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Historical Subject Files Collection, 1746-2019 (inclusive)

Extent:
442 boxes, 21 folders, and 8 items
Abstract:
The Historical Subject Files Collection documents Princeton University history and related topics from 1746 to the present. The collection consists of documents in almost every two-dimensional format: articles, books and booklets, clippings, correspondence, memoranda, non-photographic images, notes, pamphlets, posters, and reports.

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Faculty and Professional Staff files, Subgroup 6: G, 1764-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
268 boxes
Abstract:
Princeton University's Dean of the Faculty is the senior administrator responsible for the quality and well-being of the faculty and professional staff of the university. The collection consists of personnel files for nearly every individual at one time employed as a member of Princeton University's faculty or professional staff.

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Historical Photograph Collection, Grounds and Buildings Series, circa 1726-1989 (inclusive)

Extent:
121 boxes, 3 folders, 6 items, and 328 digital files
Abstract:
The Grounds and Buildings Series of the Historical Photograph Collection contains photographs of the grounds and buildings owned by Princeton University. The photographs date from the late 1850s to the present, with the bulk of the photographs dating from the 1870s to the 1940s. Many of these photographs have been digitized and are searchable in Digital PUL.

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Faculty and Professional Staff files, Subgroup 2: B, 1764-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
93 boxes
Abstract:
Princeton University's Dean of the Faculty is the senior administrator responsible for the quality and well-being of the faculty and professional staff of the university. The collection consists of personnel files for nearly every individual at one time employed as a member of Princeton University's faculty or professional staff.

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Princeton University Student Clubs Records, 1821-1926 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes
Abstract:
Princeton students have formed clubs for social, charitable, religious, political and other purposes nearly since the school's founding. Princeton University Student Clubs Records, 1821-1926 consists of bound volumes including minute books, financial ledgers, and other record books from student-organized campus clubs including the Nassau Hall Education Society (1821-1839), Literary Sharpshooters (1887-1888), the Philosophical Club (1889-1894), the Hill Club (1900-1904), and the Internaional Polity Club (1914-1926).

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Alumni and Faculty Offprint Collection, circa 1800-1997 (inclusive) 1915-1955 (bulk)

Extent:
54 boxes and 42 folders
Abstract:
This collection consists of offprints of articles written by Princeton alumni and faculty; however, in some instances the articles are written about an individual alumni or faculty member. The offprints generally consist of journals, published articles, speeches, lectures, sermons, memorials, and articles from scientific journals and magazines.

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Winans Collection of New Jersey Documents, 1703-1883 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes and 0.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of almost 200 eighteenth-century documents, mostly deeds to land, relating to several towns in Essex County, New Jersey, particularly Westfield, collected by Samuel Ross Winans (Princeton Class of 1874).

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Paterson Family Papers, 1750-1882 (inclusive)

Extent:
6 boxes and 8.6 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of selected papers of members of the Paterson family of New Jersey, chiefly those of William Paterson (Princeton Class of 1763), his father, Richard Paterson, his son, William Bell Paterson (Princeton Class of 1801), and twin grandsons, William and Stephen Van Rensselaer Paterson (Princeton Class of 1835). The collections provides 17th, 18th, and 19th-century source material for the history of the College of New Jersey and of the Colonial and post-Colonial history of the State of New Jersey.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Princeton University Class Records, 1798-2023 (inclusive)

Extent:
502 boxes, 9 folders, 8 items, 3996 digital files, and 29.1 gb
Abstract:
The Class Records consist of a diverse set of materials documenting the history and activities of Princeton University classes during their time as undergraduates and as alumni. In the collection are correspondence, newsletters, publications, photographs, and memorabilia, all of which pertain to a particular Princeton University graduating class and its members.

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Steward and Refectory Records, 1782-1869 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box
Abstract:
The Steward and Refectory records relate to various expenses incurred by students while at Princeton. They are divided into two series. The first, refectory accounts, consists predominantly of lists of students and the amounts due from each for itemized expenses including room and board, tuition, library, servant wages, washing, damages and fuel. Other materials include bills, various accounts and reports, an inventory of furniture belonging to the kitchen in 1816, and bills, accounts and reports relating to the building of a new refectory in 1834-35. The second series consists of accounts, vouchers, correspondence, receipts and statements of expenses relating to the University Steward. The 1869 Steward's file consists of a list of local boarding houses and the owners, student residents and payments.

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Inspector's Records, 1793-1857 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes
Abstract:
The Inspector's records consist of reports, receipts, vouchers, accounts and some correspondence concerning repairs to student rooms and other buildings. The receipts and vouchers are mainly from craftsman who conducted the repairs. Little information concerning individual students or their accounts can be found in these records. The position of Inspector was instituted in 1767 and apparently lasted until the mid-19th century at which time it merged into the Treasurer's Office.

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Charles W. Yost Papers, circa 1790-2015 (inclusive) 1930-1980 (bulk)

Extent:
25 boxes
Abstract:
Charles W. Yost (1907-1981) led a varied career as a diplomat, United Nations representative, writer, and scholar. He was a member of the foreign service intermittently between 1930 and 1971, after which time he devoted himself full-time to writing and teaching. Yost's papers document his professional life in the Foreign Service, as well as his time in academia, and include his correspondence, writings, and photographs.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers [Contact Us]

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Woodrow Wilson Collection, 1837-1986 (inclusive) 1883-1924 (bulk)

Extent:
17 volumes, 107 boxes, and 43 folders
Abstract:
The Woodrow Wilson Collection consists of Wilson holdings which have been acquired by the Princeton University Library Special Collections gradually over many years by purchase and gifts from many sources. The collection is rich in material prior to Wilson's presidential years, although it is not limited to this period; researchers will find materials documenting both the public and private life of Woodrow Wilson. Various types of information written by or about Wilson are present in the collection, including manuscripts, addresses, articles, correspondence, telegrams, legal documents, booklets, pamphlets, photographs, portraits, cartoons, newspapers and scrapbooks.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers [Contact Us]

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Princeton University Publications Collection, circa 1748-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:
156 boxes, 6 digital files, and 1 website
Abstract:
The Princeton University Publications collection contains issues of nearly 150 different periodicals published by the university and related organizations, as well as a few items published by others about the university, that have not been cataloged individually.

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

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Daniel Wadsworth Coit Letters, 1819-1851 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists primarily of photostatic copies of the letters (1815-1828, 1844-1851) by American banker Daniel Wadsworth Coit to his family in Connecticut--from Lima, Peru, and various cities in Europe, and from the Western United States, Mexico, and San Francisco, California. This collection is also available online at Digital PUL.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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George Maxwell Robeson Collection, 1842-1890 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes and 1.2 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of selected correspondence of George Maxwell Robeson, attorney general of New Jersey, relating to his appointment as Secretary of the Navy in June 1869.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Hooe Family Papers, 1829-1850 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box
Abstract:
Consists of a small collection of correspondence and documents belonging to the Hooe family of Prince William County, Virginia, primarily concerning the hire and recapture of African Americans whom they enslaved on their plantation in the mid-19th century.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Princeton University Library Collection of Western Americana Photographs, 1870-1915 (bulk) 1840-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
144 boxes and 123 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of a closed collection of more than 5,000 Western Americana photographs, consisting mostly of documentary photographs of the Trans-Mississippi West from the late 1860s to early 1900s, largely from the perspective of white photographers and settlers. Subjects include American Indians (especially studio portraits), natural wonders, cities, towns, buildings, and economic activities (mining, railroads, logging, and agriculture). Some photographs relate to the Indigenous populations of Mexico and Central America. The dimensions, physical formats, and photographic processes of the photographs vary widely.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Honoré de Balzac Collection, 1832-1850 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists mainly of photostats of correspondence between nineteenth-century French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac and his mother, Madame Surville, and the editor Hippolyte Souverain.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Mathews Family Papers, 1815-1865 (bulk) 1790-1878 (inclusive)

Extent:
7 boxes and 2.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of papers of the Mathews family, a 19th-century English theatrical family whose members performed and wrote for the stage and achieved fame as gifted mimics and comedians. Much of the correspondence in the collection is between the family members. Also included are manuscripts of autobiographies written by both the father and son, as well as some manuscripts of monologues, songs, roles, and music.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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D. Van Nostrand Company Collection of Edward M. Crane, 1834-1969 (inclusive)

Extent:
26 boxes and 15.1 linear feet
Abstract:
The D. Van Nostrand Company Collection of Edward M. Crane consists of correspondence, financial papers, documents, diaries, photographs, artwork, printed matter, and other papers of the American publishing consultant and former president of D. Van Nostrand Company Edward Matthews Crane (1922- ).

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Edward and Maude Ottley Collection of W. E. Gladstone Correspondence, 1841-1908 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes and 0.8 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of correspondence of Gladstone (and related persons) collected by Edward and Maude Ottley. In addition to letters by prominent government officials and statesmen, a number of literary and artistic figures are represented, including Robert Browning, Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Samuel Langhorne Clemens ("Mark Twain"), Charles Lutwidge Dodgson ("Lewis Carroll"), Kate Greenaway, Joseph Joachim, Andrew Lang, James Russell Lowell, Robert Bulwer Lytton, George MacDonald, Sir John Everett Millais, Anne Thackeray Ritchie, John Ruskin, George Augustus Sala, Anthony Trollope, Mrs. Humphry Ward, and Charlotte M. Yonge.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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James Chaytor Papers, 1804-1849 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes and 0.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of ship's papers, a diary (1841), and correspondence of James Chaytor relating to some of the nineteenth-century American ships for which he was commander or shipmaster.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Princeton University Library Collection of John Maclean Family Materials, 1795-1874 (inclusive)

Extent:
3 boxes and 2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of selected personal and family papers of John Maclean (1771-1814), Princeton's first professor of chemistry, including correspondence and documents of Maclean and other family members, including John Maclean Jr. (1800-1886), Archibald Maclean (1810-1894), William Bainbridge (1774-1833), Phebe Bainbridge Maclean, and Mary B. Maclean, as well as a genealogy of the Maclean, Bainbridge, and Taylor families.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Saqui de Sannes Family Correspondence, 1756-1920 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes and 0.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of professional and personal correspondence of an aristocratic family from Provence. Most of the letters date from 1756 to 1848 and illustrate how the family negotiated its place during France's Revolutionary era.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Samuel J. Bayard Papers, 1830-1886 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes and 0.6 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists, for the most part, of autograph manuscripts in prose and verse of Bayard (Princeton Class of 1820) and correspondence of Bayard, the Bayard family, John B. Guthrie, and Bayard Guthrie.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Frederick T. Brown Family Papers, 1830-1959 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of selected papers of the Frederick T. Brown family, which originated in Ohio but at various times lived in Indiana, Minnesota, and New Jersey.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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William M. Armstrong Collection on E.L. Godkin, 1833-1978 (inclusive)

Extent:
14 boxes and 6.5 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of American historian William M. Armstrong's works and research material on Edwin Lawrence Godkin (1831-1902), a founder and editor of The Nation (1865-1881) and editor of the New York Evening Post (1883-1900). The collection contains typed manuscripts of Armstrong's biography on Godkin along with other writings, as well as photocopies, microfilms, and typescripts of correspondence.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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James Geddes Family Correspondence, 1797-1879 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.2 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of family correspondence of James Geddes (1763-1838), a Scottish American surveyor, civil engineer, salt manufacturer, judge, and politician who settled along Onondaga Lake in New York in the 1790s. Included is a detailed list of his expenses related to a 1804 land survey of locations in Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Oswego counties in New York. Geddes's correspondence, mostly dating from the 1820s and 1830s, pertains to his engineering and surveying work, politics, family matters, and other topics, and includes detailed observations he recorded on local weather patterns, plant life, and topography.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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David Laurence Pierson Scrapbooks, 1927-1937 (bulk) 1817-1953 (inclusive)

Extent:
6 boxes and 5.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of twenty scrapbook volumes (1927-1937) of letters, documents, photographs, newspapers clippings, and printed matter concerning the observance of Constitution Day (Sept. 17), compiled by David Laurence Pierson, who was instrumental in getting national recognition for that day.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Herman Melville Collection, 1846-1956 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes and 0.6 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of copies of letters by American author Herman Melville that were used by Willard Thorp in his selection of Melville's writings published as Representative Selections (1938), as well as other material about Melville.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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James Green Correspondence, 1837-1871 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.2 linear feet
Abstract:
The James Green Correspondence consists of letters received from various correspondents by the 19th-century English poet James Green (of Bath).

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Samuel Beach Family Collection, 1783-1884 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 boxes and 1.95 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of eighteenth-century correspondence and documents of Princeton graduate (Class of 1783) Samuel Beach and mostly 19th-century material relating to the Beach and Jones families.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Washington Irving Collection, 1831-1858 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.2 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of selected manuscripts, correspondence, and documents of Washington Irving, often called the first American man of letters.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Alexander Kendrick papers, 1787-1994 (inclusive) 1930-1977 (bulk)

Extent:
11.51 linear feet (27 boxes)
Abstract:
Alexander Kendrick was a journalist, foreign correspondent, author, and radio and television reporter affiliated with The Public Ledger, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). He is best known for his reporting of international events in World War II and postwar years. The Alexander Kendrick papers comprise radio broadcast and television typescripts, correspondence, contracts, edited book typescripts, book research notes, clippings, long-playing records, and photographs.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives [Contact Us]

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Birkinbine Engineering Company records, 1840-1963 (inclusive)

Extent:
75.0 linear feet (75 linear feet (79 box of records + photographs + maps and drawings + pamphlets + patents and realia))
Abstract:
The Birkinbine Engineering Company got its start through Henry P. M. Birkinbine. His son, John, gained early engineering experience through various water supply projects in and around Philadelphia; this experience later helped direct the Birkinbine Engineering Company’s involvement in many water-related projects around the country in the late 19th century as part of the improved public sanitation initiatives. The Birkinbine firm also specialized in mining engineering, both in the United States and Mexico. John also had a firm grounding in mechanical engineering through his work in the Weimer Machine Works in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. John’s interest in manufacturing pig iron from charcoal, combined with his knowledge of hydraulics, catalyzed his concern for the condition of forests in Pennsylvania and he became one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. He also was president of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, founding member and secretary of the United...(see more)

Held at: Lehigh University Special Collections [Contact Us]

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History of Philadelphia Collection, nineteenth century (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear ft.
Abstract:
This collection contains prints and photographs from 19th Century Philadelphia, mostly derived from the collection of Seymour Adelman. This collection will be useful as historical documentation of commerce and daily life in Philadelphia, as well as how the history of photography proliferated in East Coast cities in the mid-19th Century. the photographs are landscapes, rather than portraits or other genres. Few of the photographers are noted in the materials. The prints are also mostly landscapes or specific places.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

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Leon Gardiner collection of American Negro Historical Society records, 1860-1890 (bulk) 1715-1962, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
8.5 linear feet (, 15 boxes, 35 volumes)
Abstract:
The American Negro Historical Society was founded in 1897 by a group of Philadelphia blacks to study and preserve materials documenting the American black experience. Among the founders and early members were Robert Adger, W.M. Dorsey and Jacob C. White, Jr., who donated materials to the society, some of which are present in the collection. The collection is composed of administrative records of the society and materials collected by some of its members, including correspondence, minutes, reports, financial documents, membership lists, records of lectures and debates, library catalogues, baseball lineup and scorecards, speeches, printed matter, and portraits of distinguished black leaders and abolitionists.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Asylum Company papers, 1794-1820 (bulk) 1773-1851, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
0.8 linear feet (; 2 boxes (350 items))
Abstract:
Robert Morris, John Nicholson, and others organized the Asylum Company in April 1794 to develop and sell land in several unsettled areas of Pennsylvania. The land speculation venture was ultimately a failure and dissolved partially circa 1820 and fully in the 1830s. The Asylum Company papers include administrative and financial records as well as correspondence, title papers, shares of the company’s stock, and published material from 1773-1851.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Rutter Brooke papers, 1861-1902 (bulk) 1767-1918, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
13.9 linear feet (; 27 boxes, 37 volumes, 6 flat files)
Abstract:
The papers of John Rutter Brooke include correspondence, accounts, regimental reports, military orders, and pamphlets that primarily pertain to his career in the United States Army, 1861-1902. Brooke’s military papers document the activities of the 53rd Pennsylvania volunteer regiment during the Civil War; the 3rd Infantry division and 7th Cavalry during the Indian Wars; the 1st Corps of the Army during the Spanish-American War; and Brooke’s service as military governor of Puerto Rico and Cuba, as well as his service in the Departments of the Missouri, the Platte, the Gulf, and the East. The collection is particularly rich in its documentation of the United States Army’s “Sioux Campaign” during 1890-1891, containing extensive correspondence during the height of the Ghost Dance on the Standing Rock and Pine Ridge reservations, and the ensuing military build-up, which escalated into the massacre at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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James Buchanan papers, 1815-1868 (bulk) 1783-1895, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
35.0 linear feet (74 boxes, 25 volumes)
Abstract:
The James Buchanan papers span the entirety of Buchanan's legal, political and diplomatic career, including his service as Pennsylvania assemblyman, U.S. representative, minister to Russia, U.S. senator, secretary of state, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain, and president of the United States. The collection consists primarily of correspondence, but also includes speeches, notes, business papers, legal papers, manuscript drafts, pamphlets, books, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks. The most significant groups of materials in this collection are related to Buchanan's time as secretary of state, 1845-1849; minister to Great Britain, 1854-1856; and the growing differences between the North and South before the Civil War, 1857-1861.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Salmon P. Chase Papers, 1850-1872 (bulk) (1824-1884, undated) (inclusive)

Extent:
12.0 linear feet (; 43 boxes; 16 volumes; 10 flat files)
Abstract:
Salmon P. Chase (1808-1873) was a career politician and an influential Union decision-maker during the Civil War. He served as governor of Ohio, U.S. senator, secretary of the Treasury, and Supreme Court chief justice. The Salmon P. Chase Papers, which span the years 1824-1884, provide tremendous insight into the professional life of Chase and provide information on the National Bank and specie debates, as well as the abolition movement from the early 1820s through the Civil War. This collection contains correspondence, speech notes, newspaper clippings, biographical material, court opinions, financial papers, and a myriad of miscellaneous items. In addition to containing Chase's papers, this collection also contains the papers of J. W. Schuckers, Chase's personal secretary and biographer. Schuckers’s papers give further insight into the economic situation immediately following the Civil War and include correspondence, newspapers, investments records, and other financial papers.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Lewis S. Coryell papers, 1806-1872, undated

Extent:
1.0 linear feet (; 5 boxes)
Abstract:
The papers of Lewis S. Coryell, lumber dealer and political leader in Pennsylvania consist mostly of correspondence related to state and national politics. There are also some letters related to Coryell's lumber business at New Hope, Pennsylvania, as well as on the construction of canals, railroads, and roads.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Simon Gratz autograph collection, 1343-1928

Extent:
190.0 linear feet (; 633 boxes (18 volumes in boxes))
Abstract:
The collection was assembled by Simon Gratz, Philadelphia lawyer, school board member, and trustee of the Free Library. He began collecting at age 17 and, by the time he died, amassed about 175,000 manuscripts and portrait engravings and lithographs. Many of the latter he personally commissioned. In 1916 he became a vice-president of the Historical Society. Gratz continued until the end of his life to deal with such notable American collectors as George Brinley, Louis J. Cist, Adrien Joline, Charles J. Jones, E.H. Leffingwell, and Joseph J. Mickley. The dealers with whom he dealt included Charavay in Paris, Naylor and Maggs in London, Cohn in Berlin, Benjamin in New York, and A.S.W. Rosenbach in Philadelphia. The records of his transactions survive from 1861 to 1925 in his "Autograph Journals." On January 1, 1925, Gratz noted that his collection had, because of astute sales and exchanges, "cost less than nothing." Gratz acquired his collection by exchange with and purchase from a...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Simon Gratz autograph collection, 1517-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:
130.4 linear feet (; 326 boxes)
Abstract:
This autograph collection was created by Simon Gratz, starting in his late teens. A myriad of documents are included and represent Gratz’s philosophy of collecting and the many relationships he formed with other collectors in the United States and abroad. Contained here are autographed letters, legal documents, and artifacts from many prominent and well known figures and personalities in the arts, religion, government, education, and military. While there are some non-substantive letters written to Gratz much of the collection includes correspondence between prominent women and men across classes, professions, and nationalities. The collection dates from the sixteenth century to the early twentieth century. Besides date range, this collection differs slightly from the Simon Gratz collection (#250A) in its alphabetical arrangement, compared to the arrangement by categories/subjects (Case) in #250A. One other distinction in this collection are the personal letters and papers of Simon...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Henry Family papers, 1759-1914

Extent:
1.25 linear feet (; 9 volumes)
Abstract:
William Henry (1729-1786) was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, but lived most of his life in Lancaster County, where he raised a family and led successful business and military ventures. Before the Revolutionary War, he ran a hardware business from 1759 to 1773, and he was a dealer in supplies to Indian traders. During the war, Henry was a strong proponent of independence and was appointed to many public offices. He served on the board of war, was named the superintendent of arms and accoutrements, and held the office of assistant commissary general to the Continental Army to help supply arms. In Lancaster, he was also the fiscal agent of Pennsylvania and the United States and later served nine years as county treasurer. After his death in 1786, his wife, Ann Wood Henry took over in his position as Lancaster County treasurer, making her the first woman in the state of Pennsylvania to hold public office. The Henry family papers contain correspondence and other documents...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Andrew Atkinson Humphreys papers, 1850-1879 (bulk) 1708-1930, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
69.0 linear feet (120 boxes, 76 volumes, 15 flat files)
Abstract:
The papers of Andrew Atkinson Humphreys span the course of Humphreys's career, including his service in the Second Seminole War, his work as a civil engineer on surveys along the U.S. coast and the Mississippi River, as chief of staff for General George Meade; and as head of the United States Corps of Topographical Engineers. The collection consists of correspondence, orders, reports, payment vouchers, ephemera, maps, survey data, drafts and published works. The most significant groups of materials in this collection are documents from the Civil War, including muster rolls, reports, orders, and payment vouchers, which may have been collected when Humphreys served in the Army of the Potomac; and papers related to the survey of the Mississippi River in the 1850s and 1860s. Also of interest are Humphreys's later reflections on the Civil War in his notes and manuscripts for Gettysburg to the Rapidan and The Virginia Campaign. Also included in this...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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George G. Meade collection, 1845-1872 (bulk) 1811-1897, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
9.0 linear feet (11 boxes, 36 volumes, 29 flat files)
Abstract:
George G. Meade's career in the military began during his student years at West Point, where he studied topographical engineering. He served in the Mexican-American War and went on to become a celebrated Union general in the Civil War, where his son George served under his command. This collection covers all aspects of Meade's career, including his student work, his work as a cartographer while working for the U.S. coastal survey and during the Civil War, and his service as commander of the Army of the Potomac. In addition to his military papers, there are a significant group of letters to Meade's wife Margaretta and their children, which document his family relationships and his feelings about his military service during the Mexican-American and Civil wars. Also included in this collection are letters compiled by Meade's son George while he was writing a biography of his father, titled The Life and Letters of General Meade. The manuscripts for this work make up...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Peale family papers, 1794-1858, undated

Extent:
1.2 linear feet (; 2 boxes, 7 volumes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) was a well-known Philadelphia artist, educator, and polymath in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is best known for his portraits of George Washington and other revolutionary figures, and for establishing the Philadelphia Museum, a natural history and art museum. He outlived three wives and many of his children. Several of his sons followed in their father’s footsteps, becoming artists and scientists and taking various roles in the family’s museum. Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860) was a respected portrait artist, best known for his “Porthole Portrait” of George Washington. Titian Ramsay Peale (1799-1885), the youngest of Peale’s sons, was a scientific illustrator, naturalist, and explorer who participated in many expeditions, including the U. S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842. Established in 1786, the Philadelphia museum displayed portraits and exhibits related to science and natural history, including a mastodon skeleton. The museum...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Robert Proud collection, 1681-1811 (bulk) 1681-1903 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.8 linear feet (; 7 boxes and 1 flat file)
Abstract:
Robert Proud was born on May 10, 1728 in Yorkshire England, and was trained formally in a Quaker school in classical studies. He moved to Philadelphia in 1759, and by 1761 was teaching Latin at the Friends School. Proud was a staunch Loyalist. From 1775 to 1780, Proud left his teaching post and went into seclusion, where he began writing on various subjects. Most of his writings were never published. Also during these years, he worked extensively on what became his most best-known work, The History of Pennsylvania in North America. The book was highly unsuccessful, due to its Loyalist leanings, and some very strong inaccuracies. Robert Proud died in 1813 at the age of 85. The collection is arranged into two series, the first consisting mostly of handwritten copies and drafts of The History of Pennsylvania in North America, and primary source materials used in the book. The second series consists of memoranda, poetry, and other personal papers.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Read family letters, 1716-1872 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
The Read manuscripts collection contains information on the many facets of George Read’s far-reaching lifework, and includes significant material on the development of Delaware. The correspondence dates from April 23, 1716 (predating George Read’s life) to March 9, 1872. Read’s varied career encompassed, but was not limited to, participation in the Continental Congress as a representative from Delaware (1774-1777), President of Delaware (1777-1778), and membership in the United States Senate (1789-1793). The collection gives the reader insight into Read’s participation at the 1787 Constitution Convention as a representative from Delaware. Some day-to-day details of a personal nature are also reflected in letters to friends and family.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Jonathan Roberts papers, 1780-1930

Extent:
3.5 linear feet (; 8 boxes)
Abstract:
These papers relate particularly to state and national political history during the Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe presidential administrations. Among the subjects dealt with in the papers from 1780-1848 are: Pennsylvania legislation, political affairs at Lancaster, Republican and Adamite factions, promotion of manufacture, controversies over the charter of the United States Bank, embargoes, the British orders in council, agitation for war with England, opposition of the Federalists to government war loan; French decrees affecting American ships and commerce, foreign trade, New England political factions, land claims, Andrew Jackson's conduct in Florida and New Orleans, restoration of the Capitol, political appointments, the Missouri question, ratification of the Spanish treaty, Marquis de Lafayette's reception at Harrisburg, presidential elections, religion, Texas slavery contest, California, Roberts's appointment as collector of the Port of Philadelphia, his dismissal by President...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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William H. L. Smith papers, 1836-1869 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet (; 5 boxes)
Abstract:
Mr. William Henry Leland Smith was born in Vermont and received his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College, and his law degree from Harvard University. In the 1860s, he became the first mayor of Corry, Pennsylvania, shortly after oil was discovered in Pennsylvania and the oil industry grew in the commonwealth. For much of his life, he managed the Corry plant of the Downer Kerosene Oil Company. The collection is arranged into three series: incoming correspondence, miscellaneous business records, and miscellaneous legal records.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Felton family papers, 1839-circa 1922

Extent:
2.4 linear feet (; 5 boxes, 4 volumes)
Abstract:
The Felton family papers consist primarily of correspondence, telegrams, memoranda, and reports of Samuel Morse Felton (1809-1889) and his son Samuel Morse Felton II (1853-1930), both civil engineers who became prominent railroad executives. Samuel Morse Felton rescued the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Philadelphia Railroad from financial ruin in the 1850s and made it into an important transportation route for Union troops during the Civil War. Felton also played a role in thwarting an assassination attempt on President Lincoln in February 1861. He went on to work for several railroad companies. Samuel Morse Felton II also forged a highly successful career in railroads, particularly with the Chicago Great Western Railroad during the late 1800s. Felton II was eventually named director general of military railways during World War I.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Coles Family Papers, 1819-1870 (bulk) 1760-1921, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
1.6 linear feet (; 3 boxes, 5 volumes, 4 flat files)
Abstract:
Edward Coles was the governor of Illinois from 1822 to 1826. Prior to that position, he was private secretary to President James Madison and special envoy to Russia. Coles was a staunch abolitionist and worked against the legalization of slavery in Illinois. The Coles family papers provide insight into the private and political life of Edward Coles, as well as glimpses of the lives of several other family members, including his son Edward Coles Jr. and brother John Coles. The collection provides information about planter family life, politics in Illinois, and the politics of abolition in general, as well as the personal activities of Edward Coles throughout his life. This collection contains correspondence, land deeds, ledger books, newspapers, scrapbooks, speech notes, tax forms, tariff papers, government appointment papers, certificates, and various miscellaneous material.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Waln family papers, 1759-1888 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.6 linear feet (; 14 boxes)
Abstract:
The Walns were a family of prominent Quaker merchants in Philadelphia. In 1774, Richard Waln, moved the family to Crosswicks, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, where he purchased "Walnford" and established a flour mill. The Waln family papers document primarily the family's business activities. Richard Waln (1737-1808) who was engaged in the milling business in Walnford, New Jersey, also was involved with financial concerns in Philadelphia. His nephew Robert (1765-1836) was the director of the Philadelphia Insurance Company from 1804 to 1813. Robert a successful merchant, joined into a partnership with his cousin Jesse, and traded with England and the West Indies, and later with East India and China. The collection consists largely of correspondence and financial records.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Parrish and Pemberton families papers, 1614-1880

Extent:
1.0 linear feet (; 2 boxes, 3 volumes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
The Parrish and Pemberton families were wealthy Quaker merchants living in Philadelphia during the 18th century. They shared a dedication to several benevolent causes, among them the abolition of slavery, improvement of relations with the Indians, penal reform, and the poor. This collection contains a selection of documents from and pertaining to both families. The Parrish documents focus on several noted family members, principally John Parrish (1728/29-1807), who was a Quaker minister active in promoting good relations with the Indians, and his nephew Dr. Joseph Parrish (1779-1840), a noted Philadelphia physician who was an outspoken abolitionist and crusader for penal reform. The Parrish family documents then follow Joseph Parrish’s sons Dillwyn Parrish (1809-1886), a prominent Philadelphia pharmacist who was also a dedicated abolitionist and crusader for racial equality, and his brother Samuel Parrish (1822-1872), who appears to be largely responsible for gathering much of the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Meredith Read papers, 1818-1873 (bulk) 1746-1917 (bulk 1818-1873) (inclusive)

Extent:
11.0 linear feet (; 28 boxes)
Abstract:
John Meredith Read (1794-1874) was a Philadelphia lawyer, jurist, and politician. He served on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and was a founding member of both the Free Soil and Republican parties. This collection of John Meredith Read's papers deals mostly with his legal career and covers his political career to a lesser extent. The collection spans Read life and includes some papers from his ancestors as well as his children. There is both business and personal correspondence, legal papers, financial records, estate papers, papers on the Masons, miscellaneous ephemera and printed matter, and volumes.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Gibbon papers, 1862-1892 (bulk) 1845-1896, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
1.3 linear feet (; 2 boxes, 5 volumes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
John Gibbon spent his career in the U.S. Army, serving through the Mexican American War, the Civil War, and the Indian Wars. This collection includes his correspondence with his wife, memoirs and commentary on many aspects of his life and the military, and several miscellaneous items, such as photographs and account books. The collection gives a valuable, broad view of the U.S. Army through the course of three wars. Gibbon comments on many major campaigns of the Civil War, including Gettysburg and Appomattox. He also writes about his command of the 1877 campaign against the Nex Perce Indians under Chief Joseph, and his peace enforcements during the anti-Chinese riots in Seattle in 1886.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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J.B. Lippincott Company records, 1833-1988 (inclusive)

Extent:
149.7 linear feet (; 93 boxes, 768 volumes)
Abstract:
J. B. Lippincott Company was an American publishing house founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1836 by Joshua B. Lippincott. Joshua Lippincott's company began by selling Bibles and other religious works and then successfully expanded into trade books, which became the largest portion of the business. In 1849, Lippincott acquired Grigg, Elliot and Company, a major book distribution company. The acquisition helped make the company one of the largest publishers in the United States. In the 1950s the company expanded production of its successful line of medical and nursing books and journals. The company was sold to Harper and Row in 1978, but Joshua Lippincott's great-grandson Joseph Wharton Lippincott Jr. remained on the Board of Directors until 1987. In 1990, the company was acquired by the Dutch corporation Wolters Kluwer, which initated a series of mergers. First, Lippincott was combined with Raven Publishers in 1995 to form Lippincott-Raven, which was then merged with...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Fenton and Remak families papers, 1844-1942 (bulk) 1821-1980 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.5 linear feet (; 14 boxes, 6 volumes, 2 flat files)
Abstract:
This collection relates primarily to two local Philadelphia families, the Fentons and the Remaks, that were joined with the 1885 marriage of Thomas H. Fenton and Lizzie Remak. Several family members are highlighted in the collection, in particular Lizzie's mother, Susan M. Scott Remak, and Thomas and Lizzie's daughters, Doris and Beatrice Fenton. The collection is rich in genealogical source material and family documents, correspondence, and photographs. There are also scattered clippings, printed matter, glass slides and negatives, and several volumes.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Batcheler, Hartshorne, and Sahlin families papers, 1789-2007 (inclusive)

Extent:
40.0 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains the papers of the Batcheler, Hartshorne, and Sahlin families, descended from Axel (1826-March 5, 1909) and Axeline Sahlin (1834-1922), a Swedish couple whose children lived in Europe and the United States. Four generations of the family are documented here, with documentation centering around five families. In the United States, the family is represented by Gertrude Chandler (July 17, 1860-1953) and Axel Sahlin (1855-1937); their daughter Ellen Sahlin (February 21, 1895-June 4, 1988) and her husband, Judge Richard Hartshorne (February 29, 1888-September 19,1975); and their daughter, Penelope Hartshorne (1928-2007) and her husband, George Batcheler(1926-2009). The Swedish side of the family is represented by Axel and Axeline Sahlin and the family of their daughter, Essie Sahlin (1859-1950) and her husband, Simon Johannes Boëthius (1850-1924). The contents of this collection are mostly correspondence and other personal papers, including diaries, artwork,...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Joshua Francis Fisher correspondence, 1806-1856

Extent:
0.6 linear feet (; 2 boxes)
Abstract:
Joshua Francis Fisher (1807-1878) was a prominent Philadelphia citizen and member of its upper class throughout much of the nineteenth century. He obtained a law degree but never practiced, and he was an instrumental advocate of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. This collection is primarily comprised of letters addressed to Fisher from his college friends Allyne Otis and Paul Trapier, but there are also typed transcriptions of many of these letters, as well as a few miscellaneous items. While the collection spans from 1806 to 1861, the letters of Otis and Trapier cover 1825 to 1856. The letters are cordial in nature and discuss current events along with personal matters.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Kirk & Nice, Inc. records, 1831-1988, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
36.88 linear feet (; 4 boxes, 148 volumes )
Abstract:
Kirk & Nice, Inc. is recognized as the United States' oldest continuously operating funeral establishment. Founded in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1761 by Jacob Knorr, originally the business was a carpenter shop that specialized in building furniture. Only on occasion was the request made for Mr. Knorr to construct a coffin. The Civil War and death of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 revolutionized funeral services by popularizing the process of embalming the deceased along with encouraging citizens to outwardly mourn the passing of loved ones. In 1869 Jacob Knorr's business was re-named Kirk & Nice, after Benjamin R. Kirk and William Nice. During the 1860s and 1870s the carpentry shop gradually changed focus to funeral services, and the company continues to offer services to the residents of Philadelphia at two locations: Kirk & Nice, Inc. at George Washington Park in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, and Kirk & Nice Suburban Chapel Inc. at Sunset Memorial Park in Feasterville, Pennsylvania....(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Woodlands Cemetery Company papers, 1798-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:
66.5 linear feet (50 boxes; 152 volumes; 1 flat file drawer)
Abstract:
The Woodlands Cemetery was founded in 1840 on the grounds of the Woodlands estate, formerly belonging to famed Philadelphia lawyer Andrew Hamilton (c. 1676 - 1741) and heavily renovated by his grandson, William Hamilton (1745-1813). Soon after its founding, the cemetery became a popular burial spot for prominent Philadelphia men and women. The historic mansion and carefully tended grounds also made it a frequently used public recreation spot. The cemetery is still functioning as of 2012. This collection documents the growth and activities of the cemetery from its founding in 1840 into the 1990s. It contains administrative materials, financial records, correspondence, burial records, deeds to land in West Philadelphia, deeds to burial lots, blueprints and maps of the cemetery grounds, and a small number of photographs. The heart of this collection is burial records and correspondence about burial lot maintenance, although there is also a good deal of Woodlands Cemetery Company...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Nathan Mantz papers, 1767-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:
Papers of Nathan Mantz, of West Penn, Schuykill County, Pennsylvania. There are a number of items in the collection of other Mantz family members. Some items are written in English with a Pennsylvania German dialect. A few pieces of correspondence are in German.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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French Benevolent Society of Philadelphia records, 1804-1977

Extent:
12.3 linear feet (; 29 boxes)
Abstract:
The French Benevolent Society was founded in Philadelphia in 1793. The society serves indigents of French descent and provides scholarships to local students of French extraction. The records include minutes, correspondence, financial and membership records, case files, histories, and uncataloged photographs.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [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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Tiers-Frasch Collection, 1843-1919 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:
The Tiers-Frasch Collection consists of the business records from the firm of Tiers & Company, especially as they pertain to Herman Frasch's process for extracting sulfur.

Held at: Science History Institute Archives [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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Ingersoll Family Collection, 1797-1865 (bulk) 1797-1954 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.2 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists chiefly of letters of the Constitution signer and Philadelphia lawyer Jared Ingersoll to his son Charles while he was a student at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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William Charles Macready Collection, 1810-1866 (inclusive) 1825-1855 (bulk)

Extent:
1 box and 0.45 linear feet
Abstract:
William Charles Macready (1793-1873) was an English actor and theater manager. The collection consists of selected correspondence, letters written by members of his family, and some letters, articles, and miscellaneous documents about him. A significant number of letters (45) are from Macready's friend, William Frederick Pollock.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Herbert S. Auerbach Collection on Mormons and Indians, 1808-1935 (inclusive)

Extent:
12 boxes
Abstract:
Consists of copies of letters, documents, stories, newspaper articles, reports, tables, artifacts, and extracts relating to Mormons and Indians, as collected by Herbert S. Auerbach, an American renaissance man, involved in music, writing, politics, and philanthropy.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Henry Neill Paul Papers, 1846-1952 (inclusive)

Extent:
12 boxes
Abstract:
Consists of works, correspondence, and printed matter of Henry Neill Paul (Princeton Class of 1884). Also included is an autograph book and account books of family members.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Elias Boudinot Collection, 1773-1950 (inclusive) 1777-1820 (bulk)

Extent:
1 box and 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Elias Boudinot was a lawyer and Revolutionary statesman, serving as member of the Continental Congress (president, 1782), secretary of foreign affairs (1783-84), New Jersey congressman (1789-95), and director of the U.S. Mint (1795-1805). The collection consists of miscellaneous letters and documents of Boudinot, many of which concern his land dealings.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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Sutton and Cunliffe-Owen Collection, 1843-1947 (inclusive) 1890-1927 (bulk)

Extent:
23 boxes and 15 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of selected papers of E. F. H. Sutton (Princeton Class of 1895) and his collection of papers of his longtime friends, the former Countess Marguerite (de Godart) Cunliffe-Owen and her husband, Frederick Cunliffe-Owen.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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McFarlane Family Papers, 1832-1928 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 box and 0.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Consists of correspondence, deeds, indentures, genealogical notes, and other documents of the McFarlane, Buchanan, and Haslett families who came to Somerset County, New Jersey, from England and Canada in the 19th century.

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

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