| | | Author: | Bache, Benjamin Franklin, 1769-1798 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Benjamin Franklin Bache papers, 1779-1793
| | | | Dates: | 1779-1793 | | | | Abstract: | The Benjamin Franklin Bache Collection is composed primarily of correspondence sent from B.F. Bache. The vast majority dates to his time in Europe during the American Revolution while a young child under the care of his grandfather, Benjamin Franklin, who was then serving as one of America's ambassadors to France. These letters consist of B.F. Bache writing from his school in Switzerland to his grandfather in Paris (often in French) and to his parents in America (in English). Most of the letters relay information on B.F.'s formal education and his experience learning the printing trade. The only letter dated after Bache's time in Europe is a personal letter mourning the loss of Benjamin Franklin that he wrote to his soon-to-be-wife, Margaret Markoe. The letter contains one of the most detailed accounts of Franklin's last days.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.B122 | | | | Extent: | 0.5 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | American Revolution | Americans Abroad | Diplomatic History | Education | Printing and Publishing | | | | Genre: | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | | | | Subjects: | Aurora (Philadelphia, Pa.) | Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, with the United States of America (1794 November 19) | |
| | Author: | Bancker, James A. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | James A. Bancker papers, 1842-1849
| | | | Dates: | 1842-1849 | | | | Abstract: | This collection of letters (40+) consists primarily of James Bancker writing to his family from Asia in the 1840s. The collection offers a vivid depiction of an American's life abroad in the nineteenth century. The letters convey quotidian information, such as the type of food he is eating, to more remarkable events, such as witnessing a comet. Bancker also witnessed a number of significant political events while in China, including the acquisition of Hong Kong by Great Britain and resistance to this takeover from the Hong Kong residents (1842-1843). These events, the rioting in particular, are recounted in his often long and detailed correspondence to his Philadelphia-based family. Bancker spent much of his time in Canton, but he also described visits to the Philippines and voyage to and from China. Combined, the collection provides a lens in the experiences of a wealthy American traveling abroad in the midst of the nineteenth century.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.B22 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Americans Abroad | Beyond Early America | Business and Skilled Trades | International Trade. | International Travel | Marriage and Family Life | Trade | Travel | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | | | | Subjects: | Americans -- China -- Social life and customs. | British -- China -- Social life and customs -- 1644-1912. | Voyages and travels. | |
| | Author: | Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Violetta Delafield-Benjamin Smith Barton Collection
| | | | Dates: | 1783-1817 | | | | Abstract: | The extensive Benjamin Smith Barton collection contains six sections: Correspondence, Bound Volumes (including notebooks), Subject Files, and Graphic Materials. The material includes numerous images, sketches, notes, printed material, and other correspondence. The collection also has numerous copper plates that were used to print images drawn by Barton. Although a collection this large touches on a variety of interesting and important subjects, the collection's strength is its wealth of data on nineteenth century medical, botanical, and Native American studies.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.B284d | | | | Extent: | 10 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | Education | Language and Linguistics | Literature, Arts, and Culture | Medicine | Native America | Natural history | Printing and Publishing | Science and technology | Travel | | | | Genre: | Art | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Language Material | Notebooks | Political Correspondence | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Bartram's Garden (Philadelphia, Pa.) | Botanists | Botany -- Study and teaching -- 19th century | Botany -- Virginia | Chemistry -- 18th century | Cherokee Indians | Cherokee language | Choctaw Indians | Dysentery. | Electricity -- 18th century | Ethnobotany | Geology -- 18th century | Gout | Indians of North America | Indians of North America -- Agriculture | Indians of North America -- Languages | Kaigana Indians | Kaskaskia Indians | Mammals -- Classification | Mandan Indians | Mastodons | Materia medica | Medicine -- Practice -- 18th century | Medicine -- Study and teaching -- 18th century | Meteorology -- United States -- 18th century | Meteors | Mineralogy | Natural history -- 18th century | Natural history -- 19th century | Osage language | Physicians -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia | Physics | Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796 | Seminole Indians | Seneca Indians | Tuscarora Indians | University of Pennsylvania -- Faculty | Venereal disease | Yellow fever | Yellow fever -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia -- 1793 | Zoology -- 18th century | |
| | Author: | Bohlen, John | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | John Bohlen Collection
| | | | Dates: | 1889-1912 | | | | Abstract: | John Bohlen was a prominent Philadelphia merchant in the nineteenth century, dying a millionaire. Bohlen, a Hollander, established a firm with his brother that specialized in trade with his native country. His greatest success came in the lucrative gin trade. As his business increased, so too did his connections. He served on the Board of the first Bank of the United States and was well-connected with highest the political and business leaders in the nation. Although John Bohlen was a prominent and successful businessman, these documents have little bearing on Bohlen himself. Instead, they are a series of letters (ten total) written by prominent Americans either to Bohlen or to his relatives.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.B63 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | International Trade. | Philadelphia History | Religion | Trade | | | | Genre: | General Correspondence | |
| | Author: | Burd, James, 1726-1793 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Burd-Shippen Papers
| | | | Dates: | 1708-1792 | | | | Abstract: | This collection is one of the largest early American collections the APS holds. Its breadth of sources provides insight into colonial Pennsylvania history, especially that of Lancaster County. Although largely material composed of material from James Burd, there are also significant documents relating to the Shippen family. Documents touch on matters financial, political, and social. While the collection is of wide ranging material, its strength lies in three main parts: the Seven Years' War and Pontiac's Rebellion in Pennsylvania, Burd's business records, and life in Lancaster County from 1754-1776.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.B892 | | | | Extent: | 6.5 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | Colonial Politics | Government Affairs | Land and Speculation | Military History | Native America | Pennsylvania History | Seven Years' War | Surveying and Maps | Trade | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | Diaries | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Miscellaneous | Official Government Documents and Records | Political Correspondence | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Court calendars -- Pennsylvania. | Fort Augusta (Pa.) | Fort Duquesne | Fort Granville (Pa.) | Fort Hunter | Fort Pitt (Pa.) | Fort William Henry (N.Y.) | Fortification -- Pennsylvania. | Iroquois Indians | Lancaster County (Pa.) -- History | Meteorology -- Pennsylvania -- Observations | Military supplies. | Pennsylvania -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 | Pennsylvania -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763 | Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Commerce | Shippenburg Library Company | United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763 | United States. Army. Supplies and stores | |
| | Author: | Cadwalader, Lambert | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Lambert Cadwalader Papers
| | | | Dates: | 1779-1798 | | | | Abstract: | This collection of letters, while tiny, is actually quite rich in content. Cadwalader wrote to Samuel Meredith, a politician and fellow Revolutionary War soldier, concerning the war, his real estate holdings in Philadelphia, and the local political climate. The seven items are dated from October 5, 1779 to March 9, 1798, during which Cadwalader served in the military, reentered politics, got married, and then retired from public service.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.C625.1 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | American Revolution | Business and Skilled Trades | Land and Speculation | Philadelphia History | | | | Genre: | General Correspondence | Political Correspondence | | | | Subjects: | Inoculation | Smallpox | Taxation -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia | |
| | Author: | Carson, Joseph, 1808-1876 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Joseph Carson papers, 1810-1877
| | | | Dates: | 1810-1877 | | | | Abstract: | The APS collection of Joseph Carson's letters is relatively small, especially for the purposes of this guide. Joseph Carson was a Philadelphia born and educated physician who spent time serving as a ship's physician. The collection has six documents from before 1850. They range from letters to receipts to notes from a lecture. Of particular significance is a very long letter Carson wrote from Calcultta in 1830 to Samuel Grant, an associate in the U.S.. Carson had been asked to carry a bill of exchange for Grant, which he had some difficulty disposing of because Grant's credit was not well-known, and to purchase goods on Grant's behalf for sale in the U.S.. Carson details the process and availability of goods in India, and the reasons for his decision to purchase silk and indigo for Grant. Carson then goes on to describe his experience on the trip, stating that he "played the part of merchant and doctor."
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.C239 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Americans Abroad | Education | Medicine | Trade | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | Educational Material | General Correspondence | Notebooks | | | | Subjects: | Botany. | Medical publishing | Medicine -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. | |
| | Author: | Collinson, Peter, 1694-1768 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Peter Collinson letters, [ca. 1740]-1770
| | | | Dates: | 1740-1770 | | | | Abstract: | The APS has a number of Collinson collections on microfilm. Its primary source holdings contain approximately thirty-seven letters written to Peter Collinson, a prominent figure in the eighteenth century British scientific community. Because of his networks in trade and science, he served as an important node in the conveyance of knowledge throughout the Atlantic World.The majority of the letters involve discussions of natural history. The letters offer a range of correspondence. There is a letter written about the culture of bathing in Wales in the 1730s to extended correspondence between Collinson and Lady Petre on the botanical gardens on the Petre's estate, and a series of letters from Spanish officials in the Caribbean relaying information to Collinson. There is also a notable amount of correspondence between Collinson and various nobility discussing horticultural issues.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.C692 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Natural history | Science and technology | | | | Genre: | General Correspondence | Scientific Correspondence | | | | Subjects: | Natural history. | |
| | Author: | Correia da Serra, José Francisco, 1750-1823 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Note nécrologique sur le Docteur Wistar, 1818
| | | | Dates: | 1818 | | | | Abstract: | This small bound volume contains a range of information on Caspar Wistar's life. There is a French essay on Wistar, a 47-page printed eulogy published by the APS, various newspaper clippings, and letters from others, all commemorating Wistar's life. A range of significant moments in Wistar's life are discussed, such as the yellow fever epidemic, scientific pursuits and friends, and his career as a professor at the University of Pennsylvania
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.W76c | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Medicine | Philadelphia History | Science and technology | | | | Genre: | General Correspondence | Manuscript Essays | Printed Material | | | | Subjects: | Physicians | |
| | Author: | Dawes, Elizabeth F.,collector. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Dawes Collection of Documents on American History
| | | | Dates: | 1681-1921 | | | | Abstract: | This is a collection of miscellaneous documents from early America. The earliest documents come from the early 18th century and the latest from the Civil War era. The collection contains a few documents from the revolutionary period, most of which are official governments documents or deal with business transactions. There is one long letter from Robert McPherson, a member of the Pennsylvania Flying Camp, that describes his experience. Perhaps reflecting her ancestral home, the collection contains a small but notable collection of materials from South Carolina, including a very early letter from Francis Le Jau and letters from the Marquis de Lafayette about an expected trip to South Carolina. There are a significant number of documents from Pennsylvania, especially legal documents, from the early republic. The letters from Clement Biddle, a former revolutionary war soldier, also provide insight on early national Indian relations Finally, there are also some significant autographs collected, including a Massachusetts legal form with the signature of John Adams, a letter from James Madison to the Mississippi Territory around the time of the Louisiana Purchase, and letters from Civil War era figures like John Calhoun (a rich letter in which Calhoun discusses his views on tariffs and nullification), James Buchanan, and William Seward.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.973.D32 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | American Revolution | Colony and State Specific History | Early National Politics | Native America | Pennsylvania History | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | General Correspondence | Miscellaneous | Official Government Documents and Records | | | | Subjects: | Publishers and publishing. | |
| | Author: | Day, Sherman,1806-1884. | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Ephraim Dyer IV Collection, ca. 1842, of the sketches of Sherman Day
| | | | Dates: | Circa 1842 | | | | Abstract: | This collection contains the proofs of images for Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania. The book is over 700 pages long with more than 200 images. The book and images capture Pennsylvania life past and present and can provide insight into the customs of the period. Days' engravings provide detailed images of towns and areas of Pennsylvania circa 1840. Some of the over 250 images included in this collection are: Pittsburgh with steamboats traveling up the rivers and smoke spouting in the sky from factories, a redoubt at Fort Pitt, a vista of Reading, mines in western Pennsylvania, Native American engravings found on a rock, the public squares at Chambersburg, Lancaster and Erie, and Ephrata's houses.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.917.48.D33 | | | | Extent: | 0.5 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Literature, Arts, and Culture | Pennsylvania History | Social Life and Custom | | | | Genre: | Art | General Correspondence | Sketchbooks | | | | Subjects: | Architecture -- Pennsylvania. | Delaware Indians | Indians of North America -- Pennsylvania | Landscape -- Pennsylvania. | Seneca Indians | |
|
