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Bache and Wistar Family Correspondence

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

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

The Bache family is directly related to Benjamin Franklin. Sarah Franklin Bache, born on September 11, 1743, was the daughter of Benjamin. In 1767 she married Richard Bache against her father's will. However, after the birth of her first son, Benjamin Franklin reconciled himself to the match. That first son went on to be a political actor like his grandfather. Sarah's grandson through her first son was a physician, chemist, and author, who served as a military doctor from 1813 to 1816. Before her death in October of 1808, Sarah had eight children with Richard.

History of the Wistar Family

The Wistar family was another Philadelphia family. Richard Wistar, a glass manufacturer, had a son Caspar. Caspar became a doctor, and after spending time in Edinburgh and touring continental Europe, he returned to Philadelphia. There he was connected with the University of Pennsylvania Medical School for thirty years, and became a prominent and popular personality in the Philadelphia social circle. One of eight children, Caspar was part of a large network of Wistars.

Consists of thirty-five letters of the Bache family of Philadelphia, direct descendants of Benjamin Franklin, and of a related Philadelphia family, Wistar. Among those family members represented are Catharine Wistar Bache, Sarah Franklin Bache, and William Bache.

The following standard abbreviation is used to identify materials in this collection: ALS = autograph letter signed.

The collection has been arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

The following sources were consulted during preparation of biographical note: American National Biography.

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

This collection was processed by Jim Flannery '06 in 2003. Finding aid written by Jim Flannery '06 in 2003.

Biography written by Alyxandra Cullen, '09.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
Jim Flannery '06
Finding Aid Date
2003
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

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Collection Inventory

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

ALS to William Bache, Philadelphia, 1794 September 21. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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1 box

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Flatbush, 1783 April 3. 1 folder.
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1 folder

New York, 1783 April 8. 1 folder.
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1 folder

Seattle, 1799 February 24. 1 folder.
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1 folder

Seattle, 1801 May 11. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Sarah Franklin Bache (mother), Philadelphia, circa 1801 January 7. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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1 box

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Philadelphia, 1794 June 28. 1 folder.
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1 folder

Seattle, 1794 December 14. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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1 box

ALS to William Bache (nephew), New York, 1790 August 28. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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1 box

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Philadelphia, 1790 May 7. 1 folder.
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1 folder

London, 1794 July 26. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Catherine W. Bache, Albany, 1799 September 29. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to William Bache, Pennsylvania Hospital, 1795 January 9. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Theophilus Parsons, Charlestown, Mass, 1836 February 20. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Sarah Franklin Bache, Passy near Paris, 1777 November 25. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

[marked "duplicate" but is not a copy]

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1 folder

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1 box

ALS to Sarah Franklin Bache (her mother), Philadelphia, undated. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Sarah F. Bache (niece), no place (after August 1780), undated. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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Milton, 1803 January 26. 1 folder.
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1 folder

Washington, 1804 March 11. 1 folder.
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1 folder

Albermarle, 1804 April 6. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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1 box

ALS to Sarah F. Bache, Liverpool, 1786 September 15. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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Walnford, 1795 August 14. 1 folder.
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1 folder

Burlington, 1798 March 25. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Catharine W. Bache, no place, undated. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Catharine Wistar Bache (sister), Philadelphia, 1787 July 18. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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1 box

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Philadelphia, 1814 October 20. 1 folder.
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1 folder

Philadelphia, 1816 March 28. 1 folder.
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1 folder

Philadelphia, 1817 September 18. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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1 box

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no place, 1801 March 22. 1 folder.
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Philadelphia, 1802 June 27. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to "Dear Girls" (sisters?), Worcester, Mass, 1794 June 14. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Catharine Wistar Bache, no place, 1818 August. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Kitty Wistar, no place, 1789 June. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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ALS to Catharine Wistar Bache (aunt), Philadelphia, 1815 January 23. 1 folder.
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1 folder

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