| | 2 | 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. | |
| 3 | Author: | Smith Family | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Smith-Houston-Morris-Ogden Family papers, 1659-1985
| | | | Dates: | 1659-1985 | | | | Abstract: | The Smith-Houston-Morris-Ogden Collection is the APS's largest collection. It has a vast array of materials from early America. The APS has on file a 303-page survey of the collection that scholars may want to consult before beginning their research. In general, the collection contains information on business, politics, family and social life, Philadelphia history, land expansion, and estates. A good part Morris portion of the collection comes from Governeur Morris and his wife. The bulk of this material begins with his time as an emissary to France during the early republic and continues to his death. There is also a fairly extensive collection of his wife's correspondence, most of which follows Governeur's death. Her letters touch on issues relating to his estate and to other affairs. It includes discussions of slavery in Virginia and contains correspondence from memebers of the extended Jefferson family. The Ogden's were surveyors and land speculators in the late colonial and early national period. This portion of the collection contains discussion of land, business, politics, and family matters. A significant amount of these papers focus on the operations of a grist mill in New York. There are papers from numerous other prominent families, such as the Clemsons, Morgans, and Lewises, who were related through marriage.
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| | | | Call #: | Mss.Ms.Coll.76 | | | | Extent: | 350 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Business and Skilled Trades | Colony and State Specific History | Diplomatic History | Early National Politics | International Affairs | Land and Speculation | Pennsylvania History | Philadelphia History | Surveying and Maps | Trade | | | | Genre: | Business Records and Accounts | Diplomatic Material | Family Correspondence | Miscellaneous | Political Correspondence | | | | Subjects: | Land speculation | |
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