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Carpenter Family Papers, 1780-1870 (bulk) 1695-1915, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
5.3 linear feet (; 5 boxes, 18 volumes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
The Carpenter family papers include Brigadier General Louis Henry Carpenter's military papers and Civil War-era correspondence, as well as more than 200 years of correspondence, genealogical material, and other papers related to the Carpenter family of New Jersey. The Carpenter family was among the first settlers of the Philadelphia area and established several towns in Salem and Gloucester counties, New Jersey. They also had ties to numerous prominent families in the Philadelphia and Mid-Atlantic region during the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. The collection offers insights into a variety of topics, including the Revolutionary War in the Philadelphia region; the early history of Haddon Township, N.J.; medicine in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries; and life as a Union soldier during the Civil War.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Ferdinand J. Dreer autograph collection, 1492-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:
105.0 linear feet (; 330 boxes, 133 volumes, 2 flat files)
Abstract:
Ferdinand Julian Dreer’s chief hobby was collecting autographs. He started with two documents and over time he was able to amass more than 15,000 items from some of the world’s most prominent and intriguing public figures. Owing to this interest, Dreer became acquainted with many people in the world of arts and letters, politics, education, clergy, business, and international affairs. As he was aware of such a collection’s potential impact on scholarship and society, Dreer donated all of his holdings to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, with which he had been associated for many years as the institution’s vice president.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Dutilh and Wachsmuth papers, 1780-1800 (bulk) 1704-1859 (bulk 1780-1800) (inclusive)

Extent:
1.5 linear feet (; 4 boxes, 1 flat file)
Abstract:
Étienne Dutilh emigrated from France to Philadelphia in 1783 and one year later became involved in a string of merchant firms bearing his name. In 1790, Dutilh forged a partnership with John Godfried Wachsmuth and the pair operated the mercantile house of Dutilh and Wachsmuth. Their firm was mainly engaged in the trade of coffee and sugar with the West Indies, Asia, and several European countries, such as the Netherlands and England. The Dutilh and Wachsmuth Papers span from 1704 to 1859 with the bulk of the materials dating between 1780 and 1800. The collection, which consists of four boxes, traces the activities of merchants Étienne Dutilh and John G. Wachsmuth and is rich in information about Atlantic shipping activities of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Most of the papers are bills, receipts, and shipping invoices relating to the mercantile house. These financial records as well as cargo lists, correspondence, and legal documents offer insight into the trading...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Penn family papers, 1629-1834 (bulk) 1592-1960 (bulk 1629-1834) (inclusive)

Extent:
56.0 linear feet (51 boxes; 222 volumes)
Abstract:
The British colony of Pennsylvania was given to William Penn (1644-1718) in 1681 by Charles II of England in repayment of a debt owed his father, Sir Admiral William Penn (1621-1670). Under Penn's directive, Pennsylvania was settled by Quakers escaping religious torment in England and other European nations. Three generations of Penn descendents held proprietorship of the colony until the American Revolution, when the family was stripped of all but its privately held shares of land. The Penn family papers house the personal and governmental records of William Penn, the proprietor of Pennsylvania, and his family. This collection, which dates from 1592 to 1960 (bulk of materials dating 1629 to 1834), consists primarily of correspondence, legal records, governmental records, surveys, deeds, grants, receipts, and account books; there are also 19th and 20th century auction catalogs and other secondary materials. This collection documents the creation of the Pennsylvania colony through...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Richard Peters papers, 1730-1820 (bulk) 1697-1871 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.0 linear feet (; 2 boxes, 49 volumes )
Abstract:
Reverend Richard Peters (1704-1776), in addition to serving in various capacities with Christ Church, also held two important colonial offices: secretary of the Land Office and secretary and clerk of the Provincial Council. In these roles, Peters helped manage the growing government of the colony of Pennsylvania through the access he had to members of the Penn family. He also worked closely with notable statesmen such as Benjamin Franklin and James Logan. Peters was appointed a Council member in 1749; he also served as a state commissioner to the 1754 Albany Congress. This collection is comprised of letters and documents from Reverend Richard Peters (1704-1776), with a few folders of papers from Peters's nephew, Judge Richard Peters (1743/4-1828), and his son, attorney Richard Peters (1780-1848). The papers primarily relate to Peters's public work rather than his private life (the same is true of the papers from the other two Richard Peters.) and they especially highlight early...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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St. David's Church (Radnor, Pa.) records, circa 1706-2008

Extent:
15.0 linear feet (; 30 boxes, 34 volumes, 15 flat files)
Abstract:
The cornerstone for St. David’s Church was laid in 1715 by a group of Welsh settlers in what is currently Radnor Township. During the Revolutionary War, the parish faced turmoil and the absence of a minister for the parishioners. By 1788, the parish once again had leadership, and in 1792, Reverend William Currie incorporated the parish and drew up a charter. The parish continued to grow as railroad lines brought urban dwellers to areas like Radnor that surrounded Philadelphia. For the next century, the parish would erect buildings to accommodate its constituency, providing the parishioners with a new rectory, chapel, parish house, and education building. Currently, the church attends to the religious needs of over one thousand families and holds many events, including an annual fair and auction. The records of St. David’s Church span from 1706 to 2006 and offer insight into the activities of the parishioners and history of the church in Radnor, Pennsylvania. This collection consists...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Barry-Hayes papers, 1778-1861 (bulk) 1723-1875 (inclusive)

Extent:
23.0 boxes and [7 oversize volumes, and 1 oversize folder]
Abstract:
John Barry (1745-1803), often credited as the Father of the American Navy, served the Continental Navy and the United States Navy for seventeen years. He and his descendents, particularly his nephew Patrick Hayes and grand-nephew Patrick Barry Hayes, became prominent members of Philadelphia society, serving as seamen, merchants, businessmen and politicians. The Barry-Hayes papers are the business, political and personal papers of John Barry and of his family, especially Patrick Hayes and Patrick Barry Hayes. The collection includes correspondence, letterbooks, diaries, logbooks, legal and financial papers related to Barry’s career in the Navy, the business ventures of the Hayes, Keen and Somers families, and their personal lives.

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

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John Dickinson papers, 1753-1808 (bulk) 1676-1885 (inclusive)

Extent:
5.2 linear feet and 13 containers, 5 volumes
Abstract:
John Dickinson (1732-1808), a Philadelphia lawyer and politician, was a major figure in colonial Delaware and Pennsylvania governments and during the early national period. He was an active presence and prolific writer during the American Revolution and early Republic from the passage of the Sugar Act (1764) until the Jefferson presidency (1801 to 1809). He also served in the military as colonel, private, and brigadier general. He married Mary Norris in 1770. John Dickinson died in Delaware in 1808. The John Dickinson papers contains incoming and outgoing correspondence; drafts and original manuscript documents from the revolutionary and early national government, Revolutionary War, Delaware and Pennsylvania government; land papers; legal papers; bills and receipts; collected essays, notes and commonplace books; and estate material. The papers provide a clear picture of the way in which colonists envisioned their new country and how these new Americans worked, compromised and...(see more)

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Pierre Eugène du Simitière collection, 1492-1784 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.8 linear feet and 12 containers, 4 volumes
Abstract:
Pierre Eugène Du Simitière (1737-1784) was a collector, artist, and historian, who opened the first public museum, the American Museum, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the American Musuem, Du Simitière presented his many materials collected during his travels and from his collections. The Library Company of Philadelphia purchased many of the manuscript materials at an auction in 1785 following Du Simitière’s death and the closing of the American Museum. The following collection is Du Simitière’s manuscript collection purchased at this auction. The collection reflects his interests and his lifestyle and includes poetry, sketches, watercolors, newspaper excerpts and clippings, treatise, correspondence, lists of nature, historical chronologies, bibliographies, and copies and originals of historical documents. The collection includes compiled information on places such as the West Indies, Pennsylvania, New England, New York, and the Carolinas in the form of historical chronologies,...(see more)

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Library Company of Philadelphia minute books, 1731-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
46.0 volumes
Abstract:
In 1731, Benjamin Franklin and a group of intellectual Philadelphians established the Library Company of Philadelphia, a subscription library supported by its shareholders. The Library Company flourished because it adopted a purchasing policy responsive to the needs of its intellectually alert, economically ambitious, but non-elite membership. The Library Company of Philadelphia is now an independent research library specializing in American society and culture from the 17th to 19th centuries. The history of this organization is best documented by its minute books dating from 1731 to 2000. The collection consists of minute books documenting the meetings of the Directors (both the final approved version of the minutes and the rough drafts of the minutes), 1731 to 2000; the Trustees of the Loganian Library, 1853 to 1876; and the Committee for Fixing the Value of Lost Books, 1785 to 1848. In addition to meeting minutes, the minute books include financial reports, and supporting...(see more)

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Stevens-Cogdell-Sanders-Venning collection, 1734-1982 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Stevens-Cogdell-Sanders-Venning family papers document the development of a white family and a prominent middle-class African American family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning with the 1760s emigration of John Stevens from England to South Carolina. The materials date from 1734 to 1982 and consist of scrapbooks, ephemera, newspaper clippings, Common Prayer books, invitations, holiday cards, correspondence, business papers, and a variety of personal papers. The materials document the Stevens-Cogdell-Sanders-Venning families’ professional, family, and personal lives as well as the development of a prominent middle-class African American family.

Held at: Library Company of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

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Free Library of Philadelphia Collection of Literary Manuscripts, 1666-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:
23.0 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection contains letters, manuscript fragments, autographs, and other documents by famous authors. The material dates from 1666 to 1990 with the bulk of the collection consisting of letters written by the authors to various friends with some letters to editors or critics.

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

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Jane W. T. Brey Collection of Family Findings, 1682-1894 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.21 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
Jane W. T. Brey (Jane Watson Taylor Brey, 1895-1982) was a genealogist. This collection chiefly contains photoprints of deeds, wills, marriage certificates and genealogical charts and pictures, relating to the Taylor, Wildman, and Watson families, Quakers of Bucks County, Pa.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Bye Family Papers, 1685-1931 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
Contains papers of Quakers of Delaware and southern Chester County (Pa.), particularly members of the Bye, Jenkinson, Passmore, Speakman, and Smith families. The collection includes correspondence, business records, photographs, and memorabilia of E. Mortimer and Pusey Passmore Bye, Thomas Jenkinson, Thomas H. Speakman, and Nathaniel Smith. Also includes accounts of Phebe Thomas who died at the age of 104 in Chester County (Pa.) and had witnessed the Battle of Brandywine as a child.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Elkinton Family Papers, ca. 1736-2002 (inclusive)

Extent:
53 linear ft. (132 boxes)
Abstract:
Contains the papers of the Elkinton Family, a Quaker family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and its vicinity. Joseph Elkinton was born in Salem, New Jersey, in 1794 and settled in Philadelphia where he established a soap manufacturing business which eventually became the Philadelphia Quartz Company. He was involved with the Seneca Indians at the Quaker school at Tunesassa (Quaker Bridge), New York, where his oldest son, Joseph Scotton Elkinton, was born in 1830. The latter was a Quaker minister and involved with the resettlement of the Doukhobors in Canada. His oldest son, Joseph Elkinton, was active in the Society of Friends in the Midwest and traveled to Japan and China on religious visits. His sister, Mary Passmore Elkinton, married the Japanese diplomat, Dr. Inazo Nitobe, in 1891. His son, Joseph Passmore Elkinton, married Mary Russell Bucknell in 1909; after Mary's death in 1929, he married Anna Bassett Griscom, a Hicksite minister, in 1931. J. Passmore also was a Quaker...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Emlen Family Papers, 1740-1886 (inclusive) 1817-1849 (bulk)

Extent:
0.75 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
Contains papers relating to the Emlen family, residents of Middletown and West Chester, Pennsylvania. Chiefly correspondence (1817-1849) of Sarah Foulke Farquhar Emlen (1787-1849), Quaker minister, relating to her travels to visit Friends' meetings in England, Ireland, New England, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. Also correspondence of Quaker ministers 1740-1790, copybooks, and memorabilia. Includes material relating to Westtown School, a Quaker boarding school in Chester County, Pa., where both Emlens taught; the Hicksite-Orthodox separation; slavery, the free produce movement and other Quaker concersn. Correspondents include Moses Brown, John Churchman, Samuel Emlen (ca. 1765-1837), Josiah Forster, Samuel Fothergill, Isaac Hadwen, Thomas Kite, Thomas Shillitoe, Esther Tuke, Joseph Whitall, and John Wilbur.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Lewis-Fussell Family Papers, 1698-1978 (inclusive)

Extent:
6 linear ft. (12 boxes)
Abstract:
Bartholomew Fussell was a Quaker minister who married Rebecca Bond at Abington Monthly Meeting in Pennsylvania in 1781. He was a member of Uwchlan Monthly Meeting of Friends at his death in 1838. The couple had eight children, viz. Esther, William, Sarah, Joseph, Jacob, Bartholomew, Rebecca, and Solomon. Esther married John Lewis in 1818, and they had four children, among whom was Graceanna Lewis, Quaker scientist and humanitarian. Joseph Fussell married Elizabeth Moore in 1814, and their eldest son, Henry Bartholomew, married Maria Lewis. Rebecca Fussell married Joseph Trimble in 1837, and their only daughter, Esther Jane, married Isaac Lippincott. The collection contains correspondence, journals, other writings, account books, albums, photographs, and miscellaneous notes of members of the Lewis and Fussell families of Chester and Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania. Includes the papers and drawings of Graceanna Lewis, prominent Quaker natural scientist and social reformer. Educated...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Knight Family Papers, 1737-1895 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
The Knight family was a Quaker family from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The collection contains chiefly legal and business papers of Jacob P. Tyson, his wife, Mary B. Michener Tyson, and others. Also contains family correspondence, wills, deeds, estate papers, biographical and genealogical materials, marriage certificates, memorabilia, printed material, and pictures. Includes material relating to the Michener and Warner families.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Charles Smith Ogden family Papers, 1732-1938 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Abstract:
Charles Smith Ogden (1822-1904) was a Quaker businessman, genealogist, and civic leader. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, educated in Friends' schools, and married Emma Corbit in 1848. He worked as a wholesale druggist before the Civil War, was active on the committee to elect Abraham Lincoln, and served as Consul to Quebec, Canada, 1860-1864. In 1886, he began a tour around the world, which is recounted in his travel letters, 1886-1891. This collection contains genealogical material, family correspondence, scrapbooks and memorabilia. Of particular interest are letters collected by Charles S. Smith from prominent Quaker correspondents including Elias and Edward Hicks, Lucretia Mott, Benjamin Ferris, and John Comly.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Sarah Hopper Palmer Papers, 1705-1883 (inclusive)

Extent:
3 linear ft. (6 boxes)
Abstract:
Sarah Hopper Palmer (1796-1885) was the eldest child of Isaac T. Hopper (1771-1852), noted Hicksite Quaker abolitionist and social reformer. The collection was apparently compiled as a basis for Lydia Maria Child's Life of Isaac T. Hopper, which was first published in 1853. The original manuscript of the published book is included in the collection. The collection contains material on the Palmer, Hunn and Jenkins families, family correspondence, legal and financial papers, and memorabilia. Of particular interest is the correspondence of Isaac T. Hopper which includes references to his work with Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, the Anti-slavery Society of New York, and the New York Prison Association.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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William Sharp Prickett Family Papers, 1716-1932 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
William Sharp Prickett (1862-1926) was youngest child of Josiah J. and Emaline B. (Engle) Prickett. The Prickett/Prickitt family were Quakers who lived in the area of Northampton and Southampton Townships, Burlington Co.,, New Jersey, from 1716, the date of the earliest document in the collection. They lived in or near villages such as Masonville, Easton, and Vicentown, near Rancocas Creek. In later generations most of the children attended or graduated from Westtown Boarding School, as did many of their spouses. The men in this family were farmers, educators, and lumbermen. The collection contains the family papers preserved by William Sharp Pickett (1862-1926), whose family were New Jersey Quakers. It includes biographical and genealogical, family correspondence, school papers relating to Josiah J. Pickett who served on the school committee of Northampton Township, N.J., family legal and financial papers and memorabilia.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Joseph Wharton Family Papers, 1691-1955 (inclusive)

Extent:
21.81 linear ft. (71 boxes)
Abstract:
Joseph Wharton (1826-1909) was a prominent Philadelphia Quaker merchant, industrialist, scientist, and philanthropist who was active in 19th century Delaware Valley manufacturing, business, and education development. The papers cover in depth his business activities as well as his career as Manager of Swarthmore College for over 35 years and as founder of the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania. The collection includes business correspondence, 1855-1908, of the Joseph Wharton Gap Establishment, the Lehigh Zinc Company, Bethlehem Iron company, the Hibernia Mine Railroad Company, as well as more than fifty articles prepared by Wharton dealing with the mineral ore industry including iron, zinc, and nickel, tariff questions, political issues on a national and regional level, and Wharton's special concerns in education. Joseph Wharton (1826-1909) was descended from two of the oldest families in Pennsylvania. His father, William Wharton, was in the...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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George Family Papers, 1705-1959 [bulk 1705-1887] (inclusive)

Extent:
9 linear ft. (17 boxes)
Abstract:
John M. George (1802-1887) was the son of Joseph and Alice Malin George. He was a birthright Quaker and member of Radnor Monthly Meeting. The George family came to Pennsylvania from Wales in 1708 and settled in Blockley Township, Pennsylvania. The George family papers include correspondence (1705-1864), other personal papers (1681-1887), business and financial accounts (1734-1887), and estate papers (1714-1883). Of particular note are the estate accounts of many family members and other individuals for whom John M. and Joseph W. George acted as conveyancers and administrators, including Joseph George (1773- 1846?), Jesse George (b. 1785), James Malin (d. ca 1859), John Malin Jr. (ca. 1778-1868?), and other members of the Malin family, Miller family, Price family and many others who lived in the Blockley area. The personal papers include journals and day books of Edward George and John M. George as well as marriage certificates, removals, and genealogical notes. Business and...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Shaw Family Papers, 1737-1890 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
Accounts, correspondence, indentures, and family papers which relate to the descendents of Samuel Shaw (1710-1781), Quaker farmer of Richland, Pennsylvania, and related families including Hill, Heacock, Foulke, and Rawlings. Some of his descendents moved to Ohio and Indiana. Letters from family members in Ohio give details of daily life and customs of Quaker families and sense of the hardships endured on the frontier.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Jackson-Conard Family Papers, 1748-1910 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.2 linear ft. (5 boxes)
Abstract:
The Jackson-Conard Family Papers include correspondence and other manuscripts of the Jackson and Conard families of London Grove Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The primary recipients are William Jackson (1746-1834), a Quaker minister, and his nephew, William Jackson (1789-1864), who served a single term in the Pennsylvania State Senate and was active in the anti-slavery movement.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Bunting Family Papers, 1739-1957 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear ft. (1 oversized box)
Abstract:
The Bunting family was a Pennsylvania Quaker family, closely associated with Darby, Pa., and Darby Monthly Meeting. The Bunting family had many branches descending from the ten children of Josiah and Sarah (Hunt) Bunting; Josiah Bunting (1734-1813) was a minister and elder of Darby Monthly Meeting. One of his sons, Josiah (1773-1863) married Sarah Sellers. His son, Joseph (1830-1890) married Elizabeth Spencer Miller (1833-1905), a descendent of the Miller and McIlvain families, also Pennsylvania Quakers. The collection contains business and estate papers, correspondence, and genealogical and related materials which descended in the family of Joseph and Elizabeth Spencer (Miller) Bunting. Of interest is a letter from Quaker minister, John Jackson (1809-1855) expressing his religious views.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Foulke Family Papers, ca. 1654-1999 (bulk ca. 1750-1860) (inclusive)

Extent:
5 linear ft. (10 boxes)
Abstract:
The Foulke family was a prominent Quaker family of Richland, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, descended from Edward (1651-1741) and Eleanor (Hugh) Foulke (d. 1733) who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1698. Their descendents married into the Roberts, Mather, Morris, and other Quaker families and were active in Quaker and Bucks County affairs. The Foulke Family Papers contain correspondence, business and legal papers, surveys, genealogical notes, and memorabilia of the Foulke, Roberts, and Mather, and related families. Of particular interest is a letter from Reubens Peale to Jane Roberts concerning silhouettes and correspondence between Joseph Foulke and George Hatton, a cousin in Indiana, between Joseph Foulke and George Hatton, a cousin in Indiana, about the Hicksite controversy.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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Thornton Family Research Papers (copies), 1673-1963 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.25 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:
This group of papers relating to the Thornton family, all copies, were made available to Harriet Frorer Durham, a Quaker writer who was working on a biography of Dr. William Thornton (1759-1828) of Philadelphia. William Thornton of England, Dr. Thorton's descendent, provided the papers. The collection contains genealogical material compiled for Dr. William Thornton and photocopies of business and legal papers (1673-1802).

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

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American Swedish Historical Museum document and photograph collection, 1702-1981 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The American Swedish Historical Museum document and photograph collection, 1702-1981, consists of miscellaneous documents and photographs collected by the American Swedish Historical Museum. It includes correspondence, printed broadsides, certificates, deeds, manuscripts and stage scripts, photographs, glass and film negatives, Speakophone recordings, and many other document types. The materials relate to Americans of Swedish descent, Sweden and Swedish culture, the founding of the Swedish American Historical Museum, and associated topics.

Held at: American Swedish Historical Museum [Contact Us]

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Byberry Library local history collection, 1682-2002 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.0 linear feet ((numerous binders, several volumes, many folders in file cabinets, and many framed items))
Abstract:
The first meeting house for members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Byberry, Philadelphia was built in the 1690s. Byberry Monthly Meeting was formally established by Abington Quarterly Meeting out of Horsham Monthly Meeting in 1810, and is currently active as of 2011. At the heart of the Byberry Library local history collection are several dozen scrapbooks which are filled with secondary and primary materials relating to local history topics. The collection also includes deeds and real estate records, marriage certificates, numerous maps, and a number of genealogies of varying length. There are also records from several local businesses and schools, such as financial records, minutes, and other administrative records.

Held at: Byberry Library [Contact Us]

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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]

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Harman D. Rees family papers, 1890-1964 (bulk) 1710-1964 (inclusive)

Extent:
8.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Harman D. Rees was (1873-1964) was a farmer and active public servant in Charlestown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He wrote a detailed history of the township, Historical Sketches of Charlestown Township, completed around 1943. The Harman D. Rees family papers, 1710-1964 (bulk 1890-1964), include scrapbooks, newspaper issues and clippings, research notes, correspondence, family papers, hand drawn maps and blueprints, photographs, and other documents relating to Rees's research interests--Charlestown Township history, birds, plants, and Rees family genealogy--as well as farming practices, family life, municipal affairs, and additional topics.

Held at: Charlestown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Concord Township Historical Society local history manuscripts collection, 1682-2004 (inclusive)

Extent:
11.3 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 Historical Society local history manuscripts collection, 1682-2004, includes organizational records, family and personal papers, photographs, and other manuscript materials relating to local people and groups from Concord Township.

Held at: Concord Township Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Frederick Graff maps, technical drawings, and plans on Philadelphia (Pa.) water engineering projects, circa 1683-1875

Extent:
2.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Frederick Graff (1775-1847) was a hydraulic engineer best known for designing Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's landmark Fairmount Water Works in the 1810s. He subsequently served as consulting engineer for water works in New York, Boston, and many other cities. After Graff's death in 1847, his son, Frederick Graff, Jr. (1817-1890), took over the role of chief engineer for the Philadelphia Water Department. Frederick Graff maps, technical drawings, and plans on Philadelphia (Pa.) water engineering projects, circa 1683-1875, consist of maps, drawings, and plans related to both the elder and younger Graff's work as water engineers. Most of the materials relate to the Fairmount Water Works, but some pertain to other water engineering projects in Philadelphia.

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

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Germantown Historical Society deed collection, 1688-1952 (inclusive)

Extent:
12.5 linear feet
Abstract:
Germantown, a section of northwest Philadelphia, was settled in the late 1600s. It is well known as the site of the first American anti-slavery protest, the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown, and the seat of the National government during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The Germantown Historical Society deed collection, 1688-1952, contains original deeds and land titles for properties in the region of Germantown, Philadelphia.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Michael Billmeyer family papers, 1719-circa 1940

Extent:
1.4 linear feet
Abstract:
Michael Billmeyer (1752-1837) was a well-known printer and bookseller in the Germantown section of Philadelphia who catered especially to Pennsylvania German and Mennonite communities. The Michael Billmeyer family papers, 1719-circa 1940, are comprised primarily of materials relating to Michael Billmeyer (1752-1837) and his publishing company, with a small amount of materials relating to other family members and the family home.

Held at: Germantown Historical Society [Contact Us]

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Bank of North America records, 1782-1929 (bulk) 1694-1939 (inclusive)

Extent:
145.8 linear feet (; 29 boxes, 672 volumes)
Abstract:
The Bank of North America was the first chartered bank in the United States, created by the Second Continental Congress in 1781. It was established primarily to aid Congress in providing supplies and money for the continuation of the Revolutionary War. In 1916 the bank bought the assets of the National Bank of the Northern Liberties; in 1923 it merged with the Commercial Trust Company to form the Bank of North America and Trust Company; six years later the merged institution was itself absorbed by the Pennsylvania Company. The minute books are a complete run from the very beginning of the bank until its merger with the Commercial Trust Company in 1923, with brief records of meetings of the Board of Directors and some of meetings of stockholders. The loose documents (housed in boxes, as opposed to bound in volumes) include formal bank communications, memoranda, announcements, and copies of letters, financial statements, and the like. One of the most interesting documents is a long...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Abraham H. Cassel collection, 1680-1893 (inclusive)

Extent:
4.75 linear feet (48 volumes)
Abstract:
This collection contains printed material from the library of Abraham Harley Cassel, a book collector and historian who acquired over 50,000 books, pamphlets, and documents about early Pennsylvania history. Cassel was a member of the Dunkard Brethren who wrote about and collected books on early Pennsylvania German religious history. His library attracted scholars and historians of Pennsylvania and German American history, and at his death was divided among archives, libraries, and private collectors. The portion of Cassel’s collection that is housed at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania contains forty-seven items which range in date from 1680 to 1893. Items are arranged in alphabetical order, with volumes relating to the Ephrata religious community and the Schwenkfelder Church grouped together. This collection includes hymn books, religious tracts and catechism, diaries, letters, genealogical records, and examples of Pennsylvania German folk art and fraktur.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Arthur C. Bining collection, 1804-1878 (bulk) 1727-1949 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.6 linear feet (; 4 boxes)
Abstract:
Arthur C. Bining was a Philadelphia historian, worked as a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania and was associated with the Pennsylvania Historical Association. This small collection contains letters, autographs, and papers he collected over time. A portion of the papers originated from the United States Customs House of Philadelphia and deal mostly with routine customs matters. There are also folders of papers from individuals that are not associated with the Customs House, such as army officer James Barker, painter Abbott H. Thayer, and inventor August F. W. Partz. Additional papers include those of Joseph R. E. Bunel, paymaster general of the French colony of Santo Domingo, Haiti; and Marie F. M. Bunel, a businesswoman in Santo Domingo.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Sarah A. G. Smith collection on 18th century Philadelphia merchants, 1705/6-1937 (bulk 1713-1848)

Extent:
1.6 linear feet (; 4 boxes, 3 flat files )
Abstract:
The Sarah A. G. Smith collection consists of the business correspondence, accounts and records, and family papers of several prominent 18th century Philadelphia merchants. The bulk of the collection dates from 1713 to 1848. Over half of it pertains to the Wharton family, in particular Charles Wharton; his father Joseph Wharton; his brothers Thomas, Samuel, William, and Joseph; and his son Charles Wharton Jr. Highlights include Charles Wharton’s letter books, a 1770 letter from Colonel George Croghan to Joseph Wharton regarding Colonel Washington, and the will and list of assets of Joseph Wharton. About a third of the collection consists of the business papers of (Thomas) Lamar, (Henry) Hill, (Robert) Bisset & Company, a partnership of three brothers-in-law who conducted trade between Philadelphia, London, and Madeira, and consists mostly of correspondence between the partners. The remainder of the collection consists of business correspondence between John & Arthur Burrows of St....(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Wister and Butler Families Papers, 1700-2004, undated; bulk: 1848-1907

Extent:
21.5 linear feet (; 46 boxes, 55 volumes, 17 flat files)
Abstract:
The Wister and Butler families were prominent in Philadelphia in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and had ties to numerous other prominent families in the Philadelphia region, Georgia, and Great Britain. The bulk of the collection concerns Pierce (Mease) Butler and his daughters Sarah Butler Wister and Frances Anne Butler Leigh. Butler's former wife Frances Anne Kemble (Butler), known as Fanny Kemble, and various other family members are also represented. The bulk of the collection is correspondence and estate papers; it also includes diaries, newspapers and newspaper clippings, business papers, real estate papers, ledgers and other financial documents, photographs, and other miscellaneous papers. The collection provides insights into a wide variety of topics, including women's history, the Civil War, African American history, family history, politics, culture, and the life of actress Fanny Kemble and her daughters. The materials concerning the Butler plantations both before...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Morris family papers, 1676-1930 (inclusive)

Extent:
2.2 linear feet (; 6 boxes)
Abstract:
The Morris family papers (Collection 2000E) contain the genealogical and estate records of the Morris family of Philadelphia, prominent Quaker businessmen, brewers, and later iron manufacturers, who were also active in the political and civic life of the city. The collection follows several generations beginning with Anthony Morris (1654-1721) and his descendants through Anthony Saunders Morris (1803-1885) and Henry Morris (1802-1881). Included are early original documents pertaining to Anthony Morris and his immediate descendants, including marriage certificates, deeds, wills, and various business and personal papers. The collection also contains significant genealogical correspondence and documentation, including a manuscript of the Morris family history.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Belfield papers, 1697-1977 (inclusive)

Extent:
106.0 linear feet (235 boxes and 99 volumes)
Abstract:
The Belfield papers include materials from families who lived in the Belfield mansion in Germantown, Pennsylvania from 1826 until 1984; however, the papers span the years 1679 to 1977. Featured individuals include William and Sarah Logan Fisher Wister, their son John Wister and his wife, Sarah Tyler Boas Wister, their granddaughter Sarah Logan Wister Starr and her husband, James Starr, and their great-granddaughter S. Logan Starr Blain and her husband, Dr. Daniel Blain. The collection also houses papers from related individuals in the Emlen, Fisher, Hall, Lindley, Logan, Meigs, Wister, and other families. This collection includes correspondence, financial records, ephemera, photographs, scrapbooks, pamphlets, periodicals, and other items. Topics that are particularly well documented in the Belfield papers include: Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania; Colonial Dames of America; the Sesquicentennial Exposition; stamp collecting; world travel during the Great Depression;...(see more)

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Francis Daniel Pastorius records, 1689-1910 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.6 linear feet (; 2 volumes)
Abstract:
This collection contains the Grund und Lager Buch begun by Francis Daniel Pastorius to document the founding of the Germantown area of Philadelphia and its settlement. This volume includes "Rules and regulations for settlers" (1689-1697) and a copy of the charter for Germantown granted to Pastorius. This collection also contains an English translation of the German and Latin entries in the Grund und Lager Buch made by Marion Dexter Learned for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1910.

Held at: Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Contact Us]

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Historic Waynesborough collection, 1712-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:
12.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Wayne family purchased the land on which the home "Historic Waynesborough" still stands in 1724 and the family's descendants continued to own it until 1965. One of Waynesborough's residents was Major General Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary War hero, who was also instrumental in the Northwest Indian War (1785–1795). The Historic Waynesborough collection, 1712-1990, consists largely of secondary-source materials, such as photocopies, but there is also a significant amount of primary documents. Materials pertain largely to various members of the Wayne family and include photographs, financial documents, correspondence, genealogical research, and various other documents.

Held at: Historic Waynesborough [Contact Us]

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Museum of the American Revolution collection, circa 1730-1977

Extent:
9.0 linear feet
Abstract:
The Museum of the American Revolution focuses on the history of the rebellion of the North American colonies against British rule that resulted in the formation of the United States of America, and chronicles the development of the idea of independence over history. The Museum of the American Revolution collection, circa 1730-1977, includes an extensive array of materials that document the War, its aftereffects, the evolution of revolutionary ideas, the lives of prominent Founding Fathers and everyday soldiers, commemorations of Revolutionary sites (especially Valley Forge, Pa.), and related topics.

Held at: Museum of the American Revolution [Contact Us]

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Bristol History small collections, 1749-2013 (inclusive)

Extent:
25.0 linear feet
Abstract:
Bristol Borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, became an important area due to its location along the Delaware River, a major land route, and subsequent rail line linking Philadelphia and New York City. Incorporated in 1720, it served as the county seat from 1705 to 1726. The Bristol History small collections, 1749-2013, consist of various individual manuscript volumes and small collections relating to the people, businesses, properties, and organizations of Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Of special interest are Doron Green and William Kinsey scrapbooks, and a collection of William Bache papers.

Held at: Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library [Contact Us]

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