In 1891, a group of Philadelphians with a passion for exploration and geography founded the Geographical Society of Philadelphia. The first president, Angelo Heilprin, climbed erupting Mt. Pelée on Martinique. Henry Grier Bryant explored and mapped unknown parts of Labrador. Charter member Robert E. Peary made expeditions toward the North Pole with funds and active participation of members. Artist-member Cecilia Beaux designed the Society's globe logo.
The collection consists of financial records, program files, public relations material, volumes of minutes, scrapbooks of the Geographical Society of Philadelphia. It includes a travel film series and information on the promotion of geographical knowledge among school-age children.
In the late 1990s, historian Norman Gentieu culled a wide variety of material from the Society's files in preparation for a centennial history. The history was never finished, but the envelopes containing Gentieu's selections remain untouched.
The contents of the Society's library and map collections is amply illustrated in a number of accession books and card files. There are also card files with membership and program information. A number of scrapbooks illlustrates the Sociey as seen in print media. The Minutes of the Board of Directors (1891-1993) are comprised of 15 volumes.
50.5 linear feet.
The materials were held by the Geographical Society of Pennsylvania, 21 South 12th Street (Girard Estate), Philadelphia and were temporarily stored at the pick-up site, West Chester University.
The collection is unprocessed.