- Philadelphia Area Archives Search Results

John F. Ballier papers, circa 1831-1892

Extent:: 2.5 linear feet (6 boxes)
Abstract:: The collection primarily includes records related to the Civil War service of John F. Ballier, including correspondence, guard reports, muster rolls, military orders, and other papers pertaining to the 21st and the 98th Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers, which Ballier commanded. Other papers of Ballier include a handwritten copy of a resolution of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, Third Regiment, acknowledging Ballier's retirement in 1876; and a personal scrapbook of correspondence, memorabilia, ephemera, and clippings documenting his Civil War service as well as other events throughout his life. Many items in the scrapbook relate to German-American societies and festivities in Philadelphia. Also included are records of discharges and payments to veterans of regiments in Pennsylvania and in other states; and a volume entitled Pennsylvania Militia Legion cashbook.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Otto Brauch papers, 1912, 1917-1919

Extent:: 0.05 linear feet (1 folder, 7 items)
Abstract:: Otto Brauch was an immigrant from Hamburg, Germany, who settled in Philadelphia some time before 1917, and was working for the Hamburg-American Line in 1918. The collection of 7 items includes an identification card and insurance fund membership card related to his employment; a letter from the United States Immigration Service, 1917; and three items addressed to him in 1919, from his brother Carl Brauch, who was a prisoner of war at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and returned home to Hamburg that year.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Concord Group minute book, December 1937 - November 1945

Extent:: 0.1 linear feet (1 box = 1 volume + 1 folder)
Abstract:: The collection comprises the minutes of the Concord Group, a small German-American social club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from its first meeting, on 23 December 1937, until 20 November 1945, mostly in the hand of secretary Karl Rugart and contained in a single notebook. The club mainly carried on a program of lectures and discussions, on topics in the arts, and business and industry, combined with social gatherings and special excursions. In 1943-1945 there are references to war relief efforts. Members included Captain Louis H. Schmidt and architect Eugene A. Stopper, both leaders of the German Society of Pennsylvania at the time; sculptor J. Otto Schweizer; jewelry businessman Franz Zirnkilton (Jr.); German professor Harry W. Pfund; physician John B. Ludy; A. Raymond Raff, the Collector of Customs at Philadelphia; and Lutheran pastor Kurt E. B. Molzahn, whose membership was rescinded by the group in August 1942.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Deutsch-Amerikanischer Zentralbund von Pennsylvanien, Philadelphia branch, records, 1909-1941 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.21 linear feet (1 box, 18 folders)
Abstract:: This collection contains records of the Philadelphia branch of the Deutsch-Amerikanischer Zentralbund von Pennsylvanien (DAZB), also known as the German-American Central Alliance, or the German-American Federation, of Pennsylvania. The federation existed from 1899 until 1941; from 1901 to 1918 it was part of the National German-American Alliance, which it had helped to found. These extant records mainly comprise materials related to activities of the School Committee, which promoted German language learning, and learning about German-American culture, among German-American youth. Included are minutes (with financial reports), correspondence, fliers, and educational materials, dated 1909 to 1933. The remaining materials are ephemera, including a flier related to the fifth anniversary of the women's auxiliary, in 1932, and programs for German Day celebrations in 1940 and 1941. A few fliers bear texts composed by Adolph Timm and Max Heinrici concerning the preservation of...(see more)

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Emil Doernenburg collection of First World War ephemera, 1914-1920 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.3 linear feet (66 items)
Abstract:: Collection of 66 items of printed ephemera related to the First World War, nearly all produced by Germans, dating from 1914 to 1920, including mostly fliers, broadsides, posters, and newspapers. The majority of the items date from the war period and either address German military personnel or are related to the civilian war effort. Nine items relate to German-occupied territories. Seven items date from the immediate postwar period, including three items related to the Kapp Putsch. One quarter of the items are illustrated (some in color), including six items (three broadsides and three military newspapers) containing caricatures or cartoons.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Edna Fern papers, circa 1905-1941

Extent:: 0.13 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:: Clippings and typescripts of writings by the German-American author Edna Fern (pseudonym of Fernande Richter), who was active in St. Louis, Mo. Two photographs are included, one of the author and one of her husband Georg Richter.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Frauenhilfsfond records, 1914-1922, 1924

Extent:: 0.17 linear feet (1 box + 3 legal-size folders)
Abstract:: The Frauenhilfsfond was the women's auxiliary of the Hilfsfond (Relief Fund), a German-American charitable organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, devoted to war relief and humanitarian aid in German-speaking areas overseas during and after the First World War. The Frauenhilfsfond was essentially an umbrella group of German-American women's organizations in the Philadelphia area that coordinated the women’s efforts related to the relief work. The collection contains the complete minutes of the group from August 1914 until March 1917, as well as a record of donations received from March 1915 to April 1917. It also includes a log of homemade knitted items produced for overseas relief from October 1919 to March 1920, as well as a few items dated in the early 1920s related to campaigns to feed destitute children in German-speaking areas in Europe, efforts that were led by the American Friends Service Committee. The records dating from after 1917 appear to overlap with the activities...(see more)

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

German Associated Nationality Group of the American Red Cross War Fund Campaign. Records, 1943-1945 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.1 linear feet (5 folders)
Abstract:: This collection contains the records of the German Associated Nationality Group, a committee of the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the American Red Cross that led a fundraising effort within the German-American community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during World War II, from 1943 to 1945, as part of the Red Cross War Fund campaign. Included are minutes of meetings (12 March to 12 May 1943); invitation letters to meetings (July 1943 to April 1944); two appeal letters (1944, 1945), including related Red Cross campaign ephemera; committee membership lists; lists of donors and donations; and two clippings from German-language newspapers.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

James E. Gibson manuscript on Bodo Otto, 1935, 1937

Extent:: 0.05 linear feet (1 folder)
Abstract:: The collection comprises a signed typescript of a paper (12 leaves) presented by James E. Gibson at the annual meeting of the Montgomery County Historical Society at Norristown, Pennsylvania, in 1935, on the German-born physician Bodo Otto, who served at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. The paper preceded Gibson's book on Otto, which was published in 1937. Also included is a newspaper clipping of a German-language article on Bodo Otto by Carl Frederick Haussmann, published in the Philadelphia Gazette-Democrat, in 1937, which was based on Gibson's material.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Oscar Guthmann family papers, circa 1914-1940

Extent:: 0.05 linear feet (1 folder, 7 items)
Abstract:: Oscar Guthmann was a German seaman, born in Hamburg, in 1894, who later apparently settled in New York City. The collection comprises a 1921 copy of Guthmann's birth certificate, and 6 photographs, including one that is on a postcard addressed to a German, Hans Lüders, who was interned at the Knockaloe Aliens Camp on the Isle of Man, England, during World War I. Another photograph depicts a sailboat, or yacht, named Jacinta, at dock, and is inscribed on the verso with the name and address of Chase Adams of Dearborn, Michigan.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Harmonie Singing Society records, 1855-1918 (bulk) 1855-1957 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet (7 boxes + 3 oversize folders)
Abstract:: The collection contains the records of the Harmonie Singing Society of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1855, and originally known as the Liedertafel des Deutschen Freien Gemeinde (Liedertafel of the Independent German Congregation); it changed its name to Harmonie in 1869, when it reestablished itself separate from the congregation. A Women's, or Ladies' Chorus (Damen-Chor) was founded in 1857. The records include minutes dating from the founding in 1855 until December 1918, with a gap during the years 1876 to 1885; a certificate of incorporation of 1892; ephemera from the late 1890s; a scrapbook of newspaper clippings documenting the 50th anniversary celebration, in 1905; correspondence related to the 60th anniversary celebration, in 1915; anniversary concert programs (1925, 1939, 1940, and 1949); and several songbooks used at regional singing festivals of the Nordöstlicher Sängerbund (1903-1957).

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Krutzke family papers, circa 1860s-1934, 1948-1969

Extent:: 0.33 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:: This collection consists of correspondence, photographs and memorabilia from the Krutzke (Krutzky) family. The correspondence is mostly addressed to Herbert Krutzke and his wife, Luise (Louise) Krutzke (née Greger), German Americans who came from East Prussia and lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The correspondents are family members and several friends living in Germany. The correspondence falls into two time periods, 1911 to 1934 and 1948 to 1969. The memorabilia includes an art work, partly sewn, with a handwritten text, created by a German child in school, in the 1860s or early 1870s.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Ladies Society of the Philadelphia Turners. Records, 1933-1938, 1954-1959

Extent:: 0.25 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:: This collection comprises two volumes of records of the Ladies Society (Damen-Verein), or women's auxiliary, of the Philadelphia Turners. The parent club, which was known until the late 1930s as the Philadelphia Turngemeinde, was one of the oldest German-American Turner, or gymnastics clubs in the United States, founded in 1849. The Ladies Society was founded on 5 September 1877 to assist the Turngemeinde. These partial records of the Ladies Society are from two different periods. The first volume is a ledger recording member information and dues paid from 1933 to 1938. The second volume is a cashbook kept from 1954 to 1959. In the 1950s the Ladies Society mainly held social events such as card parties, dessert parties, picnics, and dinners; and besides supporting the Turngemeinde it partly had a general charitable purpose.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Liberty Loan Committee of Americans of German Birth or Descent records, 1918-1919 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.21 linear feet (1 box + 6 posters + 1 oversize folder)
Abstract:: This collection contains the records of the Liberty Loan Committee of Americans of German Birth or Descent, a committee that coordinated the campaign for the purchase of Liberty Bonds among German Americans in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1918, during the First World War. Liberty Bonds were issued by the United States government to finance the American war effort. These records were kept by Louis H. Schmidt, treasurer of the Committee, and pertain mainly to the Third and Fourth Liberty Loans, with inclusion of a few subscription lists related to the fifth loan, issued in 1919 and known as the Victory Liberty Loan. The collection contains correspondence, subscription forms, lists of subscribers, reports, clippings, and ephemera, including Liberty Loan volunteer buttons and six posters promoting the purchase of Liberty Bonds.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

United Singers of Philadelphia records, 1880-1926 (bulk) 1880-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8.0 linear feet (27 boxes + 8 oversize folders)
Abstract:: The collection comprises the records of the umbrella organization United Singers of Philadelphia (Vereinigte Sänger von Philadelphia) from its founding, in 1881, until 1926, with some scattered ephemera dating as late as 2006; included are the records of several regional singing festivals held in Philadelphia (in 1882, 1897, 1912, and 1926) under the auspices of the Nordöstlicher Sängerbund, an alliance of singing societies in the Mid-Atlantic region. The collection includes minute books, financial records, correspondence, membership lists, scrapbooks, three newspaper issues related to Saengerfests (1897, 1912), and ephemera, including souvenir programs, admission tickets, fliers, and singers' badges. Also included are manuscripts in the hand of William A. Haussmann, of essays written for a souvenir program of 1912, and the rehearsal attendance list of the Ladies' Chorus, dated 1925.

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Women's Auxiliary of the German Society of Pennsylvania (Frauen-Hilfsverein) records, 1900-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.25 linear feet (5 paige boxes)
Abstract:: The Women’s Auxiliary of the German Society of Pennsylvania was founded in 1900 to serve as an additional charitable arm of the Society, with particular emphasis on charity for families in distress in the Philadelphia area. Since its founding in 1764, the German Society had provided charitable assistance to German-speaking immigrants in the community, especially those newly arrived in the country. With German immigration on the decline in the early 20th century, the Women's Auxiliary assumed the greater portion of the Society's charitable work. After the First and Second World Wars the Auxiliary engaged in war relief to German speaking lands directly and in cooperation with Quaker relief agencies. As state and federal government undertook more and more welfare work in the city, the auxiliary charter was changed in the 1950s to provide scholarship aid to students who majored in German language study. The records include annual reports, charters, bylaws, minute books, treasurer’s...(see more)

Held at: German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library [Contact Us]

Gilbert R. Blount Collection, 1844-1874 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6 linear feet
Abstract:

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Architectural Archives [Contact Us]

Julian Francis Abele Collection, 1902-1906 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 linear feet
Abstract:

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Architectural Archives [Contact Us]

Herman Hassinger Collection, 1929-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 16 linear feet
Abstract:

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Architectural Archives [Contact Us]

Alexander Kendrick papers, 1787-1994 (inclusive) 1930-1977 (bulk)

Extent:: 11.51 linear feet (27 boxes)
Abstract:: Alexander Kendrick was a journalist, foreign correspondent, author, and radio and television reporter affiliated with The Public Ledger, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). He is best known for his reporting of international events in World War II and postwar years. The Alexander Kendrick papers comprise radio broadcast and television typescripts, correspondence, contracts, edited book typescripts, book research notes, clippings, long-playing records, and photographs.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives [Contact Us]

Blair Birdsall Papers, inclusive dates (inclusive)

Extent:: 105.0 linear feet (180 boxes, 105 linear feet)
Abstract:

Held at: Lehigh University Special Collections [Contact Us]

Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat records, 1969-2000 (bulk) 1946-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:: 137.0 boxes (137 boxes, 137 linear feet)
Abstract:: The collection is composed of records created and organized by Dr. Lynn S. Beedle, during his time as director of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. It contains primarily subject files, correspondence, and audio and visual materials generated by the organization during the period of time it was headquartered at Lehigh University, as well as some of Beedle's personal files.

Held at: Lehigh University Special Collections [Contact Us]

Birkinbine Engineering Company records, 1840-1963 (inclusive)

Extent:: 75.0 linear feet (75 linear feet (79 box of records + photographs + maps and drawings + pamphlets + patents and realia))
Abstract:: The Birkinbine Engineering Company got its start through Henry P. M. Birkinbine. His son, John, gained early engineering experience through various water supply projects in and around Philadelphia; this experience later helped direct the Birkinbine Engineering Company’s involvement in many water-related projects around the country in the late 19th century as part of the improved public sanitation initiatives. The Birkinbine firm also specialized in mining engineering, both in the United States and Mexico. John also had a firm grounding in mechanical engineering through his work in the Weimer Machine Works in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. John’s interest in manufacturing pig iron from charcoal, combined with his knowledge of hydraulics, catalyzed his concern for the condition of forests in Pennsylvania and he became one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. He also was president of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, founding member and secretary of the United...(see more)

Held at: Lehigh University Special Collections [Contact Us]

Albert Family Papers., 1855-1954 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.63 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection focuses on one family’s multi-generational U.S. Naval service during the Civil War and World War II. Additionally, there is small but significant focus on one family member’s involvement with the 1876 Centennial Exhibition.

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

Elliston P. Morris family papers, 1912-1938 (bulk) 1889-1938 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

George Sproule papers, 1884-1944 (bulk) 1784-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.16 linear feet (3 boxes, 17 volumes)
Abstract:: George F. Sproule (1867-1928), known as an authority on the Port of Philadelphia, served on the Board of Port Wardens of Philadelphia from 1884 to 1907, as Secretary of the Board of Commissioners of Navigation for the Delaware River from 1907 to 1920, and as Director of Wharves, Docks and Ferries from 1920 to 1928. His son, Samuel Jackson Sproule served as Port Representative for the United States Shipping Administration, Recruitment and Manning Organization during World War II. This collection documents the professional life of George F. Sproule in the Philadelphia shipping and maritime industry in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the history of the Port of Philadelphia, and the World War II career of his son. The collection includes clippings, correspondence, appointment books, a scrapbook, business records, photographs, ephemera, and writings. The collection also includes a large number of maritime-related newspaper clipping volumes dating from 1891 to 1928.

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

Ogden and Cuthbert family papers, 1760-1830 (bulk) 1750-1906 (inclusive)

Extent:: 17.0 volumes and [1 box]
Abstract:: The Odgen and Cuthbert families joined when Anthony Cuthbert (1751-1832) married Mary Ogden (1770-1862) in 1799. Both families had strong connections to the rivers of Philadelphia. The Ogden and Cuthbert family papers consist largely of financial records (receipt, invoice and account books) of Joseph Ogden, his son George, and his son-in-law Anthony Cuthbert.

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

Philadelphia Maritime Exchange Records, 1870-1967 (inclusive)

Extent:: 100.0 linear feet
Abstract:

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

Riggs & Brother Company records, 1887-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.0 boxes
Abstract:: Riggs and Brother, a Philadelphia chronometer and nautical instrument manufacture and import company, was founded in 1818 by William H. C. Riggs. The business records of the company include cash books, invoice books, day books, inventories and correspondence.

Held at: Independence Seaport Museum, J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library [Contact Us]

Weiss family of Weissport, Pennsylvania papers, 1777-1916 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.75 linear feet
Abstract:: The Weiss family was prominent in the coal business in eastern Pennsylvania during the late 1700s and 1800s. The Weiss family collection dates from 1777 to 1916 and documents, most fully, Jacob Weiss (1750-1839), Francis White (1773-1845), and Francis White (1819-1888). The papers include diaries, geological and surveying notebooks, maps and observations; personalia and biographical notes; transcribed documents, portraits, scrapbooks, business journals, daybooks, mercantile records and account books as well as correspondence of many members of the family.

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Benjamin Sharp papers and glass lantern slides, 1844-1893 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.0 boxes
Abstract:: Benjamin Sharp (1858-1915), a zoologist who was primarily affiliated with the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, attended Swarthmore College (1876) and earned a M.D. and Ph.D.from the University of Pennsylvania. He worked in the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands and in the Arctic, where he was in charge of zoology for Peary's first Arctic Expedition in 1891.

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Edward James Nolan documents and correspondence on the History of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 1846-1915 (inclusive)

Extent:: 234.0 items
Abstract:: Edward James Nolan (1846-1921) served as the librarian at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia from 1869 until his death. During his tenure as librarian, he performed research on and wrote the history of the Academy which was completed in 1909. This collection contains material collected by Nolan for his history, including transcriptions of early minutes, deeds, biographies, news clipppings, letters and reminiscences of colleagues.

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Board of Trustees records, 1976-1989 (bulk) 1925-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.5 linear feet (12 containers)
Abstract:: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) is a natural history museum which was founded in 1812, “for the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences, and the advancement of useful learning.” The ANSP Board of Trustees, was established in 1925, as one of the institution’s primary administrative bodies. The Board of Trustees was charged with establishing financial policies, selecting the Academy President, assisting with fund raising and community relations, and serving as a board of review. This collection of Trustees records dating from 1925 to 1990 contains minutes and correspondence of various Board committees, policies and procedures, departmental activity reports, annual meetings and files from the President's office related to board matters.

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Crawford H. Greenewalt papers, 1951-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:: 23.6 linear feet (40 containers)
Abstract:: Crawford Hallock Greenewalt (1902-1993) was a chemical engineer and the President of the DuPont Company from 1948 to 1962. He had a passion for the natural sciences, and combined his love of ornithology with photography. He was especially known for his high speed photographs of hummingbirds. His ornithological interests included bird songs, the radiance of hummingbird feathers and the evolution of shapes and sizes of birds in relation to their flight abilities. The Crawford H. Greenewalt papers document Greenewalt's personal study of ornithology, primarily his work on hummingbirds. The collection dates from 1951 to 1993 and consists primarily of photographs taken by Greenewalt, and technical data collected by Greenewalt. The images photographed by Greenewalt exist in many different formats throughout the collection, including prints, negatives, and slides. The technical data in this collection represents Greenewalt's research into the physiology of hummingbirds, and the development...(see more)

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

President's Office and Administrative Records, 1874-2003, 1939-1993 (bulk) 1874-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:: 82.6 linear feet (146 containers)
Abstract:: The oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (ANSP) was founded in 1812 "for the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences, and the advancement of useful learning." Since the founding of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, there have been twenty-eight presidents and five acting presidents. From 1937 to 1995, there were four presidents and one acting president who left their administrations well documented: Charles M.B. Cadwalader (1937-1951), William M. Marvel (1971-1974), Milton H. Wahl (1974-1976), Thomas Peter Bennett (1976-1985) and Keith Stewart Thomson (1986-1995). In addition, several key staff members who worked closely with these presidents left a record of their influence and contributions. This collection contains papers kept by the Office of the President as well as some of the various divisions of the Academy overseen by the President from 1874 to 2003. The bulk of the...(see more)

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Horace G. Richards papers, 1928-1984 (inclusive)

Extent:: 41.0 linear feet (77 containers)
Abstract:: Horace G. Richards (1906-1984) was a geologist at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia and an authority on the geologic formations of the Atlantic coastal plain. His research specialty focused on geology and paleontology of the Quaternary Period (approximately the past 1.8 million years), but his research interests also included Cenozoic mollusca, and marine Pleistocene geology and paleontology of the Atlantic coastal plain. Additionally, he studied climate change and coastal shorelines, which required extensive fieldwork, taking him all over the world. Richards was also an adjunct professor at two universities and frequently guest lectured at various institutions. The Horace G. Richards papers document various aspects of his professional career, from his graduate education at the University of Pennsylvania to his retirement from the multiple positions he held. Materials in this collection include: general business correspondence; photographs and slides from his field work...(see more)

Held at: Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Anne Hampton Brewster papers, 1845-1892 (bulk) 1777-1892 (inclusive)

Extent:: 28.0 containers
Abstract:: Anne Hampton Brewster (1818-1892) was an American novelist, journalist and foreign correspondent who defied contemporary conceptions of womanhood and society during the nineteenth century. The papers date from 1777 to 1892, with the majority of the materials dating from 1845 to 1892. The materials primarily consist of diaries, journals, commonplace books, correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes about her writings and drafts of her writings. The materials document Anne Hampton Brewster’s personal life with friends and family, and they document her professional life as a journalist and writer.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Dillwyn and Emlen family correspondence, 1770-1818 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.0 containers
Abstract:: The Dillwyn and Emlen family was joined in 1795 when Susanna Dillwyn married Samuel Emlen, Jr. Both the Dillwyn and Emlen families were prominent in early America as Quakers and advocates for abolition. This collection consists of five disbound volumes of letters written to and from William Dillwyn of London and his daughter Susanna Dillwyn in America from 1770 to 1795; and thereafter until 1818, to and from Susanna and her husband Samuel Emlen, Jr. of Burlington County, New Jersey. Although Susanna lived almost her entire life apart from her father, their letters are frequent and deal primarily with family matters and kin. However, there is frequent comment concerning such topics as yellow fever; abolitionism and slavery; Native Americans; breast cancer; and American and European politics, including the Napoleonic wars and the embargo, as well as their effects upon trade and merchants in Philadelphia and London.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

The professional and personal papers of Edwin Wolf 2nd, 1920-1988 (bulk) 1798-1996 (inclusive)

Extent:: 20.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Edwin Wolf 2nd (1911-1991) was a librarian, bibliophile, author, historian, Franklin scholar, and a civic leader in Philadelphia. Wolf was Curator of the Library Company from 1953 to 1955, and then served as Librarian from 1955 to 1984. During those years, he led the Library Company though a period of rejuvenation, growth, and prosperity. The Edwin Wolf 2nd papers contain correspondence, research files, volumes, publications, photographs, and other records that document the education, career, and personal family life of one of Philadelphia’s most prominent bookmen during the 20th century.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson papers, 1752-1795 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.0 volumes
Abstract:: Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson (1737-1801), considered to be the outstanding female poet of her place and time, was a leader in the literary world of colonial Pennsylvania and an avid writer, who composed poems, songs, travel accounts and other writings, referencing literature, natural history, religion, politics and current events. This collection consists of six volumes of writings which probably represent all of her work, most of which is unpublished. Researchers interested in Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson, women authors in colonial America and the early United States, or a female commentary on contemporary events will find this collection to be extremely valuable.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Thomas Leiper and family business records, 1771-1947 (inclusive)

Extent:: 47.0 volumes
Abstract:: Thomas Leiper (1745-1825) was introduced into the business of tobacco shortly after his arrival in Virginia in 1763. Within several years, he moved to Philadelphia where he opened a tobacco shop. During the Revolutionary War, Leiper became the principal tobacco provider in Philadelphia. In 1776, Leiper purchased land in Delaware County that included a mill at a waterfall on the Crum Creek. He established snuff mills and later purchased a stone quarry. The Thomas Leiper and family business records include correspondence, country estate records, and business and financial records of the family's paper, lumber and wood working businesses, quarry business, and tobacco business dating from 1771 to 1947.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Logan family papers, 1684-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.0 linear feet and 10 containers, 62 volumes
Abstract:: The Logan family was prominent in Philadelphia from the start of the province, serving the people in many capacities, including political, medical and literary. This is a collection of manuscripts obtained by the Library Company of Philadelphia that relates to the Logan family. The collection includes papers of the Logan family members Albanus Charles, Algernon Sydney, Deborah Norris, William Jr., and James as well as family materials collected by Frances A. Logan and William Logan Fox. The collection dates from 1684 to 1925 and consists of family papers, correspondence, diaries, writings, medical texts, lecture notes, financial records, poetry, visiting cards, and invitations.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Gerard van Swieten dictata in materia medica, 1733-1756 (inclusive)

Extent:: 8.0 volumes
Abstract:: Gerard van Swieten (1770-1772) was a Dutch-Austrian physician who served as the personal physician to Austrian Empress Maria Theresa in 1745 and transformed the Austrian health services as well as medical university education. This collection consists of eight volumes of medical writings in Latin concerning nutrition, pharmacy, and surgery. Several pages at the beginning of Volume I, and a few pages elsewhere, are translated into English on the facing pages.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Christ Church records, 1695-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:: 200.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Christ Church is an Episcopal church located in the Old City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1695 as a condition of King Charles II of England's 1681 Charter to William Penn, which allowed for the formation of Church of England congregations in Pennsylvania. Several notable Philadelphians attended services at Christ Church including Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and members of the Continental Congress. Christ Church records, 1695-2016, document Christ Church and its parish and congregation. The records consist of vestry minutes, parish records, accounting and financial records, deeds, architectural drawings, photographs, and audiovisual materials. In addition, there are materials from parish organizations and affiliated institutions such as Christ Church Hospital, Episcopal School, Christ Church Burial Ground, and Christ Church Preservation Trust. A detailed finding aid is available on-site.

Held at: Christ Church Archives [Contact Us]

Patrick Coad family papers, 1798-1888 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear feet (; 2 boxes)
Abstract:: Patrick Coad (1783-1872), an Irish immigrant who settled in Philadelphia, was the first patentee of a graduated galvanic battery with insulated poles. Touting his battery among other uses as an instrument that helped cure various diseases, Coad’s invention attracted a good deal of attention within the scientific and medical communities. A teacher whose interests focused on medicine and the sciences, Coad also travelled throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding area as a lecturer on the natural sciences. The collection includes Coad’s correspondence, his lecture and medical notes, and ephemera, such as newspaper clippings, pamphlets and broadsides, publicizing his galvanic battery and lectures. Several of Coad’s family members are also documented through correspondence, ephemera, and estate items, including his son Joseph R. Coad (1829-1868), a prominent Philadelphia physician. A family scrapbook with miscellaneous materials is also included.

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

Martin I. J. Griffin papers, 1870-1911 (bulk) 1842-1950 (inclusive)

Extent:: 25.85 linear feet (61 containers)
Abstract:: A prominent Catholic historian and Philadelphia native, Martin Ignatius Joseph Griffin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 23, 1842. His parents, Terence J. and Elizabeth (Doyle) Griffin, were immigrants from Ireland. He was educated in parochial and public schools and began his journalistic career as a contributor to Catholic newspapers. Widely known as a church historian, Griffin authored many works dealing with Catholic history and was a frequent contributor to and editor of several magazines and periodicals, including The Irish Catholic Benevolent Union Journal, American Catholic Historical Researches and Griffin’s Journal. He edited a Sunday School journal from 1867 to 1870 before serving as assistant editor to the newly established Catholic Standard and Times, the official Philadelphia diocesan newspaper, from 1870 to 1873. Griffin founded the American Catholic Historical Society in 1884 and served as its...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

Monsignor William J. Lallou records, 1885-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.25 linear feet (; 15 boxes, one oversized album, one bust statue)
Abstract:: Born in Philadelphia and a graduate of St. Charles Seminary (Overbrook, Philadelphia, PA), William J. Lallou (1880-1973) served as an assistant pastor and pastor of several parishes within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including Our Lady of Lourdes, where he served as pastor for 17 years. He served as Director of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and was a professor at St. Charles Seminary and at the Catholic University of America. He authored the book The fifty years of the apostolic delegation (1943), and was named a domestic prelate by Pope John XXIII in 1959. The Monsignor William J. Lallou Records, 1885-1975, contains a large number of sermons, scrapbooks, and picture books, many of which document both Lallou’s travels abroad as well as activities at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. The collection also includes: personal diaries, family photographs, research notes and books on various topics, such as Central High School, Lallou’s alma mater.

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

Martin, Campbell, and Furlong families papers, 1825-1930 (bulk) 1795-1963 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.2 linear feet (; 13 boxes)
Abstract:: This collection contains papers that document several generations of the Martin, Campbell, and Furlong families with the Martin family receiving the most coverage. To a lesser extent, the Kennedy and Jenkins families, who had strong personal and mercantile ties to the Martin family, are also represented. These interrelated middle class Irish Catholic families from Philadelphia were involved in several prominent industries in the region, including overseas commerce. Devout in their religious beliefs, the families, the Campbells in particular, played a significant role in shaping Catholicity in Philadelphia. Members of the Campbell family were also actively involved in political and social movements of the nineteenth- and twentieth-centuries, including the labor movement and women’s suffrage. Distinguished members of these families are represented, including suffragist and writer Sarah Jane Campbell (1844-1928). Items in the collection date from 1795 to 1939 with the majority of...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

Rodrigue family papers, 1770-1875 (bulk) 1770-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.59 linear feet
Abstract:: Marie Jacques Dominique D’Orlic (1748-1825) was a French colonist and a wealthy planter in St. Domingue, a French colony on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (now modern-day Haiti). D’Orlic and his wife and daughter were forced to flee the island during the slave uprisings of the 1790s, and lost their wealth. The D’Orlics eventually landed in Philadelphia by 1795, where D’Orlic served as a trusted advisor to other white refugees from St. Domingue. Jacques Andre Rodrigue (1759-1844) was also a French aristocrat and a wealthy merchant and sugar planter in St. Domingue. Rodrigue lost nearly all his wealth in the slave uprisings of the 1790s and was also forced to flee to Philadelphia, where he settled, married the daughter of D’Orlic, and built another large business as a merchant trading with France. The Rodrigue family papers date from 1770 to 1975, with the bulk of records dating from 1770 to 1875. This collection contains the papers of Jacques Andre Rodrigue (1759-1844) and the...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

Anna Scull Case records, 1881 (bulk) 1881-1917 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.2 linear feet (; one small box)
Abstract:: Anna Scull was born in December of 1832. She devoted nearly 30 years teaching in the public schools of Philadelphia. By 1874, Scull was appointed principal of the Hunter Girl’s Grammar School located at Dauphin and Mascher Streets in Philadelphia. During a class lecture in February of 1881, Anna Scull was alleged to have taught students false statements that insulted the Catholic faith. As a result of these allegations, a petition dated March 8, 1881 was presented by parents, citizens, and city taxpayers to the Board of Education. The Petitioners alleged that Anna Scull and the Hunter Girl’s Grammar School were in violation of the Commonwealth’s law to not teach or defame any religion in secular schools. More severe, the Petitioners alleged Anna Scull not only promoted the Lutheran Reformation, but she also “attacked, vilified and abused the faith, religion and belief” of their children as well as “assailed the religious creed and faith” of the Roman Catholic Church. Under pressure...(see more)

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

Elizabeth Ann Seton letters, 1799-1818 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.2 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:: This small collection includes letters from Elizabeth Ann Seton to Matthias and Joseph O’Conway. Matthias, a prominent Philadelphian especially within the Catholic community, was the father of Cecilia O’Conway, Philadelphia’s first nun and the first women to join Seton’s order, the Sisters of Charity. The correspondence is personal in nature and relates to several members of the O’Conway family, particularly Cecilia. Also included is a letter from Elizabeth to her sister-in-law Rebecca Seton regarding members of the Seton family.

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

William C. White letters, 1861-1864 (bulk) september 27, 1861 - july 13, 1869 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.4 linear feet (; 1 box)
Abstract:: William C. White (dates of birth and death are unknown) was an Irish Catholic Union soldier from Philadelphia. White began his Civil War service as a volunteer with the 69th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers on August 19, 1861 and served in some of the bloodiest and most important battles of the War – Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. This collection contains letters from White to his parents in Philadelphia, recounting his experiences during the war.

Held at: Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center [Contact Us]

Hatfield and Hibernia Park records, 1743-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The County of Chester owns the Hatfield and Hibernia estates, both of which played parts in the early iron industry in Pennsylvania. The families who lived on those estates (the Hatfields, Downings, Brookes and Swaynes, to name only a few) were involved with other ventures such as a general store and a convalescence home. The Hatfield and Hibernia Park records document the families, businesses, and property transfers of the families living in the Hatfield and Hibernia homes from the 1700s to the 1900s. Researchers interested in land and property records, iron works, 19th century general stores, and rest homes will find this collection to be extremely valuable.

Held at: Chester County Archives [Contact Us]

General correspondence relating to Civil Works projects originating under the Wilmington and Philadelphia Engineers, 1907-1943 (bulk) 1871-1948 (inclusive)

Extent:: 113.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Philadelphia District of the Army Corps of Engineers was established in 1866, to manage the water resources of the Delaware River Basin, and of the Atlantic Coast from the Manasquan Inlet of New Jersey to the southern boundary of Delaware. The “General correspondence relating to Civil Works projects originating under the Wilmington and Philadelphia Engineers” collection houses correspondence, blueprints, maps, bids, photographs and reports dating from 1871 to 1948 [bulk 1907-1943]. This collection relates to civil engineering projects in the Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey area, such as: dredging of rivers, creeks and harbors; flood control; removing wrecks; bridge building and maintenance; dam building and maintenance; and relocations of roads, cemeteries and railroad lines.

Held at: National Archives at Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Centennial Exhibition of 1876 records, 1871-1881 (inclusive)

Extent:: 70.0 cubic feet
Abstract:: Following the end of the American Civil War, Americans began to prepare for the celebration of the nation's 100th birthday in 1876. Various citizens of Philadelphia proposed that this exhibition should be held in this city and a resolution to that effect was adopted by the Select and Common Councils in January 1870. The records of the United States Centennial Commission comprise two records groups at the Philadelphia City Archives. Record Group 230 contains the records of the United States Centennial Commission, and Record Group 231 contains the records of the Centennial Board of Finance. Together these comprise the City Archive’s holding on the Centennial Exhibition.

Held at: City of Philadelphia, Department of Records, City Archives [Contact Us]

Fairmount Park Commission Index to Briefs of Title of Fairmount Park Properties, 1867-1962 (inclusive)

Extent:: 25.0 map drawers
Abstract:: These are the briefs of titles which accompany many of the title papers assembled during the 1860s and 1870s. This was when the City of Philadelphia acquired most of the initial properties which comprised Fairmount Park. These briefs were prepared in order for the Fairmount Park Commission to be assured that a good and clean title was assumed by them. In most cases, the briefs cover the entire history of the property from the patent granted by William Penn or his commissioners until the acquisition by the Fairmount Park Commission. Generally, these files contain the various deeds by which the City of Philadelphia acquired property, not only for the main park system surrounding the Schuylkill River and the Wissahickon Creek, but also acquisitions for some of the smaller parks under the Fairmount Park Commission’s jurisdiction.

Held at: City of Philadelphia, Department of Records, City Archives [Contact Us]

Wagner Free Institute of Science Committee Reports, 1929-1981 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.5 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection contains the reports of the various committees of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, including the Committee on Museum, Committee on Library, Committee on Finance and Property, and Committee on Instruction. The reports provide insight into the day-to-day administrative operations and finances of the Wagner. While much of the information within the reports reference the “nuts and bolts” of the Institute, the Committee on Museum series, in particular, contains notable information pertaining to the history of the Wagner’s attendance and holdings, including specimen accessions, conservation, installation projects, maintenance, and changes in display.

Held at: Wagner Free Institute of Science [Contact Us]

William Wagner lectures, 1815-1905 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.5 linear feet
Abstract:: William Wagner was a gentleman scientist and avid collector of natural history specimens. He founded the Wagner Free Institute of Science in 1855. This collection contains a series of scientific and general lectures written and delivered by William Wagner. The lectures are arranged by subject and center chiefly on conchology, geology and paleontology, and mineralogy and metallurgy; but also include lectures, for example, on education, agriculture and aesthetics.

Held at: Wagner Free Institute of Science [Contact Us]

Westbrook Free Lectureship Records, 1912-1924 (bulk) 1910-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet (2 containers)
Abstract:: Richard Brodhead Westbrook (1820-1899) was a Trustee of the Wagner Free Institute of Science from 1884 until his death in 1899. In his will, he established an endowment for the Richard B. Westbrook Free Lectureship as a means to encourage open discourse on scientific subjects, especially disputed questions in science and the theories of Evolution. This collection contains correspondence, announcements, syllabi, notes and newspaper clippings relating to the Westbrook Free Lectureship from its beginning in 1912 through 1990. The Lecture Records series is the most in depth. Full text is available for the 1918 lecture, and notes and synopses are present for other years.

Held at: Wagner Free Institute of Science [Contact Us]

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society records, 1791-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 22.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) was founded on November 24, 1827 by fifty-three prominent Philadelphians; among them Horace Binney, David Landreth Jr., William Davidson, George Pepper, Nicolas Biddle and Moses Brown. Emulating similar societies existing in England at the time, the men formed their Society to promote “a highly instructive and interesting science for the purpose of improving the growth of vegetables, plants, trees, fruits and flowers.” Since that time, the Society and its membership has fostered “…an appreciation of plants, acquiring scientific knowledge about them, disseminating horticultural information, and involving the public in gardening and beautifying the City of Philadelphia.” More recently, the Society has worked specifically to beautify the city and help realize William Penn’s founding vision for Philadelphia to be a “greene countrie towne.” This is a collection of administrative records from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. The...(see more)

Held at: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society [Contact Us]

John Wister lantern slide collection, 1930-1940 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.29 linear feet
Abstract:: John Casper Wister (1887-1982) devoted his life’s work to horticulture. He was a noted author, editor, speaker, organizer, hybridizer, designer, planter and all around flower lover. Wister was closely affiliated with numerous horticultural organizations including the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the American Rose Society, the John Bartram Association, the American Daffodil Society and the American Iris Society. He also served as director of Swarthmore College’s Arthur Hoytt Scott Horticultural Foundation and the Tyler Arboretum in Media, Pennsylvania. This collection contains lantern slides dating from 1930 to 1940 and consists of 220 slides in total. The first series consists of 109 slides of different gardeners from the Philadelphia area. The second series consists of 111 slides and depicts different flowers and gardens from around Philadelphia, the surrounding areas and Europe. This is a very rich collection that researchers interested in Philadelphia gardens or 1930s...(see more)

Held at: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society [Contact Us]

United Political Action Committee of Chester County records, 1958-1996 (inclusive)

Extent:: 10.0 boxes
Abstract:: “In 1966, several black civil rights workers decided to form a small organization whose purpose was to end racial discrimination in Chester County.” So began the United Political Action Committee of Chester County (UPAC). The founders included Charles A. Melton, Charles H. Butler, Norman W. Bond, Robert L. Wright, Willie Stokes, James Ward, Alston B. Meade, W.T.M. Johnson, Ernest Spriggs and Charles V. Hamilton. The records, 1958-1996, include biographical material on committee members and others associated with UPAC as well as correspondence, minutes, hand written notes, legal documents, newspaper clippings, news releases, memos, scrapbooks, programs and photographs of activities. Also in the collection are papers of Dr. W.T.M. Johnson. These include indexed compilations of his published letters as well as papers related to his time as a member of the faculty at Lincoln University.

Held at: Chester County Historical Society [Contact Us]

Mary Wickham Bond papers on the "real" James Bond, 1907-1997 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.17 linear feet (4 containers)
Abstract:: The lives of James and Mary Bond, a Philadelphia ornithologist and author, respectively, were altered the day that author Ian Fleming, a bird lover who was familiar with Bond’s book, “The Birds of the West Indies,” appropriated James Bond’s name for his fictional spy character. The resulting confusion prompted Mary Wickham Bond to write “How 007 Got His Name,” in 1966, in which she tells the story of the real James Bond. This collection consists of Mary Wickham Bond’s collection of information regarding her husband, her own works on the writing, publishing and promoting of her books about her husband, and David Contosta’s writings about her husband.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

Emma L. Brock notes and illustrations, 1958 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.01 linear feet
Abstract:: The collection contains three color separations for page 27 of Skipping Island (1958) by Emma L. Brock, with an identifying note.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

Virginia Lee Burton papers, circa 1954-1962 (inclusive)

Extent:: 12.5 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection consists of sketches, artwork, illustrations, dummies, galleys, typescripts, and color separations created by Virginia Lee Burton for the book Life Story (1962).

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

Charles Dickens collection, 1832-1870 (bulk) 1832-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6.8 linear feet
Abstract:: Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the most popular English novelists of the Victorian era as well as a vigorous social campaigner. This is a collection of correspondence, manuscript material, and other items related to him. The material dates from 1832-1993, with the bulk of the material dating from 1832-1870. The bulk of the correspondence consists of autograph letters by Dickens. There are also autograph letters from Dickens’s circle of family, friends, and associates.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

John Frederick Lewis collection of autographs of engravers, 1775-1850 (bulk) 1721-1914 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.43 linear feet
Abstract:: John Frederick Lewis was a Philadelphia lawyer, philanthropist, and collector of writing samples. This collection contains letters, receipts, and other documents by British engravers. Most of the material was written in England between 1775 and 1850. Many of the letters discuss artistic matters and contain references to well-known engravings.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

Kate Greenaway collection, 1868-1900 (bulk) 1868-1994 (inclusive)

Extent:: 18.81 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection consists of material created by or about the children’s author and illustrator Kate Greenaway. It consists of correspondence, original artwork, and ephemera collected by the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

Eulalie Osgood Grover papers, 1900-1954 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.2 linear feet
Abstract:: This is a small collection of papers by the author Eulalie Osgood Grover. This collection consists of two typescript French translations of Sunbonnet Babies, a printed copy of A Trip to Egypt by Dreamland Babies, advertising material for The Art-Literature Readers, and correspondence. The majority of the correspondence is from the illustrator Bertha Corbett Melcher, with whom Grover collaborated frequently.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

History of the Book and Illustrations collection, circa 1250-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.46 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection contains material that shows the history of the book. The majority of the examples of manuscripts are illustrations but there are a few letters and other documents. The printed material in this collection spans the 13th to the late 16th centuries and contains examples of different printing techniques.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

Historical manuscripts collection, 1775-1885 (bulk) 1347-1969 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear feet
Abstract:: This is a varied collection of historical manuscripts obtained by the Free Library of Philadelphia over the course of its history. The collection dates from 1347 to 1969 and is primarily an autograph collection. The collection includes American, British, and European materials; the majority of the items are American. There are typewritten transcriptions of some of the letters in the collection.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

Molly Schaar Idle papers, 2014, 2014

Extent:: 1.08 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection contains work created by Idle to thank the members of the 2014 Caldecott committee for awarding her a Caldecott Honor.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

W. Atlee Burpee Jr. collection of Lincoln papers, 1861-1865 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) served as the 16th President of the United States from March 1861 until he was assassinated in April 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery. The Burpee collection of Lincoln papers covers the time period between 1861 and 1865 and consists of thirty-four items.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

Lubin Manufacturing Company records, 1881-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 9.6 linear feet (41 containers, 1 flatfile drawer, 3 artifacts)
Abstract:: Siegmund Lubin (1851-1923) founded the Lubin Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which, from 1895 to just before its collapse in 1916, grew to be one of the largest motion picture production companies in the world. His moviemaking empire started with the purchase of one film projector in 1895. Before long, it included a chain of movie theaters, multiple state-of-the-art production studios across the United States, hundreds of employees, numerous patents for recording and projecting equipment, and international movie distribution. Lubin's logo and motto, "Clear As A Bell," referred to the superior quality of his motion picture images. The Lubin Manufacturing Company records, 1881-2006, contains photographs, advertisements, business records, publicity materials, and artifacts documenting Siegmund Lubin’s short-lived career as one of America’s most successful film producers during the silent film era. While the collection does not include any full-length Lubin films,...(see more)

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]

Frances Salomon Murphy writings, 1953 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.42 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection contains the final draft and production material for the 1953 children’s book Ready-Made Family by Frances Salomon Murphy.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

Evaline Ness papers, circa 1964-1972 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.08 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection consists of dummies, sketches, paste-ups, artwork, and color separations created by Evaline Ness as illustrations for the books Coll and His White Pig, The Truthful Harp, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, The High King, and Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

Lucy Fitch Perkins papers, 1909-1964 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.2 linear feet
Abstract:: This is a small collection of material by and about children's author and illustrator Lucy Fitch Perkins (1865-1937). It contains correspondence, a manuscript draft of The Dutch Twins, and advertising material for "The Twins Series."

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

Greg Pizzoli papers, 2013-2017, 2013-2017 (inclusive)

Extent:: 5.0 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection contains art, realia, and ephemera created by Greg Pizzoli and promotional materials created for his works.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

Elizabeth Ripley papers, 1965-1968 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.25 linear feet
Abstract:: This is a collection of manuscripts and notes by Elizabeth Ripley for her last three artist biographies: Copley: A Biography, Hokusai: A Biography, and Rodin: A Biography. Materials include drafts, outlines, notes, dummies, proofs, photographs, and correspondence.

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]

N. C. (Newell Convers) Wyeth Artwork, circa 1938-1940, 1938-1940 (inclusive)

Extent:: 36.0 linear feet
Abstract:: This collection consists of final artwork by illustrator N. C. (Newell Convers) Wyeth (1882-1945).

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection [Contact Us]