Provenance

All records originated from the American Philosophical Society.

Preferred citation

Cite as: Archives, American Philosophical Society.

Processing information

Initially organized and described by Whitfield J. Bell, Jr., and Murphy D. Smith, with additional entries made by J. Stephen Catlett, and Robert S. Cox. EAD mark up by J.J. Ahern.

Other finding aids

The material in the American Philosophical Society Archive is referenced in the majority of subject guides which the Library has produced over the years. These subject guides can be accessed online at Published Guides to APS Collections.The initial guides to the Archive were published in:

Bell, Whitfield J., Jr. and Murphy D. Smith. Guide to the Archives and Manuscript Collections of the American Philosophical Society. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1966. Call No. 016.091 Am3g

Bell, Whitfield J., Jr. Catalog of Manuscripts in the American Philosophical Society Library, including the Archival Shelflist. Westport, CT: Greenwood Pub. Corp., 1970. Call No. 017Am4cm Vol. 1-10

Catlett, J. Stephen, ed. A New Guide to the Collections of the American Philosophical Society. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1987. Call No. 506.73 Am4me vol. 66s

Related material

In addition to the Archives, there are a number of manuscript collections that document the activities and history of the Society. The Library houses the papers of a number of members who were active in the Society, these include the Benjamin Smith Barton Papers (B B284), Albert Francis Blakeslee Papers (B B585), Henry Grier Bryant Papers (Ms. Coll. 38), Walter Bradford Cannon Papers (B C163.1), Hans Thacher Clarke Papers (B C55), Henry Herbert Donaldson Diaries and Papers (B D713; D713m; D713p), George William Featherstonhaugh Papers (B F31), John Fries Frazer Papers (B F865), Ebenezer Hazard Papers (B H338), John Frederick Lewis Papers (B L585), Francois Andre Michaux Papers (B M58.1), Robert Cushman Murphy Papers (B M957), George Ord Letters (B Or2), Joseph Priestley Papers (B P931), William Jacob Robbins (B R538), George Gaylord Simpson Papers (Ms. Coll. 31), and Elihu Thomson Papers (Ms. Coll. 74). Additionally, a few of the Society's officers have deposited their papers in the Library: George Washington Corner, III Papers (Ms. Coll. 11), William Ezra Lingelbach Papers(B L635), and Richard Harrison Shryock Papers (B Sh86). Material relating to the Society's Historical and Literary Committee can be found in the Peter Stephen Du Ponceau Papers (B D92p), as Du Ponceau was a driving force behind the committee's development of Native American linguistic material. The activities of the Society are also documented in the Jane Aitken Papers (B Ai9) - which were origninally part of the Archives (see II "Archives"), the John Fishbourne Mifflin Receipt Book (B M585), Samuel Rush's "Occasional Glimpses at the World, 1824" (B R895.o) - in which he comments on the Society and the Wistar Association, and in the Kane Miscellaneous Collection (B K13).

Three other items that might be of interest include Alexander Graham Bell's address on "Aerial Locomotion" which was delivered before the Society on May 7, 1909 (533.6 B41a); James Bryce's personal reminiscences of Charles Darwin and of the reception of the Origin of Species given before the APS on April 23, 1909 (B D25b); and Randolph Shipley Klein's 1965 master's thesis from Brown University, "The American Philosophical Society and the American Revolution" (506.73 Am4xk).

Bibliography

Naval History Note

Naval historians may find the following items of interest:

1. Barron, James. Concerning the ventilation of ships to prevent the rotting of timbers. 1825 January 7. Manuscript. 5 pages.
2. Barron, James. Letter to James Mease. 1825 April 11. Sends to the American Philosophical Society a model of Charles D. Brodie's plan for repairing ships under the surface of the water. 1 page.

1. Byrd, Richard Evelyn. Letter to Francis H. Dercum, President of the American Philosophical Society. 1930 July 15. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
2. Byrd, Richard Evelyn. Letter to American Philosophical Society. 1936 May 10. Expresses appreciation for aid rendered for the second Antarctic Expedition. 1 page.

1. Du Pont, Samuel Francis. Letter to Benjamin Gerhard. 1861 November 13. Presents an Atlas of the state of South Carolina by Robert Mills to the American Philosophical Society. 5 pages.
2. Du Pont, Samuel Francis. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1862 May 8. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 2 pages.

1. Galvin, John. An improved capstan for ships of war. 1811 February 15. Manuscript. 1 page.

1. Humphreys, Joshua. Letter to David Rittenhouse. 1789 January 3. Concerning the regulation of a pendulum. 2 pages.
2. Humphreys, Joshua. Letter to Benjamin Franklin. 1789 February 16. Concerning scale beams. 2 pages.
3. American Philosophical Society. Report of Committee upon the plan of an improvement for a windless, presented by Americanus, Navy Yard. 1796 May 12. Report. 1 page.
4. American Philsophical Society. Report of the committee to whom was referred a model of a temporary rudder...by Captain William Mugford, of Salem. 1805 February 13. Report. 5 pages.
5. Fothergill, Anthony. Remarks on Mugford's rudder and the proposed notice of it by the American Philosophical Society. 1805 February 15. Manuscript. 3 pages.
6. Humphreys, Joshua. Letter to John Vaughan. 1814 March 25. Concerning a circular cylinder pump. 3 pages.
7. American Philosophical Society. Report of committee on Joshua Humphrey's paper on a pump. 1814 April 15. Report. 1 page.
8. American Philosophical Society. Report of the committee charged with the consideration of the letter of Robert McWilliam on the dry rot. 1820 May 5. Report. 6 pages.
9. Humphreys, Joshua. Attitude of George Washington toward the construction of a United States Navy. 1837 December 23. Manuscript. 8 pages.

1. Humphreys, Samuel. Letter to W. P. C. Barton. 1822 January 17. Short note accompanying description to the "peacing of ships masts." 1 page.
2. Humphreys, Samuel. Concerning placing masts in ships. 1822 January 18. Manuscript. 2 pages.
3. American Philosophical Society. Report of the committee to whom was referred the paper submitted by Mr. Samuel Humphreys on a new principle of placing masts in ships. 1822 March 1. Report. 5 pages.
4. Humphreys, Samuel. Letter to James Mease. 1825 May 4. Cost of repairing a ship. 1 page.
5. Barton, William P. C. Letter to the American Philosophical Society. 1825 October 14. Letter on nomination for membership of Samuel Humphreys, "Naval Constructor, in the service of the U. S. Navy Department at the Philadelphia Navy Yard." Filed under "Humphreys, Samuel." 1 page.
6. Humphreys, Samuel. Letter to George Ord. 1826 January 31. Acknowledges his election to membership in the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
7. Humphreys, Samuel. Letter to George Ord. 1842 November 28. Testimonial in favor of Mr. Lenthall. 1 page.
8. Lenthall, John. Letter to Charles B. Trego, Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1853 August 4. Concerning the preparation of an obituary notice for the late Samuel Humphreys. 1 page.

1. Lenthall, John. Letter to R. Dunglison. 1843 January 23. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
2. Lenthall, John. On the launch of the three deck ship Pennsylvania in 1837. 1843 May 27. Manuscript. 8 pages.
3. Lenthall, John. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1853 August 4. Concerning obituary for Samuel Humphreys. 1 page.

1. Byrnes, Daniel. A method proposed which it is apprehended will be an improvement in finding the longitude at sea. 1788 June 19. A method of calculating longitude by lunar observations. 1 item.
2. Churchman, John. Regarding support for testing theory of magnetism as method of determining longitude. 1789 March 21. Manuscript. 1 item.
3. Brisbane, James. Letter to Benjamin Franklin. 1789 July 4. How to ascertain the true Longitude of Places East and West of any fixt Meridian. 1 item.
4. Jourdan, W. Crowley. Concerning ascertaining longitude at sea. 1791 October 6. Concerning ascertaining longitude at sea. 1 item.
5. Hoskins, Francis. Navigation made easy, or a Mariners complete guide. 1800 May 2. Hoskins presents an idea for a new hourglass-type timepiece and a formula for calculating the longitude without the need for an expensive timepiece. He tested it on a voyage from Philadelphia to Cork, Ireland. The log of this journey is reproduced, and a chart is given as well. Dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, this treatise was submitted to the American Philosophical Society for a Magellanic Premium award in 1800 [see "Minutes," page 299]. It was submitted anonymously, under the name of "Hiram," but a second, almost identical version (dated 1803) was received at the American Philosophical Society with Hoskin's name on it in 1839 [Misc. Ms. Coll.]. 1 volume (15 pages).
6. Groves, Matthew C. Proposed method of ascertaining longitude. 1802. Manuscript. 1 item.
7. Anonymous. How to ascertain the longitude. n.d. 1 item.
8. Laurie, Robert. Some observations concerning longitude. n.d. Some observations concerning longitude. 1 item.

1. Mahan, A. T. Letter to I. M. Hays. 1897 October 19. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 2 pages.

1. Maury, Matthew Fontaine. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1849 December 18. Acknowledging receipt of package. 1 page.
2. Maury, Matthew Fontaine. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1852 November 12. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
3. Maury, Matthew Fontaine. Letter to Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1854 October 21. Announcing new asteroid by James Ferguson. 2 pages.
4. Maury, Matthew Fontaine. Letter to Robley Dunglison. 1860 March 19. Requesting delay of publication of Commodore Wullerstorf's paper. 1 page.

1. Melville, George W. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 August 30. Cannot attend Nansen meeting, refers to his ship Jeannette. 1 page.
2. Melville, George W. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 October 23. Hoping to attend Nansen meeting. 1 page.
3. Melville, George W. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 October 30. Explaining departure from Nansen meeting, refers to Angelo Heilprin. 1 page.
4. Melville, George W. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 November 4. Sending revised copy of his remarks at Nansen meeting. 1 page.
5. Heilprin, Angelo. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1898 January 8. Requesting permission for Geographical Society of Philadelphia to reprint George Wallace Melville's talk. 2 pages.
6. American Philosophical Society. Letter to Angelo Heilprin. 1898 January. Response to Heilprin's letter of January 8, granting permission to reprint George Wallace Melville's talk. 2 pages.
7. Heilprin, Angelo. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1898 January 19. Thanks for George Wallace Melville's manuscript. 1 page.

1. A.L.O.T.A. (pseudonym). Letter to David Rittenhouse. 1795 June 19. Includes pen and ink sketches of ships pumps. 1 page.
2. A.L.O.T.A. (pseudonym). Concerning improvements in ship pumps. 1795 June 19. Manuscript. 5 pages.
3. Improvement (pseudonym). Description of a ship pump. 1795 June 19. Manuscript. 1 page.
4. Humphries, James. Description of a model for steering a ship. 1809 March 2. Manuscript. 2 pages.
5. Voigt, Henry. Concerning steam paddles for boats and mills. 1809 July 21. Includes diagram of paddles. 2 pages.
6. Patterson, Robert M. Concerning Chapman's steam boat. 1810 July 27. Concerning Chapman's steam boat. 1 page.
7. Chapman, Isaac A. Letter to the American Philosophical Society. 1820 March 10. Description of a new invented Steam-Boat. With sketch. 2 pages.

1. Paulding, James Kirke. Letter to A[lexander] D[allas] Bache. 1839 April 24. Acknowledges election to membership in the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
2. Paulding, James Kirke. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1839 October 28. Acknowledges receipt of his diploma of membership in the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
3. National Institute for the Promotion of Science. Letter to Robley Dunglison, John K. Kane, Franklin Bache and Dallas Bache. 1840 November 6. Forwards constitution of institution to the American Philosophical Society, asks for aid in its establishment and development. 1 page.

1. Peary, Robert E. Letter to Secretary of the American Philosophical Society [Henry Phillips]. 1886 January 18. Asking for article on Greenland. 1 page.
2. Peary, Robert E. Letter to Secretary of the American Philosophical Society [Henry Phillips]. 1886 February 28. Asking for articles on Arctic subjects which may have appeared in the Society's publications. 1 page.
3. Heilprin, Angelo. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 October. Concerning arrangements for Nansen meeting, refers to Robert Edwin Peary. 4 pages.
4. Bunce, F. M. Telegram to the American Philosophical Society. 1897 October 20. Gives Robert Edwin Peary's address. 1 page.
5. Peary, Robert E. Telegram to J. Minis Hayes [sic]. 1897 October 22. Cannot attend the Nansen Meeting. 1 page.

1. Rodgers, John. Letter to William Jones, Philadelphia Navy Commander's Office. 1820 January 27. Concerning canvas for sails. 1 page.

1. Dickerson, Mahlon. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1836 August 31. Asks advice as to personnel of scientific corps, and scientific objectives of the United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
2. Chapman, Nathaniel. Letter to the Committee of the American Philosophical Society. 1836 October 17. Report on medicine relating to the United States Exploring Expedition. Enclosed in Committee of the American Philosophical Society to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 1 page.
3. Committee of the American Philosophical Society. Letter to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 1836 October 17. With regard to the scientific methods and objectives of the United States Exploring Expedition, also known as the Wilkes Expedition. 9 pages.
4. Committee of the American Philosophical Society. Letter to Mahlon Dickerson. 1836 October 17. Enclosed anonymous list of books recommended for the officers and scientific corps, United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
5. Committee of the American Philosophical Society. Letter to Mahlon Dickerson. 1836 October. Regarding the scientific methods and objectives of the United States Exploring Expedition, also known as the Wilkes Expedition. 32 pages.
6. Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. 1836 October 17. Report on ethnography, relating to the United States Exploring Expedition. Enclosed in Committee of A.P.S. to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 1 page.
7. Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. 1836 October 17. Report on philology, relating to the United States Exploring Expedition. Enclosed in Committee of A.P.S. to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 6 pages.
8. Espy, James P. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report on meteorology, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. Enclosed in Committee of the American Philosophical Society to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 12 pages.
9. Patterson, Robert M. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report upon astronomical and physical observations, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 7 pages.
10. Peale, Titian Ramsay. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report on zoology, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 2 pages.
11. Pickering, Charles. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report upon botany, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
12. Rogers, Henry D. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. List of works which the geologists will find it useful to take with them. Related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
13. Rogers, Henry D. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report upon geology and mineralogy, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 5 pages.
14. Dickerson, Mahlon. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1836 November 19. Acknowledges receipt of communication upon the South Sea Exploring Expedition (the United States Exploring Expedition). "It will form the basis of the Instructions to the scientific corps..." 1 page.
15. Coates, Reynell. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1837 August 28. Transmits the thanks of the scientific corps of the United States Exploring Expedition for "the completion of the name of books required for the...Expedition." 1 page.
16. Dickerson, Mahlon. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1837 September 11. Returns thanks for report of the 2nd, in regards to the South Sea Exploring Expedition (the United States Exploring Expedition). 1 page.
17. Warrington, L. Letter to Colonel J. J. Abert. 1841 October 9. Returns thanks for information furnished by John Vaughan concerning charts of the Pacific Ocean in his possession. Related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
18. Peale, Titian Ramsay. Letter to Alexander Dallas Bache and John Ludlow. 1843 May 8. Important part played by the American Philosophical Society regarding the organization of scientific corps of the United States Exploring Expedition. 3 pages.
19. American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Letter to the Joint Library Committee of Congress. 1846 February 4. Requesting larger edition of scientific reports of the United States Exploring Expedition. 3 pages.
20. Gray, Asa. Letter to the Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1846 February 8. Encloses copy of letter from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to the joint library committee of Congress asking for the publication of a larger edition of the scientific reports of the United States Exploring Expedition. 2 pages.
21. New York Historical Society. Letter to the Corresponding Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1847 February 26. Letter transmitting resolutions asking Congress to authorize a larger edition of the scientific volumes of the United States Exploring Expedition. 3 pages.

1. Kennedy, John Pendleton. Letter to Robley Dunglison. 1853 January 2. Thanking American Philosophical Society resolutions approving the U.S. Navy Department's scientific exploration, and Dr. Kane's joining of the Arctic expedition. 3 pages.
2. United States, Department of the Navy. Letter to Boies Penrose. 1899 January 25. Concerning copy of Battles and Capitulation of Santiago de Cuba for the American Philosophical Society Library. 1 page.
3. United States, Department of the Navy. Letter to Boies Penrose. 1899 September 14. Concerning astronomical documents for the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
4. United States, Department of the Navy. Letter to Boies Penrose. 1899 September 20. Sends copy of Stockton's Preparation for War requested for the American Philosophical Society Library. 1 page.

1. Chauvenet, William. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1856 May 28. U.S. Naval Academy librarian inquiring as to the availability of a complete set of the American Philosophical Society Transactions. 1 page.
2. Chauvenet, William. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1856 July 10. Ordering a complete set of the American Philosophical Society Transactions for the U.S. Naval Academy Library. 1 page.
3. Chauvenet, William. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1856 September 29. Requesting the American Philosophical Society Transactions be sent to the U.S. Naval Academy Library. 1 page.
4. Doran, Edward. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1856 October 28. Regarding the U.S. Naval Academy's outstanding account with the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.

1. Gilliss, J. M. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1861 December 24. Requesting Proceedings and Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 2 pages.
2. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1862 January 21. Concerning package of books, and American Philosophical Society publications. 1 page.
3. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1862 January 21. Thanking for American Philosophical Society Proceedings and Transactions. 1 page.
4. Sands, B. F. Letter to President of the American Philosophical Society. 1872 January 30. Concerning material to be presented to Congress to facilitate observation of the transit of Venus. 4 pages.
5. Graham, James D. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1872 February 29. Acknowledging receipt of memorial on the American Philosophical Society to Congress on the transit of Venus. 2 pages.
6. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1874 May 30. Forwarding the American Philosophical Society's Proceedings to Admiral Charles Wilkes. Offers pamphlet (lacking). 1 page.
7. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to the Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1876 February 15. Letter to J. P. Lesley concerning the American Philosophical Society's promotion of the Polaris expedition. 2 pages.
8. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to the Librarian of the American Philosophical Society. 1877 January 31. Forwards publications. 1 page.
9. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to the American Philosophical Society. 1898 February 7. Cannot supply a publication to the American Philosophical Society Library, refers to hydrographic office, Boies Penrose. 1 page.
10. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1899 April 11. Concerning the publications of the U.S. Naval Observatory needed by the American Philsophical Society Library. 1 page.

1. United States, Naval War Records Office. Letter to Boies Penrose. 1898 November 9. Concerning copy of "Office Memoranda No. 8. Officers of the Confederate States Navy" requested for the American Philosophical Society Library. 1 page.

1. Anonymous. List of instruments procured by Lieutenant Wilkes for the Exploring Expedition. 1837. Manuscript. 2 pages.
2. Wilkes, Charles. Letter to Alexander Dallas Bache and John Ludlow. 1843 May 6. Hopes to attend the American Philosophical Society centennial celebration, but will not have time to prepare a paper on the United States Exploring Expedition. 3 pages.
3. Peale, Titian Ramsay. Letter to George Ord. 1845 February 11. Inquires as to location of certain rare botanical works. "Captain Wilkes is now in Philadelphia..." 2 pages.
4. Wilkes, Charles. Letter to George Ord. 1845 May 23. Presents a copy of his Narrative of the Exploring Expedition to the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
5. Wilkes, Charles. Letter to the President of the American Philosophical Society. 1857 August 22. Forwarding a publication. 1 page.

African American History Note

The APS archives does not contain a tremendous amount of African American history materials. Nevertheless, the following letter is significant:

Dearborn, Benjamin. Letter to the American Philosophical Society. 1803 February 4. Suggestions on the abolition of slavery.

Early American History Note

The APS Archives contain a wide range of material on early American history. MOLE contains a detailed breakdown of its content.