Biddle and Heckscher families papers
Collection 3906
( Bulk, 1905-1918 ) 1783-1922(0.8 Linear feet ; 2 boxes)
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Creator
- Biddle family
- Creator
- Heckscher family
- Title
- Biddle and Heckscher families papers
- ID
- 3906
- Date [bulk]
- Bulk, 1905-1918
- Date [inclusive]
- 1783-1922
- Extent
- 0.8 Linear feet ; 2 boxes
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Susan Kearney.
- Language
- English
- Mixed materials [Box]
- 1
Preferred citation
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Biddle and Heckscher families papers (Collection 3906), Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Abstract
Arthur Biddle (1852-1897), a prominent Philadelphia attorney and a great-grandson of General Clement Biddle (1740-1814), married Julia Biddle (1858-1952). They had three children: Edith Frances (1881-1938), Julian Cornell (1890-1917), and Alfred Alexander (b. 1885). Alfred married Gertrude Spencer Heckscher, with whom he had four children. During World War I, Julian became a pilot, enlisted in the French Foreign Legion, and was assigned to Escadrille 73 of the French Air Force. He died when his plane crashed in the English Channel.
The collection includes papers of the Biddle and Heckscher families, primarily Arthur and Julia Biddle, their children, and Gertrude Heckscher, including correspondence, photographs, government and military documents, clippings, ephemera, and other items. Of special note are letters by Julian Cornell Biddle to his mother and others while he was serving in the French military; an August 1914 letter by Gertrude Heckscher in London, detailing her experiences getting out of Germany and Belgium after the outbreak of war; and a 1783 children's copybook that contains detailed instructions for staging "Juvenile Theatre" plays, as well as schoolwork problems in mathematics and business. Also of note are childhood letters between Edith, Julian, and Alfred Biddle; Julian's medals and military documents (some of which were on his person when his plane crashed); a 1905-1908 photo album of Getrude and Constance Heckscher from their home in Bryn Mawr and travels in several European countries; printed materials from Britain during World War I; 1790s shipping bills of Clement Biddle and others; a telegram from J. P. Morgan concerning Julian Biddle's death; a George Washington letter; and what appears to be a contemporary handwritten copy that was owned by George W. Biddle (Arthur Biddle's father), of Joseph Townsend's narrative of the Battle of Brandywine.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2019.
1300 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200
Access restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Provenance
Gift of Sheila Biddle, 2014.
Accession number 2014.086.
Related Materials
Related materials
At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:
Heckscher family papers (Collection D0132)
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
- Correspondence.
Geographic Name(s)
- Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs--20th century.
Personal Name(s)
- Biddle, Arthur, 1852-1897.
- Biddle, Julia, 1858-1952.
- Biddle, Julian Cornell, 1890-1917.
- Biddle, Sheila
- Heckscher, Gertrude.
Subject(s)
- Brothers and sisters--Correspondence.
- Children--Correspondence.
- Family life--Personal correspondence--20th century.
- Personal Correspondence.
- World War, 1914-1918--France--Personal accounts.
- World War, 1914-1918--Participation, American.
- World War, 1914-1918--Personal correspondence.
- World War, 1914-1918--Personal Narratives.
- World War, 1914-1918.
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
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Genealogy undated |
1 | 1 | ||
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Two Letters 1777 and 1799 (George Washington) |
1 | 2 | ||
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Barclay letters and shipping bills 1793-1843 |
1 | 3 | ||
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Envelope addressed to Miss Julia Biddle, Travel photos undated |
1 | 4-6 | ||
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Arthur and Julia Biddle and children: correspondence 1874, 1892-1896 |
1 | 7 | ||
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Letter by "Gertrude" to Miss Louise Brock describing the night of 19 August 1914 at the Hague 19 August 1914 |
1 | 8 | ||
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Julian Biddle: Documents and Postcards 1916-1917 |
1 | 9 | ||
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Letters from Julian Biddle and one about his death 1917 |
1 | 10-11 | ||
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Typed copies of Julian Biddle's letters May-August 1917 |
1 | 12 | ||
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Transcriptions of Letters by Julian Biddle May-August 1917 |
1 | 13 | ||
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Julian Biddle: Documents 1916-1918 |
1 | 14 | ||
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Papers related to Julian Biddle post-mortem 1917-1922 |
1 | 15 | ||
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Julian Biddle: Photos and documents post-mortem 1917-1919 |
1 | 16 | ||
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Program for "A Solemn Service" upon the entry of the US in World War I @ St. Paul's Cathedral, London 20 April 1917 |
1 | 17 | ||
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Printed materials saved by "Aunt Edith" from London 1914-1918 |
1 | 18 | ||
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| Box | ||||
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Copybook 1783 |
2 | |||
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Gertrude Spencer Heckscher's photograph album 1905-1908 |
2 | |||
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Julian Biddle: military medals 1914-1918 |
2 | |||
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Copy of Joseph Townsend's narrative of the Battle of Brandywine September 1777 Access restrictionsThis item has been removed from the collection for conservation. Once repairs are complete, it will be returned, and this finding aid will be updated. For further information, please contact the HSP archives. |
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