| | Author: | Bache, Benjamin Franklin, 1769-1798 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Benjamin Franklin Bache diary, 1782-1785
| | | | Dates: | 1782-1785 | | | | Abstract: | This is a translation of Benjamin Franklin Bache's diary that he kept while in Europe during the American Revolution. Bache traveled there as a young child when his grandfather, Benjamin Franklin, served as the American envoy to France. Bache spent nine years in Europe and during that time, received schooling in Passy and Switzerland. The journal begins with an account of his time in Switzerland and ends with his time with his grandfather in Passy. There are numerous stories and anecdotes in this journal. Some bear only on Bache's experience as a child and teenager in Europe. In Switzerland, among other things, Bache witnessed an execution by firing squad, saw a seven-foot tall giant, and was attacked by a watchdog at a Chateux. While in Passy, Bache received instructions on printing, witnessed numerous ballooning experiments, visited famous sites in Paris, and recorded some comings and goings of prominent guests. Some of these entries from Passy provide insight into Franklin's time in Paris, including a detailed account of the well-known scientific examination Franklin conducted on animal magnetism (hypnosis). Originally in French, this English translation of his journal along with the Benjamin Franklin Bache Collection (Mss.B.B122) provides a clear account of Bache's time in Europe during the Revolution.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.B122d | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | American Revolution | Americans Abroad | Diplomatic History | Education | International Travel | Printing and Publishing | Travel | | | | Genre: | Diaries | Travel Narratives and Journals | |
| | 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.
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| | | | 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: | Bache, Catherine Wistar, 1770-1820 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Catharine Wistar Bache Papers
| | | | Dates: | 1788-1822 | | | | Abstract: | This relatively small collection contains rich correspondence often directed to Catherine Wistar Bache, the daughter of prominent doctor Caspar Wistar and wife of Richard Bache's son. The collection is one of the many to the Bache-Franklin collections at the APS. This specific collection contains numerous letters from other women, often wives and mothers, to Catherine. There are a few letters to Caspar Wistar and William Bache (Catherine's husband), which often discuss current events, specifically Anthony Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers in 1794 and the Whiskey Rebellion. The letters to Catherine discuss current affairs, such as the Yellow Fever epidemic and the War of 1812. More often, however, the letters relate family and personal matters. The letters primarily discuss husbands, family activities, children, and other such topics. Some of the early letters also touch upon gender relations and courtship. For instance, a male correspondent wrote Catherine that he has not received any letters from his "female correspondents" and was thus hoping "to renew the friendly intercourse," and Mary Eddy discussed flirtations. The correspondence in this collection spans more than thirty years, and therefore also provides insight on the changing concerns of Catherine as a young single woman, wife, and mother. William Bache was sent to Louisiana in 1803 in an official post overseeing a hospital. Discussion of moving to Louisiana is included in the collection, during which references to "Captain Lewis" are made, likely Meriwether Lewis. Because of her position in society, these letters often provide portraits and anecdotes of prominent figures.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.B124 | | | | Extent: | 0.75 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Early National Politics | Marriage and Family Life | Native America | Philadelphia History | Social Life and Custom | War of 1812 | Women's History | | | | Genre: | Family Correspondence | | | | Subjects: | United States -- History -- War of 1812 | United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1809 | Yellow fever -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia | |
| | Author: | Baldwin, Loammi, 1780-1838 | Requires 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, 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.
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| | | | 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.
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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: | Bellenger, Joseph-Marie, 1788-1856 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Instruction sur la langue Mickmaque
| | | | Dates: | Circa 1814 | | | | Abstract: | This collection contains notes on the language of the Mickmaque. Originally taken by a French missionary in the eighteenth century, this 98 page volume is a compilation of notes on the language put together in the nineteenth century.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.497.2.In75 | | | | Extent: | 0.1 Linear Feet | | | | Subjects: | Linguistics | Micmac language -- Grammar | |
| | 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: | Billings, William, 1746-1800 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Journals of the Ship Apollo, 1789-1791
| | | | Dates: | 1789-1791 | | | | Abstract: | These journals (three volumes) chronicle the voyages of Apollo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1789-1791. William Billings was the captain of this Philadelphia-based ship. The destinations were Oporto and Corunna, and trade was the purpose for the voyages. Nonetheless, the ship's captain, William Billings, used the opportunity to study the Gulf Stream. He made numerous observations about the ocean temperature and weather with the apparent intention of submitting his findings to the American Philosophical Society. He paid particular attention to marking and studying the Gulf Stream. The journals were partially published in with a note in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society shortly after they were received in 1793. The originals are much longer than those published and include additional observations not published and graphs that could not be replicated.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.656.B49 | | | | Extent: | 2 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | International Travel | Trade | | | | Genre: | Meteorological Data | Scientific Data | | | | Subjects: | Meteorology -- Observations. | Voyages and travels. | |
| | 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.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.B63 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | International Trade. | Philadelphia History | Religion | Trade | | | | Genre: | General Correspondence | |
| | Author: | Bowen, Thomas Bartholomew | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Thomas Bartholomew Bowen Orderly Book
| | | | Dates: | October 12, 1780 - November 11, 1780 | | | | Abstract: | This orderly book tracks the orders, actions, and status of the Thomas Bowen's Company of the Pennsylvania Ninth Regiment, which was part of the Continental Army, from October 12 to November 11, 1780. The book contains a daily record of orders and movements the company took while in New Jersey. There are many references to courts martial trials. The orderly book also records actions taken by Commander-in-Chief, meaning George Washington. Finally, in the front and rear of the book are records on troop strength and supply levels.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.973.3.B67 | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | American Revolution | Military History | | | | Genre: | Military Records | | | | Subjects: | Courts-martial and courts of inquiry | |
| | Author: | Boykin, John | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Journal of the travels of Colonel John Boykin and Francis P. Lee from Morristown, New Jersey to Camden, South Carolina, August 15, 1833 - September, 1833
| | | | Dates: | 1833 | | | | Abstract: | This journal is a short but interesting account of travel in antebellum America. The author of the journal is Francis P. Lee. Lee appears to be a young adult or teenager at the time. The journal begins on August 15, 1833 in Morristown and ends in Camden, S.C. on September 5. The journal details this trip. The journal writer, Francis P. Lee, is traveling with his father and others. The group, which appears to have been composed of members of the same family, traveled on a mix of overland coaches and steamboats. There are many observations on the social and cultural life of areas they passed through as well as details on what travel was like in the 1830s. The daily entries are very detailed and recount both the personal dynamics between the travelers and observations about the towns and people they meet along the way.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.917.3.B69 | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Travel | | | | Genre: | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Morristown (N.J.) - Description and travel | Travel. | Voyages and travels. | |
| | Author: | Braddock, Edward, 1695-1755 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Manuscripts on Indian affairs, 1755-1792, [n.d.]
| | | | Dates: | 1755-1792 | | | | Abstract: | These volumes contain an assortment of documents relating to colonial Pennsylvania's relations with Indian groups. Most notably, the collection contains journals and treaty minutes from the Seven Years' War, including a journal by Conrad Weiser, a manuscript version of Charles Thomson's "Enquiry into the Alienation," and official government records from the war. There are other documents that do not bear directly on Indian affairs. Most notably, there is a manuscript essay by Lewis Evans on German immigration that details the often brutal experience of immigrants' journey to Pennsylvania and proposes a series of reforms. There is also a printed essay in the back of the volume that opposes capital punishment and was printed in Philadelphia in 1792.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.970.4.M415 | | | | Extent: | 2 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Diplomatic History | Law | Native America | Pennsylvania History | Seven Years' War | Social Life and Custom | Travel | | | | Genre: | Diplomatic Material | Manuscript Essays | Official Government Documents and Records | Printed Material | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Braddock's Campaign, 1755. | Delaware Indians | Indians of North America -- Pennsylvania | Indians of North America -- Treaties | Pennsylvania -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 | Shawnee Indians | |
| | Author: | Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Recollections of my acquaintance with deceased members of the American Philosophical Society, 1862
| | | | Dates: | 1862 | | | | Abstract: | The Samuel Breck Collection consists of two separately-cataloged, bound volumes. The first, "Historical Sketch of the Continental Bills of Credit, from 1775 to 1781, with Specimens thereof" (332.5 B74h), is a long manuscript essay on Continental Bills of credit from 1775 – 1781, which reflects Breck's interest in historical matters. The second volume is a handwritten account of Breck at 92 years old reminiscing on prominent APS members he had met.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.920.B74 | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | American Revolution | Business and Skilled Trades | Philadelphia History | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | Manuscript Essays | |
| | Author: | Brillon de Jouy, Anne Louise Boyvin d'Hardancourt, 1744-1824 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Musical compositions, late 18th century
| | | | Dates: | Circa 1775-1800 | | | | Abstract: | This collection contains a number of musical compositions by Madame Anne Louise Boyvin d'Hardancourt Brillon de Juoy, a prominent Parisian salon hostess and musician. Her most famous composition, Le Marche des Insurgents, which was inspired by the American victory at Saratoga, is included in this collection. Many of these compositions are handwritten and appear to be from the eighteenth century, although it is unclear when they were written and who wrote them.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.781.508.B762 | | | | Extent: | 26 item(s) | | | | Topics: | Beyond Early America | Literature, Arts, and Culture | Women's History | | | | Genre: | Foreign Language | Literature | Miscellaneous | | | | Subjects: | Marches. | Music - France - 18th century | Sonatas. | Songs, French. | |
| | Author: | Bruno, M. de | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Essai metaphysique, physique et phisiologistique relativement à la découverte de M. Mesmer, 1786
| | | | Dates: | 1786 | | | | Abstract: | This is a handwritten essay on Franz Mesmer and his claims to have healing and other metaphysical powers. Mesmer is today thought of as an early user of hypnosis. Throughout the 1770s and 1780s, he captivated French society. Marie Antoinette was particularly interested in his abilities. Finally, King Louis convened a scientific body in 1784 to examine the claims of Mesmer and his disciples. Benjamin Franklin, still in France as an American envoy, headed the committee, which debunked Mesmerism. The report can be found in the Papers of Benjamin Franklin and in the Diary of Benjamin Franklin Bache, both of which are at the APS.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.134.B83 | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Beyond Early America | Medicine | Natural history | Science and technology | | | | Genre: | Manuscript Essays | | | | Subjects: | Animal magnetism. | Hypnotism. | Mesmerism. | |
| | Author: | Bukaty, Franciszek, 1747-1797 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Treatise on tobacco cultivation, circa 1790
| | | | Dates: | 1790 | | | | Abstract: | This is a microfilm of an early American collection that may be of interest to researchers at the APS and may complement an original manuscript collection at the APS.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.Film.1169.a | | | | Extent: | 1 microfilm_reel(s) | | | | Genre: | Microfilm Collection | |
| | 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.
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| | | | 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: | Byrd, William, 1674-1744 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | The history of the dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina, 1728
| | | | Dates: | 1728 | | | | Abstract: | The collection of William Byrd's writings consists of two leather bound, handwritten copies of Byrd's History of the Dividing Line Run in the Year 1728 (Mss.975.5.B99h) and A Secret History of the Dividing Line (Mss.975.5.B99s). The former was likely written for public audiences and contains the details of drawing the lines, interactions with Indians, observations of the flora and fauna of the area, the health and culture of settlers, and the official actions of the commissioners. Byrd regularly wrote Peter Collinson, an English scientist, about his journal and his hope that it would be of interest and benefit to a wide audience. The Secret History, on the other hand, contains a wealth of the more personal, private, and often humorous anecdotes of the trip. Neither manuscript was published in Byrd's lifetime, although both were eventually published.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.975.5.B99h | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Colony and State Specific History | Exploration. | Native America | Natural history | Surveying and Maps | | | | Genre: | Manuscript Essays | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Boundaries, State. | |
| | Author: | Byrd, William, 1674-1744 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | The secret history of the line between Virginia and North Carolina, [1728]
| | | | Dates: | Circa 1728 | | | | Abstract: | The collection of William Byrd's writings consists of two leather bound, handwritten copies of Byrd's History of the Dividing Line Run in the Year 1728 (Mss.975.5.B99h) and A Secret History of the Dividing Line (Mss.975.5.B99s). The former was likely written for public audiences and contains the details of drawing the lines, interactions with Indians, observations of the flora and fauna of the area, the health and culture of settlers, and the official actions of the commissioners. Byrd regularly wrote Peter Collinson, an English scientist, about his journal and his hope that it would be of interest and benefit to a wide audience. The Secret History, on the other hand, contains a wealth of the more personal, private, and often humorous anecdotes of the trip. Neither manuscript was published in Byrd's lifetime, although both were eventually published.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.975.5.B99s | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Colony and State Specific History | Exploration. | Land and Speculation | Natural history | Surveying and Maps | | | | Genre: | Manuscript Essays | Maps and Surveys | Official Government Documents and Records | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Boundaries, State. | |
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