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Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation research files, 1973-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
12.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation is one of the oldest working colonial farms in Pennsylvania, with a unique focus on the "ordinary people" of the Revolutionary era. The Plantation is located in Ridley Creek State Park (Edgmont Township, Delaware County). It was founded by Bishop's Mill Historical Institute in 1973. The Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation research files, 1973-2013, consist of various secondary-source materials gathered by Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation to support the organization's research and work. They include academic articles and newspaper clippings, research papers and narrative histories, maps, transcripts of primary source documents, and printed materials. The collection covers topics relating to life in Colonial life in America, such as clothing, cooking, crafts, industry, and religion, especially as relevant to historic reenactment. There is also some local history research.

Held at: Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation [Contact Us]

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Craven Hall Historical Society records, 1978-2013 (bulk) 1900-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
14.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Craven Hall Historical Society, previously the Citizens for the Preservation of Craven Hall, was organized in Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1978. Today the organization owns and operates both Craven Hall, a Federal/Greek Revival home built in stages between 1790 and 1845 that is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the John Fitch Steamboat Museum, dedicated to the inventor of the world's first commercial steamboat. The Craven Hall Historical Society records, 1900-2013 (bulk 1978-2013), contain materials relating to the restoration of Craven Hall and the construction of the John Fitch Museum as well as general Historical Society records. In addition to records created by the Historical Society, this collection includes research materials compiled by the Historical Society on Craven Hall and John Fitch.

Held at: Craven Hall Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Craven Hall Historical Society local history collection, 1774-1973 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Warminster Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania was established 1711. It was home to religious leader William Tennent, steamboat inventor John Fitch, and the world's largest human centrifuge. The Craven Hall Historical Society local history collection, 1774-1973, contains ciphering books, account books, photographs, tax ledgers, deeds, scrapbooks, and other documents from local people, families, and organizations.

Held at: Craven Hall Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Virginia M. DeNenno Concord Township scrapbooks, 1970-2012 (bulk) 1917-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Long-time president of the Concord Township Historical Society (Delaware County, Pennsylvania), Virginia M. "Ginny" DeNenno is widely considered "the" authority on the township's history. The Virginia M. DeNenno Concord Township scrapbooks, 1917-2012 (bulk 1970-2012), contain primarily newspaper clippings as well as some photocopies and a few original brochures and ephemera, all relating to Concord Township.

Held at: Concord Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Concord Township tax records, 1922-1958 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Concord Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania was incorporated in 1683, and includes the four villages of Concordville, Elam, Markham and Ward. Originally in Chester County, the township became part of Delaware County when Chester County was partitioned in 1789. The Concord Township tax records, 1922-1958, consist primarily of property tax assessment volumes with some school property tax transcripts and other tax-related records. There are also records from nearby municipalities: Bethel Township, Media Borough, Thornbury Township, and Birmingham (Chadds Ford Township).

Held at: Concord Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Chemical Leaman Tank Lines Inc. collection, 1942-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Chemical Leaman Tank Lines was at one time the largest tank truck carrier in the nation, transporting chemicals, coal tar derivatives, petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, and other liquid, dry, and gas products throughout most of the United States and Canada. It grew from a family trucking operation that was started in 1913. Prior to a 1998 merger, the company was based in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The Chemical Leaman Tank Lines Inc. collection, 1942-1998, consists mainly of promotional materials such as printed annual reports, pamphlets, and press releases, as well as internal memos, press shots, financial documents, and a few other administrative records, mostly relating to the creation of the promotional materials.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Donald Greenleaf family papers, 1867-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Donald J. Greenleaf (born 1932) is a long-time resident of the Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania area, who has held multiple positions in the Borough of Downingtown's government. Other family members were also prominent citizens and businessmen in the community. The Donald Greenleaf family papers, circa 1880-2000, primarily consist of slides and some photographs and film negatives of Downingtown and nearby areas. Also present in the collection are materials from Greenleaf's Pharmacy, ephemera from Downingtown area organizations, newspaper clippings, deeds, borough government records, and other materials.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Northwood Cemetery Company records, 1871-1995 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Northwood Cemetery Company (Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania) was incorporated in 1871 with the goal of establishing and maintaining a burial site beautified through art and nature. The cemetery is still active as of 2014. The Northwood Cemetery Company records, 1871-1995, consist of administrative, financial, and burial records. Of note is a burial ledger, 1871-1907, listing the name, date and cause of death, and age of people buried in the cemetery.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Jane L. S. Davidson research files for "A History of Downingtown", 1914-1985 (bulk 1981)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Jane L. S. Davidson (1939-2012) of Chester County, Pennsylvania was an award-winning advocate for historic preservation, long-time Chester County Historic Preservation Coordinator, and co-founder of the Chester County Historic Preservation Network. The Jane L. S. Davidson research files for "A History of Downingtown," 1914-1985 (bulk 1981), consist of research materials and notes used by Davidson to write A History of Downingtown (1982).

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Rotary Club of Downingtown records, 1932-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Rotary Club of Downingtown was established in 1926 in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Part of Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Downingtown is a social and service organization dedicated to promoting service through four "avenues": Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service. The Rotary Club of Downingtown records, 1932-2005, consist of minutes, financial records, correspondence, membership materials, newsletters, clippings, photographs, and other materials relating to the Rotary Club of Downingtown, and the state, district, and national chapters of Rotary International to which it belonged.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Downingtown Area Historical Society General Archives collection, 1843-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
20.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Borough of Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania is located halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. Known as Milltown in the 18th century since it was the location of the last mills on the edge of the unsettled western frontier, the village became known as Downingtown after the War of 1812; the borough was incorporated in 1859. Improved transportation, by stagecoach, railroad, and eventually highways, drew increasing population and investment to Downingtown over the 19th and 20th centuries. The Downingtown Area Historical Society General Archives collection, 1843-2012, consists of various small accumulations of records (less than one linear foot) from businesses, clubs, organizations, individuals, and families based in or near Downingtown.

Held at: Downingtown Area Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Chester F. Baker local history research and family papers, 1925-1960 (bulk) 1864-1960 (inclusive)

Extent:
28.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Chester F. Baker (1891-1963) was a municipal engineer and amateur historian from the city of Chester in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Among his many affiliations with historical and genealogical organizations, Baker was president of the Chester Rural Cemetery Association and director of the Delaware County Historical Society. The Chester F. Baker local history research and family papers, 1864-1960 (bulk 1925-1960), consist of well over 100 binders with research materials on history topics, papers from organizations with which Baker was involved, and papers relating to his work as a surveyor. There are also a few personal and family photograph albums and scrapbooks.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Howell family papers, 1830-1880 (bulk) 1798-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Howell family were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) who resided in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Howell family papers, 1798-1929 (bulk 1830-1880), consist substantially of routine personal correspondence between several generations of the Howell family, particularly Sally R. Howell, Israel Howell, Mary Mott Howell, Joshua R. Howell, and Elizabeth Howell. The collection also includes a sizeable amount of school records, about 17 manuscript volumes from the early to mid-1800s, and drafts of poems and other writings.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Dr. Anna E. Broomall scrapbooks, 1900-1922 (bulk) 1841-1922 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Anna Elizabeth Broomall (1847-1931), from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was a prominent physician who established one of the first clinics for out-practice maternity care in the United States. She was chief resident physician and instructor of obstetrics at the Woman's Hospital of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. Having an active interest in history, Broomall served as librarian and curator of the Delaware County Historical Society after she retired from medicine. The Dr. Anna E. Broomall scrapbooks, 1841-1922 (bulk 1900-1922) primarily consist of volumes of clippings that focus on historically-significant people, organizations, buildings, and events in Delaware County and Philadelphia. The collection also includes some glass-plate and film negatives as well as items, such as letters and ephemera, of historical and personal interest to Dr. Broomall.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Louise Deshong Woodbridge glass negatives, 1884-1905 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Louise Deshong Woodbridge (1848-1925), a member of the prominent Deshong family of Chester (Delaware County, Pennsylvania) was an active socialite as well as an amateur photographer and painter. Taking up photography in the early 1880s, Woodbridge had a fairly successful career with her work being exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Louise Deshong Woodbridge glass negatives, 1884-1905, consist of approximately 200 primarily glass plate negatives with some 4x5" film negatives that document the creator's family, friends, and social activities. They also document Delaware County and the surrounding area around the turn of the 20th century, particularly historic structures, such as the Woodbridge and Deshong mansions, and landscapes. Of special interest are some photographs of the White House, including the White House conservatory, and First Lady Ida McKinley.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Lansdowne School pupil directory and report cards, 1907-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:
17.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Lansdowne School was constructed by the Upper Darby School Board in the late 1880s in Lansdowne, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The building was demolished in stages from 1950 to 1986. The Lansdowne School pupil directory and report cards, 1907-1925, are organized into two series. The pupil directory cards date from 1911 to 1925 and generally include student's name, parents' names, birth date, address, and date of admission. The report cards, which date from 1907 to 1914, give each student's name, teacher's name, and grades for the year.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Historical Society vertical files, circa 1850-2013

Extent:
85.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Delaware County was the first section of Pennsylvania to be settled by Europeans, specifically Swedes in 1643. It was in the city of Chester, the original county seat of Delaware County, that William Penn and the General Assembly of Pennsylvania adopted Penn's "Great Law of Pennsylvania," which granted the right to vote, citizenship, freedom of religion and trial by jury to all settlers. Located adjacent to Philadelphia, Delaware County's suburban population grew rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Delaware County Historical Society vertical files, circa 1850-2013, cover various local topics. Materials are mostly newspaper clippings, photocopies of newspaper articles, pamphlets and ephemera, research notes, narrative histories, transcripts, indexes, printed materials, copies of church and civil records, death and funeral records, and census and tax records, as well as some original documents and oral histories on audiocassette tapes and CDs.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Historical Society map, atlas, and blueprint collection, circa 1870-2013

Extent:
15.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Delaware County was the first section of Pennsylvania to be settled by Europeans, specifically Swedes in 1643. It was in the city of Chester, the original county seat of Delaware County, that William Penn and the General Assembly of Pennsylvania adopted Penn's "Great Law of Pennsylvania," which granted the right to vote, citizenship, freedom of religion and trial by jury to all settlers. Located adjacent to Philadelphia, Delaware County's suburban population grew rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Delaware County Historical Society map, atlas, and blueprint collection, circa 1870-2013, includes maps, surveys, technical drawings, and atlases, mostly for the City of Chester and Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Wilde Post No. 25 (Chester, Pa.), Grand Army of the Republic records, 1865-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Soldiers' Union of Chester, a non-political beneficial society for veterans in Chester (Delaware County, Pennsylvania) was formed in 1865. Slightly over a year later, it reorganized under the auspices of the national fraternal organization of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) as Wilde Post No. 25. With slightly over 1,000 members at its peak, the Post's last surviving member passed away in 1939. The Wilde Post No. 25 (Chester, Pa.), Grand Army of the Republic records, 1865-1929, consist of minute books, membership records, financial records, and publications and ephemera from Wilde Post. The records include a small amount of material from the G.A.R. Post's predecessor, the Soldiers' Union of Chester.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Federation of Women's Clubs records, 1975-2012 (bulk) 1912-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
6.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The first county federation of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in the country and the largest organization of volunteer women in the country, the Delaware County Federation of Women's Clubs was founded by Mary Barton Luckie in 1912. It was federated in 1915. The Delaware County Federation of Women's Clubs records, 1912-2012 (bulk 1975-2012), consist of administrative and financial records, publications, and various materials relating to events and activities run by the organization as well as materials relating to its history.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Township of Upper Providence records, 1954-1978 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Upper Providence Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania was settled in 1682 and incorporated as a township in 1687. The Township of Upper Providence records, 1954-1978, consist of tax records, insurance policies, and real estate/building information for the township.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Superintendent of Schools records, 1863-1972 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 cubic feet
Abstract:
An act of general public education for Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was passed in 1834. The Delaware County Superintendent of Schools records, 1863-1972, document teachers employed in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The collection consists largely of examinations of teachers and teachers' reports; there is also some financial information, several published volumes, a few photographs, and an audio recording.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Spencer Stationery Company records, 1918-1988 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.33 linear feet
Abstract:
Spencer Stationary Company opened in Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania in 1899 and remained in operation for over 75 years. The Spencer Stationery Company records, 1918-1988, consist principally of company records including employee records, financial documents, and papers relating to the sale of the building and the company. A small amount of Spencer family papers is also included.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Fellowship Club of Lansdowne minutes, 1911-1994 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.67 linear feet
Abstract:
The Fellowship Club of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, a largely social and charitable organization, began as an ushers' association founded in 1907 by Rev. Croswell McBee of St. John's Episcopal Church. The Fellowship Club of Lansdowne minutes, 1911-1994, primarily consist of minutes with some gaps, as well as membership and attendance lists, a small amount of correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and a few other documents. There is one volume of history of the club with a few photographs, clippings, and a membership list, 1914-1920.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Collection on construction of I-476, 1970-1980 (bulk) 1961-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The southern portion of Interstate 476, colloquially known as the "Blue Route" (also called the Mid-County Expressway), passes through the suburban Philadelphia counties of Delaware and Montgomery to connect the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike with I-95. Planning for I-476 began in the 1950s, but environmental concerns and opposition from local community groups including the Citizen's Council of Delaware County stalled construction for decades. The highway was completed in 1992 at a total cost of about $600 million. The Collection on construction of I-476, 1961-1992 (bulk 1970-1980), includes materials relating to I-476 opposition, in the form of original and copy correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes, rough meeting minutes, drafts, printed materials such as environmental impact reports, and materials relating to court hearings. Most materials seem to have been collected or created by the Citizen's Council of Delaware County or by the Radnor-Marple Blue Route...(see more)

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Lansdowne-Aldan Citizens' Committee records on the creation of the William Penn School District, 1971-1972 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Lansdowne-Aldan Citizens' Committee, formed in 1971, unsuccessfully attempted to halt the creation of the William Penn School District in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Lansdowne-Aldan Citizens' Committee records on the creation of the William Penn School District, 1971-1972, consist of materials collected by John "Jack" Covert, a member of the executive committee. Largely correspondence, the collection also includes some financial records, newspaper clippings, copies of lawsuits and legal documents, meeting minutes, memoranda, newsletters, school statistics, donation forms, and lobbying materials.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County High Schools Track and Field Championships records, 1947-1970 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The annual Delaware County High Schools Track and Field Championships, co-sponsored by the Union Athletic Association of Lansdowne and Lansdowne-Aldan High School, began in 1924. Any high school in Delaware County, Pennsylvania was eligible to enter, and the event was usually held at Lansdowne-Aldan High School's Stewart Field. Delaware County High Schools Track and Field Championships records, 1947-1970, consist mostly of score sheets from the championships. Also included is some correspondence with participating high schools and event programs.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Choral Society collection, 1934-2001 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.33 linear feet
Abstract:
The Delaware County Choral Society, based in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1927. Although the society was a community choir that did not require auditions for its members, it compiled an impressive resume, performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and working with world-renowned soloists, composers, and musicologists. The society performed internationally and at the New York World's Fair and the White House. The Delaware County Choral Society collection, 1934-2001, consists of administrative and financial records, member information, photographs, scrapbooks, and ephemera. Also included are materials relating to the society's performances and concert tours, including audio and video cassettes and LPs.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Eddystone School Board records, 1919-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.67 linear feet
Abstract:
The Eddystone School District was established shortly after the Borough of Eddystone, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was incorporated in 1888. In 1966, the state mandated that the district merge with the Ridley Park and Ridley Township School Districts. The Eddystone School Board records, 1919-1966, include by-laws, board minutes, treasurer's reports, and legal documents, 1919-1965 (incomplete).

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Anthony F. C. Wallace "Rockdale" research files, circa 1975

Extent:
1.8 linear feet
Abstract:
Anthony F.C. Wallace (born 1923) is a noted Canadian-American psychological anthropologist and historian famous for the theory of revitalization movements. His book, Rockdale: The Growth of an American Village in the Early Industrial Revolution (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978), is a psychoanthropological history of the Industrial Revolution in which he studies the cultural aspects of the cognitive process, especially involving the transfer of information during periods of technological expansion. The Anthony F. C. Wallace "Rockdale" research files, circa 1975, consist of notes made by or under the direction of Wallace during the research and writing of his book. Most of the material is transcripts or extracts from primary-source documents, such as ledgers and account books, with information about the residents of Rockdale (along the banks of Chester Creek in Delaware County, Pa.) from the early to mid-19th century.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Government Study Commission of Delaware County records, 1973-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Under the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law (Act 62) of 1972, for the first time in Pennsylvania history, local governments were authorized to change their governmental structure upon voter approval. The Government Study Commission of Delaware County began meeting in July 1973. The home rule charter they drafted went into effect in January of 1976, making Delaware County the first in the state of Pennsylvania to become a home rule county. The Government Study Commission of Delaware County records, 1973-1975, consist of papers originating with or consulted by the Delaware County Government Study Commission. It includes the minutes, correspondence, press releases, and other records of the commission, as well as publications on governmental structures consulted by the commissioners during the course of their work, and drafts of the home rule charter they wrote.

Held at: Delaware County Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Graceanna Lewis natural history papers, 1869-1890 (bulk) 1869-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Graceanna Lewis (1821-1912) was a published scholar, naturalist, lecturer, abolitionist and social reformer. This collection contains research and lecture notes on a variety of topics including: botany, ornithology, crystallography, mineralogy, zoology, ichthyology, embryology, neurology, and chemistry. There are botanical illustrations, leaf and ornithology charts, prints and sketches depicting the classification of the animal and plant kingdoms, and botanical sketches on wood blocks. In addition to scientific notes, there are notes and lectures depicting her views on the abolition of slavery, women's equality, and the force of nature and its place in the universe.

Held at: Delaware County Institute of Science [Contact Us]

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Delaware County Institute of Science manuscript collection, 1686-2014 (inclusive)

Extent:
20.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Delaware County was the first section of Pennsylvania to be settled by Europeans, specifically Swedes in 1643. The Borough of Media, located about 12 miles outside of Philadelphia, has been the county seat of Delaware County since 1850. A largely rural area prior to that point, the town grew rapidly in the second half of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. The Delaware County Institute of Science manuscript collection, 1686-2014, consists of a variety of local history materials including organizational records, business records, personal papers, photographs, scrapbooks, blueprints, subject files, maps and atlases, and other materials. Most of the materials relate to Delaware County (Pennsylvania), but some items pertain to other locations in Pennsylvania and other states. Although the 19th century is the best represented among the materials, there is a significant amount of materials from the 18th century and a few items from the 17th century.

Held at: Delaware County Institute of Science [Contact Us]

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Darby Library Company records, 1743-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Darby Free Library is one of the oldest public libraries in the United States, and the first cultural institution in Darby, now part of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1743 as a subscription library, it became free to the public in 1898 and part of the Delaware County Library System in 1981. The Darby Free Library is still operational as of 2014. The Darby Library Company records, 1743-2012, include Board of Directors and stockholders' minute books, book acquisition and circulation records, financial records, other administrative papers, and various other materials from the Darby Free Library and the Darby Library Company, as well as other organizations that merged with the Darby Library Company, including the Delaware County Society for the Detection of Horse Thieves and the Recovery of Stolen Horses, and the Darby Home Protection Society.

Held at: Darby Free Library [Contact Us]

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Doylestown Historical Society oral histories, 1995-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The area now known as Doylestown (Bucks County, Pennsylvania) was given to Edward Doyle as a land grant from William Penn in 1692. Doylestown became the county seat of Bucks County in 1812, and the area flourished when a railroad line was completed between Doylestown and Philadelphia in 1856. Doylestown's historic downtown began to deteriorate in the early 1960s, but the town was revitalized in part due to an architectural preservation movement. The Doylestown Historical Society oral histories, 1995-2012, consist of several dozen oral history video interviews with prominent residents of Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Of special interest are an interview with author James Michener and an interview with a friend of James Michener about the author.

Held at: Doylestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Doylestown Historical Society collection on Doylestown and Central Bucks West high schools, 1913-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Doylestown High School in Bucks County, Pennsylvania opened in 1890 and closed in 1951. Students were transferred to Central Bucks West High School (originally Central Bucks Joint High School), which opened the following year. The Doylestown Historical Society collection on Doylestown and Central Bucks West high schools, 1913-2013, contains chronological files about class years, as well as some historical information about each school. It consists primarily of clippings, programs/ephemera, and a few photographs; there is also a Doylestown High School cash ledger, 1941-1947. The Society also holds a collection of original yearbooks (and some copies of older yearbooks) for both schools, 1916-2012.

Held at: Doylestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Doylestown Agricultural Works records, 1916-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Doylestown Agricultural Works in Bucks County, Pennsylvania produced farm machinery and ironwork that were sold around the world. It opened in 1867, flourished around the turn of the century, and for many years was the area's largest employer. The company ceased manufacturing new products in 1937 and closed entirely in 1968. The Doylestown Agricultural Works records, 1916-2010, consist of financial records from Doylestown Agricultural Works as well as some secondary research about the company.

Held at: Doylestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Doylestown Nature Club records, 1956-2010 (bulk) 1912-2010 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Doylestown Nature Club (Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania), still in existence as of 2013, was organized in 1907 by Mrs. Irvin Megargee James. Federated in 1914, and incorporated in 1970, its purpose is "to provide a love of nature; to protect birds, animals and wildflowers from ruthless destruction; to conserve our natural resources; to beautify the community; and to educate in the field of nature." The Doylestown Nature Club records, 1912-2010 (bulk 1956-2010), consist of various records that document the history of the Club, including minutes, newsletters, member booklets and directories, some financial records, a significant amount of ephemera such as programs and newspaper clippings, and photographs relating to Club-sponsored activities and events.

Held at: Doylestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Melinda Cox Library records, 1915-1993 (bulk) 1819-1993 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Currently serving as the Doylestown branch of the Bucks County (Pa.) Free Library, the Melinda Cox Library was Doylestown's first free library. It opened in 1917 through a bequest of Doylestown resident Charles Cox (1832-1914) who left his entire estate to create a community library named after his mother, Melinda Hines Cox (1803-1890). The library merged with the county library in 1981. The Melinda Cox Library records, 1819-1993 (bulk 1915-1993), consist primarily of various library records, including circulation and registration ledgers, financial records, statistics, correspondence, and clippings, as well as some correspondence and other records of the Friends of the Library (established in 1944). There are also papers, photographs, and research materials relating to the library's buildings, its librarians, and its history as well as genealogy research and papers from the Cox and Hines families.

Held at: Doylestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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A. C. Chadwick Jr. papers, 1900-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.25 linear feet
Abstract:
Alexander Cox Chadwick Jr. (1890-1957) was a newspaper editor in the East Falls section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The A. C. Chadwick Jr. papers, 1900-1937, contains 73 scrapbooks on local history that are organized by subject. There are also a small number of scrapbooks containing personal and business correspondence of Chadwick's, and a sketch book featuring many drawings of Wissahickon park (1927).

Held at: East Falls Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Orphan Society of Philadelphia records, 1930-1965 (bulk) 1815-1965 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Orphan Society of Philadelphia, founded in 1814, was the first non-sectarian orphanage in Pennsylvania. In 1965, due to low enrollment and financial and staffing issues, the Orphan Society merged with the Elwyn School, now known as Elwyn, in Delaware County, Pa. The Orphan Society of Philadelphia records, 1815-1965 (bulk 1930-1965), consist of administrative and financial records, legal documents, historical files, orphan records, and other materials. Of special interest is an Orphan Asylum register listing orphan admissions (name, birth date, admission date) and dates of discharge or death from 1815 to 1896.

Held at: Elwyn Historical Archives and Museum [Contact Us]

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Eastern State Penitentiary oral history project, 1993-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.0 linear feet
Abstract:
When it opened in 1829, the State Penitentiary for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ("Eastern State Penitentiary") was the world's first true "penitentiary" in the sense that it was designed to inspire true feelings of penitence in the hearts of inmates. Initially characterized by its system of strict isolation and grand architecture, more than 300 prisons on five continents were modeled after Eastern State Penitentiary. Over 142 years of operation, the system of isolation was gradually abandoned and the penitentiary became a traditional modern prison; in 1971, the facility was closed. The Eastern State Penitentiary oral history project, 1993-2012, consists of about 130 oral history interviews with former inmates, employees of the State Penitentiary for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ("Eastern State Penitentiary"), family members of employees, and volunteers such as Chaplains.

Held at: Eastern State Penitentiary [Contact Us]

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First Baptist Church of Philadelphia records, 1690-1906, 1690-1906 (inclusive)

Extent:
8 boxes
Abstract:
Notable for its early leadership in Baptist organization and evangelism, the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia was prominent both in its region and city and in the transatlantic community of Baptists. Records include annual reports, membership records, bulletins, scrapbooks, and biographies as well as records specific to the Board of Deacons, Board of Trustees, Treasurer, Pew Committee, Bible School, Board of Christian Education, and various women's and missionary groups.

Held at: American Baptist Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Fireman's Hall Museum Philadelphia Fire Department collection, 1871-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:
69.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The Philadelphia Fire Department traces its roots to a series of volunteer fire companies that were organized beginning in 1736. In 1871 it was established as a professional fire department and has continued to serve the city of Philadelphia. The Fireman's Hall Museum Philadelphia Fire Department collection, 1871-2012, is comprised of memoranda and publications produced by the Philadelphia Fire Department.

Held at: Fireman's Hall Museum [Contact Us]

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Sam Psoras photographs, circa 1950-2000

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Samuel S. Psoras (born 1926) was a photojournalist at Philadelphia Daily News for over 50 years. This collection consists of photograph negatives and prints taken by Psoras of Philadelphia fires. Some are identified with location.

Held at: Fireman's Hall Museum [Contact Us]

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Fire Insurance Patrol of the City of Philadelphia records, 1869-1965 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.75 linear feet
Abstract:
The Fire Insurance Patrol of the City of Philadelphia was a corporation organized and funded by various fire insurance companies to protect and salvage property in or near to burning buildings. It was active from 1869 to 1962. Fire fighters employed by the Fire Patrol attended the same fires visited by the Philadelphia Fire Department, but with a slightly different focus to their work. The Fire Insurance Patrol of the City of Philadelphia records, 1869-1965, consist of fire log books, minute books, printed annual reports, and various financial and administrative records.

Held at: Fireman's Hall Museum [Contact Us]

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John Robrecht papers, circa 1942-1992

Extent:
1.0 linear feet
Abstract:
John Robrecht (1916-1993) served as historian to the Philadelphia Fire Department and was an honorary Deputy Chief. The John Robrecht papers, circa 1942-1992, consist of research materials relating to fire fighting history, fire departments, and fire apparatus.

Held at: Fireman's Hall Museum [Contact Us]

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Harry A. Hornor lantern slides, circa 1900-1920

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Harry A. Hornor (1874-1939) was an electrical engineer who lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and worked for the New York Ship Building Corporation in Camden, New Jersey. Hornor published several papers in prestigious science and engineering journals related to electrical engineering on ships. The Harry A. Hornor lantern slides, circa 1900-1920, consist of two hundred and thirty-five lantern slides depicting images of ships, as well as their construction, launches, interiors, mechanics, equipment, and other aspects. There are also images of diagrams, drawings, and schematics related to the electrical engineering aspects of ship building.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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J. Norman Spawn lantern slides and stereopticons, circa 1890s-early 20th century

Extent:
3.5 linear feet
Abstract:
J. Norman Spawn lantern slides and stereopticons, circa 1890s-early 20th century, consist of approximately two hundred images that depict locations in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Montana, Colorado, Canada, Italy and other places in Europe, Egypt, and other locations. Some of the images are images of drawings and other documents. Some of the images may be commercially published.

Held at: The Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute [Contact Us]

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