Collections
A B C D E F G H I J K L MN O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Allegheny College
Lawrence Lee Pelletier Library
520 N. Main Street
Meadville, PA 16335
Phone: (814) 332-3768
http://library.allegheny.edu/Special/OtherCollections.htm
Ida M. Tarbell Collection
This collection contains the professional papers and books of Ida M. Tarbell, a noted journalist, author and alumna of Allegheny College. This collection also contains her notes, letters pertaining to her years of Lincoln research and writings.
American Philosophical Society
104 South Fifth Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: (215) 440-3400
http://www.amphilsoc.org/
The American Philosophical Society Library is a major national center for
research in the history of the sciences, medicine, and technology. With its
roots extending back to the founding of the Society in 1743, it houses over
300,000 volumes and bound periodicals, eight million manuscripts, 100,000
images, and thousands of hours of audio tape. Among the many extraordinary
books in the collections of printed materials are first editions of Sir Isaac
Newton's Principia, Charles Darwin's Origin of Species, a presentation copy
of Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia, the elephant folio of
Audubon's Birds of North America (for which the A.P.S. was an original
subscriber), as well as a majority of Benjamin Franklin imprints and a
significant portion of Franklin's personal library.
Automobile Reference Collection
Philadelphia Free Library
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 686-5404
The Automobile Reference Collection, founded in 1948 as the Thomas McKean
Collection, is one of the largest libraries of automotive literature in the
United States. Books, sales literature, shop manuals, owner's manuals,
photographs and magazines are all here. Trucks, carriages and tractors are
also represented.
Balch Institute Library Collections
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 732-6200
Founded in 1971 with trusts established by the Balch family of Philadelphia,
the collection keeps with its mission to promote greater inter-group
understanding. The library, museum, and education departments have been
successfully collecting, preserving and interpreting materials reflecting
America's ethnic diversity for over two decades.
Bloomsburg University
Harvey A. Andruss Library
400 E. Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Phone: (570) 389-4210
http://library.bloomu.edu/Archives/SC/SCindex.html
Radical Labor Publications
These publications include pamphlets, brochures, booklets, broadsides, and newsletters written by people who were ardent advocates of labor, communism, and socialism from both the United States and other countries world-wide. The majority of them are original works from the 1920s through the 1960s, although some are reprints from the nineteenth century, including the writings of Karl Marx.
Covered Bridge Collection
This collection contains books concerning covered bridges.
The Joseph B. Tustin Papers
The collection includes the original diaries of Hessian Revolutionary War officer Captain Johann von Ewald. The diaries date from 1776-1784, and cover his service with the British Army during the war. They also include many colored pen-and-ink maps drawn by von Ewald, most created while he was in the field.
Elinor Keefer Collection
Included are Caldecott and Newbery award winning books.
Bryn Mawr College
Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
101 North Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: (610) 526-5335
http://www.brynmawr.edu/library/speccoll/index2.shtml#highlights
Art of the Book
Bryn Mawr holds one of the country's largest collections of 15th century printed books, and is particularly strong in printed classical and humanist texts from the 15th and 16th centuries. Illustrated books, fine press books, and bookbinding constitute important parts of the collection. Our illustrated books include both printed and manuscript 15th century books of hours, emblem books from the 16th to 18th centuries, and botanical and bird books from the 16th to 19th centuries.
History, Travel, & Exploration
The library contains extensive holdings on European engagement with Latin America, Asia, and Africa, from the printed accounts of some of the earliest explorations in the late 15th century to administrative and promotional publications of European colonies in the 20th century. Particular strengths include the British in India and European colonization of Africa. Large collections of books on the cities of London and Paris from the sixteenth century to the present are contained in the collection, including surveys, guidebooks, and books on architecture and life in the cities, as well as 18th and 19th century guidebooks for other European cities. The history collection includes personal and political documents: the diary of Joseph Bean, written during the Great Awakening of 1740-42, letters of John Quincy Adams to the American charge d'affaires in Russia during the negotiation of the Peace of Ghent, papers of polar explorer Henry Grier Bryant, letters of Clara Edwards written from Persia in the early 1900s, diaries of American neurologist Andrew Henry Woods, including his diaries kept while in China in the early 20th century, and papers of Spanish political writer Joaquin Maurin, including accounts of his life in Franco's prisons.
Literature Collection
This collection has first and early editions of the works of major writers in English, from the First Folio of Shakespeare and the first printing of Milton's Paradise Lost, to original printings of the major British and American writers of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Also included are early editions of Rousseau, Voltaire, and other French writers, and first editions of 20th century Latin American writers. Papers, letters and manuscripts of 19th and 20th century writers are included such as: Katherine Sergeant White, long-time editor of the New Yorker, British poet Ralph Hodgson; papers and drawings of British illustrator Claud Lovat Fraser, Christina Rossetti, Laurence Housman, A.E. Housman, Marianne Moore, John Keats and other British and American writers.
Women's Studies Collection
The Women's Studies Collection is particularly rich in works on the legal and social status of women from the 15th century to the early 20th century and the works of European and American women writers. We also have the papers of M. Carey Thomas, both as president of Bryn Mawr and as a leader in the women's rights movement, suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt, suffrage activist Susan Fitzgerald; 19th-century feminist and writer Caroline Healey Dall, diaries and letters of Red Cross workers Anna V.S. Mitchell and Dorothy North Haskins in Russia and Europe during and after World War I, letters of Margaret Bailey Speer, Dean of the Women's College of Yenching University in Peking, and the records of the Philadelphia Club of Advertising Women.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University Libraries
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
Phone: (412) 268-2446
Fax: (412) 268-2793
http://www.library.cmu.edu/Research/SpecialCollections/index.html
Anne Lyon Haight Collection
In 1982, Anne Lyon Haight's collection of more than 300 editions of "A Visit from St. Nicholas," (also known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas") was donated to Carnegie Mellon in her memory. The Haight collection, created in the 1930's, contains all of the known publications of the poem in its first fifty years of existence, lacking only an original copy of its very first publication (in the Troy Sentinel), which is represented by a photocopy. The collection was exhibited at the Museum of the City of New York in 1962.
Arnold Bank Collection of Calligraphy and Letter Arts
Arnold Bank, Carnegie Mellon University professor in the Design Department from 1960-1984, was a calligrapher of international stature. His career spanned the fields of education, publishing, advertising, printing, and architectural lettering. Bank, as a Senior Fulbright Fellow, taught at the Royal College of Art in London from 1954-1957, and was art director in the Time magazine promotion department from 1941-1947. In 1985, the University Libraries acquired Arnold Bank's professional papers. The collection is rich in drawings of his major works and commissions, historical samples of calligraphy, teaching tools and lectures, correspondence, and samples of work from his students and colleagues.
Posner Memorial Collection of the History of Science
This collection houses books important to the history of science focusing on the physical sciences. The collection was formed between 1950 and 1975 by Henry Posner, Sr. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Sara Henderson Hay Collection
The collection contains the works of Hay, an award winning modern poet. Material from all of her books of poetry, her notebooks, scrapbooks, books about other poets, and papers are in the collection. Her diary, business letters, articles written by and about her, manuscripts and other memorabilia about Hay are included as well.
Swiss Poster Collection
The collection contains prize-winning posters of important graphic designers since 1970.
Chatham College
Jennie King Mellon Library
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Phone: (412) 365-1100
http://www.chatham.edu/academics/library.cfm
The Snowdon Mesoamerican Collection
The collection was donated by the Snowdon family and contains a wide range of materials on Mesoamerica. It contains an excellent selection of materials on South and Central America, and in particular the history, archaeology, and anthropology of those areas.
The Women's Education Historical Collection
This is a selection of materials relating to women's education and the history surrounding it. Some materials about Chatham (which offers baccalaureate degrees only to women) are included, as are biographies of women who played important roles in education and educational reform.
Chestnut Hill College
Logue Library
Chestnut Hill College
9601 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Phone: (215) 248-7050
http://www.chc.edu/library/IColCurr.htm
Irish Collection
This is an extensive collection of books, cassettes and videos, related to Ireland. Concentrating on Irish literature, language, history and culture, most of the collection does circulate.
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Leslie Pinckney Hill Library
1837 University Circle
P.O. Box 200
Cheyney, PA 19319
Phone: (610) 399-2557
Fax: (610) 399-2491
http://www.cheyney.edu/pages/index.asp?p=132
Booker T. Washington Letters
This collection contains more than 50 letters sent by Professor Washington to the early principals of Cheyney University. Washington was a major influence in shaping the University's early educational policies.
William H. Dorsey Collection
Nearly 400 homemade scrapbooks compiled by William Henry Dorsey, a black bibliophile. Subjects include African Americans, Africa/Africans, Native Americans, politics, religion, art, and more. Most of the scrapbooks have been preserved on microfilm.
Civil war room- The Captain Thomas Espy Grand Army of the Republic Post #153
Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall
300 Beechwood Avenue
Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15106
Telephone: (412) 276-3456
FAX: (412) 276-9472
http://www.carnegiecarnegie.com/
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
19 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 563-3737
http://www.collphyphil.org/histpg1.shtml
The Historical Library is one of America's premier research collections in the history of medicine. The Division contains over 250,000 books and journals published before 1991; 415 of these volumes are incunabula, and more than 12,000 are pre-19th century imprints. The 18th and 19th century journal holdings are unusually broad in scope and are among the Library's most heavily-used materials. The Library's rich collection of more than 7,000 trade catalogs and medical ephemera items are listed on OCLC and RLIN.
The Phoebe Conrad Gallery
A special section of the new building is devoted to The Phoebe Conrad Gallery, which includes wax works and paintings of local resident Phoebe Conrad. The Wax Works collection has more than 30 shadow boxes made with wax figurines that illustrate scenes from popular fairy tales and children's books, including “Winnie the Pooh” and “A Christmas Carol.”
At Western Pocono Community library
2000 Pilgrim Way
PO Box 318
Brodheadsville, PA 18322
Phone (570) 992-7934
Fax (570) 992-7915
Dickinson College
Waidner-Spahr Library
P.O. Box 1773
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: (717) 245-1399
Fax: (717) 245-1439
http://lis.dickinson.edu
The Norris Collection and The Joseph Priestley Collection
A collection of rare books are representative of numerous scholarly disciplines. From the personal library of Isaac Norris, these 1900 volumes comprised the majority of the original library of Dickinson College and they remain the largest portion of Norris' library still intact. Another collection is that of the famed scientist and theologian, Joseph Priestley. Impressive collections of personal and organizational papers, focused largely on personalities and organizations associated with the college can be found in this collection as well. Papers from nationally and internationally prominent individuals like James Buchanan and Roger Brooke Taney can be found in this collection.
Franklin & Marshall College
Shadek-Fackenthal Library
P.O. Box 3003
Lancaster, PA 17604
Phone: (717) 291-4223
http://library.fandm.edu/
German-American Imprint Collection
This large collection consists of multiple types of materials such as rare monographs (books), newspapers, broadsides, almanacs and fraktur published in North America in the German language in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This collection is especially rich in materials printed prior to 1830 from the South-Eastern and Central Pennsylvania regions.
Watts de Peyster, Napoleonana Collection
One of the largest and most distinct rare book collections held by Franklin and Marshall is the 1,890 volume Napoleonana Collection assembled by General John Watts de Peyster (1821-1907). De Peyster developed this collection of monographs about Napoleon Bonaparte and the Napoleonic era from his interest in European military history. The collection consists primarily of 19th-century imprints concerning Napoleon and his nephew Napoleon III, the Napoleonic Wars and the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War.
World War I & II Poster Collection
This collection consists of posters documenting American involvement of the two World Wars of the 20th century. The World War I poster collection includes several posters by major illustrators of the time such as Joseph Pennell, Howard Chandler Christy and Jessie Willcox Smith, many of which made these artists famous.
Gettysburg College
Musselman Library
300 N. Washington Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-7015
Fax: (717) 337-6666
http://www.gettysburg.edu/library/index.dot
Asian Art Collection
The collection consists of porcelains and other ceramics, highlighting works in jade, ivory, wood, and metal, textiles, works on paper, and books.
The Rare Books Collection
This collection consists of the first library of the college including books from the literary societies, private libraries of past faculty of the college, a number of first edition and important literary works (such as Uncle Tom's Cabin, A Christmas Carol, and Through the Looking Glass), books printed prior to 1800, new books too costly to place on the shelves, books on Asian art, and books that are the only known copies in this country.
Stephen H. Warner Collection
This collection features written and visual documents bequeathed to Gettysburg College by Stephen H. Warner, former student and Vietnam veteran, upon his death in Vietnam in 1971. In addition to hundreds of photographs and negatives, the collection contains letters, manuscript notebooks and notepads, drafts of articles, and copies of feature stories printed in army publications written by Warner during his time in Southeast Asia. Other supporting materials in the collection include army publications on a variety of topics, including travel guides and cultural studies.
Stuckenberg Map Collection
The collection, a gift of John Henry Wilbrandt Stuckenberg and Mary Gingrich Stuckenberg, consists of over 500 separate maps and atlases from the 16th and 19th century.
Women's General League Collection
This collection reflects and records almost a century of Gettysburg College history, and the first women's-only organization officially affiliated with and recognized by the college. It is a prime example of the kinds of activities and movements that were occurring during the Progressive Era in Pennsylvania and the United States. The collection consists of board minutes, minutes from numerous leagues, loose correspondence, convention programs, banquet programs, registrar's reports, treasurer's reports, treasurer's ledger books, handbooks, scrapbooks, photographs, and more.
Haverford College
Magill Library
370 Lancaster Avenue
Haverford, PA 19041
Phone: (610) 896-1161 or (610) 896-1274
http://www.haverford.edu/library/special/
Charles Roberts Autograph Letters Collection
Charles Roberts, a graduate of Haverford College in 1864, and a 40-year member of the Board of Managers, gathered a magnificent collection of autograph letters during his lifetime, beginning with a letter addressed to him personally by Abraham Lincoln. The collection has been enlarged over the years, and now contains more than 20,000 letters varying in date from ca. 1400 to the present, many accompanied by prints and photographs. It includes a set of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, letters from presidents of the United States, members of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, letters of officers of the American Revolution, as well as a large and valuable collection of letters from distinguished authors, composers, royalty, scientists, educators and businessmen.
Quaker Collection
Friends have published a great deal in the past three centuries, and Haverford has attempted to collect as much of this material as possible. There are more than 32,000 printed titles on the shelves, not including thousands of pamphlets, clippings and other ephemeral material. In addition, there are over 250,000 Quaker items in the manuscript collection. One unique feature is a collection of Quaker fiction. Some 800 books of fiction about Quakers or written by Friends are included in this group, with new ones being added each year. A number of plays, usually portraying Quakers in an unfavorable light, going back to the 18th century, are included, as well as a number of "Dime Novels" with a man named "Old Broadbrim" as the central character.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Stapleton Library
431 S. Eleventh Street
Indiana, PA 15705
Phone: (724) 357-3039
Fax: (724) 357-4891
http://www.lib.iup.edu/depts/speccol/index.shtm
Special Collections
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Collection's general purpose is to protect old and often out-of-print materials concerning Pennsylvania, its history, its development and population. This collection includes a number of county and local histories, regimental histories of Pennsylvania Civil War units, county atlases, and a variety of maps, both historical and contemporary, for the tri-state (Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia) area. A set of the published colonial records of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Archives rounds out the collection.
Kutztown University
Rohrbach Library
P.O. Box 730
Kutztown, PA 19530
Phone: (610) 683-4480
http://www.kutztown.edu/library/
Map Collection
The library map collection is the largest in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. It provides world-wide map coverage with an emphasis on Pennsylvania and the United States and includes general maps, U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps, aerial photographs and satellite imagery, historic map reproductions, plastic raised relief models, Braille maps and atlases, and CD-ROMs.
La Salle University
Connelly Library
1900 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141
Phone: (215) 951-1285
http://www.lasalle.edu/library/Collections/Dylan/dylanhome.htm
The Bob Dylan Collection
Deep within the walls of La Salle University's Connelly Library, a voice waits to be studied. Bob Dylan, the rock-and-roll poet/legend/icon, is the subject of a one-of-a-kind archive in the form of books, scholarly papers, doctoral dissertations, compact discs, records, tapes, videos, and even t-shirts and ticket stubs.
Eastern Lancaster county- New Holland Library
The library seems to have something called the Band Museum which may be a collection of interest, unfortunately they don’t have any more information listed on their website
11 Chestnut Dr
New Holland, PA 17557
http://www.elancolibrary.org/serve.html
Lehigh University
Linderman Library
30 Library Drive
Bethlehem PA 18015
Phone: (610) 758-5158
http://www.lehigh.edu/~inspc/spec.coll.html#histtech
The History of Technology Collection
The holdings on the history of technology concentrate on large scale construction, and mining and metallurgy. Among the latter is Agricola's De Re Metallica (Basel, 1556). In the former category are included a number of classic and seminal works on bridge building and design, and construction with iron and steel.
The Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
Phone: (215) 546-3181
http://www.librarycompany.org
The Library Company of Philadelphia is a non-profit independent research
library with collections documenting every aspect of the history and background
of American culture from the colonial period to the end of the nineteenth
century. A collection of national importance, its holdings number approximately
half a million printed volumes in a wide variety of formats; 75,000 graphics;
160,000 manuscripts; and a small, distinguished collection of early American
art and artifacts.
Ligonier Valley Library
120 West Main Street, Ligonier, PA 15658
724-238-6451 - lvlibrary@wpa.net
http://www.ligonierlibrary.org/PA_Room.htm
The Pennsylvania Room at the Ligonier Valley Library contains resources on Pennsylvania and local history, as well as
genealogy. The Pennsylvania Room is located in the basement of the library.
Lincoln University
230 Langston Hughes Memorial Library
P.O. Box 179
Lincoln University, PA 19352
Phone: (610) 932-8300
http://www.lincoln.edu/library/index.html
The Market Place Gallery Project
In 1992, Langston Hughes' friends Adele Glasgow and Ramona Lowe, owners of the former Market Place Gallery in Harlem, donated to Lincoln University their collection of Hughes-related artifacts. Some of these include posters from many Langston Hughes stage productions, as well as artwork by Hughes' friends and collaborators Aaron Douglas, Zell Ingram and others.
Henry F. Marx Local History Room
Easton Area Public Library
515 Church Street
Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
610-258-2917 ext. 309
http://www.eastonpl.org/MARX%20ROOM%20BROCHURE%20APRIL%202005.pdf
PA Room
Guthrie Memorial Library
2 Library Place
Hanover PA 17331
717-632-5183
Fax 717-632-7565
http://www.guthrielibrary.org/
This special collection houses the Pennsylvania Archives; volumes of Pennsylvania history; county histories; Hanover area materials; genealogical tools such as church and cemetery records, ships' passenger lists, etc.; family histories; a vertical file of ephemeral materials including everything from church histories to broadsides to concert programs as well as family histories which are too small physically to fit on the regular shelves; a collection of upwards of 2,000 old photographs organized by broad subject categories for browsing and indexed for access to specific subject material: school yearbooks; Hanover directories covering most of the century; and several old scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings of Hanover area veterans. Marriage indices from 1818-1820, 1824-1826, 1828-1900 and 1915-1942 from various Hanover newspapers and obituary indexes for the same periods plus 1901-1915, 1943-1967 and 1986-1989 are important to the collection. Also, old deeds, some belonging to the Library and some to the Hanover Area Historical Society, have been preserved in mylar and cataloged. Some Maryland church, cemetery and census records are included in the collection since Hanover is so close to the Mason-Dixon line and was once claimed by Maryland. Hundreds of items have been added to the Pennsylvania Room in recent years. |
The Pennsylvania Room & Historical Museum
(Local History & Genealogy)
203 North Allegheny Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
(814) 355-1516
Located in the Centre County Library Historical Museum Building
http://www.centrecountylibrary.org/pa_room.htm
The Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library and Historical Museum is located in the historic Miles-Humes home at 203 North Allegheny Street in Bellefonte. It focuses on Centre County and Pennsylvania history and genealogy and has a specialized collection of genealogies, county histories, church and cemetery records, original Centre County records, newspapers, vertical files containing items of historical and genealogical interest, historical and genealogical periodicals and the massive Spangler Collection of data on the families of central Pennsylvania. See scope of collection for a more detailed description of the holdings.
In the same building is a historical museum featuring documents, photographs, family memorabilia, and other items of interest to family and local historians. A staff person is available to assist genealogical and historical researchers from Monday to Friday. The Pennsylvania Room is staffed by volunteers on Saturday.
The Pennsylvania State University
104 Paterno Library
University Park, PA 16802-1808
Phone: (814) 865-7931
Fax: (814) 863-5318
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/hcla/
Pennsylvania Business and Industry Collection
Documents on Pennsylvania's core industries, firms, and entrepreneurs comprise this collection. There are account books dating from the mid-eighteenth century for several charcoal iron furnaces; correspondence of steel magnates and executives Andrew Carnegie, Charles Schwab, and William B. Dickson; business records for nineteenth- and twentieth-century anthracite and bituminous coal firms; and records for the Pennsylvania Railroad's Central Division and numerous subsidiary railroads. The letters and papers of prominent efficiency engineer Harrington Emerson also contain rich information on business operations.
Eighth Air Force Archive
The Eighth Air Force Archive acquires and preserves original primary source documentation and reference materials devoted to the history of this important strategic bombing group during World War II and the role that 8th Air Force veterans played in defeating the Axis powers. The Archive also collects records of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society, documenting the Society's relationship with various state 8th Air Force veteran's groups, and other World War II era combat, aviation and support organizations active in preserving the historical legacy of "The Mighty Eighth," through publications, reunions and the building of war memorials.
Labor History Archive
The archive holdings on the labor movement trace the continuous effort by working men and women to win dignity and prosperity. Records of unions include minute books, executive board documents, and office files for important organizations, including the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers, Pennsylvania Federation of Labor, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, United Steelworkers of America, Amalgamated Lithographers of America, and the International Photoengravers Union. There are also collections of records for many local unions and central labor bodies in Pennsylvania. The archive has personal papers for several notable labor leaders from the United Steelworkers and United Mine Workers, including Philip Murray, David J. McDonald, I. W. Abel, Clinton S. Golden, and William Mitch. Letters, diaries, reports, and photographs from several union organizers and staff members are included in the labor materials.
United Steel Workers Archive
In 1967, the Archive became the official repository for the historical records of the United Steelworkers of America. Since then, this body of material has grown to 2,750 cubic feet of records, plus thousands of additional items. The Archive has documents from the union's national headquarters, district and sub-district offices, and local unions; publications, newsletters, and newspapers; photographs; and movie film. Complementing the Steelworkers' official records are nearly two hundred oral histories of former union officers, staff members, and rank and file activists. Each interview has been transcribed and indexed.
Notable Pennsylvanians Archive
The letters of Governors James A. Beaver and William W. Scranton, the architectural photographs of Fay S. Lincoln, the manuscripts of pioneer sociologists Jessie and Luther Bernard, the musical scores of Charles W. Cadman, and the confidential reports of narcotics expert Harry J. Anslinger provide a variety of choices for research within this group of material. Experiences of Civil War soldiers are described in a number of collections of letters and diaries, including a large group of material on the 100th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
The Philadelphia City Archives
3101 Market Street
Suite 150
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
Phone: (215) 685-9401
e-mail: archives@phila.gov
http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/genealgy.htm
The Philadelphia City Archives was established in 1952 with the mission
to preserve all city records not in current use which possess historical,
administrative, legal, research, cultural or other important value.
The Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-686-5416
http://www.library.phila.gov/
Early American Children's Books
The Free Library's interest in historical children's books was established in 1947 with the gift by A.S.W. Rosenbach of his personal collection. Ranging in date from 1682 to 1836, the gift included 816 volumes and encompassed the full spectrum of books produced for children. Later gifts by others, in addition to a vigorous acquisitions policy, have augmented the collection to some 13,000 volumes and extended the chronological scope well into the second half of the 19th century, particularly to include children's books produced in the frontier settlements of the United States.
http://libwww.freelibrary.org/collections/collectionDetail.cfm?id=5Incunabula
The Free Library of Philadelphia
Incunabula are books printed before the year 1501. In 1899, P.A.B. Widener presented the Free Library with its very first rare book collection, 500 incunabula. Assembled by the English bibliographer Walter A. Copinger, the collection includes a wide representation of the 15th-century printing presses of continental Europe. You can now view more than 800 of these precious books at the Free Library.
http://libwww.freelibrary.org/collections/collectionDetail.cfm?id=22Edward IV Roll
The Free Library of Philadelphia
The words "Middle Ages" conjure up pictures of castles and cathedrals, battles and tournaments, knights and dragons, lords and ladies. We get these mental images from the pictures found in illuminated manuscripts—handmade books as beautiful and precious as jewels. The Free Library has the Philadelphia area's largest collection of Medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts. You can find them in the Rare Book Department on the third floor of the Central Library.
http://libwww.freelibrary.org/collections/collectionDetail.cfm?id=23Pennsylvania German Fraktur and Imprints
The manuscript folk art produced by the Pennsylvania Germans is called Fraktur, a name inspired by the broken character of the lettering. Documents of many kinds were gaily decorated with tulips, hearts, stars, crowns, angels, unicorns, eagles, and other figures. You can see this fascinating art form for yourself at the Free Library, where we have more than 1,000 pieces. We also have many books and broadsides produced by early German printers in America.
http://libwww.freelibrary.org/collections/collectionDetail.cfm?id=24Theatre Collection
With a special focus on Philadelphia, the Theatre Collection contains research materials on the history of American theatre, early film, and popular entertainment. You can find significant reference books, periodicals, programs, clipping files, reviews, photographs, posters, film stills and other memorabilia. The collection chronicles local theatre, with playbills dating back to 1803. It also maintains the Lubin Film Company Archive (1912-1916), and other rare items on the silent and classic film eras.
http://libwww.freelibrary.org/collections/collectionDetail.cfm?id=25
Philadelphia University
Paul J. Gutman Library
Schoolhouse Lane and Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Phone: 215-951-2840
http://www.philau.edu/library/speccoll/home.htm
#Textile%20Industry%20Historical%20Collection
Textile Industry Historical Collection
This collection contains a full range of materials documenting the social, technological and economic vicissitudes of the American textile industry. Presently, over 4,000 volumes, ranging from 18th century European texts on dyeing to contemporary doctoral theses on textile history, are included in this collection.
A Postcard Tour of the Area
online collection through Blue Ridge Summit Free Library
A collection of postcards presented to the library in 1979 by Robert Hearne (deceased), husband of Margaret Hearne. Margaret Hearne was past president of the Board of Directors for the Blue Ridge Summit Free Library and responsible for Western Maryland Railroads donation of their station to the Blue Ridge Summit community to be used as a public library.
http://www.fclspa.org/brs/postcards.htm
Raymond and Mildred Pitcairn Archives
Glencairn Museum
1001 Cathedral Road
Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania 19009
Phone: (215) 914-2982
http://www.glencairnmuseum.org/Other.html
A large collection of United States political material from the 1920s
through the 1960s. Raymond Pitcairn was very involved with conservative
political causes and candidates. He never ran for office himself, but was
a leader of the political activist group "Sentinels of the Republic,"
which was based in Philadelphia. The Pitcairn's came to know Dwight and
Mamie Eisenhower through their political activities, and there is a
collection of correspondence between the two couples.
Rosenbach Museum & Library
2008-2010 DeLancey Place
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tel: (215) 732-1600
Fax: (215) 545-7529
Email: info@rosenbach.org
http://www.rosenbach.org/collections/overview.html
The Rosenbach's 1860s townhouse and garden provide an intimate setting
for the brothers' collections of rare books, manuscripts, furniture,
silver, paintings, prints, drawings, and sculpture. The house is located
in the heart of the Rittenhouse-Fitler historic district in Center City
Philadelphia. Museum visitors enjoy regular exhibitions drawn from the
Rosenbach's impressive holdings. Selections from some of the best-known
collections are always on view, including James Joyce's handwritten manuscript
for Ulysses, original drawings by children's book author/illustrator Maurice
Sendak, and the papers of Modernist poet Marianne Moore. In the years since
its founding, the Rosenbach collections have continued to grow. The decorative
and fine arts collections are rich and varied, ranging from Egyptian sculpture,
and English furniture, to American portraiture. Highlights of these collections
include a fine mid-18th century Philadelphia tall chest, and a portrait by
painter Thomas Sully of 19th century civic leader Rebecca Gratz. The Rosenbach
preserves a nearly unparalleled rare book and manuscript collection, with
particular strength in American and British literature and history.
Exhibitions, programs, and research with this collection have focused on
Colonial American history, African American history, children's literature,
book arts and technology, gay and lesbian literature, early Modernism, and
much more. Authors and artists represented at the Rosenbach include Maurice
Sendak, Cervantes (finest known copy of the first edition of Don Quixote),
Phillis Wheatley, Thomas Jefferson (draft of the Declaration of Independence),
George Washington (personal letters), Fragonard, Blake, Lewis Carroll, Charles
Dickens, Bram Stoker (notes and outlines for Dracula), Joseph Conrad and more.
Susquehanna University
Blough-Weis Library
514 University Avenue
Selinsgrove, PA 17870
Phone: (570) 372-4319
Fax: (570) 372-4310
http://www.susqu.edu/library/LibraryRec/Sp-collect.htm#russell
Jane Conrad Apple Rare Books Collection
This collection includes first and limited editions and monographs concerning the study and appreciation of works from the Elizabethan and Tudor periods, as well as those of William Shakespeare.
Nancy Cairns Collection of French Language and Literature
This collection includes several hundred volumes of 18th, 19th, and 20th century French literature. Several rare and important early editions of French political and literary works are contained in this collection.
Swarthmore College
McCabe Library
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore PA 19081
Phone: (610) 328-8557
Fax: (610) 690-5728
http://www.swarthmore.edu/Library/peace/
The Peace Collection
This archive is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and making accessible, materials on non-governmental efforts towards peace. This collection contains books about Mohandas Gandhi, the Vietnam War, and disarmament. Jane Addams' library on peace and social justice, the Horace Alexander Collection about India and Gandhi, and the Garland Library of War and Peace are special highlights. The Peace Collection currently receives the newsletters and journals of most major and many local peace organizations. The Peace Collection has approximately 25,000 photographs of numerous peace leaders, demonstrations, conferences, and marches. Peace seals, stamps, and covers, peace buttons, flags, banners, and bumper stickers, from 1850 to date, are included in this archive as well.
Temple University Urban Archives
Samuel Paley Library
12th and Berks Mall
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone: (215) 204-8257
http://www.library.temple.edu/urbana/
The Urban Archives was established in 1967 to document the social, economic, and physical development of the Philadelphia area from the mid-19th century to the present. The Archives functions as a repository for organizational records and related materials, and as a research facility for those interested in urban studies. The Archives collections are particularly strong in areas involving social service organizations, unions, community organizations, and contain many records from organizations involved with African Americans, education, and crime.
Paskow Science Fiction Collection
This collection contains more than 30,000 volumes, magazines (pulps, fanzines, and academic journals), over 100 cubic feet of manuscripts, and selected posters, paintings, drawings, and related materials. The collection ranges from late 19th century through the 20th century first editions, book club and paperback editions, with international coverage. The Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection holds supportive 17th and 18th century imaginary voyages and the Gelfand H. G. Wells Collection.
Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection is one of the nation's leading research facilities for the study of the history and culture of people of African descent. The core collection was donated to Temple University in 1983 by Charles L. Blockson, a Pennsylvania bibliophile and collector of Afro-Americana. As a major research facility, it provides materials, expository programs and service for Black Studies research scholars. The collection is used by a wide spectrum of researchers ranging from high school students to well-established scholars.
University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center
University Archives
North Arcade, Franklin Field
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 898-7025
http://www.archives.upenn.edu
Founded in 1945 as the University's official repository, the University Archives
strives to ensure the timeless preservation of historically significant documents
and other materials that reflect the University's origins and development and the
activities and achievements of its officers, staff, faculty, students, alumni,
and benefactors. Subject matter includes University history, prominent persons
associated with the University, history of institutions of higher learning in the
United States, American intellectual life, and the Philadelphia community in which
the University lives.
University of Pennsylvania Museum Archives
3260 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19014
Phone: (215) 898-5723
http://www.upenn.edu/museum/Collections/archives.html
The archival collections of the University of Pennsylvania Museum (UPM) focus on archaeological and anthropological field work and research, as well as the administrative and collections history of the UPM. Archival collections include more than 2,000 feet of textual records, more than 300,000 individual photographic items, and several special collections. Photographic collections include glass plate and film negatives, lantern slides, moving images such as motion picture films and videotapes, stereograph cards, color transparencies, and vintage photographic prints.
Architectural Archives
The Architectural Archives preserve the works of more than 250 designers from the 18th century to the present. The research collections in the Archives are available to faculty, students, and scholars for independent study as well as to support teaching in the University of Pennsylvania and other institutions.
University of Pittsburgh
363 Hillman Library
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: (412) 648-8190 or (412) 648-8197 voice
Fax: (412) 648-8192
http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/special/special.html
The Eduardo Lozano Latin American Collection
This collection was established in 1967 as a result of the creation of the Center for Latin American Studies and the Latin American studies program. The dramatic growth of the library collection has reflected the development in the University of Pittsburgh as a major world center for teaching and research on Latin America.
The Gertrude and Philip Hoffman Judaic Collection Established in 1971 through the generosity of the Hoffman Family, the Gertrude and Philip Hoffman Judaic Collection is the cornerstone of Hillman Library's holdings in Jewish Studies. The collection includes nearly 2,500 items, containing materials from Jewish literature, works on Jewish history, as well as studies related to the archaeology of Israel and the scientific study of the Hebrew language. The Hoffman Judaic Collection consists of scholarly works describing and assessing the Jewish experience over the ages; original, creative and imaginative works, produced by prominent Jewish writers and thinkers; reference works; and works in Hebrew, Yiddish, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Polish and English that reflect Jewish life and thought.
Archive of Popular Culture
It began in 1974 and now includes over 2,000 paperback science fiction novels, 14 journal titles (1,000+ issues), and a collection of science fiction fanzines. Also included are over 12,000 inventoried comic books plus collections of fanzines and pulp magazines donated by the Pittsburgh Comix Club and individual donors.
Cooperative Movement Collection
This collection consists of over 680 rare monographs and pamphlets published from 1851-1979 on the Cooperative Movement around the world, with heavy emphasis on Great Britain. Included are publications on agriculture, dry goods, food, housing, manufacturing, and trade union.
Fidelis Zitterbart Collection This collection was given to the University by the local composer's family in 1960. Zitterbart was a contemporary of Stephen Foster, and had wide-ranging musical interests. The collection includes nearly 1,500 manuscript compositions.
Flora and Norman Winkler Collection This collection was bequeathed to the University by Dr. Norman Winkler at the time of his death in 1961. It is a collection of over 300 volumes of Spanish, English, and Brazilian literature, including first editions and many fine bindings. There are also microfilm copies of Brazilian literary history and critical studies, many of which relate to the works of Jose Martiniano de Alecar.
Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection
This collection consists of several thousand volumes of play scripts, acting editions, histories, and critical works of the theatre and drama, over 500,000 theatre programs, journals relating to drama, reference works, reviews, articles, posters, 20,000 photographs, miscellaneous data on the contemporary theatre, material on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, archival records of theatre organizations, and personal papers of show people (e.g. producer Michael Ellis). The collection was founded in 1960 by Dr. and Mrs. Ford E. Curtis. Emphasis is on New York and Pittsburgh from the Civil War to the present.
Mary Roberts Rinehart Collection
Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876-1958), a noted Gothic mystery writer, was a native Pittsburgher. This collection was donated by the sons of the author in 1959. It consists of books, manuscripts and correspondence drafted by this modern author, interviews with Mrs. Rinehart, newspaper clippings, pictures, and biographical material and memorabilia about her.
Pavlova-Heinrich Dance Collection
This collection, acquired in 1967, consists of the "Mlle. Anna Pavlova Memorial Ballet Library," formed by Mr. Carl Heinrich in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Civic Ballet. Printed books on dance, scrapbooks, original sketches, posters, and choreographic notes are included.
Ramon Gomez de la Serna Collection
Gomez de la Serna (1888-1963) was a prolific poet, novelist, and essayist. His works, particularly his "Gregueaias", have been widely translated. This collection was purchased in 1967 and consists of annotated first editions, clippings, and 60,000 manuscripts by the twentieth Century Spanish author. The collection represents an important resource for the study of modern Spanish literature.
Ripon England Documents
This collection consists of 23 English manuscript documents, mostly from the town of Ripon, England, which were donated by the English Nationality Room Committee in 1961. Mostly indentures, the manuscripts include mortgages, deeds, bargain and sale transactions, and marriage settlements from 1636 through 1770, with at least one from the reign of each English monarch during that period. All but one is written on parchment.
Servicio de Monitoring de Colegio Nacional de Taquigrafos
"Miami Radio Monitoring Service:--Miramos" is a complete, 20 year, collection of transcripts of monitoring reports of Radio Havana, Cuba, beginning March 30, 1963 through June 30, 1982 when the monitoring reports ceased.
Walter and Martha Leuba Collection
This is a private library of 20th Century fine press books, first editions, autograph letters, wood block prints and wood engravings that was bequeathed to the University of Pittsburgh by the late Martha Leuba in 1988.
William Steinberg Collection
This collection is comprised of rare and fine books from the library of the late former conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony (1952-1976). Included are musical scores, memorabilia, and photographs.
World War II Picture Collection
"The Bombing of London." Donated in 1966, it consists of 143 black and white photos from the London Associated Press and Graphic Photo Union in London, covering the bombing of London in the early 1940s.
Villanova University
Falvey Memorial Library
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
Phone: (610) 519-5182
http://www.library.villanova.edu/services/depts/speccoll/index.html
Augustiniana
Special Collections seeks to collect printed editions of the works of Saint Augustine in a variety of languages, works about Saint Augustine and about the Order of Saint Augustine.
European Imprints to 1800
A wide range of sixteenth, seventeenth and some eighteenth century books, including Greek and Latin classics, theological and political debate, Bibles, and editions of the Church Fathers.
Hubbard Collection
The Elbert G. Hubbard Collection consists of books printed at the Roycrofter Press, and many of these titles were written by Elbert G. Hubbard. Also one archival box, The Hubbard Press, with manuscripts and memorabilia relating to the Roycrofter Colony and Elbert G. Hubbard is included.
Incunabula
Villanova University owns 38 incunable (books printed between 1450 and 1501). Fifteen of these are incunable editions of works of Saint Augustine. The collection also houses a Bible, Biblia Latina. Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, 1482, and Rolewinck: Fasciculus Temporum. Venice: Erhard Raddolt, 1485.
McGarrity Collection
This collection was donated to Villanova University in 1940 by Joseph McGarrity. Items, published before 1940, have since been added. The McGarrity Collection consists of around 3,000 monographs focusing on Irish history, literature, folklore, description and travel, music, and Irish - American history.
Mendel Collection
This collection illustrates the role of Gregor Mendel, O.S.A. in the discovery of the hereditary laws. First editions of Mendel's papers are found in this collection together with earlier works about heredity.
The William R. Oliver Special Collections Room
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone (412) 622-1932
http://www.clpgh.org/locations/oliver/
The William R. Oliver Special Collections Room houses Carnegie Library of
Pittsburgh's collection of rare and unique materials including books, manuscripts,
personal papers and historic photographs. In addition, the archives of the
Carnegie Museums and Library of Pittsburgh are maintained and preserved because
of their continuing legal, fiscal and historical value to the institution.
York College of Pennsylvania
Schmidt Library
York, Pennsylvania 17405
Phone: (717) 815-1345
http://www.ycp.edu/library/spec_coll/index.html
Lincoln Collection
This collection is dedicated to Lincoln lore and contains many artifacts from the Lincoln era. Other items of interest in the room include an intriguing mineral and gem collection donated by a local chemical company, a Civil War surgical kit and other 19th century medical instruments, as well as the intimate, family, photograph album of a local musician, known to have played trumpet at President Lincoln's funeral.
The Appell Horticultural Collection
The collection is an impressive, colorful group of works dedicated to horticulture, gardening and landscaping.
The James Merrill Collection
This collection includes books, articles, audio-visual items, and photographs concerning the life and work this outstanding poet and writer.