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Lawrence H. Berger Papers, 1986-2018, 1778-2018 (inclusive) 1986-2018 (bulk)

Extent:

5.04 linear feet

Abstract:

Lawrence ""Larry"" H. Berger, also a lawyer, became the fourth Trustee of the Naomi Wood Trust and defacto director of Woodford Mansion in 1986, following the 28-year tenure of Martin P. Snyder. In 1991, Berger hired Martha Moffat as Site Manager of Woodford Mansion, a position she held throughout Berger's remainder as Trustee. As Site Manager, Moffat was responsible for superviing day to day on-site activities and management of guides/volunteers. The Lawrence H. Berger Papers include records from Berger's entire 32-year tenure as trustee (1986-2018) as well as the records created by Martha Moffat during her tenure as Site Manager (1991-2018) of Woodford Mansion.

Held at: Woodford Mansion [Contact Us]

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Martin P. and June Avery Snyder Papers, 1958-1986, 1749-1986 (inclusive) 1958-1983 (bulk)

Extent:

3.78 linear feet

Abstract:

In 1958, Martin P. Snyder, an attorney, became the third individual trustee of the Naomi Wood Trust at Woodford Mansion. His wife, June Avery Snyder served as the Volunteer Administrative Director of Woodford Mansion, and contributed greatly to general operations, organization, selecting/training guides, and cataloging the collection. Martin Snyder served as trustee from 1959-1986. During their tenure, Martin and June wrote The Story of the Naomi Wood Collection and Woodford Mansion, (Haverford House, 1981). Snyder was also author of City of Independence, (Praeger, 1975). This collection is arranged into 7 series: Correspondence, Financial Records, Acquisitions, Appraisals/Inventories, Orphan Court Records, The Story of the Naomi Wood Collection, and Woodford Book Research.

Held at: Woodford Mansion [Contact Us]

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Naomi Wood Papers, 1895-1928 (inclusive) 1908-1928 (bulk)

Extent:

0.42 linear feet

Abstract:

Naomi Wood (June 12, 1871 – June 21, 1926) was born in Philadelphia and lived in Paoli, Pennsylvania, New York, NY, and Washington, D.C. She met her friend Daniel T.V. Huntoon, Jr. sometime between 1900-1905 and both were collectors of 18th-century furniture, art and decorative arts. Early in their relationship they decided to locate a suitable 18th-century home to use as a house museum to display their collections. A year after Wood’s death, Huntoon realized this goal when he reached an agreement with the City of Philadelphia for the Naomi Wood Trust to operate Woodford Mansion in Wood’s hometown of Philadelphia, PA. Records in this collection are from the latter of half of Naomi Wood's life. The collection is arranged into five series: Financial Records, Appraisals & Inventories, Will & Estate Records, Publications, and...(see more)

Held at: Woodford Mansion [Contact Us]

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Woodford Fire Collection, 2003-2007 (inclusive) 2003-2005 (bulk)

Extent:

2.94 linear feet

Abstract:

On July 11, 2003 a one-alarm fire was reported at Woodford Mansion at 12:47pm. By 1:43pm, local firefighters contained the blaze, but significant damage was done to the house and the collection objects. Conservators and contractors were hired to restore and conserve the objects and repair Woodford from the fire damage. This collection is comprised of 11 different series: administrative, appraisals/inventories, conservation/preservation, conservators/contractors, correspondence, facilities/grounds, financial records, general, grants, publications, and reopening. The conservator/contractors series is further organized into 15 subseries.

Held at: Woodford Mansion [Contact Us]

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Jane L. S. Davidson papers, 1984-2006 (bulk) 1952-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:

1.25 linear feet

Abstract:

Jane L. S. Davidson (1939-2012) of Chester County, Pennsylvania was an award-winning advocate for historic preservation, long-time county Historic Preservation Coordinator, and co-founder of the Chester County Historic Preservation Network. The Jane L. S. Davidson papers, 1952-2006 (bulk 1984-2006), relate mostly to her work as preservation coordinator for Chester County, such as historic site research, correspondence, and an historic resource atlas. Unrelated to Davidson's work for the county, there is also a folder of her family genealogy research, and a packet of clippings on Wallace Township history.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

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Wallace Township clippings files, 1950-2014 (bulk) 1914-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:

4.5 linear feet

Abstract:

Although the first official survey of Wallace Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania took place in 1729, the Township was formally created in 1852 and has had multiple changes to its boundaries since. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, farms, mills, and forges dotted the landscape, but the late 19th century brought the railroad and considerable development of the area. A Pennsylvania Turnpike entrance was created near Wallace in 1950, and during the late 20th century, many residential subdivisions were built in the Township resulting in a substantial population increase. The Wallace Township Historical Commission clippings files, 1914-2014 (bulk 1950-2014), consist of newspaper clippings about people, places, organizations, and other topics relating to Wallace Township, as well as topics of national interest.

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

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Wallace Township historic property research files, 1977-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:

3.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Around the time of the United States bicentennial, the Chester County Commissioners formed a partnership with the Chester County Historical Society, the Brandywine Conservancy and many volunteers to organize a Chester County Historic Sites Survey. This survey, conducted between 1979 and 1982, included all of Chester County except for the Boroughs of West Chester and Downingtown (which initiated separate survey projects around this time). Glenmoore Historic District, consisting of about 50 buildings in Wallace Township, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. The Wallace Township Historical Commission historic property research files, 1977-2011, consist of folders for buildings more than fifty years old in Wallace Township at the time of the survey. Most files contain photocopies of Chester County's Architectural Inventory Form (AIF), and/or Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Historic Resource Survey forms. Several files contain additional...(see more)

Held at: Wallace Township Archives [Contact Us]

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Warwick Township Historical Society collection on the Moland House, 1994-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:

21.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Originally the summer home of John Moland, King George II's appointed attorney for Pennsylvania, the Moland House briefly served as George Washington's headquarters during the Revolutionary War in August of 1777. Salvaged from condemnation, the house was restored during the late 1990s and early 2000s through the efforts of the Warwick Township Historical Society. The Warwick Township Historical Society collection on the Moland House, 1994-2012, consists of various materials compiled by the Warwick Township Historical Society on the history and restoration of the Moland House. Also included are some organizational records of the Society, such as meeting minutes and member information.

Held at: Warwick Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Westtown School records, 1799-2013 (bulk) 1682-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:

600.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Westtown School in Chester County, Pennsylvania is the oldest continuously operating coeducational boarding school in the United States. It was founded by the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1799 with the goal of educating Quaker children in an environment that fostered moral development consistent with their religious ideals. The Westtown School records, 1682-2013 (bulk 1799-2013), include records created by Westtown Boarding School, including its various administrative offices, Board of Trustees, faculty, and students. It is organized into nine series: "19th century records," "20th century records," "Board of Trustees," "Farm and Orchard," "Student papers," "Westtown Old Scholars Association and Westtown Alumni Association," "Subject files," "Special formats," and "Publications." Inventories for some sections of the collection are available on site.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]

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Westtown School Archives collection of personal and family papers, circa 1780-2000

Extent:

20.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Westtown School in Chester County, Pennsylvania is the oldest continuously operating coeducational boarding school in the United States. It was founded by the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1799 with the goal of educating Quaker children in an environment that fostered moral development consistent with their religious ideals. The Westtown School Archives collection of personal and family papers, circa 1780-2000, consists of several small collections of personal and family papers. The individuals and families represented were affiliated with Westtown School, and many papers document their time at the school although a fair amount of materials are unrelated. Documents in the collection include: correspondence, scrapbooks, writings, portfolios, ephemera, school records such as class papers and report cards, published works, and a few photographs.

Held at: Westtown School Archives [Contact Us]