Call Number:

10

Repository:

Historical Society of Montgomery County

Extent:

17.4 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1876-1961 (inclusive)

Creator:

Barker, Charles R.

Abstract:

Charles Reed Barker (1875-1961) was a very active genealogist and historian in the Philadelphia area. The Charles R. Barker papers, 1876-1961, consist of diaries, scrapbooks, historic document abstracts/transcriptions, and a small amount of loose documents and ephemera. At the heart of the collection are Barker's diaries, which provide a comprehensive and intimate view of his daily activities over nearly three-quarters of a century, 1889-1961.

Charles Reed Barker (1875-1961) was a very active genealogist and historian in the Philadelphia area.

The Charles R. Barker papers consist of diaries, scrapbooks, historic document abstracts/transcriptions, and a small amount of loose documents and ephemera.

Barker's diaries form the heart of this collection. Incredibly detailed, faithfully entered on a daily basis, and indexed by the diarist himself, Barker's diaries provide a comprehensive and intimate view of his daily activities over nearly three-quarters of a century, 1889-1961. Barker was engaged with Philadelphia culture, attending the Mummer's Parade, visiting the Free Library, and attending meetings of many clubs and societies. Barker also responds to world events, having lived through two World Wars.

In addition to his diaries, Barker kept scrapbooks with newspaper clippings on various topics that interested him. There are scrapbooks about Philadelphia, the Main Line and vicinity, and Lower Merion marriage announcements (1910-1928) and obituaries (1909-1926). Of special interest is a scrapbook on genealogy, genealogists, and genealogy research methods.

As part of his research, Barker transcribed abstracts of deeds, wills, orphan's court records, church records, Public Ledger articles, etc. He also recorded gravestone inscriptions from burial grounds in Delaware and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania. Some of these were published.

In addition to the diaries, scrapbooks, and abstracts which make up the bulk the collection, there is a small amount of documents, ephemera, and clippings, etc. collected by Barker. These pertain to Philadelphia or Montgomery County townships, and subjects like the Civil War and the Centennial Exposition. There is also some correspondence and miscellaneous documents. There is one box of letters from Charles Barker to Ira Hoover, 1943-1961.