Call Number:

01

Repository:

Stenton

Extent:

45.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1898-2000 (inclusive)

Creator:

National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Abstract:

Stenton is an historic site administered by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 1899. James Logan erected this example of early Georgian architecture between 1723 and 1730 in what was countryside in Philadelphia County but is now part of the City of Philadelphia, near the neighborhood of Germantown. Logan had come to Philadelphia with William Penn in 1699 as his secretary, and for the rest of his life remained the Penn family’s representative in the colony and was at the center of Pennsylvania’s political life. The Colonial Dames Stenton records, 1898-2013, document the Dames administration of Stenton as an historic site. The collection includes copies of primary-source Logan family papers; secondary-source research on the Logan family and Stenton; site maintenance studies, plans, and records; administrative records of the Colonial Dames, including various committees' records, financial records, and the correspondence and files of several Dames; audio-visual materials; and various other records.

Stenton is an historic estate administered by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. James Logan erected this example of early Georgian architecture between 1723 and 1730 in what was countryside in Philadelphia County but is now part of the City of Philadelphia, near the neighborhood of Germantown.

"Logan had come to Philadelphia with William Penn in 1699 as his secretary, and for the rest of his life remained the Penn family’s representative in the colony and [was] at the center of Pennsylvania’s political life. Although now in a densely populated urban area with factories and railroad nearby, Stenton’s present three-acre site preserves significant buildings, landscape, and objects. As perhaps the most important building in Philadelphia extant from the early 18th century, Stenton offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to explore the material culture and the political, cultural, social and architectural history of one of the elite families in Colonial Pennsylvania, as well as the lives of others who lived and interacted with the property. In 1899, the Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Dames of America entered into a lease agreement with the Logan family to manage Stenton. Then, after the property was purchased by the City of Philadelphia, the Society of Colonial Dames was charged in 1910 "to preserve and maintain Stenton as an historic object lesson." Today, managed by the Stenton Committee of The NSCDA/PA, the historic site is interpreted to a wide public.

"The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is dedicated to preserving our State and National heritage through preservation of historic properties, conservation of antiquities and archives, education, scholarships, patriotism and respect for our Colonial ancestors whose distinguished service prior to 1776 and ideals are the foundation of our Country. One of the Society’s most important service projects is the preservation and administration of Stenton."

Bibliography:

Quoted text from: Stenton. "A Brief History of Stenton." Accessed October 8, 2013. http://stenton.org/index.php/about/

This collection consists of records of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America relative to their administration of the historic site Stenton. It is organized into seven series: "Logan papers - copies," "Site-related history," "Colonial Dames management records," "Buildings and grounds," "Collections," "Bound volumes," and "Audio-visual collections."

The first series, "Logan papers - copies," includes copies of primary-source documents created by James Logan, his family members, including the diaries (1815-1839) of his daughter-in-law Deborah Norris Logan, and other individuals related to Stenton, used as reference by Stenton site staff. Many of the original manuscripts are stored at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

The second series, "Site-related history," includes secondary-source resources about the Logan family and Stenton, including genealogy, Stenton research by various scholars and staff, reports and articles pertaining to the Logans and Stenton, and archaeology dig files and reports.

The third series, "Colonial Dames management records," includes minutes from various committees (library, postcard, garden, museum, archaeology, guide, genealogy, costume, furnishings, central, and other committees), financial records (Stenton Fund financial reports, grant-related materials, maintenance bills, etc.), and papers of Letitia Ellicott Wright (1861-1933, a Logan descendent who headed up Stenton's first garden committee), Lilian Streeter Lucas Chance (1927-2013, former president of the Colonial Dames in Pennsylvania), and Margo Burnett (former Stenton Executive Director; records primarily pertaining to site management).

The fourth series, "Buildings and grounds," includes restoration plans, historic structures reports, contract bids and specifications, and related correspondence and other materials for the house and barn.

The fifth series, "Collections," includes documentation and research about the artifacts in Stenton's collections.

The sixth series, "Bound volumes," includes minute books of the Stenton Mansion Committee and its predecessors, the Committee on Historic Houses and Committee of Thirteen; Stenton Garden Committee scrapbooks and accounts; Stenton publicity scrapbooks, and several other volumes.

The last series, "Audio/visual collections," includes reproductions/prints of graphics, some videos, and glass lantern slides.