Call Number:

06

Repository:

Historical Society of Montgomery County

Extent:

15.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1751-1991 (inclusive)

Creator:

Historical Society of Montgomery County.

Abstract:

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

Montgomery County, situated in southeastern Pennsylvania, was established in 1784 out of the western portion of Philadelphia County. Part of the Welsh Tract, an area of Pennsylvania settled by Quakers from Wales, it is located along the Schuylkill River. Montgomery County has played an important role in U.S. history, including being the site of such Revolutionary War events as the dramatic reshaping of Washington's Army at Valley Forge and the lesser-known engagement of General Lafayette at Barren Hill. Among its significant residents are military figures Winfield S. Hancock, John F. Hartranft (also Governor of Pennsylvania), and Henry "Hap" Arnold; abolitionist Lucretia Mott; inventors David Rittenhouse and Thaddeus Lowe; and artist Thomas Hovenden. Since its founding, Montgomery County has experienced "booming industry and manufacturing, rich farm fields, advanced transportation, artistic endeavors and unique religious beliefs."

The Historical Society of Montgomery County was established in 1881 as the institutional successor to the Federation of Montgomery County Historical Societies. The Society's mission is "to preserve the county's rich heritage and help tell the stories of the many people who have walked and tended its soil."

Bibliography:

Quoted text from: Historical Society of Montgomery County. "Home." Accessed March 2, 2012. http://www.hsmcpa.org/

This collection consists of miscellaneous records from clubs, societies, associations, and social organizations in the vicinity of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. There is less than one linear foot of material, and sometimes less than an inch, for each of the organizations included in the collection. Organizations whose records span one linear foot or more are described in separate finding aids.

Many different types of organizations are included in this collection, which is grouped into seven broad categories: Agricultural Associations, Charitable Groups, Civic Groups, Fraternal Societies, Horse Companies, Literary Societies, and Social Clubs. Minute books are the most common document type, but ledgers, membership records, correspondence, and many other types of records are also represented in the collection.

Agricultural associations

Blue Bell Livestock Insurance Company minute book, 1855-1877

Eastern Pennsylvania Agricultural and Mechanical Society minute book

Fairview Village Creamery Association minutes, 1881-1901

Farmer's Creamery Association of Centre Point bills ledger (1881), minute books (2 volumes, 1901-1920)

Horsham Farmers' Club minute books 1887-1991

Jeffersonville Agricultural Society minute book

Montgomery County Agricultural Society minutes, records, and correspondence

Civic groups

Bridgeport Policemen ledger of signed oaths of allegiance, 1889-1890

Centre Square Fire Company memberships, 1913-1920

Centre Square Fire Company minute book, 1917

Chester Valley Temperance Union (1886-1889)

Conveyancers Association of Montgomery County laws and proceedings (1895)

Glenside Improvement Association records and notes, 1907-1909

Montgomery County Bar Association, miscellaneous pamphlets

Montgomery County Probation Association minute book, 1904-1914

Norristown Civic Club clippings and letters and minute book (1911-1925)

Norristown Clean-Up Week 1981 correspondence

Norristown Fire Company minute book (1815-1821),

Philip Markley for Bank of Montgomery County petition book, 1817-1819

Sons of Temperance account book (1845)

Upper Merion Board of Supervisors minute book, 1792-1913

Village Improvement Society of Jeffersonville financial secretary's book (1905-1912)

Women's Suffrage, miscellaneous, including minute book of the Norristown and Collegeville Woman Suffrage Association (1905-1919)

Fraternal societies

Boy Scouts of America newspaper clippings

Camp #52, USWV minute book (1913)

Patriotic Orders Sons of America Washington Camp (post 523) ledger (1901-1946), and roll of officer of the POSA minute books (5 vols, 1901-1949)

St. George's Lodge 266

Horse companies

Centre Square Association for the Recovery of Stolen Horses and the Detection of Thieves, minute book

Centre Square Horse Company account book

Centre Square Horse Company minute book (1848-1881) and constitution,

Horse Society, Belmont Mansion, invitations and menus

Jefferson Express Horse Company minute books (2 volumes, 1877-1905)

Merion Horse Company register and cash book,

Montgomery County Horse Company notes, records, and newspaper clippings

Schuylkill Society for the Detection of Horse Thieves records

Literary societies and libraries

Agassiz Association minute book (1883-1890)

Chester Valley Social Lyceum (1856-1880)

Franklin Literary Society of Conshohocken

Gulph Mills Library accession books (3)

Gwynedd Literary Association constitution and minute books (1858-1860)

Gwynedd Literary Association minute books [2] (1858-1860)

Kulpsville Literary and Library Association, financial secretary's book, 1886

Kulpsville Literary Association constitution and by-laws (1861) and minute books (1861-1892) and financial secretary's book (1886-1891)

Literary Club of Norristown notes, records, and programs, 1908-1948

Literary Club of Norristown programs (1908-1982), index cards with books (circa 1976-1981)

Montgomery County libraries, miscellaneous records, charters, and notes

Montgomery County Library Company minutes

Norristown Reading Circle small photo album [undated] and two minute books (1923-1964)

Old Literary Society journal, "The Old Wreath," 1880-1883

Tredyffrin Literary Society (1869)

Union League of Norristown minute book (1863-1864)

Union Library list of subscribers 1854-1878, financial records 1940s, correspondence, 1940s, clippings 1940

Upper Merion Literary and Social Aid Society (1896-1899)

Upper Merion Literary Society minute book, 1907-1913

Whitpain Library Company record book (1818), catalog, record book (1817-1843), documents and records

Whitpain Library Company record book, 1830

Charitable groups

Aged Women's Home of Montgomery County notes and correspondence (1908-1983)

Army Aid Society letters, minutes, and correspondence (1861-1865)

Associated Charities minute books (1910-1949)

Associated Charities of Norristown minute book, 1908-1909

Mental Hygeine Society of Montgomery County papers (1948-1949)

Red Cross of Collegeville minute book (1917-1955)

Towamencin Township, poor and school minutes, 1751-1886

Tuberculosis-fundraising sales of Christmas seals in Conshohocken, ledger, 1919

Upper Merion poor board, 1755-1809

Upper Providence Mutual Relief Society notes and records (1884-1933)

Unidentified relief organization ledger, 1930s

Various social organizations, miscellaneous records

Washington Benevolent Society minute books (1841-1892)

Youth's Improvement Society (1839-1843)

Social clubs

Ersine Tennis Club board of directors (1889-1892)

Merion Square Cornet Band

Norristown Choral Society cashbook, 1910-1919

Norristown Gun Club minute book (1878-1885)

Norristown Jaycettes of Pennsylvania notes, correspondence, and dance memorabilia (circa 1969-1971)