Year: <span class="from" data-blrl-begin="1995">1995</span> to <span class="to" data-blrl-end="1999">1999</span> - Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

Fritz and Karoline Solmitz papers, 1929-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4 linear ft.
Abstract:: Fritz Solmitz (1893-1933) was an early and outspoken leader in the opposition to Nazism, an editor of a Social Democratic newspaper in Lübeck and a member of the City council. Because of his active opposition to the Nazis, and probably because he was a Jew, he died of mistreatment in a German prison shortly after Hitler came to power. Karoline Somitz (1893-1966) was, like her husband, active in civic affairs. Much of the collection contains letters and photographs, some translated from German.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

Pennsylvania National Organization for Women (PA NOW) papers, 1970-2012 (inclusive) 1975-1996 (bulk)

Extent:: 20 linear ft.
Abstract:: The Pennsylvania National Organization for Women (PA NOW) papers occupy fourteen boxes and contain the feminist organization's records about their activities and meetings as well as materials about women's issues such as reproductive rights; violence against women; gender, economic, and constitutional equality; and civil rights. The records date from 1970 to 2007 and include newspaper clippings, articles, meeting notes, office files, activism realia, and lobbying records, among other things.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

Margaret Hall Whitfield Papers, 1943-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2 boxes
Abstract:: Margaret Rumsey Hall Whitfield (bornJune 23, 1933) was a 1955 graduate of Bryn Mawr College, did graduate work at Radcliffe and Harvard in Education in the late 1950s, and spent much of her life in either Concord or Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where she raised a family, raised and rode horses, managed businesses and property, and wrote. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Blodgett Hall, founder of Simon's Rock College, and Livingston Hall, who taught law at Harvard. The papers consist of her extensive notebooks of journal entries, correspondence, photographs, and writings documenting her life from high school at the Cambridge School in Weston, MA in 1947 to her move to California in the 2000s. Preferred Citation: Cite as Margaret Rumsey Hall Whitfield Papers, Special Collections Department, Bryn Mawr College Library.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

Elmali Archaeological Collection, 1963-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:: 79 boxes
Abstract:: The Elmali Archaeological Collection includes documents from a number of excavations conducted in the Elmali Plain of Lycia (Turkey): Karataş, Bağbaşi, Boztepe, Kizilbel, and Karaburun. The excavations were sponsored by Bryn Mawr College and directed by Machteld J. Mellink; the sites were excavated from 1963 to 1975. The excavations at Karataş, Bağbaşi, and Boztepe uncovered evidence of occupation at the sites from the Chalcolithic period through the Early Bronze Age, giving us a picture of domestic life during this time. At the sites of Kizilbel and Karaburun the team uncovered and conserved two painted chamber tombs in different artistic styles that are cited for their historical importance.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

Ben Wolf Collection, 1940-1996 (inclusive)

Extent:: 22 boxes
Abstract:: The Ben Wolf collection contains materials collected by, researched, or produced by Ben Wolf throughout his life as a writer and artist. The collection includes Wolf's poetry, fiction, lectures, critical writing, and original artwork, as well as Sherlockiana material. Beyond work produced by Wolf, the collection also contains a wide variety of correspondence, as well as a large amount of collected brochures, newspaper clippings, and magazines. The collection is loosely dated from the 1950s until 1990s. It would be most useful for research into Ben Wolf's life and work, or for research into the Philadelphia art world during this period.

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

Katrina Thomas Collection, 1963-2001 (bulk)

Extent:: 15 boxes
Abstract:

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

Bertha Waters Papers, 1960-2019 (bulk)

Extent:: 13 linear ft.
Abstract:

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

Joaquín and Jeanne Maurín Collection, 1910-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:: 15 linear feet
Abstract:

Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]

St. David's Church (Radnor, Pa.) records, circa 1706-2008

Extent:: 15.0 linear feet (; 30 boxes, 34 volumes, 15 flat files)
Abstract:: The cornerstone for St. David’s Church was laid in 1715 by a group of Welsh settlers in what is currently Radnor Township. During the Revolutionary War, the parish faced turmoil and the absence of a minister for the parishioners. By 1788, the parish once again had leadership, and in 1792, Reverend William Currie incorporated the parish and drew up a charter. The parish continued to grow as railroad lines brought urban dwellers to areas like Radnor that surrounded Philadelphia. For the next century, the parish would erect buildings to accommodate its constituency, providing the parishioners with a new rectory, chapel, parish house, and education building. Currently, the church attends to the religious needs of over one thousand families and holds many events, including an annual fair and auction. The records of St. David’s Church span from 1706 to 2006 and offer insight into the activities of the parishioners and history of the church in Radnor, Pennsylvania. This collection consists...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Wister and Butler Families Papers, 1700-2004, undated; bulk: 1848-1907

Extent:: 21.5 linear feet (; 46 boxes, 55 volumes, 17 flat files)
Abstract:: The Wister and Butler families were prominent in Philadelphia in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and had ties to numerous other prominent families in the Philadelphia region, Georgia, and Great Britain. The bulk of the collection concerns Pierce (Mease) Butler and his daughters Sarah Butler Wister and Frances Anne Butler Leigh. Butler's former wife Frances Anne Kemble (Butler), known as Fanny Kemble, and various other family members are also represented. The bulk of the collection is correspondence and estate papers; it also includes diaries, newspapers and newspaper clippings, business papers, real estate papers, ledgers and other financial documents, photographs, and other miscellaneous papers. The collection provides insights into a wide variety of topics, including women's history, the Civil War, African American history, family history, politics, culture, and the life of actress Fanny Kemble and her daughters. The materials concerning the Butler plantations both before...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Mutual Assurance Company (Green Tree) records, 1784-1995 (inclusive)

Extent:: 455.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Mutual Assurance Company for Insuring Houses from Loss by Fire was organized in Philadelphia in 1784, in order to make fire insurance available to those citizens who wished to have trees in front of their houses. A group of sixty-one men met on July 8, 1784 at the City (or London) Coffee House and agreed to create a new mutual fire insurance company. A deed of settlement was adopted and a green tree was selected as a symbol to appear on the company's policies and fire marks. The company archives of The Mutual Assurance Company, familiarly known as the Green Tree, consist of financial accounts and receipts, correspondence, histories, cancelled insurance surveys and policies, and miscellaneous material. The records date from the formation of the company in 1784 to 1995.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Nelson A. Diaz papers, 1967-2011

Extent:: 85.6 linear feet (, 219 boxes, 7 flat files)
Abstract:: Nelson Diaz (1947- ) is a Philadelphia attorney who served on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (1981-1992) and as general counsel for the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (1993-1996). In addition, he has been highly active in the Hispanic and overall Philadelphia community as an activist, businessman, and journalist. He has served on many boards and committees in the Philadelphia area, and his interests and involvement have ranged from youth groups to the Temple University Hospital to the William Penn Foundation. This extensive collection documents Diaz's activities relating to Hispanic issues, organizations, and events; his work with and for various boards and committees; his work as a judge and an attorney; and his numerous other activities. Materials include correspondence, memos, minutes, reports, transcripts, by-laws, mailing lists, financial data, petitions, clippings, personnel documents, photographs, and audio and video cassettes.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Foerderer family papers, 1894-1994 (bulk) 1865-2009 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.8 linear feet (; 13 boxes, 1 volume, 1 flat file)
Abstract:: Percival E. Foerderer (1884-1969) was a Philadelphia businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist, although lived most of his life in the city suburbs of Merion and Bryn Mawr. His college-age medical education was interrupted when his father, Robert H. Foerderer, became ill and could no longer run the family’s decades-old leather manufacturing business. In response, Percival quit school and, in the early 1900s, joined Robert H. Foerderer, Inc, manufacturers of “Vici Kid” leather. Later in life, Percival served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson Medical College and Hospital, and on the boards of many other companies and organizations in Philadelphia. He married Ethel Brown (1885-1981), daughter of a Philadelphia textile manufacturer, who presided over the Women's Board of Jefferson and was active in several other civic and philanthropic activities. Percival and Ethel Foerderer had three daughters, Mignon, Florence, and Shirley. This family collection spans from the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Richardson Dilworth papers, 1940-1972 (bulk) 1881-2002, undated (inclusive)

Extent:: 87.7 linear feet (; 258 boxes, 19 volumes, 7 flat files)
Abstract:: The papers of Richardson Dilworth include correspondence, office files, accounts, reports, political campaign materials, brochures, pamphlets, scrapbooks, and photographs that primarily pertain to the immediate years before and after he became mayor of Philadelphia (1956-1962). The collection also contains papers related to Dilworth’s role on the Philadelphia Board of Education, his failed run for Pennsylvania governor, and from his law firm Dilworth Paxson LLP.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Natalie Saxe Randall papers, 1960-1962 (bulk) 1923-1998, undated (inclusive)

Extent:: 19.0 linear feet (; 56 boxes, 25 volumes, 6 flat files)
Abstract:: This collection contains the papers of Natalie Saxe (later Natalie Saxe Randall), campaign coordinator and organizer of the Democratic Party in Philadelphia, director of the Committee for Philadelphia established by Joseph Sill Clark and Richardson Dilworth, executive assistant to Richardson Dilworth during both his stints as mayor of Philadelphia (1956-1962) and president of the Philadelphia Board of Education (1965-1970); and lobbyist in Harrisburg for Lincoln University, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and Franklin Institute, among others. The collection is comprised of office and personal files, papers related to political campaigns in all Pennsylvania counties, and a set of her appointment books, agendas, work diaries, and travel journals.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Stiefel family papers, circa 1920-2007

Extent:: 2.6 linear feet (; 6 boxes, 1 volume)
Abstract:: Asher Shtevel/Stiebel and his wife, Miriam, lived in Poketilov, Russia (now part of the Ukraine) in the nineteenth century. Three of their sons came to Philadelphia in 1887: Abraham, Jacob, and Michael (1871-1954), who were followed by other brothers, including Hyman (1860-1927). Sometime after 1887, the American branch of the family started using the name Stiefel. In 1903, members of the Stiefel family set up a movie theater in Philadelphia, the Fairyland on Market Street. In the following years, they opened other theaters in Philadelphia, elsewhere in Pennsylvania, and in Baltimore, New York, Washington DC, and California. The Stiefels were also in the film distribution business and produced live shows and at least one film. Theaters run by the Stiefels, notably the Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia and the Howard Theatre in Washington, were part of the so-called "Chitlin Circuit" and gave starts to many black entertainers whose music later appealed to a wider audience. The...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Athena Tacha papers, 1942-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.4 linear feet (3.4 linear feet, 12 boxes, 2 volumes )
Abstract:: Athena Tacha (1936-) is a Greek American sculptor, photographer, and conceptual artist who received degrees from the National Academy of Fine Arts (Athens, Greece), Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio), and the University of Paris (Sorbonne). In the 1960s she settled in the United States and became a professor of sculpture at Oberlin College. Her commissioned pieces are installed as public art across the United States and in several other countries as well. This collection contains mostly early correspondence, education materials, publications, and artwork from 1950 through the 1980s, although it spans from 1950 to 2000.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Merchants Fund records, 1853-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:: 13.0 linear feet (; 9 boxes, 24 volumes)
Abstract:: "The Merchants Fund is a Philadelphia charity established in 1854 to provide charitable gifts to business persons facing financial hardships. It evolved from the Mercantile Business Association, an organization dedicated to providing business advice, networking opportunities, and protection from financial failure or defualt due to illness, old age, or disability." (From their website) The collection consists primarily of administrative, financial, and legal records of the Fund. There are board minutes, business and legal correspondence, and tax returns. There are also extensive files on beneficiaries that include wills and estate papers. Other financial records include audit reports, treasurer's reports, tax- and Social Security-related records, and reports on the "Oliver Fund." Among the records are also several volumes, some dating to the mid 1800s. These include ledgers, cashbooks, bound annual reports, and bound minutes.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Viri Viginti (Twenty Gentlemen) Club of Philadelphia records, 1980-1985 (bulk) 1962-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.4 linear feet (; 1 box, 1 flat file)
Abstract:: Latin for "twenty gentlemen," Viri Viginti is an African American social club founded in 1914 in Philadelphia. It is believed to be the oldest such organization in the city. This small collection of its records includes by-laws, membership lists, minutes, photographs, correspondence, clippings, and financial records.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Harry E. Adamson papers, 1880-2021 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.1 linear feet (; 27 boxes, 6 volumes)
Abstract:: Harry Egan Adamson Jr. (1949-2021) was a Philadelphia AIDS and gay rights activist and restaurant manager. Infected in 1982, Adamson lived with HIV for nearly 40 years. He moved to Philadelphia in 1981 with his partner David Yontz. The couple stayed with Dr. John E. Fryer (1937-2003), who became one of Adamson’s lifelong friends. Yontz returned to Chicago in 1982, but Adamson remained in Philadelphia. Many of his friends and former lovers succumbed to AIDS between 1984 and 2000, but Adamson was a slow progressor and did not need to start medication for his disease until 1998. Though his HIV disease was under good control, neuropathy in his extremities became disabling in 1993. Adamson remained as active as he could, completing a master’s degree in pastoral counseling at La Salle University in 2002, acting as agent executor for Dr. John Fryer’s estate after his death in 2003, and serving on the board of Philly AIDSThrift from 2010-2013. Nonetheless, medical problems and depression...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Judith Shuman Eden papers on Philadelphia urban affairs, 1983-2005, undated

Extent:: 2.9 linear feet (; 8 boxes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:: Philadelphia resident Judith Schuman Eden, who died 8 August 2008, devoted much of her life to Philadelphia activism and politics. She was appointed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment by Mayor John Street and later appointed to the Zoning Code Commission by Mayor Michael Nutter. She claimed a wide range of interests involving everything from the arts and Jewish community issues, to city improvements and land-use rights. This collection of publications and printed matter from various Philadelphia and Pennsylvania organizations dates from the 1990s and 2000s and covers many topics such as homelessness, graffiti, parking, transportation, zoning, Broad Street revitalization, parks/public lands, and vacant lots/property. Organizations represented include the City Planning Commission, Project Housing Opportunity Medical Education, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and the John F. Street Transition Team. There is also a group of Polaroid photographs showing various...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Ritter family papers, circa 1840-2004, undated

Extent:: 2.2 linear feet (; 6 boxes)
Abstract:: This family history collection documents the Ritter family and its ancestors beginning in the late 18th century. Diaries, autobiographies, memorandum books, family photos, and legal papers comprise the bulk of the material that spans almost 200 years (1773-1962). The collection focuses heavily on James Hansell Ritter (1859-1912) and his wife, Mary LeBaron Stoddard Ritter (1867-1949), both descendants of William Bradford, the governor of Plymouth Colony from 1622 until 1656. The couple’s lineage is documented in Series 1 which houses genealogical notes including a letter dated 25 December 1872 and an application for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Many of the ancestors appear in original or copied photographs in Series 2. Material related to ancestors and relatives of James Hansell Ritter - including his maternal great-great grandfather, Jacob Ehrenzeller, Sr. (1725-1798); his paternal grandfather, Jacob Ritter, Jr. (1784-1840); his father...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Saunders House records, 1862-1940 (bulk) 1853-2011, undated (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.6 linear feet (; 8 boxes, 7 volumes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:: The Old Man's Home of Philadelphia was chartered in 1860 and opened its doors in 1864 in West Philadelphia, as a residence for old men in indigent circumstances. The home evolved to be Saunders House and began admitting women in 1960. In 1973, it moved to its current location adjacent to Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa. Today Saunders House provides long-term care and rehabilitation services to up to 180 older adult residents. The collection includes the original Old Man's Home minute book; admission records; record of inmates; annual reports; financial reports; deeds and other property-related documents; newsletters; court records from an inheritance dispute involving the Old Man's Home; a program from the organization's 125th anniversary celebration; a Christian Endeavor hymn book, typescripts, and clippings.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Tony Reese papers, 1955-1970 (bulk) 1946-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.1 linear feet (; 11 boxes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:: Tony Reese, born Attilio Resci in Foggia, Italy in 1919, was a popular performer both in Philadelphia and nationally. He was raised in South Philadelphia, attended South Philadelphia High School, and served with the U. S. Army during World War II. He developed a partnership and comedy act with Pepper Davis, whose real name was David Asner, and the duo performed across the United States and Canada. Together they appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and other televised variety shows of the mid 20th century. They also performed overseas and gave a command performance for Prince Ranier and Princess Grace of Monaco. Reese died in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in 2013. This collection of Reese's papers mostly covers his career as a performer and includes numerous transcripts of comedy routines, clippings and programs, and musical arrangements. There are also a few personal papers including his obituary, biographical material, photographs, and audio-visual items.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

Alice Beamsderfer Records, 1979-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 linear foot
Abstract:: None available.

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

Danielle Rice Records, 1986-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4 linear feet
Abstract:: None available.

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

Development Department Records, 1964-1979, 1982-2004 (inclusive)

Extent:: 32.25 linear feet
Abstract:: None available.

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

Education Division Records, 1939-2004 (inclusive)

Extent:: 27 linear feet
Abstract:: None available.

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

Volunteer Services Department Records, 1961-2006, undated (inclusive)

Extent:: 13.5 linear feet
Abstract:: None available.

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

Faith and Fine Arts Scrapbooks, 1967-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4 linear feet
Abstract:: None available.

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

Francis Bacon Foundation Records, 1936-1997, undated (inclusive)

Extent:: 18 cubic feet
Abstract:: The Francis Bacon Foundation was formed by Walter and Louise Arensberg in 1938 to promote study in science, literature, religion, history and philosophy with special reference to the works of Francis Bacon. The Foundation also served as the legal owner of the Walter and Louise Arensberg art collection. The Francis Bacon Foundation Records consist of correspondence, administrative and financial records which illustrate the organizational aspects of the Foundation, the Baconian research conducted by its staff, and the art historical research conducted by outside researchers using the Francis Bacon Foundation Library and Arensberg Archives. Because of the Foundation's close association with Walter and Louise Arensberg, the Records also shed some light on their personal lives.

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

Painting and Sculpture Department Records, 1924-1999 (inclusive)

Extent:: 137.08 linear feet
Abstract:: None available.

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

Beatrice Wood Collection, circa 1921-2001, undated (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.5 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection includes archival material documenting the life and work of Beatrice Wood (1893-1998), a central figure in the New York Dada movement and a notable ceramic artist. The archival material comes from two different sources: the artist herself and Conrad C. M. Arensberg. It includes documentation of several exhibitions and events, specifically personal photographs of her 96th birthday.

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

Anne d'Harnoncourt Papers, circa 1927-2012, undated (bulk 1951-2008) (inclusive)

Extent:: 31.5 linear feet
Abstract:: Art to Anne d'Harnoncourt (1943-2008) was both a professional and personal passion. Best recognized for her twenty-five year tenure as director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, d'Harnoncourt collaborated with local, national and international people and organizations, to keep art--and all the arts--relevant and essential in building and bridging communities. Most of the material comprising the Anne d'Harnoncourt Papers traces her professional development in and away from the Museum and consists primarily of correspondence, press clippings, photographs of works of art and events, draft lectures, notes, ephemera and a number of certificates, citations and object awards. Several files of photos and papers pertain to her husband and Museum colleague, Joseph J. Rishel. Family papers and photographs and school records comprise her personal papers. Also made part of the Anne d'Harnoncourt Papers is the significant documentation of the worldwide reaction to her unexpected death on June 1,...(see more)

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