that make evident Johnson's consultation with noted scholars and art dealers and his own methodology in building and refining an art collection. Estate inventories and appraisals and a copy of Johnson's will outline the disposition of those acquisitions and other personal belongings after his death. Also well documented are three of Johnson's European excursions. Oversized photograph albums hold more than twelve hundred images of the sites Johnson took in with his wife Ida. The lives of Johnson and his wife are also chronicled through portraits--Johnson from the ages of six to sixty-six and Ida from little girl to young mother to...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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John Stephen Benezet Diaries, 1838-1850, 1892, 1949 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear feet
Abstract:
The diaries of John Stephen Benezet offer a glimpse of life in antebellum Philadelphia from 1838 to 1850. By the time he begins to keep these journals, Benezet is already a husband and father supporting a family of at least four children as a clerk at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. In addition to his personal activities, such as attending church, assisting at a school and taking tea and dinner with family and friends, Benezet's entries occasionally give a glimpse of contemporary social and political activities. The most recurring subject is the outbreak of cholera.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Julius Zieget Memorabilia, 1947 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 oversized folder
Abstract:
This collection consists of a 12"x15" chalk on paper caricature of Julius Zieget, who served for nearly four decades as Secretary and Treasurer of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia artist Louis Hirshman drew this likeness in 1947.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Titus C. Geesey Papers, 1945-1969, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
0.25 linear foot
Abstract:
Titus C. Geesey (d. 1969) was an avid collector of American folk art, particularly Pennsylvania German objects, which were popularly referred to as "Pennsylvania Dutch." This manuscript collection consists of his correspondence primarily with curators and directors of museums and historical societies in the Mid-Atlantic area, written from 1945 to 1969, regarding loans and gifts from his collection. Geesey's offerings in 1953 to the Philadelphia Museum of Art significantly strengthened its rural Pennsylvania collection. Lists of objects accompanying several of the letters suggest the extent of Geesey's holdings, which included walnut and decorated furniture, pottery, porcelain, paintings, silver, glass, frakturs, textiles, wrought iron, toleware, children's books and toys, maps, engravings, lithographs, firearms, tools and cooking utensils.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Sarah Dickson Lowrie Biography of Eli Kirk Price, 1935-1936, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
1 volume
Abstract:
"Price Papers" is the original bound typescript compiled by Sarah Dickson Lowrie that she intended to publish as a biography of Eli Kirk Price (1870-1933), a well-known civic leader, who was closely associated with the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The volume is richly illustrated with maps, clippings, ephemera and photographs and includes some correspondence and typescripts of family letters.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Zieget Shaker Collection Papers, 1841-1868, 1919-1968, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Zieget Shaker Collection Papers underscore Irene and Julius Zieget's reliance on members of the Shaker community in acquiring hundreds of samples of their art and crafts. Correspondence dating from 1929 to 1968 and a journal illustrated with photographs document the Ziegets' interaction with a number of Shaker sisters and eldresses, particularly Sister Marguerite Frost of Canterbury, NH. The papers also include some of the Ziegets' acquisitions--nineteenth- and early twentieth-century manuscript material. Included here are records of deaths, recipes and other household instructions along with spiritual messages, blessings and hymns all recorded neatly in the distinctive and decorative Shaker hand. A scrapbook Irene Zieget compiled of printed material dating from 1881 to 1960 includes published writings by Shakers as well as numerous newspaper and magazine articles and advertisements that chronicle the public's interest in the Shaker lifestyle and aesthetic.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Edwin Atlee Barber Records, 1901-1916 (bulk) 1898-1933 (inclusive)

Extent:
19.6 linear feet (47 document boxes)
Abstract:
Edwin Atlee Barber was Curator/Secretary of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art from 1901to 1907, Director/Curator from 1907 to 1916 and Honorary Curator of American Pottery and Porcelain from 1893 to 1916. His great interest was in pottery, porcelain, and ceramics, primarily early American works. A scholar and prolific writer, Barber wrote and published numerous articles on his specialty. He is considered a pioneering scholar in his field. The Edwin Atlee Barber records include both general and administrative correspondence from Barber’s tenure at the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art. The Museum was know as the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art until 1938, when it was changed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Materials date from 1898 to 1933. Included in the collection are letters sent to Barber after his death; some of these letters were answered by Barber’s wife or daughter. This collection contains correspondence covering a broad...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Langdon Warner Records, 1917-1923 (bulk) 1916-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.58 linear feet (11 document boxes)
Abstract:
Langdon Warner, a scholar of Asian art and an archeologist, was Director of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art from 1917 to 1923. Warner also served as Curator of the Wilstach Collection (the Wilstach family art collection was bequeathed to the city in 1892 and custodianship was transferred to the Museum in 1917). While serving as Director of the Museum Warner, traveled extensively in Asia and was often away from the Museum. Almost immediately after taking the job, he departed for Japan where he set about acquiring works of art that "were thought too good to lose." The Langdon Warner records contain correspondence of Langdon Warner, Museum Director between 1917 and 1923, and E. Hamilton Bell, Acting Director during Warner’s absence. At the time, the Museum's collections were housed in Fairmount Park's Memorial Hall. The correspondence mainly concerns the Museum's facilities, collections, exhibitions and purchases. This collection is divided into two series: Series...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Dalton Dorr Records, 1876-1904 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.25 linear feet (10 document boxes)
Abstract:
Dalton Dorr played a key role in the early years of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art (later known as the Philadelphia Museum of Art). Dorr was elected Secretary of the Corporation in 1880. In 1888 he acted as both Secretary and Curator, and by 1892 he was performing the duties of Secretary, Director, and Curator. In 1899 William Platt Pepper took over as Director of the Museum, and Dorr continued on as Curator and Secretary. Dalton Door died on February 26, 1901. Shortly after, Edwin Atlee Barber assumed the roles of Secretary and Curator. This collection contains letter books, dating from 1876 to 1904, containing the correspondences of Dorr, Pepper, and Barber. The correspondence pertains to the Centennial exposition, Museum collections, acquisitions, exhibitions, staff, and repairs to Memorial Hall, as well as information regarding the formation of the Museum and its associated schools.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Director's Exhibition Records, 1915-1983 (inclusive)

Extent:
25.42 linear feet (61 document boxes)
Abstract:
The Director's Exhibition records of the Philadelphia Museum of Art contain documentation of exhibition activities at the Museum. These records are not a comprehensive account of exhibitions held by the Museum, but an ongoing file produced by the executive office in the course of administering exhibitions for the Museum, kept in the Director’s office between 1915 and 1981. Additional exhibition records may be located within a specific Director’s records, or in Curatorial records; Museum Directors during this period included Edwin Atlee Barber, Langdon Warner, Fiske Kimball, Henri Marceau, Evan Turner, and Jean Sutherland Boggs.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Julien Levy Gallery records, 1857-1982 (inclusive)

Extent:
19.0 linear feet (46 containers)
Abstract:
Julien Levy (1906-1981) was a pioneering New York art dealer of the 1930s and 1940s. He was introduced to the art world in Paris by Marcel Duchamp, who he met in New York in 1926. In Paris he met photographers and artists, including Man Ray, Berenice Abbot, and his future wife Joella Haweis, daughter of Dadaist muse Mina Loy. Upon his return to the United States, Levy worked briefly at the Weyhe Gallery before opening the Julien Levy Gallery at 602 Madison Avenue. In 1932, Levy mounted “Surrealisme,” an exhibition that introduced the Surrealist art movement to New York. This collection documents the career of prominent art gallery owner Julien Levy. The records date from 1857 to 1983 and include correspondence, exhibit announcements and invitations, scrapbooks, gallery financial ledgers, audio-visual materials, and personal papers such as letters, diaries, appointment books and calendars. The material in this collection reflects the course of Levy’s life, beginning with childhood...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Jean Sutherland Boggs Records, 1977-1983 (inclusive)

Extent:
41.04 linear feet (99 document boxes)
Abstract:
Dr. Jean Sutherland Boggs is a prominent art historian and expert scholar on Degas who served as Director of several major North American Museums. She was appointed as the first female Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and served from 1970 to 1982. Part of her legacy was establishing new written Museum policies on important topics and setting into motion long-term plans for the reinstallation of the European galleries. During her tenure, the Museum acquired Degas’ “Red Nude” and installed the Thomas Eakins retrospective. Boggs also mounted two monumental exhibitions of non-Western art, “Manifestations of Shiva” (1981) and “Treasures of Ancient Nigeria” (1982), each of which presented great works of art in a scholarly context, and was well-received by the diverse communities the Museum sought to serve. The Jean Sutherland Boggs records contain the general correspondence and administrative records Dr. Jean Sutherland Boggs. The records date from 1977 to 1983 and include...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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John Raphael Covert Papers, 1919-1976, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
5 linear feet
Abstract:
The painter John Raphael Covert (1882-1960) was an active participant in the American avant-garde art movement between 1915 and 1923. He later became a travelling salesman for his family's Vesuvius Crucible Company and pursued his intense interest in cryptography, word games and magic squares. The John Raphael Covert Papers consist of the artist's correspondence, word and number puzzles (such as anagrams, acrostics, and riddles), financial records, photographic portraits, and a few sketches. Approximately half of the papers are in code, and thus are cryptic in both intent and meaning.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Alexina and Marcel Duchamp Papers, circa 1886-1990, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
18 linear feet
Abstract:
The Alexina and Marcel Duchamp Papers are comprised of some personal papers of Marcel Duchamp as well as published material documenting the artist and his work that were compiled and organized by his widow, Alexina Duchamp. The collection is comprised of approximately 800 personal photographs; a small portion of Duchamp's correspondence; his lecture notes and transcripts; vital records; transcripts of several interviews with Duchamp; and published material concerning the artist.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Lloyd and Edith Havens Goodrich, Whitney Museum of American Art, Record of Works by Thomas Eakins, 1894, 1903, 1915-1986 (inclusive)

Extent:
42 linear feet
Abstract:
The Lloyd and Edith Havens Goodrich, Whitney Museum of American Art, Record of Works by Thomas Eakins consists mainly of typescript and manuscript papers, correspondence, and a variety of research and reference materials pertaining to Lloyd Goodrich's major published and unpublished works on American artist Thomas Eakins. This collection documents more than 50 years of Eakins scholarship, during which Goodrich published "Thomas Eakins: his life and work" (1933) and the revised and augmented monograph, "Thomas Eakins" (1982). A revision of the 1933 publication's catalogue raisonne section, intended as a separate volume, never reached the final stages before Goodrich's death, but represents a significant volume of material. Of note is correspondence with Thomas Eakins's widow, Susan Macdowell Eakins; Goodrich's transcriptions of Thomas Eakins's own correspondence, much of which is now lost; and his interview notes with Eakins's sitters, students, friends, and relatives, including...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Johnson Collection Curatorial Records, 1917-2007, undated (bulk 1927-1992) (inclusive)

Extent:
56.25 linear feet
Abstract:
The Johnson Collection Curatorial Records represent two "generations" of curatorial oversight of the art collection acquired by John Graver Johnson (19841-1917), one of Philadelphia's most prominent corporate lawyers. While the collection of more than 1,600 European paintings, sculpture and textiles is owned by the City of Philadelphia through Johnson's bequest, it is administered by and housed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as is Johnson's extensive art library. In these curatorial records, the earlier files reflect the administrative and curatorial activities of Henri Marceau and Barbara Sweeny, roughly documenting their combined years of service, 1926-1972. Joseph J. Rishel succeeded Sweeny as Johnson Collection curator in November of 1972. His tenure, which continues to this day, comprises the second curatorial term, from 1973 to 1992. A small amount of papers created later are included separately. The second generation of records also reflects the work of assistant and...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Fiske Kimball Papers, 1874-1957, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
101 linear feet
Abstract:
The Fiske Kimball Papers document the myriad interests and tireless professional pursuits of architect, scholar and museum director Fiske Kimball (1888-1955). The papers include professional and personal correspondence; architectural drawings; manuscript, typescript, and printed versions of articles, books, and reviews; photographs, including some personal snapshots and portraits of Kimball and his family; and research and reference material, particularly notes and clippings.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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The Stella Kramrisch papers, 1921-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
60.0 linear feet
Abstract:
As a teacher, lecturer, curator and prolific writer, Dr. Stella Kramrisch (1898-1993) devoted nearly 70 years to the study and appreciation of Indian art. She served as the curator of Indian art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1954 until her death in 1993. The Stella Kramrisch papers document her activities, correspondence and publications as a collector and historian of Indian art. The records in this collection date from 1921 to 1998 and contain information about the art objects in Stella Kramrisch’s personal collection (which were later donated to the Philadelphia Museum of Art), and her publications and research. There is also a large collection of photographs of Indian architecture, paintings and sculpture. The majority of the collection is printed material related to Kramrisch’s research and scholarship; the breadth of the materials in this collection attests to her seminal influence on and ground-breaking contributions to Indian art scholarship.

Held at: Philadelphia Museum of Art Archives [Contact Us]

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Beckman Historical Collection, 1911-2011 (inclusive) 1935-2004 (bulk)

Extent:
137.2 linear feet (131 boxes (81 record boxes, 10 hollinger boxes, 3 half hollinger boxes, 26 photo album boxes, 2 videotape boxes, 1 audiocassette box, 4 cd-rom boxes, and 4 oversized boxes))
Abstract:
Business records, correspondence, research files, financial records, photographs, publications, and audio-visual materials of American scientist and industrialist Arnold O. Beckman and the American scientific and medical instrument manufacturer Beckman Coulter, Incorporated.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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Max Tishler Papers, 1893-2009 (inclusive) 1937-1989 (bulk)

Extent:
14.0 linear feet ((7 record boxes, 1 hollinger box, and 1 oversized box))
Abstract:
Correspondence, research files, subject files, publications, books, audio-visual materials, and photographic materials of American chemist, pharmaceutical industry executive, and chemistry professor Max Tishler.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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Syntex Syva Alumni Association Collection, 1960-2010 (inclusive) 1964-1996 (bulk)

Extent:
33.6 linear feet (14 record boxes, 1 videotape box, 6 oversized boxes, and 8 oversized folders.)
Abstract:
Printed materials, photographic materials, business records, and audio-visual materials collected by the Syntex Syva Alumni Association, a mutual organization of former employees of Syntex Corporation and its subsidiary Syva Company. A large majority of the materials in this collection were created by or pertain to Syntex Corporation, a defunct pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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Spinco Historical Collection, 1942-2014 (inclusive) 1962-2007 (bulk)

Extent:
85.4 linear feet ((52 record boxes, 4 videotape boxes, 1 cd-rom box, 1 half hollinger box, 9 oversized boxes, 1 photo negative box, and 15 film cans) )
Abstract:
Printed materials, photographic materials, business records, and audio-visual materials of the Spinco Division of Beckman Coulter, Incorporated, an American manufacturer of scientific and medical instruments.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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Robert K. Wismer Collection of Chemical Museum Slides, february-march 2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
190 photographic slides (1 box)
Abstract:
A series of slides of scientific apparatus, laboratories, and other objects related to the history of chemistry in the collections of European science and technology museums. The slides were taken by Robert K. Wismer in the spring of 2000 while on sabbatical from Millersville University.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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Witco Stamp Collection, 1910-1983 (inclusive)

Extent:
340 sheets (7 boxes)
Abstract:
A collection of international postage stamps and philatelic material depicting various aspects of chemistry and related sciences.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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Martin S. Frant Papers, 1964-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear feet ((1 hollinger box))
Abstract:
Laboratory notebooks, report, letter, and article reprint of American analytical chemist and inventor Martin S. Frant, which relate to his work on ion-selective electrodes at Orion Research, Incorporated.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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Alpha Chi Sigma Grand Chapter Records, 1985-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.2 linear feet (3 record boxes)
Abstract:
Bound proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma, an American professional chemistry fraternity. The materials in this collection were collected and maintained by Gary D. Anderson, a Professor of Chemistry at Marshall University and a longtime active member of Alpha Chi Sigma who served on the fraternity's Grand Chapter.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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Eugene Jules Houdry Collection, 1919-2000 (inclusive) 1942-1962 (bulk)

Extent:
0.5 linear feet (1 hollinger box and 1 half hollinger box.)
Abstract:
Printed materials, paper manuscripts, personal documents, and photographic materials concerning French mechanical engineer and inventor Eugene Jules Houdry and Houdry Process Corporation, an American chemical company that specialized in catalytic technology. The materials in this collection were collected and maintained by G. Alex Mills, a former employee of Houdry Process Corporation.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]

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