History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 86

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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" Adjourned to meet on the 27th day of December, 1824."

At a meeting held pursuant to the adjournment, "present fifteen persons," the committee reported a draught of a constitution and by-laws, which was approved. The meeting then adjourned till the 29th of January, 1825.

On that day the society met again, when "a list of the names of gentlemen desirous of joining the society was read, and, on motion, the persons applying for membership were elected and placed on the secre- tary's roll."

This honored roll preserves for grateful recollection the following names, well known, every one of them, in the city's history : William Rawle, George Wash- ington Smith, Roberts Vaux, Gerard Ralston, Joseph Hopkinson, William Mason Walmsley, Joseph Reed, William M. Meredith, Thomas C. James, Daniel B. Smith, John Sergeant, William Rawle, Jr., Thomas

I. Wharton, Charles J. Ingersoll, Thomas H. White, Edward Bettle, Caspar Wistar (2d), Thomas Mckean Pettit, Benjamin H. Coates.

It was then resolved that the constitution and by-laws be in force from and after the 28th of Feb- ruary, 1825, and that an election for officers for that year should be held on the day named.

On that day the society met again, and proceeded to an election, when the following gentlemen were chosen : President, William Rawle ; Vice-Presidents, Roberts Vaux, Thomas Duncan ; Corresponding Sec- retary, Daniel B. Smith ; Recording Secretary, G. W. Smith.

The first meeting of the council was held on the 18th of May, 1825, and in the succeeding month the president, Mr. Rawle, read a paper defining the intentions of the founders, as follows :

"The objects of the society are to trace all the circumstances of early settlements : to collect all documents and written and printed evideoce, nad all traditionary information that may still be obtainable ; and, after having thus acquired possession of such materials, to publish such portions as may be deemed most interesting and instructive.

" The purpose of the society also is to form ao ample library and cabinet, the collection of books, pamphlets, and manuscripts on soy subject or of any date, medals, coina, or any article drawing value from historical or biographical affiuitiee, Indian idols, ornaments, arms, utensils, etc.

"The property of the society is to consist of original letters, books, journals, or narratione of the early settlers of Pennsylvania, or any distinguished persons emong no io later years; narratives relative to the Indiaos, vocabularies of Indian language, accounts of missionaries, facts relating to the origin of the North American Indians; copies of record and proceedings of public bodies, political, religions, literary, or otherwise, that have existed; accounts of universities, collegea, acad- emies, schools; topographical descriptions of cities, towns, boroughe, counties, or townships ; accounts of population, births, longevity, deaths, epidemical and local diseases; facts relating to climatology, meteor- ology, and general employment and customs of districts; biographical notices of eminent and remarkable persons, etc."

The first place of regular meeting of the new asso- ciation was in the rooms of the American Philo- sophical Society, on the west side of Fifth Street be- low Chestnut, and looking out upon the State-House grounds. Everything contemplated appears to have been upon the most modest scale, and in a quiet way of usefulness the society proceeded for nearly twenty years. But if it was small in numbers, unimposing in possession, without a habitation of its own, it was not less confident in hope, less zealous in endeavor, less fruitful in good works. Books were brought together. Manuscripts were sought for and rescued from de- struction. A scheme of large usefulness was planned and marked out by its accomplished president, and standing committees to give every part of it effect were named.

The first volume of "Memoirs" of this society was published in December, 1825. It contained the constitution of the society and the list of officers ; an inaugural discourse, delivered Nov. 25, 1825, before the society by William Rawle; "A Memoir of the Great Treaty of William Penn in 1682," by Roberts Vaux ; " Notes on the Provincial Literature of Penn- sylvania," by Thomas I. Wharton ; " A Memoir on

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the Controversy between William Penn and Lord Baltimore concerning the Boundaries of Pennsyl- vania and Maryland;" and "Original Letters and Documents relating to the History of Pennsylvania," hitherto unpublished. All these represented the his- torical work of the year. And when it is considered that the gentlemen who prepared those papers were men of business, whose minds were constantly en- gaged with weighty affairs, it must be admitted that their enthusiasm was shown to be warm by the care they had taken and the time which they had spent in the preparation of those papers.

In 1844 the society removed to new quarters, a room having been secured in the second story of a house on South Sixth Street, below Walnut, which was after- ward numbered 211. The resources of the society were

OLD HISTORICAL SOCIETY BUILDING ON SPRUCE STREET.

still meagre, and in consequence the appointments of the organization and the material collected were upon a modest scale. In about three years the society again made a change of quarters, this time removing to the upper rooms of the then newly-erected building belonging to the Athenæum, about half a square to the south, on Sixth Street. Here the society was established about a quarter of a century, during which period great advancements, of a numerical, financial, and historical character, were made. A commendable zeal in research was fostered, much valuable material was collected, and, in general, the fundamental objects of the organization were sensibly promoted. Finally it became obvious that the collections of the society were increasing so fast that they could not be well accommodated in the rooms of the Athenanm, and the managers of the

Pennsylvania Hospital having placed at the com- mand of the society, in a very handsome manner, and for a long term of years, their building on Spruce Street, known as the "Picture House,"1 overlooking their spacious and well-kept gardens on the south, it was gratefully accepted by the society. A sum of ten thousand dollars being cheerfully subscribed, prepa- rations were immediately made, on an extensive scale, to adapt the building to the uses of the new occupants ; very large and securely-built fire-proof closets being a matter which engaged especially the attention of the society. The whole house, which it required nearly a year to complete, having been finished in February, 1872, the valuable collections of the society were transferred to it. This responsible and laborions work being accomplished a committee, composed of John Jordan, Jr., William Duane, and John T. Lewis, was appointed to inform the members of the transfer. To signalize more impressively a step which seemed to be a great one in the progress of the society, it was re- solved to inaugurate the hall in form, and the president was requested to deliver an address of inauguration.

Accordingly, on Monday evening, the 11th of March, 1872, that being one of the evenings of the stated meetings of the society, a large com- pany assembled in the new hall, and John Wil- liam Wallace, at that time the president of the society, proceeded to address it in an admirable discourse, outlining the history of the organiza- tion from its inception in 1824.

Although it had been the purpose of the so- ciety to remain many years in its new hall on Spruce Street, yet a decade had scarcely elapsed before its quarters were found to be too circum- scribed to meet the demands superinduced by the advanced strides of the association ; so that in the latter part of 1882 initiatory steps were taken looking toward what eventually resulted in a radically new departure. The commodious family mansion of the late Gen. Robert Patter- son, which had been erected in 1832, standing at the southwest corner of Locust and Thirteenth Streets, was placed in the market, and a vigorous effort was made by a number of the more active members of the society to secure sufficient funds for the pur- chase of this admirable property. The movement was eminently successful, and the mansion was bought, together with an adjoining lot of ground, upon which an auditorium was subsequently erected. The prop- erty itself, together with the additions, alterations, and renovations which were made, cost about ninety-five thousand dollars; which snm was entirely raised by voluntary subscriptions, chiefly from the members of the society. Not a dollar has ever been asked for or

1 It was originally constructed for the exhibition of Benjamin West's great painting " Christ Healing the Sick," presented by him to the hos- pital.

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LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

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received from the city or State authorities. The sum of five thousand dollars was also expended in fur- nishing the society's new quarters.

Since the institution of the Historical Society its deliberations have been presided over at various times by six presidents. As already stated, the first in- cumbent of this office was William Rawle. His tenure of the presidency covered the period between 1825 and 1836. Mr. Rawle was succeeded by Peter S. Du Ponceau. His term of service lasted from 1837 to 1845. He was succeeded by Judge Thomas Ser- geant, of the State Supreme Court, who occupied the office until 1858. The next president was Dr. George W. Norris, an eminent physician, who served only

mother was a sister of the first named of this circle, the elder Horace Binney. His early training in literature, in religion, and the law was under the constant guidance and supervision of his father ; but he owed much to his mother, who, to intellectual cul- ture, joined qualities of heart that endeared her to her son, and united them in the closest bonds of affection.

Mr. Wallace graduated at the University of Penn- sylvania in 1833. Selecting the law as his future profession, he pursued his studies in this city and in London. He was called to the bar Oct. 27, 1836. His legal acquirements were extensive and varied. Few of his contemporaries at the Philadelphia bar

PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

two years, or until 1860. In the latter year, Joseph R. Ingersoll, at one time minister to England, was chosen. He performed the duties of the office until 1868. From that time until his death, Jan. 12, 1884, John William Wallace was president of the society. The next president was Brinton Coxe, who was chosen Jan. 21, 1884.

John William Wallace, who has long been known to the bar and the community as a distinguished law- yer, scholar, and citizen, was born in this city Feb. 17, 1815. His father was John Bradford Wallace, who belonged to that distinguished circle of lawyers -- Binney, Sergeant, and Chauncey-who conferred so much honor upon the Philadelphia bar, and his

cultivated so assiduously what may be termed the literature of the law. His first volume, called "The Reporters," the first edition of which was published in 1843, illustrates Mr. Wallace's learning and abili- ties as a legal writer.

Early in his professional career he was appointed a master in chancery hy the Supreme Court of Peun- sylvania, and subsequently published three volumes of reports of "Cases in the United States Circuit Court," and edited six volumes of "British Crown Cases Reserved." In 1864 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of the United States the reporter of its decisions, and twenty-two volumes of reports attest the ability and the fitness which he brought to

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

the duties of this important position. "Wallace's Reports" are a monument to his faithfulness and his learning. Mr. Wallace was not only a lawyer and a legal writer, but he was an accomplished belles- lettres scholar, and during his several visits abroad devoted himself to literature and art. He was greatly interested in historical and biographical studies, and while still the reporter of the Supreme Court was elected, in 1868, the president of the Historical So- ciety of Pennsylvania, which position he continued to hold to the time of his death. In politics, Mr. Wallace was a devoted adherent to the traditions of the old Federal party. In religion he was a stanch churchman, and a constant attendant on church services. Mr. Wallace's family consisted of his wife, who survives him, and one daughter, the wife of John Thompson Spencer, of the Philadelphia bar.

During the society's sixty years of effort and inves- tigation much material of value has been gathered. Of primary importance, of course, is its very excel- lent library. It contains at the present time about twenty thousand bound volumes. Among the valu- able books belonging to the society may be mentioned the following : "Kalendarium Pennsilvaniense . . . Being an Almanack for the Year of Grace 1686," printed by William Bradford, at Philadelphia, in 1685; "Good Order established in Pennsilvania and New Jersey. By Thomas Budd," printed in 1685; " An Epistle from John Burnyeat to Friends in Pennsilvania," printed by William Bradford in 1686; an Elliott Bible, printed at Cambridge in 1685; the first and second volumes of the Pennsylvania Gazette, the first being printed by Samuel Keimer, and the second by Franklin & Meredith ; and Sanderson's "Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence," illustrated with original autograph letters.

The society's manuscript collection is a voluminous one, and of rare value. Among its chief features are the following : The "Penn Papers," being mis- cellaneous correspondence of members of the Penn family, from a period prior to the settlement of Penn- sylvania in 1682 until the war of the Revolution; the " Franklin Papers," embracing much of the cor- respondence of the famous scholar and diplomat; the "Shippen Papers," containing letters and documents written by various members of this distinguished family, and a vast amount of miscellaneous matter of much historical, biographical, and antiquarian value.

The society is, moreover, possessed of portraits, chiefly in oil, of many distinguished persons. Among them are portraits of Amerigo Vespucci, Hernando Cortez, John Hampden, William Penn, Benjamin West, Washington, Lafayette, Anthony Wayne, Wil- liam Moultrie, Henry Knox. John Cadwalader, Sir William Keith, Patrick Gordon, James Logan, James Hamilton, Richard Penn, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Wharton, Jr., Joseph Reed, William Moore, John Dickinson, Thomas Mifflin, Thomas Mckean, Simon Snyder, George Wolf, and Joseph Ritner.

Besides its valuable collection of books, manu- scripts, and portraits, the society possesses many his- torical relics of great interest. Indeed, this feature of the society may be said to constitute it a veritable museum of curiosities.

The Library Association of Friends .- Although the question of establishing a library had been pre- viously discussed, it was not until 1834 that the liberal branch of Friends, known as "Hicksite Quakers," began active measures looking toward the establishment of a library. At a Monthly Meeting held Dec. 17, 1834, at the Cherry Street meeting- house, below Fifth Street, a committee was appointed to report upon the feasibility and desirability of founding a library under the care of the Cherry Street Meeting, and for the use of its members. This committee comprised William Wayne, James Mott, Caleb Clothier, Richard Pice, Joseph Parrish, M.D., Thomas Parker, Samuel Hutchinson, J. El- wood Chapman, Dillwyn Parrish, William Eyre, Ed- ward Hopper, Benjamin J. Leedom, James Willis, George Truman, Charles Longstreth, and Jacob T. Williams.

On the 25th of February, 1835, the committee re- ported in favor of the establishment of a library, provided a suitable room could be made available. They had made some effort toward ascertaining whether sufficient funds could be secured with which to erect a library building, and also quarters for school purposes. They had succeeded in raising fourteen hundred dollars, which was considered nearly sufficient, only fifteen hundred to two thou- sand dollars being deemed necessary. The commit- tee asked for authority to go on with the work, and requested permission to erect the proposed building on the property belonging to the meeting, forty-six by seventeen feet, north of the meeting-house. The authority asked for was granted.

At the Monthly Meeting held Nov. 18, 1835, the committee reported that the building for library and school purposes had been erected, and that the schools were already in operation. The committee also re- ported in favor of the appointment of a committee from the meeting to have general charge of the library, to supervise the selection of books, etc., and to see that the institution should be conducted in a proper manner. The committee further recommended the organization of a library association of Friends, to comprise not only members of the Cherry Street Meeting, but of the other Monthly Meetings as well, which should be responsible for the financial opera- tions of the library, subject, however, to the general supervision of the Monthly Meeting.

The recommendations of the building committee were adopted. On the same evening there was organ- ized "The Library Association of Friends of Phila- delphia." At an adjourned meeting of the association held six days later, on November 24th, a committee reported a set of rules and regulations for the gov-

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LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

ernment of the society, which were adopted. Among them was the following: "The association shall con- sist of such persons, members of the Society of Friends, as shall pay in advance one dollar or upward per annum, or who shall contribute at one time twenty dollars ; or donations may be received for the use of the association, and the donors not be considered as members of the association if they so request."

At this meeting of the association a committee of management was appointed. From that time the affairs of the library have been under the direction of a similar committee.

The library building, erected in 1835, was of modest dimensions and construction. Its whole cost, exclu- sive of furniture, was $2317.81. It was deemed ade- quate for the purposes of the association, however, until the Monthly Meeting in the spring of 1857, having disposed of its real estate on Cherry Street, removed to the very commodions property, then newly prepared for it, on Race Street above Fifteenth. Here convenient buildings had been erected, including a meeting-house and school- and library-rooms.

Since the institution of the library its growth has been excellent, considering the conservative methods which naturally prevail in a society wholly managed by Friends. In November, 1836, the library con- tained 1100 volumes, received by donation, purchase, and loan. This number had increased in November, 1852, to 3800 volumes, while at the same period in 1883 the library contained 8929 volumes. These were classified as follows: Abridged and juvenile, 1326; scientific, 1090; religious, 1815; voyages and travels, 885; history and biography, 1589; miscel- laneous, 2224.

Any adult member of the three Monthly Meetings of this city can obtain books upon application to the librarian, and having recorded his or her place of residence, accompanied with the signature of the applicant.

Minors, who are members, can be accommodated in the same way, upon their parents, or any Friend of responsibility, signing a printed form of guarantee.

For all others who may desire the use of the library, application must be made to the committee of management, accompanied with a guarantee (which can be procured of the librarian), signed by some re- sponsible individual, and approved by a member of the Library Association of Friends. No fees or dues are exacted for the use of the library, but all books borrowed must be returned or renewed within two weeks, or a fine is incurred.

No book can be renewed or taken out a second time by the same individual until six months shall have elapsed from the time of its introduction into the library, neither can it be transferred to another member of the same family while other applicants are waiting for it.

In making selections for the library care is taken to meet the wants of judicious readers, at the same

time studiously avoiding the introduction of any book antagonistic to the principles and testimonies of the Society of Friends, or in any way unfriendly to true religion or high morality.

The library is open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and evenings, and on Friday afternoons. The hours are from two to five in the afternoons, and from seven to nine in the evenings.

The Spring Garden Institute building is situ- ated at the northeast corner of Broad and Spring Garden Streets. It is one of a number of associations organized through the efforts of the Young Man's Institute, which, about the year 1850, collected funds with which to aid such work. Richard Wistar pre- sented the corner lot, while an adjoining piece of ground was purchased with funds donated. The com- missioners and a number of liberal citizens of Spring Garden contributed to the undertaking, and the sum of five thousand dollars was obtained from the Young Man's Institute. A charter was granted April 12, 1851, and the work of building was begun shortly afterward, the corner-stone having been laid July 8, 1851. On Nov. 12, 1852, the building was dedicated. It occupies a lot one hundred feet front on Broad Street by fifty-seven feet on Spring Garden Street. As originally constructed the first floor was occupied by stores. The second floor formed one large lecture- room, used at times by the institute, but also rented out to other organizations. The third floor was sus- pended by iron rods from the roof-trusses to avoid obstructing the lecture-room below with pillars, and was divided into three apartments. One of these was fitted up for school purposes, one for the library, and the third as a board-room. The library, by gifts, pur- chases, and consolidation with other libraries, soon became one of interest and value, but it was open only in the evening, and being on the third floor was not easily accessible. For a time a drawing-school was maintained, but this was afterward abandoned, and in its place a night-school for English branches was established. Lectures were also maintained with varying degrees of success.

The war of the Rebellion greatly crippled the use- fulness of the institute, and it had not recovered from the effects thereof when, in 1878, a new board of managers was chosen, largely composed of young men who had heretofore had no part in the direc- tion of its affairs. The institute, reinvigorated, dates from that time. The structure was remodeled, new schools were established, and gradually the whole of the building was recovered from tenants, and every room in it used for institute work. The library was removed to the first floor and opened day and night. The whole of the third floor was fitted up for draw- ing-schools, skylights being put in to fit them for use by day-classes; the basements were fitted up as ma- chine-shops and stocked with tools, and the remaining apartments on the first floor were fitted up as drawing- rooms and offices. Extensions were also built in the

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

yard area, kilns for firing china and stained glass erected, and a clay modeling-room equipped in the loft. At present every available part of the building from the cellar floor to the roof is used for institute work.

The library of the institute has been greatly en- sermons of deceased ministers; annual reports of larged and improved within a few years, and now comprises abont fifteen thousand volumes, some of them out of print, bnt a large proportion newly pur- chased and selected with care. The reading-room is entirely free, and is open from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M. The use of the library is withont cost to pupils, and sub- scribers can obtain the use of it hy paying, if adults, three dollars; or if minors, two dollars per annum.

John M. Ogden was president of the institute from its organization until his death, in 1882, when he was succeeded by John Baird, the acting president since 1878, and one of the original board of managers.

The Presbyterian Historical Society was organ- ized in May, 1852. Its fonndation was chiefly due to the efforts of Samuel Agnew, of Philadelphia. Five years later, or in 1857, the Legislature of Pennsyl- vania granted the society a charter. The organiza- tion is not, however, confined in its scope to church interests in this State. It represents the denomina- tion in the whole country.

Since the institution of the society, in 1852, various efforts have been made looking toward its extension, and toward the enlargement of its library. For over a quarter of a century the society possessed no build- ing of its own for a place of meeting and for the storage of its library. Indeed, it was not until 1881, nearly thirty years after the society was founded, that the building No. 1229 Race Street, since owned by the society, was fully taken possession of. While this structure is a plain, modest one, yet it is substan- tially constructed, and is completely adapted to the present wants of the society.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 86

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992