Resources in Early American History
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 Author:  AnonymousRequires cookie*
 Title:  Notes on Mexican Antiquities     
 Dates:  1785-1806 
 Abstract:  Compiled by an anonymous traveler to Mexico sometime in the 19th century, this large volume contains hundreds of extremely intricate pencil and watercolor sketches of Mexican artifacts and sites that were seen during an expedition to Mexico.

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 Call #:  Mss.913.72.N84 
 Extent:  1 volume(s) 
 Topics:  Beyond Early America | International Travel | Literature, Arts, and Culture 
 Genre:  Art | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Indians of Mexico | Mixtec Indians 
 Author:  Baldwin, Loammi, 1780-1838Requires cookie*
 Title:  Loammi Baldwin diary, 9 September 1823 - 29 November 1823     
 Dates:  1823 
 Abstract:  The Diary of Loammi Baldwin (September 9 – November 29, 1823) chronicles a portion of Baldwin's trip to Europe where he observed European canals and other internal improvements. Baldwin was a leading civil engineer in antebellum America, and he traveled to Europe to learn about tested methods and good practices that he could bring back to America. The journal begins with Baldwin departing London for Dover and follows his trip through Holland and France. The diary contains numerous sketches of machinery, including carriages, canals, locks, boats, and steam-engine parts. There are also observations on European cities, towns, and customs. Many of the canal sketches are elaborate and detailed.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.B189 
 Extent:  1 volume(s) 
 Topics:  Americans Abroad | Business and Skilled Trades | Engineering | International Travel | Science and technology | Travel 
 Genre:  Art | Scientific Data | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Canals -- Belgium. | Canals -- Design and construction. | Canals -- England. | Canals -- France. | Canals -- Netherlands. | Technology - History 
 Author:  Bancker familyRequires cookie*
 Title:  Charles Nicoll Bancker family papers, 1733-1894     
 Dates:  1733-1894 
 Abstract:  This extensive collection (13 boxes) contains a range of correspondence, although the bulk of it relates to Charles Nicoll Bancker, a prominent Philadelphia businessman in the 1800s. The letters provide a picture of the family life and business career of Bancker from his earliest beginnings to his success later in life. Aside from the Charles Bancker portion of the collection, the holdings contain a wide variety of other documents, ranging from colonial era documents written in Dutch in Albany to letters from James Madison to Thomas Jefferson from the nineteenth century on religious education.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.B22.c 
 Extent:  3.25 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  American Revolution | Antebellum Politics | Business and Skilled Trades | Colonial Politics | Colony and State Specific History | Early National Politics | Education | Land and Speculation | Literature, Arts, and Culture | Marriage and Family Life | Pennsylvania History | Philadelphia History | Social Life and Custom | Trade | Travel | Women's History 
 Genre:  Business Records and Accounts | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Literature | Manuscript Essays | Political Correspondence | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Insurance agents -- United States. 
 Author:  Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815Requires 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.

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 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:  Benbow, John, Jr.Requires cookie*
 Title:  The Bee Book     
 Dates:  1846-1854 
 Abstract:  The "Bee Book" is a small, pocket-sized notebook kept by John Benbow, an amateur beekeeper. The journal is handwritten and has extensive and detailed sketches of beehives and beekeeping. The 250 page volume details beekeeping practices, customs, and stories. It contains a log of Benbow's practice from 1846-1854. The book is intended to be not only a guide to beekeeping, but also a source of entertainment and is filled with amusing anecdotes and sketches.

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 Call #:  Mss.630.4.B43 
 Extent:  1 volume(s) 
 Topics:  Beyond Early America 
 Genre:  Art | Diaries | Manuscript Essays | Sketchbooks 
 Subjects:  Bee culture -- Great Britain 
 Author:  Bunbury, Charles James Fox, Sir, 1809-1886Requires cookie*
 Title:  Sir Charles James Fox Bunbury papers, 1845-1852     
 Dates:  1845-1852 
 Abstract:  The Charles Bunbury Collection contains a wealth of information on fossils. Sir Charles Bunbury was a nineteenth century geologist and paleontologist. The majority of the documents in collection are Bunbury's own notes on the subject of fossils. These very detailed notes contain a wealth of information on fossil finds and can provide insight into the prevailing ideas and debates about fossil remains. The collection includes a range of material, including a draft of an essay on algae, reports and analysis of important fossil finds, and reviews and notes on recent publications. The collection also includes a number of Bunbury's private notebooks in which he describes fossils he has seen or read about in great detail, thus giving modern researchers access to information on remains that may no longer be in existence.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.B88 
 Extent:  0.25 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  Natural history | Science and technology 
 Genre:  Manuscript Essays | Notebooks | Scientific Data | Sketchbooks 
 Subjects:  Fossil fuels -- Pennsylvania. | Mineralogy | Paleobotany -- Germany -- Aachen. | Paleobotany -- Nova Scotia -- Cape Breton Island. | Paleobotany -- Pennsylvania. 
 Author:  Clark, William, 1770-1838Requires cookie*
 Title:  William Clark diary, August 25, 1808 - September 22, 1808     
 Dates:  August 25, 1808 - September 22, 1808 
 Abstract:  This document is a private journal of William Clark from his time as an Indian agent in the Midwest after the completion of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The journal chronicles his expedition to treat with the Osage Indians. The journal contains a wealth of information, including a vivid account of every days' events, a sketch of a map, and a chronicle of the Indian-white relations.

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 Call #:  Mss.917.3.L58c 
 Extent:  1 volume(s) 
 Topics:  Native America | Trade | Travel 
 Genre:  Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Indians of North America -- Treaties | Osage Indians -- Treaties 
 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.

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 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 
 Author:  Dunbar, William, 1749-1810Requires cookie*
 Title:  Expedition Journals     
 Dates:  1804-1806 
 Abstract:  The William Dunbar expedition journal contains a variety of information on his travel through what would become Arkansas. His writing is lucid and detailed. Dunbar noted meteorological observations and a variety of flora and fauna the expedition encountered, sometimes drawing comparisons to what other naturalists had observed, such as William Bartram in East Florida. He also described encounters with settlers and comments on the geopolitical history of the region. Finally, he chronicles the customs of Native Americans in the area, which are often based on not personal interactions. Notably, George Hunter, the second in command on the expedition, did tend to note interactions with Native peoples. His journal is also held at the APS.

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 Call #:  Mss.917.7.D91 
 Extent:  0.1 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  Exploration. | Native America | Trade | Travel 
 Genre:  Meteorological Data | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Caddo Indians | Chickasaw Indians | Chippewa Indians | Dakota Indians | Exploration | Hot springs -- Arkansas | Meteorology -- Louisiana | Natural history -- Louisiana | Ojibwa Indians | Osage Indians 
 Author:  Dupré, Augustin, 1748-1833Requires cookie*
 Title:  Drawings and matrices of medals relating to the American Revolution and the United States     
 Dates:  n.d. 
 Abstract:  Augstin Dupre was a prominent artist in eighteenth century France. This collection consists of a series of medals, sketches, and engravings that commemorate the American Revolution that the U.S. commissioned Dupre to create. The collection includes sketches and medals commemorating Daniel Morgan, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and "American liberty." Perhaps the most important sketch and medal is that of the American Eagle, which served as the basis for the official American eagle and was placed on the $10 gold coin in 1795. The dates of Dupre's work range from the 1780s to the 1790s. Aside from the collection's artistic value, the detailed sketches and splash medals provide material artifacts from the printing industry and culture of commemoration of the 18th century.

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 Call #:  Mss.737.44.D92 
 Extent:  0.25 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  American Revolution | International Affairs | Literature, Arts, and Culture 
 Genre:  Art | Sketchbooks 
 Author:  Gliddon, George R.(George RobiRequires cookie*
 Title:  Analecta hieroglyphica, 1839-1841     
 Dates:  1839-1841 
 Abstract:  This notebook contains a manuscript copy of George Gliddon's account of Egypt. The notebook contains numerous sketches.

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 Call #:  Mss.493.1.G491 
 Extent:  1 volume(s) 
 Topics:  Americans Abroad | International Travel 
 Genre:  Manuscript Essays | Sketchbooks 
 Subjects:  Egyptian language -- Writing, Hieroglyphic 
 Author:  Hare, Robert, 1781-1858Requires cookie*
 Title:  Robert Hare papers, 1764-1858     
 Dates:  1764-1858 
 Abstract:  The Robert Hare collection is a large, diverse, and rich collection. The collection contains essays, lectures, and letters to and from Robert Hare, the preeminent chemist in the United States during much of the nineteenth century. But as this collection shows, Hare was far more than a chemist. His essays and lectures touch on an array of topics, including discussions of democracy, currency, history, slavery, among others. The APS collection captures the sophistication of Hare's thought.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.H22 
 Extent:  3 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  African American | Antebellum Politics | Business and Skilled Trades | Early National Politics | Education | Literature, Arts, and Culture 
 Genre:  Business Records and Accounts | Educational Material | General Correspondence | Literature | Manuscript Essays | Scientific Data | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Abolition, emancipation, freedom | American Philosophical Society | Antislavery movements -- Pennsylvania | Banks and banking -- United States. | Blasting, Submarine | Blowpipe. | Capital punishment. | Chemical apparatus | Chemistry | Chemists -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia | Cyclones. | Electricity -- 19th century | Epidemics -- United States | Federalist Party -- Pennsylvania | Fire extinction | Guano | Mesmerism | Money | Paper money -- United States -- 19th century | Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Politics and government -- 19th century | Race, race relations, racism | Railroads | Religion | Rome (Italy) -- Antiquities | Science and technology | Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- United States -- 19th century | Slavery -- Pennsylvania. | Slaves, slavery, slave trade | Smithsonian Institution | Spiritualism -- Pennsylvania | Storms | Tornadoes | United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century 
 Author:  Le Conte, John Eatton, 1784-1860Requires cookie*
 Title:  Entomological drawings, n.d.     
 Dates:  n.d. 
 Abstract:  These eight volumes of John LeConte's work contain thousands of entomological drawings, some in color and others in black and white. A couple of drawings have been attributed to Titian Peale.

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 Call #:  Mss.595.7.L493 
 Extent:  8 volume(s) 
 Topics:  Science and technology 
 Genre:  Art | Scientific Data | Sketchbooks 
 Subjects:  Beetles. | Diptera. | Entomology. | Flies. | Hemiptera. | Hymenoptera. | Insects. | Lepidoptera. | Myriapoda. | Natural history. | Spiders. 
 Author:  LeConte, John L. (John Lawrence), 1825-1883Requires cookie*
 Title:  John L. (John Lawrence) LeConte papers, 1812-1897     
 Dates:  1812-1897 
 Abstract:  Summary(s) of Collection: The John Lawrence LeConte Collection contains a vast array of material. John Lawrence LeConte, son of John Eatton LeConte, was a scientist whose interests, like his father's, were in natural history, especially entomology. Like his father, J.L. LeConte undertook many scientific expeditions, primarily to the Midwest region. He is known as the "father of American beetle study" because of his entomological work. With over 1,900 documents, the collection touches on a wide range of scientific topics and includes correspondence from many of the most prominent scientists and citizens of the day. The vast majority of the scientific discussions – indeed the vast majority of the collection in general – deals with entomology. The LeConte's were both active in many scientific institutions, many based in Philadelphia, and the history of these institutions can also be gleaned from some of their correspondence.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.L493 
 Extent:  7.7 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  Education | Exploration. | Medicine | Science and technology 
 Genre:  Educational Material | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Miscellaneous | Notebooks | Scientific Data | Sketchbooks 
 Subjects:  Entomology -- Europe. | Entomology -- United States. | Hospitals -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865. | Insects. | Medicine -- United States -- History -- 19th century. | Natural history -- United States. 
 Author:  Lea, Isaac, 1792-1886Requires cookie*
 Title:  Isaac Lea journals, 1832, 1852-1853     
 Dates:  1832-1853 
 Abstract:  Isaac Lea was a Philadelphia based geologist and publisher. He was primarily a publisher, founding the firm Lea and Febiger, which had its origins in Matthew Carey's publishing house. Isaac married Carey's daughter Frances Anne in 1821. Always interested in science, in 1851, after retiring from the day-to-day operations of his printing firm, he dedicated his time to geology and other scientific interests. This collection contains the journals of Isaac Lea's trips to Europe in 1832 and 1852-53. Lea traveled to Europe to become acquainted with European ideas and methods, although both trips – especially the earlier one – included much sightseeing. Very much a gentleman scientist, Lea gained wide-respect for his knowledge and work, earning an honorary doctorate from Harvard. These travel journals provide insight into some of the people and practices he encountered in Europe that may have shaped his ideas about science.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.L462 
 Extent:  16 volume(s) 
 Topics:  American Revolution | Americans Abroad | Military History | Printing and Publishing | Science and technology 
 Genre:  Art | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Naturalists. 
 Author:  McKenney, Thomas Loraine, 1785-1859Requires cookie*
 Title:  Sketches of a Tour to the Lakes     
 Dates:  1826 
 Abstract:  This is a manuscript copy of Thomas McKenney's Sketches of a Tour of the Lakes, which was a chronicle of his tour of the Great Lakes region when he served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs. His journal was eventually published in Baltimore in 1827. The original journal not only records his observations and interactions, but, as the federal official in charge of Indian policy, reflects his thinking on federal Indian policy. His observations also reflect, to some extent, his interpretation of Indian history. A color image of O Shau Gus Coday Way Gua (Mrs. Johnson) in included in the volume. This image graces the cover of the book in black and white. There are other watercolor sketches as well.

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 Call #:  Mss.917.7.M19 
 Extent:  3 volume(s) 
 Topics:  Government Affairs | Native America 
 Genre:  Art | Official Government Documents and Records | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Indians of North America -- Great Lakes (North America) | Indians of North America -- Treaties | Ojibwa Indians | Ojibwa language -- Dictionaries -- English 
 Author:  Morris, Anthony,1766-1860.Requires cookie*
 Title:  Anthony Morris papers, ca. 1690-1830     
 Dates:  Circa 1690-1830 
 Abstract:  The Anthony Morris Collection is a miscellaneous collection of materials relating to the life of this Philadelphia businessman. The type of material includes some correspondence, many receipts, various business records, and a few deeds, one of which dates to 1681. Most of the documents come from early to mid nineteenth century. There is a particularly large collection of Anthony Morris's correspondence, dating mostly to the early nineteenth century. There are also architectural drawings of a Fellenberg Institution, a school that would use the educational techniques created by a Swiss educator. The Institution was proposed to be built on Morris' property. Morris, born in 1766 and dying in 1860, was from a prominent Philadelphia family and served as a merchant and legislator.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.M836 
 Extent:  1 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  Business and Skilled Trades | Education | Trade 
 Genre:  Business Records and Accounts | Educational Material | General Correspondence | Sketchbooks 
 Subjects:  Agricultural colleges -- Pennsylvania. 
 Author:  Neagle, John, 1796-1865Requires cookie*
 Title:  John Neagle Papers     
 Dates:  1817-1865 
 Abstract:  The John Neagle Papers provides a window into the world and the work of this nineteenth century portrait painter. The collection contains many insights on how Neagle approached his craft. It begins with an interesting notebook he kept on the history of painting. This volume is dated 1817. It traces the history of art from Etruria to the present. He discusses renaissance artists in some depth, such as Michelangelo and Raphael. He also discusses modern artistic training, mentioning the types of study done in Rome and France. Other notebooks contain essays Neagle wrote on art and artists, such as "hints for a painter." His notebook "Lessons on Landscape Painting" include a few watercolors that appear to be copies of landscape work done by Thomas Sully.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.N125.p 
 Extent:  0.5 Linear Feet 
 Topics:  Literature, Arts, and Culture 
 Genre:  Art | Autobiography | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Manuscript Essays | Notebooks | Sketchbooks 
 Subjects:  Artists -- Pennsylvania | Artists' materials | Landscape painting | Painting -- Study and teaching | Whist 
 Author:  Nevins, Pim, 1756-1833Requires cookie*
 Title:  Pim Nevins Journal     
 Dates:  1802-1803 
 Abstract:  This bound volume contains a travel journal of Pim Nevins, an English Quaker who traveled throughout the Mid-Atlantic from 1802-1803. The journal begins in New York City and follows Nevins throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including stops in Trenton, Easton, Bethlehem, Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Baltimore. Nevins traveled with Joshua Gilpin, whose journal has been published.

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 Call #:  Mss.917.3.N41 
 Extent:  1 volume(s) 
 Topics:  Natural history | Religion | Travel 
 Genre:  Art | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Society of Friends -- Missions 
 Author:  Pursh, Frederick, 1774-1820Requires cookie*
 Title:  Journal of a botanical excursion in the Northeastern parts of Pennsylvania and in the state of New York, 1807     
 Dates:  1807 
 Abstract:  This volume contains the travel journal of Frederick Pursh, a patron of Benjamin Smith Barton, during his journey from Philadelphia throughout northeastern Pennsylvania and New York. Although the excursion was for botanical research, Pursh's diary entries record many other details, including comments on the state of roads, the people he met, the towns he visited, and the natural environment. There are two sketches in the volume.

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 Call #:  Mss.580.P97 
 Extent:  1 volume(s) 
 Topics:  Colony and State Specific History | Natural history | Pennsylvania History | Travel 
 Genre:  Scientific Data | Sketchbooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Botany -- New York (State) | Botany -- Pennsylvania. 
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