Main content

Institute for Colored Youth property records

Notifications

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. 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

Call Number:
Ms. Coll. 1604
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Extent:
0.2 linear feet (1 box)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Institute for Colored Youth property records, circa 1835-1855, Ms. Coll. 1604, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania
Date:
circa 1809-1855 (inclusive)
Form:
Deeds
Abstract:
The Institute for Colored Youth property records measure 0.2 linear feet, date from 1809-1855, and include land deeds, titles, and rent receipts regarding two properties that generated revenue for the school. The Institute for Colored Youth, later Cheyney University, was founded in Philadelphia in 1837 as the first college for African-Americans in the United States.

The Institute for Colored Youth was founded in Philadelphia in 1837 as the first college for African-Americans in the United States.

The school was founded by a Quaker philanthropist named Richard Humphreys who bequeathed $10,000 to create a school for people of African descent.

He enlisted 13 other Quakers to become the school's Board of Managers which included Charles Robert, George Williams, and Caspar Wistar. These three men purchased two properties, 150 and 152 North 9th Street, which generated $162 a year in income for the school. It does not appear that these properties were ever occupied by the school.

The school was first located at 718 Lombard St, Philadelphia and then moved to 915 Bainbridge St, Philadelphia in 1866 to accommodate twice as many students. Then in 1902 the school moved to Cheyney, Pennsylvania and changed its name to Cheyney University.

The Institute for Colored Youth property records measure 0.2 linear feet, date from 1809-1855, and include land deeds, titles, and rent receipts regarding two properties, 150 and 152 North 9th St, Philadelphia, that generated revenue for the school.

These documents "record the various dealings of several of the Institute's founding managers, Charles Roberts, George Williams, and Caspar Wistar, as they purchased the ground rent rights to two adjacent parcels of land in downtown Philadelphia." (Kislak Administrative File)

The earlier documents list the individual managers, but two later documents name the Institute for Colored Youth as the properties' owner.

This collection also includes five documents that have no relation to the Institute for Colored Youth. These documents are letters from Mary Sandwith to Robert De Silver requesting rent and a deed and Power of Attorney between Benjamin Franklin French and his wife Angelica Brown.

This collection does not contain property records about either of the properties that the school occupied in Philadelphia, but it gives insight into the early revenue streams for the school.

The name of the institution and other language used within the collection should be considered in the context of the time in which the collection was created.

Sold by William Reese Company, 2024.

Organization
Subject

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Finding Aid Author
Casper Voca
Finding Aid Date
2024 September 13
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Collection Inventory

Request to View Materials

Materials can be requested by first logging in to Aeon. Then, click on the ADD button next to any containers you wish to request. When complete, click the Request button.

Request item to view

Deed of Samuel Richard and wife to Charles Roberts, George Williams, and Doctor Caspar Wistar, for two yearly rent charges each of $162 per annum, 1835 November 9.
Box 1 Folder 1
Deed of Samuel Richard and wife to Peter Fritz for lot at N.W. corner of Ninth and Richard Sts. Ground rent $162, 1835 November 9.
Box 1 Folder 2
Examination documents for unsatisfied judgments against Samuel Richards, 1837 June.
Box 1 Folder 3
Brief of title to two yearly rent charges of $162 per annum issuing out of lots on Delaware 9th near Sassafras street, 1837 June.
Box 1 Folder 4
Note from A.D. Cash to George Williams, 1837 June 23.
Box 1 Folder 5
Autograph letter, signed, from Robert Smethurst to George Williams, 1839 November 18.
Box 1 Folder 6
Brief of title to a messuage (dwelling) and lot of ground on the west side of Ninth street and north side of Richards street, City of Philadelphia, 1840 March.
Box 1 Folder 7
Receipt for funds received from Mr. Hinds for ground rents on 150 N. 9th street, 1840 March 6.
Box 1 Folder 8
Declaration of trust Lloyd W. Bickley to Margaret H. Bell wife of Robert Bell, 1847 March 14.
Box 1 Folder 9
Receipt for the endorsement of deed for the Institute for Colored Youth to Lloyd W. Bickley, 1855 May 17.
Box 1 Folder 10

Letter from Mary Sandwith to Robert De Silver requesting payment for overdue ground rent, 1809 June 17.
Box 1 Folder 11
Letter from Mary Sandwith to Robert De Silver requesting payment for overdue ground rent, 1809 August 24.
Box 1 Folder 12
Court document from Mary Sandwith to Robert De Silver requesting overdue ground rent, 1810 January 3.
Box 1 Folder 13
Deed of assignment between Benjamin Franklin French and wife Angelica Brown, 1823 June 28.
Box 1 Folder 14
Power of Attorney between Benjamin Franklin French and wife Angelica Brown, 1825 May 10.
Box 1 Folder 15

Print, Suggest