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Historical Society of Pennsylvania collection of World War II papers, 1938-1948 (bulk) 1920-1981 (inclusive)

Extent:
46.0 linear feet (97 boxes; 38 volumes)
Abstract:
In late 1942, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania solicited materials to form an artificial collection to document the war effort of a number of community and social service agencies in Philadelphia. The bulk of the material donated came from the Office of War Information, the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies, and the United Service Organization of Philadelphia. Smaller donations were made by other community organizations and volunteers such as Mrs. Weber, a member of St. Mark's church who corresponded with servicemen. The collection, which dates from 1938 to 1948, consists of press releases, administrative records, correspondence, financial records, photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, posters, and ephemera.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Wood and Bacon account books, 1773-1774, 1787-1827

Extent:
4.2 linear feet (; 19 volumes, 1 box)
Abstract:
Wood and Bacon was a general merchandise store located in Greenwich, New Jersey, that was run by Richard Wood and David Bacon. This collection consists of financial volumes kept by the store's proprietors during the late 1700s and early 1800s. The volumes are mostly daybook and ledgers, but there is also a general accounts book (Volume 7), and calculations book kept by David Wood (Volume 6), and a legal book that was used, at some point in its past, as a scrapbook (Volume 4).

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Waln family papers, 1759-1888 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.6 linear feet (; 14 boxes)
Abstract:
The Walns were a family of prominent Quaker merchants in Philadelphia. In 1774, Richard Waln, moved the family to Crosswicks, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, where he purchased "Walnford" and established a flour mill. The Waln family papers document primarily the family's business activities. Richard Waln (1737-1808) who was engaged in the milling business in Walnford, New Jersey, also was involved with financial concerns in Philadelphia. His nephew Robert (1765-1836) was the director of the Philadelphia Insurance Company from 1804 to 1813. Robert a successful merchant, joined into a partnership with his cousin Jesse, and traded with England and the West Indies, and later with East India and China. The collection consists largely of correspondence and financial records.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Parrish and Pemberton families papers, 1614-1880

Extent:
1.0 linear feet (; 2 boxes, 3 volumes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
The Parrish and Pemberton families were wealthy Quaker merchants living in Philadelphia during the 18th century. They shared a dedication to several benevolent causes, among them the abolition of slavery, improvement of relations with the Indians, penal reform, and the poor. This collection contains a selection of documents from and pertaining to both families. The Parrish documents focus on several noted family members, principally John Parrish (1728/29-1807), who was a Quaker minister active in promoting good relations with the Indians, and his nephew Dr. Joseph Parrish (1779-1840), a noted Philadelphia physician who was an outspoken abolitionist and crusader for penal reform. The Parrish family documents then follow Joseph Parrish’s sons Dillwyn Parrish (1809-1886), a prominent Philadelphia pharmacist who was also a dedicated abolitionist and crusader for racial equality, and his brother Samuel Parrish (1822-1872), who appears to be largely responsible for gathering much of the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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John Meredith Read papers, 1818-1873 (bulk) 1746-1917 (bulk 1818-1873) (inclusive)

Extent:
11.0 linear feet (; 28 boxes)
Abstract:
John Meredith Read (1794-1874) was a Philadelphia lawyer, jurist, and politician. He served on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and was a founding member of both the Free Soil and Republican parties. This collection of John Meredith Read's papers deals mostly with his legal career and covers his political career to a lesser extent. The collection spans Read life and includes some papers from his ancestors as well as his children. There is both business and personal correspondence, legal papers, financial records, estate papers, papers on the Masons, miscellaneous ephemera and printed matter, and volumes.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker diaries, 1758-1807, 1975, undated

Extent:
1.5 linear feet (; 4 boxes, 41 volumes)
Abstract:
The diaries of Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker highlight the life of a Quaker woman living in Philadelphia in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Between 1758 and 1807, Drinker fastidiously wrote in her journals, usually about her family and their health and well being. Occassionaly, she also detailed medical practices and her own moral standards. She discussed major events insofar as they affected her family, such as the Revolutionary War and the 1793 Yellow Fever outbreak. As a member of the famous merchant family, the Drinkers, she also came in contact with many other well-known families, including the Shippens, Whartons, and Rawles, and such encounters are often noted. The collection includes her original diaries, as well as typescripts of excerpts from them and photocopies of the diaries from the years 1797 to 1807.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Penn Athletic Club of Philadelphia papers and photograph albums, 1892, 1922-1945

Extent:
6.67 linear feet (; 2 boxes, 26 volumes)
Abstract:
Penn Athletic Club was a men's social and recreational club that was organized circa 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by prominent Philadelphian and Olympic rower, John "Jack" B. Kelly Sr. (1889-1960) and several of his friends. Around 1923 Penn AC decided to sponsor the West Philadelphia Boat Club, which changed its name to Penn Athletic Club Rowing Association. The rowing club enjoyed much success after Kelly and other top rowers became members and is still active as of 2017. The Penn Athletic Club of Philadelphia papers and photograph albums, 1922-1945, consists of photograph albums, membership correspondence, and other materials.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Grand Army of the Republic. Philip R. Schuyler Post, No. 51 records, 1874-1931, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
7.0 linear feet (3 boxes, 44 volumes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
This collection consists of records from the Philip R. Schuyler Post No. 51 of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Ladies Aid Society No. 4, the Sons of Union Veterans Camp No. 2, and the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans. The majority of records pertain to the operation and membership of the Philip R. Schuyler Post No. 51 and include the constitution and by-laws, applications for membership, cash books, dues ledgers, member lists, "black books" that list rejected applicants, correspondence, minutes, orders and reports. Ladies Aid Society/Auxiliary records consist of expenses and dues ledgers, minutes, orders, and receipt books. These records provide a thorough illustration of the operations and concerns of the Schuyler Post in Philadelphia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Albert M. Greenfield papers, 1930-1950 (bulk) 1918-1969, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
436.4 linear feet (;1069 boxes, 85 volumes, 22 flat files)
Abstract:
The Albert M. Greenfield papers consist of correspondence, office files, appointment books, photographs, audio-visual materials, and scrapbooks spanning almost fifty years of business and personal records. The collection reflects Greenfield’s career as a real estate mogul, banker, department store developer, mortgage financier, motion-picture theater owner, hotelier, philanthropist, and Philadelphia City commissioner. He also served as delegate to national conventions of both the Democratic and the Republican parties, and was appointed to commissions by Philadelphia mayors and U.S. presidents, keeping thorough records of his involvement in multiple social, political, religious, and business organizations.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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