Resources in Early American History
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1Author:  Edwards, BenjaminRequires cookie*
 Title:  Benjamin Edwards Papers     
 Dates:  1819-1827 
 Abstract:  Benjamin Edwards was a member of Major Stephen H. Long’s “Yellowstone Expedition,” also known as the Rocky Mountain Expedition, in 1819-1820. The expedition completed the first ascent of the Missouri River. This collection consists of one letter Edwards wrote to his father while on the expedition and a series (approximately 5) letters Edwards wrote to his father after leaving the expedition. These later letters primarily discuss issues surrounding winding down the expedition, including Edwards’ attempt to receive wages due him. After the expedition, Edwards bounced around the Mississippi River. At one time, he worked as an overseer of slaves at a sawmill near New Orleans, which he briefly describes in one of his letters.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.Ed9 
 Extent:  0.25 Linear feet 
 Topics:  African American | Exploration. | Travel 
 Genre:  Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  Exploration | Stephen H. Long Expedition to the Rocky Mountains (1819-1820) | West (U.S.)-Description and travel 
2Author:  Scaliger Family.Requires cookie*
 Title:  Scaliger family papers, fifteenth-nineteenth centuries     
 Dates:  1400-1800 
 Abstract:  This large collection contains the family papers of the Scaligers, a prominent French family that eventually immigrated to Philadelphia in the mid-nineteenth century. The collection contains a wealth of information on the history and genealogy of this family. Some of the documents date to the fifteenth century. There is a notable amount of documents from the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. The portion of the collection from the earlier period is mostly composed of legal documents. The nineteenth century documents are mostly correspondence. All of the documents appear to be in French or Latin. Most of these documents are beyond the scope of the early American guide, but there are some documents from Santo Domingo that relate to the family’s interest in a slave plantation there.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.Sca42 
 Extent:  1.5 Linear feet 
 Topics:  African American | Beyond Early America | Marriage and Family Life 
 Genre:  Family Correspondence | Legal Records | Miscellaneous 
 Subjects:  Slaves -- Dominican Republic -- Santo Domingo. | Slaves, slavery, slave trade 
3Author:  Shippen, Joseph,1732-1810.Requires cookie*
 Title:  Joseph Shippen letterbook, 1763-1773     
 Dates:  1763-1773 
 Abstract:  The Joseph Shippen letterbooks consist of Shippen’s outgoing correspondence from 1763-1773. Shippen was active during the Seven Years’ War and a prominent official in the colonial government before the American Revolution. His letters touch on a wide range of important events happening within the colony in the years preceding the American Revolution.

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 Call #:  Mss.B.Sh62.j 
 Extent:  1.0 Volume(s) 
 Topics:  African American | Colonial Politics | Pennsylvania History | Social Life and Custom | Surveying and Maps 
 Genre:  Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Maps and Surveys | Political Correspondence 
 Subjects:  Indians of North America 
4Author:  unknownRequires cookie*
 Title:  Jasper Yeates Papers     
 Dates:  Bulk, 1760-1816 
 Abstract:  The Jasper Yeates Collection contains a range of documents from this prominent Pennsylvania lawyer and judge, most of which are from the early republic. Because the collection is new to the APS, the MOLE entry contains an item level catalogue of the collection's content. Yeates was active during the American Revolution as a leader of opposition to Great Britain in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After the Revolution, he became an Associate Justice on the State Supreme Court. He was also related through marriage to the Shippen and Burd families. This collection contains personal letters written between Jasper and his wife Sally. There are also legal records and court proceedings. Within these documents, there is an account of a slave insurrection in Lancaster County during the American Revoltuion.

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 Call #:  Mss.Ms.Coll.151 
 Extent:  3.0 Linear feet 
 Topics:  African American | Law | Marriage and Family Life | Pennsylvania History | Seven Years' War | Social Life and Custom 
 Genre:  Business Records and Accounts | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Legal Records | Political Correspondence 
 Subjects:  Lancaster County (Pa.)--History | Pennsylvania --History --French and Indian War, 1755-1763 | Pennsylvania Supreme Court | Slavery -- Pennsylvania. | United States--History--French and Indian War, 1755-1763 
5Author:  Vaux, GeorgeRequires cookie*
 Title:  George Vaux papers, 1738-1985     
 Dates:  1738-1985 
 Abstract:  The George Vaux Papers is a new and massive collection at the APS. The papers are focused on the business and financial interests of this very prominent Philadelphia family. What follows is a list of some of the more notable parts of this expansive collection: - Correspondence: There is a massive amount of correspondence, much of which is personal and familial in nature. Nonetheless, the letters often discuss politics, current affairs, and society. The earliest records date to 1701, although the great bulk are focused on the revolutionary era to the first quarter of the nineteenth century. - Almanacs, 1790-1870: The collection contains a large collection of small pocket almanacs from Philadelphia. Some of the earliest ones contain records of financial transactions and diaries. - Charles Thomson Correspondence: The collection has a series of letters from Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress. These letters are from the 1780s, after Thomson had largely retired from the political arena. - Legal and Estate Documents: This portion of the collection is extensive and difficult to summarize. The family owned a huge amount of property throughout the state. These papers contain deeds, information on rents, surveys of land, and other transactions. Moreover, the Vaux family had ties through marriage and friendship to other prominent families, and some of their estate business is included in this collection. Among the notable papers are documents pertaining to John and Sally Norris Dickinson's properties and the estates of the Emlens and the Sansoms. One document complements the Jane Aitken Collection, as it has an accounting of the Bible that she printed. - Travel Accounts: Most notably, George Vaux VII made a trip to "Indian Country" in 1802-1803. He wrote numerous letters home and kept a small and incomplete travel journal. - Philadelphia City Affairs: The Vaux were active in civic life. The collection contains information on city improvements, with specific letters and records relating to the water supply. The collection has letters that discuss building the Water Works, records of a Committee on the Sewers, and an agreement between the city and Peale's Museum. - Business Affairs: The record of the Vaux's diverse business interests is contained in this collection. In addition to their land holdings, the Vaux's were very active in internal improvements, with records from numerous navigation companies held in the collection. The Vaux's were also involved in mining and mineralogy, including Pennsylvania's oil lands, which is also reflected in the content of this collection. Finally, there are partial records of some prominent Philadelphia institutions, such as the Bank of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Contributorship. - Native American Documents - In addition to George Vaux's travels into Indian Country, there are extracts from Indian Treaties and some records of the Friendly Association in this collection.

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 Call #:  Mss.Ms.Coll.73 
 Extent:  3.5 Linear feet 
 Topics:  African American | American Revolution | Antebellum Politics | Early National Politics | Marriage and Family Life | Native America | Pennsylvania History | Philadelphia History | Social Life and Custom | Surveying and Maps | Travel 
 Genre:  Business Records and Accounts | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Institutional Records | Legal Records | Maps and Surveys 
 Subjects:  Abolition, emancipation, freedom | Genealogy. | Land speculation | Mineralogy. | Quakers -- Missions. | Seneca Indians | Slaves, slavery, slave trade | Social conditions, social advocacy, social reform | Yellow fever. 
6Author:  Hare-Willing family.Requires cookie*
 Title:  Hare-Willing Family Papers     
 Dates:  1724-1965 
 Abstract:  This is a large and wide ranging collection on materials. The collection contains over 1300 individual items along with 53 bound volumes, which range from letter books to records of the First Colored Wesley Methodist Church. Letters to and from the various members of the extended Hare-Willing family compose the bulk of the loose correspondence.

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 Call #:  Mss.Ms.Coll.104 
 Extent:  52.0 Linear feet 
 Topics:  African American | Americans Abroad | Business and Skilled Trades | Early National Politics | Education | International Travel | Law | Natural History | Philadelphia History | Religion | Science and Technology | Travel | Women's History 
 Genre:  Business Records and Accounts | Educational Material | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Institutional Records | Legal Records | Miscellaneous | Notebooks | Travel Narratives and Journals 
 Subjects:  African American churches--United States | Banks and banking -- United States -- History -- 19th century. | Religion, religious organizations | Science -- United States -- 19th century. | Social conditions, social advocacy, social reform | Steam-engines. | Titantic (Steamship) | World War I | World War II