Colonial Dames of America, Chapter II records


Collection 4207

1856-2016
(25.4 Linear feet ; 55 boxes, 47 volumes, 17 flat files)
© Historical Society of Pennsylvania1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Summary Information

Repository
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Title
Colonial Dames of America, Chapter II records
ID
4207
Date [inclusive]
1856-2016
Extent
25.4 Linear feet ; 55 boxes, 47 volumes, 17 flat files
Author
Finding aid prepared by Sara H. Nash.
Sponsor
Processing and conservation made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
Language
English
Abstract
The Society of Colonial Dames of America (CDA) was founded in New York in 1890 by May King Van Rensselaer, Elizabeth Coralie Gardiner, and Elizabeth Duer King. The CDA was created for patriotic women of colonial ancestry with the declared objectives to be the preservation and dissemination of Revolutionary and early Federal heritage. In Philadelphia, a group of women wanted to form a chapter in 1891, but this nascent chapter disbanded due to conflicts over the parent organization in New York’s constitution. In 1895, a Philadelphia chapter was successfully established and designated Chapter II. In keeping with the CDA's mission of historic preservation, Chapter II occupied a series of historic houses throughout its existence starting with the Randolph Mansion (now Laurel Hill) and Lemon Hill Mansion. The collection includes organizational documents with extensive minutes, collections records and operational records,and papers related to the historic houses.

Preferred citation

Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Colonial Dames of America, Chapter II records (Collection 4207), Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

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Background note

The Society of Colonial Dames of America (CDA) was founded in 1890 by May King Van Rensselaer, Elizabeth Coralie Gardiner, and Elizabeth Duer King. The women incorporated their new society in April 1891 in the state of New York with the declared objectives to be patriotic preservation and dissemination of Revolutionary and early Federal heritage. They created the CDA for patriotic women of colonial ancestry, specifically of legitimate descent from an American colonial ancestor of importance. It was the first such society formed, and in 1892 an application was made to Congress for a charter in the name of the Colonial Dames of America.

In the days prior to the CDA’s incorporation, a group of Philadelphia members requested permission to form a Pennsylvania chapter. The CDA sent a delegation from New York which was authorized to establish the chapter. A day before the scheduled meeting, another group of Philadelphia women formed the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames. Several were also members of the New York organization. Three women of the newly formed Pennsylvania Society attended the meeting for the Pennsylvania chapter. They strongly desired changes to the New York organization’s constitution, but the changes could not be authorized by the delegates. The Philadelphia chapter was approved. The CDA was subsequently incorporated in New York, but the constitution had been amended in the interim. The Philadelphia chapter’s executive board and several other members then resigned from the parent society over the constitutional changes, and the chapter dissolved.

The Pennsylvania Society, incorporated in June 1891, was the first colonial dames group separate from the New York Society, but several others arose shortly after. The various groups joined together in a federation, calling themselves the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. The federated organization also applied to Congress for recognition in 1892. The matter was ultimately referred to the Committee on the Library, which in 1897 found adversely for both groups due to their nearly identical purposes.

In early 1894, the Philadelphia area members of the CDA again requested permission from the parent society to organize as a chapter. They were advised that their numbers were not large enough to support that action. The next year, another chapter charter request was submitted and subsequently accepted. Because a chapter had already been established in Baltimore, Maryland, the Philadelphia chapter was designated Chapter II. The organization meeting of Chapter II, Philadelphia, of the Colonial Dames of America was held on 28 March 1895 at the home of Mrs. George Brinton Phillips. Mrs. George McClellan was chosen to be the chapter’s first president.

In keeping with its mission of historic preservation, Chapter II occupied a series of historic houses throughout its existence. The first was the Randolph Mansion, now known as Laurel Hill, which the chapter leased from the Fairmount Park Commission in 1901. The Georgian style house was built in the 1760s by Rebecca Rawle and her second husband, former Mayor of Philadelphia, Samuel Shoemaker. Shoemaker was also a British loyalist, which led to seizure of the house during the Revolutionary War. Rawle was later able to return to the house. Her son sold it in the 1820s to Philip Syng Physick, known as the “Father of American Surgery,” and the house remained in the family until it was purchased in 1869 to become part of Fairmount Park. Upon taking over the house, the chapter spent $1000 on repairs and restoration and hired a caretaker and a cleaner. Members loaned and donated furnishings and continued to pay for house maintenance during their tenancy.

By 1915, the shift from horse cars to trolleys had rendered the Randolph Mansion accessible only by horse and carriage. To solve the problem and reduce maintenance expenses, the chapter relinquished the house and leased rooms on the second floor of the Shippen-Wistar House at 400 Locust Street.

In 1927, the chapter moved to Wakefield, another Fairmount Park Commission house, at the northeast corner of Ogontz and Lindley Avenues. This house, known alternately as the old Fisher-Fox homestead, was built in the 1790s by Sarah and Thomas Fisher. It remained in the family until 1918. Hannah Fox established a trust to help fund upkeep for the house in 1927. The terms of the trust required that the house be occupied rent-free and used for purposes which would benefit the public. The chapter used Wakefield as headquarters and opened the house to the public for the annual Germantown historic house tours.

By the 1940s Wakefield was proving difficult for the members to reach, especially for those living on the Main Line, and meeting attendance was affected. Chapter activities suffered as a consequence. In 1957, the Fairmount Park Commission offered to lease Lemon Hill Mansion to Chapter II for $200 per year. They would be required to open the first floor entrance hall and oval room to the public one day a week for five hours and to have someone onsite during open hours. Maintenance and upkeep would be performed by the park commission.

The site of Lemon Hill Mansion was part of William Penn’s Springettsbury Manor, which was divided in the mid-1700s. Robert Morris purchased part of the estate and built a large greenhouse and other related buildings. The land was leased out for farming. Morris became destitute, and the property was sold at sheriff’s sale in 1799. Henry Pratt purchased the 43-acre parcel with the greenhouse. He built Lemon Hill soon after purchase and named it for the lemon trees which grew in the greenhouse. Lemon Hill was built in the Federal style with a set of distinctive oval rooms. The city acquired the property in 1845, and it eventually became part of Fairmount Park. Fiske Kimball, first director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, lived at Lemon Hill with his wife from 1926 to 1955. He oversaw the restoration of Lemon Hill to its original state.

The chapter voted to accept the park commission’s offer, and the move was accomplished in June 1957. The women brought some of the furnishings and decor from Wakefield. Individual members donated items and lent others to help make Lemon Hill presentable as a historic house museum. The Philadelphia Museum of Art assisted with loans of suitable historic furniture. Other organizations, such as the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, also loaned objects.

In preparation for the Bicentennial celebration of 1976, the city renovated Lemon Hill Mansion. Trolley tours began at the end of April 1976. Although the final parts of the renovation were ongoing, the house was opened daily to the public in June. Extended operating hours were maintained long after the Bicentennial.

Women’s clubs in the United States declined in the latter part of the 20th century, and the chapter’s membership followed this trajectory. Funding decreased precipitously due to internal and external factors. City and park budget cuts caused prolonged deferral of necessary maintenance and upkeep. In 1987, the chapter hosted a garden party fundraiser which succeeded well beyond expectations. The money was used for major repairs, and the chapter began to consider more organized methods of raising money. The Friends of Lemon Hill was formed as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 1997 for this purpose. Money received would be used to maintain the mansion and grounds and to provide educational programming to students and the general public. The chapter retained responsibility for the interior and the collection. The efforts were more or less successful for nearly a decade, but membership continued to decline due to aging and attrition.

The Lemon Hill lease was terminated in 2016, and the chapter’s collections were deaccessioned. The Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation took over management of the mansion.

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Scope and content note

Series 1, Administrative records (1894-2016) is divided into two subseries.  Subseries 1.a is comprised of organizational documents such as chapter history, correspondence, committee records, meeting minutes, legal papers, and membership records. The Board of Managers meeting minutes are nearly complete from the group’s founding through the early 1960s. The records of the Friends of Lemon Hill, the fundraising arm of the organization, are included here, as are materials related to the parent society, the Colonial Dames of America.  Subseries 1.b is comprised of documents relating to the historic houses occupied and managed by Chapter II and collections records. Most of the historic house papers pertain to Lemon Hill Mansion, which was leased to the chapter in 1957. There is extensive documentation of the operation of Lemon Hill as a house museum, including house management, events, programs, research, tours, and interpretation.

Series 2, Financial records (1910-2015) contains records for both Chapter II and the Friends of Lemon Hill. Dues and expenses ledgers for the chapter appear to run without interruption from 1910-1968. Records for the 1970s-1980s are sparse, but the 2000s are better represented by bank, investment, transaction, and payroll records. The series also includes fundraising and grant records.

Series 3, Graphic materials (circa 1891-2011) contains Chapter II’s scrapbooks and photograph albums, loose photographs, slides, negatives, artwork, images, maps, and posters. Scrapbook dates range from the early 1890s to 2004, with material relating to the chapter and Lemon Hill Mansion. While there are a few early photographs, most are from the Lemon Hill Mansion era and document the historic house and activities. Artwork consists of drawings of Lemon Hill. Additionally, there are some architectural drawings and blueprints, some unrelated to Lemon Hill. The series includes a large number of presentation posters and boards, some made by chapter members, others by students for a Lemon Hill educational program. Many posters were deteriorating and have been dismantled to protect the components; these have been placed in folders (see Boxes 44B and 46).

Series 4, Miscellaneous (1895-2006) contains media, artifacts, and a handful of items indirectly related to the collection. The miscellaneous materials include a few folders of personal correspondence belonging to chapter president Jane Gordon Coxe Fletcher. Among these are a number of letters from noted Standardbred horse trainer and breeder Alex B. Coxe with related clippings. Several diplomas for Bradbury Bedell and Charles Henry Reed are also in this series.

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Overview of arrangement

Series 1. Administrative records (1856-2016, undated)

1.a. Chapter II (1894-2016, undated)

1.b. Historic houses and collections (1856-2016, undated)

Series 2. Financial records (1937-2015, undated)

Series 3. Graphic materials (circa 1891-2011, undated)

Series 4. Media, artifacts, and miscellaneous (1872-2006, undated)

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania , 2022.

1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Access restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Gift of Ellie Penniman, 2018.

Accesion number 2018.033.

Processing note

Wherever possible, original folder titles have been maintained. Virginia Naude’s Lemon Hill archive files were transferred to new folders and retain their original folder titles. Many posters were deteriorating and have been dismantled to protect the components; these have been placed in folders (see Boxes 44B and 46). A few scrapbooks were also dismantled in order to conserve and protect the contents (see Boxes 44A and 45).

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Controlled Access Headings

Personal Name(s)

  • Penniman, Ellie.

Subject(s)

  • Clubs and Associations--20th Century.
  • Clubs and Associations--Patriotic.
  • Clubs and Associations--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
  • Colonial Dames of America.
  • Historic house museums--Furniture, equipment, etc.
  • Historic house museums--Interpretive programs.
  • Lemon Hill Mansion.
  • Women's History--Clubs and Organizations.
  • Women--Societies and clubs.

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Collection Inventory

1. Administrative records (1856-2016, undated) 

Scope and content note

This series contains Chapter II’s administrative records starting with its founding, including organizational records. Documents relating to the chapter's historic house museums and collections are also in this series.

1.a. Chapter II (1894-2016, undated) 

Scope and content note

This subseries is comprised of organizational documents such as chapter history, correspondence, committee records, meeting minutes, legal papers, and membership records. The Board of Managers meeting minutes are nearly complete from the group’s founding through the early 1960s. The records of the Friends of Lemon Hill, the fundraising arm of the organization are included here, as are materials related to the parent society, the Colonial Dames of America.

Organizational records (1897-2003, undated) 
Box Folder

Lawsuit regarding two colonial dames societies (1897)  

 1 1

Statement of authorization to establish chapter (1968) 

 2 1

Statement of authorization to establish chapter (1968) 

 1 2

Mission statement (1989) 

 1 3

Mission statement, code of ethics, and long range plan (undated) 

 1 4

Colonial Dames of America statement of purpose (undated) 

 1 5

Chapter history (1891-1896, undated) 

Note

Includes photographs of the Randolph Mansion.

 1 6

Materials for chapter history books (1895-1967) 

Note

Includes a copy of Ford Times, November 1958.

 1 7

Clippings for chapter history books (1930s-1960s, undated) 

 1 8

Chapter II history (1958-1961, undated) 

 1 9

Colonial Dames book (1960-1961) 

 1 10

CDA Master Book, part 1, Board of Managers (1950-1970) 

 1 11

CDA Master Book, part 2, membership - Chapter II (1968-1970) 

 1 12

CDA Master Book, part 3, New York reports (1960-1970) 

 1 13

CDA Master Book, part 4, officers - all chapters (1960-1969) 

 1 14

CDA Master Book, part 5, reports and speeches (1960-1970) 

 1 15

CDA Master Book, part 6, miscellaneous papers (1961-1969) 

 1 16

Chapter II handbook, part 1 (1996-2006) 

 1 17

Chapter II handbook, part 2 (1996-2006) 

 1 18

Chapter II presidents 1895-1995 (circa 1995) 

 3 1

Chapter presidents list, 2 copies (circa 1996) 

 2 2

Presidents’ election to President Emeritus and Life Member (18 April 2001) 

 1 19

Economic Census (1997-2003) 

 1 20

Decennial report (2001) 

 1 21

Pennsylvania charitable organization registration (2001-2002) 

 1 22

Organizational reference (2002) 

 4 1

Pennsylvania statutes on nonprofit corporations (undated) 

 4 2

Board of managers and committees (1894-2005, undated) 
Volume

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1894-1895) 

 1

Manuscript minutes of the founding of Chapter II, Philadelphia, of the Colonial Dames of America (1895-1966) 

 2
Box Folder

Report of founding and annual reports, transcriptions 1895-1905 (1960) 

 4 3

Report of founding and annual reports, transcriptions 1895-1905 (1960) 

 4 4
Volume

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1896-1899) 

 3
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 3 (1899) 

 4 5

Tenth anniversary address (1905) 

 4 6
Volume

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1910-1915) 

 4
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 4 (1912-1914) 

 4 7
Volume

Secretary’s and annual reports (1914-1924) 

 5
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 5 (1916-1924) 

 4 8
Volume

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1915-1917) 

 6
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 6 (1915-1917) 

 4 9

Material removed from Volume 6 (1917) 

 5 1
Volume

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1917-1920) 

 7
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 7 (1917-1920) 

 4 10
Volume

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1920-1923) 

 8
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 8 (1919-1923, undated) 

 4 11
Volume

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1923-1929) 

 9
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 9 (1923-1929, undated) 

 4 12
Volume

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1929-1936) 

 10
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 10 (1935-1955, undated) 

 4 13

Board of Managers meeting minutes (manuscript) (1936-1937)  

 4 14

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1936-1939) 

 4 15-16

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1942-1954) 

 6 1-5

Ballots (1952-1954) 

 6 6

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1955-1959, undated) 

 6 7-8

Special meetings: “Wakefield or Lemon Hill?” (1957) 

 6 9-10

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1960-1962) 

 6 11-12

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1973-2003) 

 7 1-2

Board of Managers meeting minutes binder, parts 1 and 2 (1975-1977) 

 7 3-4

Board of Managers meeting minutes (1978-2009) 

 7 5-10

Board of Managers meeting minutes (manuscript) (undated) 

 8 1

President’s binder, parts 1-3 (1972-1981) 

Note

Agendas, minutes, reports, correspondence, and other related papers.

 8 2-4

Chapter II board members (1979-1981, undated) 

 8 5

Chapter II officers and Board of Managers (undated) 

 3 2

Corresponding secretary’s board meeting reports (1984-1990) 

 8 6-8

Board orientation materials (1998-2000) 

 8 9

Chapter II board orientation materials (circa 1999) 

 8 10

Code of ethics for the Board of Managers (circa 1999) 

 8 11

Book Award Committee (1958-1971)  

 9 1-3

Bylaws Committee (1960-1967) 

 9 4-5

Endowment Fund Committee (1963-1970) 

 9 6

Entertainment Committee (1955-1968) 

 9 7-8

Garden Committee (1959-1967, undated)  

 9 9

Gimbel Award committee (1967-1970) 

 9 10

Historian (undated) 

 9 11

Hostess Committee (1960-1961, undated)  

 9 12

Hostess Committee, Sunday Bulletin Magazine (22 July 1969) 

 5 2

Hostess Committee binder, parts 1-2, “Museum and admission” and "Hostess Committee" (1962-1977) 

 9 13-14

Hostess Committee binder, parts 3-5, “Color slides” and "Guides - 1977" (1969-1977, undated)  

 10 1-3

Lenten Sewing Committee (1958-1970) 

 10 4

Library Committee (1967) 

 10 5

Memorial Book Committee (1969, undated) 

 10 6

National Affairs Committee (1960-1970) 

 10 7

New Citizens’ Reception Committee (1960, undated) 

 10 8

Nominating Committee binder, parts 1-3 (1960-1972) 

 10 9-11

Program committee (1957-1970)  

 10 12

Scholarship committee (1969-1978, undated)  

 10 13

Notes from meetings (undated) 

 10 14

Correspondence (1940-2005) 
Box Folder

Correspondence (1952-1957) 

 11 1

President’s correspondence (1961-1976)  

 11 1-2

Board of Managers correspondence (1966-1983) 

 11 4-5

Chapter II correspondence file, parts 1-3 (1962-1977) 

 11 6-8

Chapter II correspondence file, part 4 (1972-1974) 

Note

Contains meeting minutes.

 12 1

Correspondence and photograph (1968-1969) 

 12 2

Correspondence (1957-2006) 

 12 3-5

Emails, many related to membership (2004-2006) 

 12 6

Emails (2014-2016) 

 12 7

Chapter II newsletters (1999-2010) 

 12 8

Insurance and legal (1927-2015) 
Box Folder

Birckhead furniture insurance policies (1936-1944) 

 2 3

Insurance: Fire, liability, workmen’s compensation (1972-1980) 

 12 9

Insurance: Fine arts (1979-2002) 

 12 10-11

Directors’ and officers’ insurance (2001-2002) 

 12 12

Insurance (2001-2003) 

 12 13

Insurance (2000-2005) 

 13 1-2

Insurance: Fine arts (2015)  

 13 3

Deed of trust and correspondence for Wakefield (1927-1939) 

 13 4

Copy of Lemon Hill license agreement (1 May 1957) 

 13 5

Fairmount Park Commission tenancy contract (1968-1977) 

 13 6

Agreement with Gimbels (1979) 

 13 7

Lemon Hill Mansion caretaker’s lease (1997) 

 13 8

Cradle of Liberty Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America lawsuit (2009-2010) 

 13 9-10

Membership, events, and meetings (1917-2007, undated) 
Box Folder

Claims Committee report (30 September 1953) 

 13 11

Membership Committee (1960-1975) 

 13 12-14

Member lists (mid-1940s - 1958, undated)  

 13 15-16

Member lists (1972-1991) 

 14 1
Box

Prospective members (circa 1979) 

 15

Member cards (circa 1987) 

 15
Box Folder

Membership procedure (2002) 

 14 2

Membership and mailing lists (2003-2007) 

 14 3

Member information (2004-2005) 

 14 4

Membership (2004-2006)  

 14 5

Member lists (2005, undated) 

 14 6

Membership (2006) 

 14 7

Membership lists and related emails (2006) 

 14 8

Membership (undated) 

 14 9

Master database list (undated) 

 14 10
Oversize

Database printout (undated) 

 Flat file 1
Box

Loose member cards (undated) 

 15
Volume

Colonial Dames of America Chapter II, Philadelphia, Book of Membership 1895-1917 (1917)  

 11

Colonial Dames of America Chapter II, Philadelphia Book of Membership (1917) 

 12
Box Folder

Membership book (1919-1957) 

 16 1-11

Membership book (1960-1987) 

 17 1-11

Grand Duchess Cyril visit (1924) 

 14 11

Clippings: Grand Duchess Cyril visit (1924) 

 14 12

Clippings: Grand Duchess Cyril visit (1924-1925) 

 2 4

Chapter II annual meeting minutes (1925-1940) 

 14 13
Volume

Annual meeting minutes, secretary’s reports (1925-1942) 

 13
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 13 (1939-1966) 

 7 4

Chapter II meeting minutes (1936-1947) 

 14 14

Chapter II annual meeting minutes (1941-1957) 

 14 15

Chapter II annual meeting report (1956) 

 14 16

Chapter II annual meetings (1961-1962) 

 14 17

Chapter II meetings (1961-1962) 

 14 18

Invitations binder (1961-1988)  

 18 1

Chapter II activities (1970s)  

 18 2

Chapter II activities (1970s-1980s) 

 2 5

Chapter II annual meeting minutes (1974-1975) 

 18 3

Antique sale and flea market (1980) 

 18 4

Chapter II activities (1980s)  

 18 5

Chapter events and meetings (1978-2006) 

 18 6

Chapter II annual meeting (21 April 1999) 

 18 7

Chapter II meetings (1978-2001, undated) 

 18 8

Annual meetings (1960-2003) 

 18 9

Christmas party 2001 (1999-2002) 

 18 10

Hearts and Crafts Valentine’s party (2001-2002) 

 19 1

Annual meetings: Reports of committee chairs (2003-2005) 

 19 2

Friends of Lemon HIll (1986-2006, undated) 
Box Folder

Friends of Lemon Hill Liaison reports (1986-2009) 

 19 3

Friends of Lemon Hill organization (1997-1999) 

 19 4

Strategic plan (1998-2000) 

 19 5

Friends of Lemon Hill notes and miscellaneous papers (1999-20004) 

 19 6

Friends of Lemon Hill meetings (1999-2004) 

 19 7

Friends of Lemon Hill correspondence (2000-2002, undated)  

 19 8

Friends of Lemon Hill newsletter (June 2002) 

 19 9

Friends of Lemon Hill annual meetings (2001-2003) 

 19 10

Friends of Lemon Hill board and directors (2004) 

 3 3

Friends of Lemon Hill member list (2005) 

 19 11

Friends of Lemon Hill board meetings (2005-2006) 

 19 12

Colonial Dames of America (parent society) (1890-2012, undated) 
Box Folder

Colonial Dames of America binder number 1 (1917-1983) 

 19 13A

Colonial Dames of America binder number 1 (1917-1983) 

 19 13B

Colonial Dames of America binder number 1 (circa 1966) 

 5 3

Colonial Dames of America annual meetings (1950-1954) 

 19 14

Conference of the parent society (11 January 1971) 

 19 15

Colonial Dames of America annual meetings (2001-2002) 

 19 16

Colonial Dames of America purpose and membership requirements (undated) 

 19 17

Colonial Dames of America membership materials (undated) 

 19 18

“War Activities of the American Soldiers and Sailors Library Committee,” Colonial Dames of America Chapter IV; Paris, France (1917-1918) 

 7 5

Colonial Dames of America 1890-1904 (1904) 

 17 12

Material removed from Colonial Dames of America 1890-1904 (undated) 

 19 19

Colonial Dames of America constitution and bylaws (1911-1931) 

 17 13-14

Colonial Dames of America constitution and bylaws (1953-1976) 

 20 1-4

Colonial Dames of America year book (1925-1935) 

 20 5-14

Material removed from Colonial Dames of America 1926-1927 year book (undated) 

 19 20
Volume

Colonial Dames of America year book (1927-1928) 

 14
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 14 (undated) 

 19 21

Material removed from Colonial Dames of America 1929-1930 year book (undated) 

 19 22

Material removed from Colonial Dames of America 1932-1933 year book (undated) 

 19 23

Colonial Dames of America year book  (1933-1934) 

 20 14

Colonial Dames of America year book (1934-1944) 

 21 1-10

Colonial Dames of America report (1949-1950) 

 19 24

Colonial Dames America year book (1951-1953) 

 22 1-2

Colonial Dames of America annual report (1952-1972) 

 22 3-19

Colonial Dames of America annual report (1972-1983) 

 23 1-10

Addenda to the 1984 membership book (31 January 1986) 

 24 1

Colonial Dames of America annual report (1985-1987) 

 23 11-12

“The Colonial Dames of America: Preserving the Past; Addressing the Future,” Social Register Observer, by Sharon W. Vaino, reprint (summer 2012) 

 24 2

Miscellaneous (1912-2005, undated) 
Box Folder

“Old Philadelphia Families - Leiper,” North American, Frank Willing Balch (1 September 1912) 

 5 4

Colonial Dames of America, Chapter II, Philadelphia 1905-1915 (1915) 

 23 12-13
Volume

The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York, 1893-1926 (1926)  

 15
Box

Poem: “Is it Worthwhile?,” Laurett de T. Prime, presented to the Colonial Dames of America, Chapter II, by Marguerite A. Ravenel (circa 1926)  

 25
Volume

Glimpses into History, Colonial Dames of America Chapter II, Philadelphia  (1961)  

Note

Number 71 of 300.

 16
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 16 (circa 1970) 

 24 3
Volume

Glimpses into History, Colonial Dames of America Chapter II, Philadelphia  (1961) 

Note

Limited run of 300, but not numbered.

 17
Box Folder

Mt. Vernon Garden, Bath, England (1960-1961)  

 3 4

Public service certificates (1963-1999, undated) 

 24 4

Certificate of appreciation from the Philadelphia Bar Association (21 September 1966) 

 5 5

Fairmount Park Commission certificate of appreciation (1988) 

 24 5

City of Philadelphia tribute to Chapter II (5 April 1995) 

 5 6

Safe deposit box (2001) 

 24 6

National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strategic plan, 2004-2008 (October 2003) 

 24 7

Customer contact list (September 2005) 

 24 8

Mailing list (2005)  

 24 9

Phone call list (undated) 

 24 10

Junior Dames (undated) 

 24 11

Work done by Chapter II, 1898-1902 (undated) 

 24 12

"Colonial Dames of America Chapter II and Shippen-Wistar House 1915-1927" (undated) 

 24 13

Miscellaneous papers (undated) 

 24 14

1.b. Historic houses and collections (1856-2016, undated) 

Scope and content note

This subseries is comprised of documents relating to the historic houses occupied and managed by Chapter II and the collections records. Most of the historic house papers pertain to Lemon Hill Mansion, which was leased to the chapter in 1957. There is extensive documentation of the operation of Lemon Hill as a house museum, including house management, events, programs, research, tours, and interpretation.

Antiquarian/Collections Committee (1950-2013, undated) 
Box Folder

Antiquarian Committee binder (1950-1988) 

 24 15

“Collection, blue binder,” part 1 (1983-1997) 

 24 16

“Collection, blue binder,” part 2, “House” (1957-1976, undated) 

Note

Includes Tucker China 1825-1838, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 4 May 1957 through 9 September 1957.

 24 17

“Collection, blue binder,” part 3, “Decoration” (1957-1986)  

 24 18

“Collection, blue binder,” part 4, “Research” (undated) 

 24 19

“Collection, blue binder,” part 5, “Garden” (undated) 

 24 20

“Collection, blue binder,” part 6, “Inventory” (1971-2013, undated) 

 24 21

“Collection, blue binder,” part 7, “Inventory” (1970-1992) 

 26 1

“Collection, blue binder,” part 8, “Damage” (1981-1982) 

 26 2

“Collection, blue binder,” part 9, “Loan receipts” (1998, undated) 

 26 3

Antiquarian Committee (1960-1985, undated) 

 26 4-7

Antiquarian committee clippings (1967) 

 2 6

Antiquarian Committee, records of 1976 move (1973-1976) 

 26 8

Discussion of decoration of Lemon Hill (1974) 

 26 9

Philadelphia Museum of Art long-term loan program (1991-1992) 

Note

Includes conservation survey of Lemon Hill.

 26 10

Philadelphia Museum of Art borrower’s luncheon (8 June 1994) 

 26 11

Collection management policies (2002, undated) 

 26 12

Collections records (1915-2016, undated) 

Inventories and appraisals (1915-2016, undated) 
Volume

Randolph Mansion committees and Chapter II collection (1901-1933)  

 18
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 18 (1934) 

 9 17
Volume

List of articles given and loaned to the Randolph Mansion (1915-1918) 

 19
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 19 (1934) 

 28 13
Volume

Memorial book (1950s-1980s) 

 20
Box Folder

Appraisal: Wakefield, Federal Appraisal Company (1950-1955) 

 9 18-19

Wakefield inventory (1951, undated) 

 26 14

Inventory and appraisement of furniture and furnishings at Wakefield (1956) 

 26 15

Inventory and appraisement for insurance valuations, Wakefield (13 November 1956)  

 26 16

Wakefield inventory (undated)  

 27 1

Gifts and loans to Chapter II 1915-1957 (circa 1957) 

 27 2

Objects loaned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art (1957-2011) 

 27 3

Lemon Hill inventory, accessions, and notes (1959-1981, undated) 

 27 4

Inventory and appraisement of furniture and furnishings at Lemon Hill (March 1968) 

 27 5

Lemon Hill Mansion inventory (1977 - circa 1979) 

 27 6-7

Lemon Hill Mansion information and inventory (1982) 

 27 8

Christie’s appraisal of Chapter II collection at Lemon Hill Mansion (1990) 

 27 9

Lemon Hill Mansion inventory (1998) 

 27 10

Chapter II schedule of fine arts (October 1998) 

 27 11

Final report, collections inventory project, Lemon Hill Mansion, Kimberly A. McCarty (June 2001) 

 3 5

Lemon Hill Mansion collections storage project (June 2001) 

 27 12

Inventory and appraisement of furniture and furnishings for insurance purposes at Lemon Hill Mansion (2005-2006) 

 27 13

Technical assistance project: Collections management priorities (June 2006) 

 27 14

“Understanding the Colonial Dames of America Collections at Lemon Hill Mansion, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia,” Joan Coxe Hopkins, Colleen Holt McCauley, Esq. (December 2007) 

 27 15

Lemon Hill house inventory (October 2014) 

 27 16

Collection inventories (2016, undated) 

 27 17

Collection images and inventory (2016, undated) 

 27 18

Lemon Hill inventory (undated) 

 27 19

Collection list and description (undated) 

 27 20

Objects and related records (1933-2016, undated) 
Box Folder

Birckhead furniture (1933-1969) 

 27 21

Lydia Fisher furniture and estate (1935-1957) 

 27 22

Donations to Lemon Hill, list and photographs (1957-1997) 

 27 23

Old loans refused and returned (1934-1977) 

 27 24

Furnishing Lemon Hill (1958-1974) 

 28 1

Rugs (1958-1972) 

 28 2

Bequest of Claude J. K. Anderson (1960-1972) 

 28 3

Collection: Miscellaneous receipts (1960-1991) 

 28 4

Henry Pratt portrait by Henry Inman (1962-2016,undated) 

Note

Loaned by Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

 28 5

Collection binder (1966, undated) 

 28 6

Collection “dead ends” (1966-1976) 

 28 7

Objects loaned by the Penn Museum (1966-2016)  

 28 8

Objects loaned by the Independence National Historic Park (1967-2016) 

 28 9

Objects loaned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art (1967-2016) 

 28 10

Tall case clock, returned to owner (1970-1979) 

 28 11

Fox loans (1974-2004) 

 28 12

Object file: French porcelain dessert set (1975, undated) 

 28 13

Sheffield tea urn, sold (1977-2016) 

 28 14

Object file: Staffordshire figurines, Neptune and Sea Goddess (1978, undated) 

 28 15

Object file: Heriz rug (1978-2008) 

 28 16

Object file: Pair of brass nutcrackers (1979) 

 28 17

Object file: Federal horsehair covered armchair and footstool (1986-2016) 

 28 18

Object file: Martha Washington dress (1989) 

 28 19

Object file: Red federal sofa (1994-2001) 

 28 20

Theft of Chinese export tureens (1996-2000) 

 3 6

Object file: Pratt portraits (1997, undated) 

 28 21

Return receipt, Philadelphia Museum of Art (18 December 2001) 

 28 22

Copy of Gilbert Stuart portrait of Robert Morris (2002, undated) 

 28 23

Upholstery work, Lemon Hill (2008-2009) 

 28 24

Object file: Schooner yacht model (2008-2016) 

 28 25

Anne Biddle Pratt object loans (2008-2016) 

 28 26

Object file: Birch prints (2012-2016)  

 28 27

Object file: Portrait of Henry Pratt (2013-2016) 

 29 1

Object file: Pratt silver tea service (2016) 

 29 2

Object file: Piano stool and eyeglasses (2016, undated) 

 29 3

Donations to art conservation department of the University of Delaware (2016) 

 29 4

Object file: Tea service, Duke of Fife, sold (undated)  

 29 5

Object file: Royal crown derby garniture, 3 pieces, returned to owner (undated) 

 29 6

Object file: Urns with snake handles, returned to owner (undated) 

 29 7

Objects loaned by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (undated) 

 29 8

Loaned objects (undated) 

 29 9

Miscellaneous loaned objects (undated) 

 29 10

Lemon Hill loan list (undated) 

 29 11

Miscellaneous collection photographs and cards (undated) 

 29 12

Object information forms (undated) 

 29 13
Box

Collection cards (undated) 

 15

Book cards (undated) 

 15
Box Folder

Collection reference (undated) 

 29 14

Randolph Mansion and Wakefield (1901-1939, undated) 
Volume

Randolph Mansion committees and Chapter II collection (1901-1933)  

 18
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 18 (1934) 

 7 6
Volume

Minutes of the House Committee (1902-1910) 

 21
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 21 (1905-1910, undated)  

 29 15
Volume

Visitors log of Randolph Mansion (1 May 1901 - 6 January 1927) 

 22
Box Folder

Colonial Dames of America Chapter II and Randolph Mansion 1901-1915 (undated) 

 29 16

Wakefield House Committee book (1935-1939) 

 29 17

Material removed from Wakefield House Committee book (1935-1937) 

 29 18
Volume

Wakefield notebook (1940-1952)  

 23
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 22 (1951-1959, undated) 

 29 19

Wakefield history (undated) 

 29 20

Memorial trees planted in Wakefield Park (undated) 

 2 7

Directions to Wakefield (undated) 

 29 21

Lemon Hill Mansion (1856-2015, undated) 

House management and maintenance (1957-2004, undated) 
Box Folder

Move to Lemon Hill Mansion (1957-1958)  

 29 22

House Committee (1957-1977) 

 29 23

House Committee (1961-1969) 

 29 24

Lemon Hill data binder, part 1 (1957-1969) 

 29 25

Lemon Hill data binder, part 2 (1961-1969) 

 29 26

Lemon Hill repair bills (1957-1977)  

 29 27

Curtains (1957-1990) 

 30 1

Lemon Hill work estimates (1963-1989, undated) 

 30 2

Fabric swatches and information (1966-1977) 

 30 3

Correspondence regarding Lemon Hill restoration (1973-1975) 

 30 4

Carpet (1974-1984) 

 30 5

Lemon Hill house information (1976-1980) 

 30 6

Lemon Hill maintenance (1977-1999) 

 30 7

Lemon Hill security system (1980-1997) 

 30 8

Lemon Hill Mansion basement apartment (1987-1992) 

 30 9

Colonial Dames of America Chapter II and Lemon Hill Mansion, 1957-1999, 42 Years of Historic Housekeeping (1999)  

 30 10

Technical assistance grant and strategic plan (1997-1998) 

 30 11

Lemon Hill Emergency Preparedness Manual (1998) 

 30 12

Lemon Hill Christmas decoration (1999) 

 30 13

Historic structures report request for proposal (1999) 

 30 14

Lemon Hill: Planting of fountain area (1999) 

 30 15

Standards and Practices for Historic Site Administration, Tri-State Coalition for Historic Places (2000)  

 30 16

Strategic plan and historic structure report (2002) 

 30 17

Lemon Hill Mansion structural engineering proposal (2003) 

 30 18

Lemon Hill Preservation plan, 2004-2006 (10 March 2004)  

 30 19

Official Museum Directory (2004) 

 30 20

Lemon Hill Mansion treatment recommendations (undated) 

 30 21

Lemon Hill position statement (undated) 

 30 23

Suggestions for renovations at Lemon Hill (undated) 

 30 23

Lemon Hill caretaking manual (undated) 

 30 24
Box

Tickler file (undated) 

 15

Where to find file (undated) 

 15

Events and programs (1922-2008, undated) 
Box Folder

Fairmount Park Symphony Orchestra programs (1922-1924) 

 30 25

Lemon Hill Bicentennial plates (1975) 

 30 26

Publicity (1979, undated) 

 30 27

Lemon Hill events: Progressive dinner (1983-1987)  

 31 1

Official Calendar: Bicentennial of the Constitution 1787-1987 (1986) 

 2 8

Period Room, a project by Amy Hauft (1998) 

 31 2
Volume

Period Room and Other Projects, exhibition catalog, Amy Hauft (1998) 

 24

"C. D. A. New Citizens" ceremony book (1999-2000) 

 25
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 25 (24 March 1999) 

 31 3
Volume

Friends of Lemon Hill, naturalization ceremonies (2001-2002) 

 26
Box Folder

Press packet (2005) 

 31 4

Bike race event (2007-2008) 

 31 5

Lemon Hill programs and events (1976-2005, undated) 

 31 6
Volume

"Welcome to the Lemon Hill Mansion in Fairmount Park," Architecture in Education, 8th grade class of Rhodes Middle School (fall 1999) 

 27
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 27 (fall 1999) 

 31 7
Volume

"Welcome to the Lemon Hill Mansion in Fairmount Park," Architecture in Education, 8th grade class of Rhodes Middle School (fall 1999) 

 28
Box Folder

Strawberry Mansion Historical Tour: Looking at Our Community Through Positive Eyes (1998-1999) 

Note

Gideon Elementary School M. G. Program.

 31 8

Lemon Hill Mansion, Architecture in Education (Spring 2001)  

 5 7

Architecture in Education (undated) 

 31 9

Education program (undated) 

 31 10

Maennerchor history (undated) 

 31 11

Reference and research (1856-2007, undated) 
Volume

Lemon Hill, in its Connection with the Efforts of Our Citizens and Councils to Obtain a Public Park (1856) 

 29
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 29 (undated) 

 31 12

“Archeology and History of Lemon Hill binder” (1957-1975) 

Note

Contains Lemon Hill in its Connection with the Efforts of Our Citizens and Councils to Obtain a Public Park, Philadelphia, June 1856.

 31 13-17

Lemon Hill reference (1959-2008) 

 31 18

Lemon Hill history and research (1962-1977, undated)  

 32 1

“Paint Color Study, Lemon Hill,” Penelope Hartshorne (July 1962) 

 32 2

Lemon Hill reference: "Americana in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the Department of State," repring from The Connoisseur  (July 1970) 

 3 7A

Lemon Hill reference: "China Trade Ware in teh State Department," reprint from Arts of Asia (May-June 1976) 

 3 7B

“The Egyptian Influence on the Neoclassical Style,” Martha Halpern (December 1993)  

 32 3

“Servants in the 18th Century,” Martha Halpern (March 1995) 

 32 4

“Lemon Hill and the Seventh German Singing Festival of 1857,” Martha Halpern (May 1995) 

 32 3

“Horsehair: A Versatile Fiber,” Martha Halpern (August 1995) 

 32 6
Volume

Guide to Records of the Sale of Commonwealth Property in the County of Philadelphia, 1780-1798, compiled by James M. Duffin (1996) 

 30
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 30 (1996, undated) 

 32 7

“Tea Drinking,” Martha Halpern (June 1997) 

 32 8

“Philadelphia Views at Lemon Hill,” Martha Halpern (February 1998) 

 32 9

“Neoclassicism at Lemon Hill,” Martha Halpern (March 1998) 

 32 10

Historic register application (1998-1999)  

 32 11

Lemon Hill history (1999, undated) 

 32 12

Lemon Hill door 2nd floor, construction details (1999) 

 32 13

Proposal for building survey drawings (2000) 

 32 14

Lemon Hill research (2001-2003, undated) 

 3 8

Lemon Hill background research (2001-2005, undated) 

 32 15
Volume

“Robert Morris, Revolutionary, 1734-1806,” Robert M. Morris (2002) 

 31
Box Folder

“Pratt and Kintzing and the Trade in German Linens,” Martha Halpern (April 2004)  

 32 16

“Lemon Hill, an Independent Country,” Sarah Wade (27 April 2007) 

 32 17

“Death, Disease, and History: A Topical Tour of the Philadelphia Region,” Gail Caskey Winkler (undated) 

 32 18

“Henry Pratt and Lemon Hill,” Martha Halpern (May 2001) 

 32 19

Henry Pratt and family notes and reference (1979, undated)  

 32 20

Henry Pratt genealogy and descendancy (2005, undated) 

 5 8

Pratt family genealogy (undated) 

 32 21

“A New Hampshire Governor’s Dinner in the Old Colonial Days,” Mary Cutts Gerrish and H. Maria George (undated) 

 32 22

Historic preservation (1999-2000, undated) 

 32 23

Virginia Naude's Lemon Hill archive file (1961-1993, undated) 
Box Folder

Materials related to articles by Virginia Naude (1964-1966, undated) 

 32 24

“Antiques article, fall 1965” (1963-1965)  

 3 9

Miscellaneous papers from Virginia Naude’s Lemon Hill archive file (1970-1993, undated) 

 32 25

“Lemon Hill miscellaneous secondary sources” (1962, undated) 

 32 26

“Lemon Hill maps” (1962-1964, undated) 

 32 27

“Lemon Hill National Archives notes” (1962-1964, undated) 

 32 28

“Lemon Hill Philadelphia city records” (1964) 

 33 1

“Lemon Hill Morris tenure, primary sources” (1962-1964, undated) 

 33 2

“Lemon Hill Morris tenure, secondary sources” (undated) 

 33 3

“Lemon Hill correspondence” (1961-1966) 

 33 4

“Pratt tenure” (undated) 

 33 5

“Lemon Hill: Comments from M. B. Tinkcom (1962-1964)  

 33 6

“Lemon Hill: Further inquiry” (1964, undated) 

 33 7

“Lemon Hill: Related houses” (undate) 

 33 5

“Lemon Hill: Architects” (1962, undated) 

 33 9

“Lemon Hill: Furniture and furnishings” (1962-1970, undated) 

 33 10

“Lemon Hill: Miscellaneous printed literature” (1961-1963) 

 33 11

“Lemon: Hill measured drawings,” note (undated) 

 33 12

“Lemon: Hill article, Antiques, November 1962,” first draft (undated) 

 33 13

“Lemon Hill: Fiske Kimball tenure,” (1961, undated) 

 33 13

“Lemon Hill: Library of Congress notes” (1962, undated) 

 33 15

“Lemon Hill: Fairmount Park Commission files” (1961-1962) 

 33 16

Notes from Penelope Hartshorne Batcheler’s visit (1964)  

 33 17

“Lemon Hill: Ann Sue Hirshorn’s paper” (undated) 

 33 18

Tours and interpretation (1957-2015, undated) 
Box Folder

Tours (1960-1975)  

 33 19-22

Admission statistics (1974-1980) 

 33 23

Lemon Hill Mansion admissions (1987-1992) 

 34 1

Bicentennial tours (1976)  

 34 2

Lemon Hill Bicentennial activities (1975-1976) 

 34 3

Lemon Hill Yuletide tours, “The Empress of China” (2000) 

 34 4

Lemon Hill Yuletide tours, “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry” (2001-2002) 

 34 5

Lemon Hill totals binder (2002-2014)  

 34 6

Lemon Hill Hostess Book binder (1970-1974) 

 34 7

Custodial guards and guides (1977-1987) 

 34 8

Volunteer study manual for Fairmount Park historic houses (1979) 

 34 9
Box

Docents file (1992-2007) 

 15

Cards removed from docents file (1997-2009) 

 15
Box Folder

Material removed from docents file (1998-2003) 

 34 10

Lemon Hill docent materials (circa 1998) 

 34 11

Docent lists (2003) 

 34 12

Lemon Hill docent materials (2001-2003, undated) 

 34 13
Volume

Lemon Hill Docent Materials (circa 2002) 

 32
Box Folder

Lemon Hill docent materials (undated) 

 34 14

Lemon Hill volunteers (undated) 

 34 15

Tour guides (undated) 

 34 16

Fairmount Park tours and programs (1993-2015, undated) 

 34 17

“The Schuylkill Villas, the 2006 Loan Exhibit” (2006) 

 35 1

“Strategic Priorities and Long Range Goals for Lemon Hill Mansion,” Patricia Wilson Aden (January 1998) 

 35 2

Lemon Hill cultural landscape inventory (2001) 

 35 3

Lemon Hill cultural landscape interpretation project (2003) 

 35 4

Lemon Hill interpretive plan (2005-2006) 

 35 5

Report on Lemon Hill Interpretive Project, Elizabeth Laurent (8 June 2005) 

 35 6

“Lemon Hill: The Shared Landscape and the Merchant’s Cultivations,” Emily T. Cooperman (2005) 

Note

Part of Lemon Hill Interpretation Study.

 35 7
Volume

Lemon Hill Mansion guests (December 1957 - May 1963) 

 33
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 33 (1964-1965, undated) 

 35 8

Lemon Hill Mansion guests (March 1966 - June 1968) 

 35 9

Material removed from Lemon Hill Mansion guests (June 1968)  

 35 10

Lemon Hill Mansion visitors’ register (June 1968 - February 1971) 

 35 11

Material removed from Lemon Hill Mansion vistors' register (May 1969) 

 35 12

Lemon Hill Mansion guests (February 1971 - October 1976) 

 35 13-16

Material removed from Lemon Hill Mansion guests (October 1976) 

 35 17

Lemon Hill Mansion guests (November 1976 - August 1980) 

 36 1-5

Material removed from Lemon Hill Mansion guests (undated) 

 36 6

Lemon Hill Mansion guests (August 1980 - August 1985) 

 36 7-9

Lemon Hill Mansion guests (September 1985 - October 2000) 

 37 1-3
Volume

Lemon Hill Mansion guests (March 1987 - August 1992) 

 34

Lemon Hill Mansion guests (October 1992 - October 2000) 

 35

Miscellaneous (1951-2010, undated) 
Box Folder

Lemon Hill calendar card (1960)  

 37 2

Lemon Hill cookbook (1962, undated)  

 37 3

Antiques (November 1962) 

 3 10

Friends of Independence National Historic Park newsletter (October 1977)  

 37 4

“Christmas in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia,” Joan Church Roberts, Antiques (December 1979) 

 3 11

“Christmas in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia,” reprinted from Antiques (December 1979) 

 3 12

“A Conservation Project for a Small Archive,” Martha Halpern (summer 1984) 

 37 5

Colonial Homes  (December 1993)  

 37 6

Fairmount Park (1994-1996)  

 37 7

Pennsylvania Gazette  (April 1997) 

 37 8

Early American Homes, 2 copies (December 1998) 

Note

Includes “A Holiday Tour of Fairmount Park Houses.”

 37 9

Preservation Pennsylvania (1998, undated) 

 37 10

Vendor list (2000) 

 37 11

Catalogue of Antiques and Fine Art  (spring 2002) 

Note

Two copies.

 3 13-14

Fairmount Park Commission newsletter (winter 2003)  

 5 9

Non-Lemon Hill events (2006) 

 37 12

Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust (2006, undated) 

 37 13

“Lemon Hill: How the House Works,” draft, Bernard L. Herman (undated)  

 37 14

“The Houses in Fairmount Park,” Antiques (undated) 

 3 15

“The Park Houses, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia” (undated) 

 37 15

Lemon Hill note cards and stationery (undated) 

 37 16

Lemon Hill Mansion brochure (undated) 

 37 17

Clippings (1951-1997)  

 3 16

Clippings (1957-2010) 

 2 9-11

Clippings (1967-2010) 

 5 10-11

Photocopies of clippings from 1999 [undated] (1999) 

 37 18

Return to Table of Contents »

2. Financial records (1910-2015, undated) 

Scope and content note

This series contains Chapter II’s financial records. Dues and expenses ledgers appear to run without interruption from 1910-1968. Records for the 1970s-1980s are sparse, but the 2000s are better represented by bank, investment, transaction, and payroll records. The series also includes fundraising and grant records for both Chapter II and the Friends of Lemon HIll.

Financial reports and treasurer's records (1951-2009) 
Box Folder

Treasurer’s reports (1951-1954) 

 37 19

Treasurer’s reports binder (1951-1978) 

 37 20

Spreadsheet from treasurer’s reports (1951-1982) 

 5 12

Treasurer’s reports (1955-1972)  

 38 1

Financial affairs, treasurer’s folder (1978-1979) 

 38 2

Records of money sent to treasurer (1978-1979) 

 38 3

Treasurer’s reports (1980-1987) 

 38 4-5

Financial reports (1987-1989)  

 38 6

Treasurer’s folder (1997-2000) 

 38 7

Financial reports (1999-2003) 

 38 8

Income and expenses (2004-2005) 

 38 9

Financial statements for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (2006) 

 38 10

Year end 2005-2006 (2007)  

 38 11

Financial statements (2008-2009) 

 38 12-13

Friends of Lemon Hill financial statements (2001)  

 38 14

Journals and ledgers (1910-2007, undated) 
Volume

Dues and expenses ledger (1910-1911) 

 36
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 36 (undated) 

 39 1
Volume

Dues ledger (1915-1920) 

 37
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 37 (1922) 

 39 2
Volume

Dues and expenses ledger (1910-1925) 

 38
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 38 (circa 1925) 

 9 20
Volume

Dues and expenses ledger (1926-1937) 

 39

Ledger (1937-1954) 

 40
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 40 (undated) 

 39 3

Balch fund (1952-1997) 

 39 4
Volume

Ledger (1954-1968) 

 41
Box Folder

General ledger and trial balance as of 31 March 2005 (2005-2007) 

 39 5

Investment and bank records (1976-2006) 
Box Folder

Investments (1979-2001) 

 39 6

Investments: Endowment fund (1997-2003) 

 39 7

Investments (2000-2004) 

 39 8

Savings account passbooks (3) (1976-1984) 

 39 4

Bank account (1986-1999) 

 39 10

Bank statements: Restoration fund (1998-2001) 

 39 11

Bank statements: Operating account (2000-2001)  

 39 12

Bank statements (2003-2006)  

 39 13-16

Check register (1981-1995) 

 40 1

Check stubs, including payroll (1999) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2075.

 40 2

Check stubs, including payroll (2000) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2076.

 40 3

Check stubs, including payroll (2001) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2077.

 40 4

Friends of Lemon Hill check register (2000)  

 40 5

Transaction records (1961-2015) 
Box Folder

Paid bills (1961-1966)  

 40 6

Barbara Dicke memorial fund (1987-1988) 

 40 7

Lemon Hill admissions income (1994-2002) 

 40 8

Dues (1997-2002) 

 40 9

Contributions (2000-2001)  

 40 10

Paid bills: Cleaning of Lemon Hill (2000-2002) 

 40 11

Lemon Hill gift shop (2000-2002)  

 40 12

Paid bills (2000-2003)  

 40 13

Paid bills: Historic and preservation organizations (2000-2003) 

 40 14

Paid bills: Printing (2000-2003) 

 40 15

Paid bills: Verizon (2000-2003) 

 41 1

Friends of Lemon Hill: Paid bills (2000-2003) 

 41 2

Lemon Hill Mansion rentals (2001-2002) 

 41 3

Expense vouchers (2001-2003) 

 41 4-5

Income: Philadelphia Museum of Art (2001-2003) 

 41 6

Christmas party 2002 (2002-2003) 

 41 7

Membership: Dues (2002-2003) 

 41 8

Transactions (2002-2003)  

 41 9

Membership: Dues (2004-2005) 

 41 10

Transactions (2004) 

 41 11

Transactions (2005-2006)  

 42 1-2

Fall dues mailing (2006) 

 2 12

Dues paid, October 2006 (2006-2007) 

 42 3

Friends of Lemon Hill contributions (2011) 

 42 4

Receipt (2015) 

 42 5

Payroll (1979-2006) 
Box Folder

Time sheets (1997-1998) 

 42 6

Payroll (2004) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2080.

 42 7

Payroll (2006)  

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2082.

 42 8

Payroll taxes (1979)  

 42 9

Payroll taxes (1980)  

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2056.

 42 10

Payroll taxes (1981) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2057.

 42 11

Payroll taxes (1982) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2058.

 42 12

Payroll taxes (1983) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2059.

 42 13

Payroll taxes (1984) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2060.

 42 14

Payroll taxes (1985) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2061.

 42 15

Payroll taxes (1989) 

 42 16

Payroll (2002) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2078.

 42 17

Payroll taxes (2005) 

Access restrictions

Closed to researchers until 1 January 2081.

 42 18

Taxes (1988-2005, undated) 
Box Folder

Federal taxes (1988-1991) 

 42 19

Pennsylvania tax exemption (1989, undated)  

 42 20

Chapter II tax records (1992-2001) 

 42 21

Forms 1099 (2000) 

 42 22

Form 990 2001 (2002) 

 42 23

From 990 preparation (2005) 

 42 24

Fundraising and grants (1966-2005, undated) 
Box Folder

University Hospital Antiques Show catalog, reference for Collector’s Choice (1966) 

 3 17

Collector’s Choice Loan Exhibition (1976-1978) 

 42 25

Photograph samples for Collector’s Choice (1977) 

 3 18

Antiques Show catalog, reference for Collector’s Choice (1977) 

 42 26

Collector’s Choice: Records of donors (1977-1978) 

 42 27

Collector’s choice clippings (1978) 

 3 19

Fundraising (1980-1983) 

 42 28

Garden party (1986-1987)  

 42 29

Garden party (1986-1987) 

 43 1

Grants (1997-1999, undated)  

 43 2

Grants: Charles Delmar Foundation (1998-2004) 

 43 3

Colonial Dames of America President’s General Award application (1998-2002) 

 43 4

Grant: Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation (1999-2000) 

 43 5

Friends of Lemon Hill: Merck grant applications (2000-2002) 

 43 6

Grant application: Schuylkill River Heritage Corridor (2001) 

Note

For cultural landscape study.

 43 7

Grant: Heritage Investment Program (2001-2002) 

 43 8

Grant application: Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America (2002) 

Note

For cultural landscape study.

 43 9

Friends of Lemon Hill: Arcadia Foundation funding requests (2002) 

 43 10

Friends of Lemon Hill: Grant application (2002) 

 43 11

Grant application: Advanced Stewardship Program of the Conservation Center (2003) 

 43 12

Grant writing (2003, undated) 

 43 13

Grant application: Philadelphia Cultural Fund (2004-2005) 

 43 14

Friends of Lemon HIll: Museums for America grant application (2005) 

 43 15

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission grant application (2005) 

 43 16

Return to Table of Contents »

3. Graphic materials (circa 1891-2011, undated) 

Scope and content note

This series contains Chapter II’s scrapbooks and graphic materials, such as photographs, slides, negatives, artwork, images, maps, and posters. Scrapbook dates range from the early 1890s to 2004, with material relating to the chapter and Lemon Hill Mansion. While there are a few early photographs, most are from the Lemon Hill Mansion era, documenting the historic house and activities. Artwork consists of drawings of Lemon Hill. There are additionally some architectural drawings and blueprints, some unrelated to Lemon Hill. The series includes a large number of presentation posters and boards, some made by chapter members, others by students for a Lemon Hill educational program. Most of the student posters have been dismantled to prevent further deterioration; the components have been placed in folders. Two student posters remain in their original trifold form (Flat files 17 and 20).

Scrapbooks (circa 1891-2004, undated) 
Box Folder

Parent chapter, Colonial Dames of America scrapbook (circa 1891 - 1957) 

 45 1-2

Chapter II scrapbook number 2 (1915 - 1965) 

 44A 1-4

Scrapbook (1965-1978) 

 45 3

Loose clippings from scrapbook () 

 2 13

Chapter II scrapbook (1962-1968) 

 45 4

Loose clippings from scrapbook (1966-1968) 

 2 14
Volume

Chapter II scrapbook (1969-1971)  

 42
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 42 (1960-1972, undated) 

 43 17
Volume

Chapter II scrapbook (1978-2004) 

 43

Colonial Dames of America, Lemon Hill Mansion scrapbook (1987) 

 44
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 44 (1967-1984) 

 43 18

Scrapbook page (1978)  

 5 13

Scrapbook page (1985-1986) 

 3 20
Volume

Presidents of CDA Chapter II (mid-1990s) 

 45

Chapter II scrapbook (1995-1997) 

 46

Chapter II scrapbook (1998-2000) 

 47

Artwork, images, and maps (1906-2011, undated) 
Box Folder

Pen and ink drawing: Lemon Hill by H. T. MacNeill (1957)  

 5 14

Rain conductor head plans, from “Archeology and History of Lemon Hill binder,” section 3 (1962)  

 2 15

Matted print of artwork for Lemon Hill Bicentennial plate (circa 1975) 

 2 15

Chromolithograph of Lemon Hill (1979)  

 43 19

Lemon Hill Oval restoration plan (June 2005)  

 2 15

Matted print: Lemon Hill by Elizabeth Disston Herkness (undated) 

 43 20

Print: Lemon Hill (undated)  

 5 15

Matted print: Lemon Hill Mansion (undated) 

 43 21

Print: Lemon Hill Mansion (undated)  

 43 22

Philadelphia and Fairmount Park maps (2005, undated)  

 46 1

Sketches by Alvin Holm, Lemon Hill festival and architectural (2011)  

 5 16

Map from president’s correspondence (undated)  

 5 17

Color drawing of Lemon Hill Mansion (undated) 

 5 18

Postcards: View from Lemon Hill (1906)  

 43 23

Postcards: Historic houses (undated)  

 43 24

Postcards: Abigail Adams Smith House (undated) 

 43 25

Photocopy of image of Lemon Hill observatory (undated) 

 43 26

Inkjet prints of painting, Canal Road from Pratt Gate near Philadelphia (undated) 

 47 1
Oversize

Blueprint: Garage for Mrs. Alexander B. Coxe (1929) 

Processing note

Received in tube labeled “Shoemaker barn.”

 Flat file 2

Architectural drawing: Garage for Mrs. Alexander B. Coxe (undated) 

Processing note

Received in tube labeled “Shoemaker barn.”

 Flat file 3

Portrait print mounted on board (undated) 

 Flat file 4

Posters, display boards, and signs (1966-2001, undated) 
Oversize

“Lemon Hill Fiske Kimball Era, 1925-1955” (undated) 

 Flat file 5
Box Folder

Lemon Hill, 1948 (undated) 

 46 2

Lemon Hill parlor, 1958 (undated) 

 46 3
Oversize

“Dames in Action, 70s-90s” (circa 1995) 

 Flat file 6

“Dames in Action, 70s-90s” (circa 1995) 

 Oversize
Flat file 7

“Dames in Action, 70s-90s” (circa 1995) 

 Flat file 8

Lemon Hill collaborative management presentation (late 1990s) 

 Flat file 9

“Philadelphia Keeps History Alive,” Girard Trust Bank (1966) 

 Flat file 10
Box Folder

Trifold poster, dismantled: “Dames Open Lemon Hill” (undated) 

 44B 1

Trifold poster, dismantled: “Lemon Hill Mansion - The Fiske Kimball Years” (undated)  

 46 4

Trifold poster, dismantled: “Lemon Hill Today” (undated) 

 44B 2

Trifold poster, dismantled: “See What Your Generosity has Enabled Us to Do” (undated)  

 44B 3
Oversize

“Lemon Hill Cultural Landscape Inventory (2000)  

 Flat file 11

“Villas and Viewsheds” (undated) 

 Flat file 12
Box Folder

Benefactors (undated) 

 46 5
Oversize

Colonial Dames of America, Lemon Hill Mansion xeroxed sign (undated) 

 Flat file 13
Box Folder

Lemon Hill event signs (undated) 

 47 2

Friends of Lemon Hill: Sponsor acknowledgment (undated) 

 47 3
Oversize

Architecture in Education, Think and Present (spring 2001) 

 Flat file 14

Architecture in Education, Program and Process (spring 2001) 

 Flat file 15

Architecture in Education, Design and Create (spring 2001) 

 Flat file 16

Trifold student poster: Lemon Hill, by Lindsay Backert (undated)  

 Flat file 17

Trifold student poster, dismantled: Lemon Hill (undated)  

 Flat file 18

Trifold student poster, dismantled: Lemon Hill (undated) 

 Flat file 19

Trifold student poster: Lemon Hill (undated) 

 Flat file 20
Box Folder

Trifold student poster, dismantled: Lemon Hill (undated) 

 44B 4

Trifold student poster, dismantled: Lemon Hill, by Brittany Jasinski (undated)  

 44B 5

Trifold student poster, dismantled: “Welcome to Philadelphia,” by Manna Symone (undated) 

 44B 6

Trifold student poster, dismantled: "Lemon Hill," by James Kelly (undated)  

 44B

Photographs, slides, and negatives (1913-2006, undated) 
Box Folder

Photographs (3): Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge (1913)  

 5 19

Photographs: Matted triptych (undated) 

 46 6

Photograph: Commemorative plaque, 1917 (undated)  

 46 7

Photograph: Mrs. Otis Mygatt, Miss Anne Madison Washington (undated)  

 47 4

Miscellaneous photographs from Virginia Naude’s Lemon Hill archive file (1936 - mid-1960s)  

 3 21
Box

Photographs: Lemon Hill Mansion  (8 October 1966)  

 48

Photographs: Lemon Hill Mansion, black and white (1976-1993, undated)  

 48

Photographs: Collector’s Choice (1978) 

 48

Photographs: Lemon Hill Mansion exterior (1994, undated) 

 48

Photographs: Lemon Hill Mansion, restoration before and after (1997) 

 48

Photographs: Lemon Hill Christmas (1997) 

 48

Photographs: Valentine’s party, Radnor Hunt (7 February 1999)  

 48

Photographs: Annual meeting, Lemon Hill (21 April 1999) 

 48

Photographs: Educational program (1999) 

 48

Photographs: Lemon Hill Mansion grounds and garden (May 1999) 

 48

Photographs: Fairmount Park Day (1999)  

 49

Photographs: Sangerfest (October 1999) 

 49

Photographs: Lemon Hill Mansion facade (1999) 

 49

Photographs: Treasurefest (2000) 

 49

Photographs: Service learning (February 2000)  

 49

Photographs: Lemon Hill volunteers (May 2000) 

 49

Photographs: Christmas party (2000)  

 49
Box Folder

Photographs: Lemon Hill Christmas (mid-2000s) 

 46 8
Box

Photographs: Bedroom before painting (undated) 

 49

Photographs: Miscellaneous (1995-1999, undated)  

 49

Photographs: Miscellaneous (1995-2006, undated)  

 49

Photographs: Christmas at Lemon Hill (undated) 

 49
Box Folder

Photographs: Houses (undated) 

 46 9
Box

Photographs: Solitude, taken by J. Hopkins (undated) 

 49

Slides: Lemon Hill (1966-1973)  

 49

Slides: “Lemon Hill, pre-Bicentennial (1973)  

 49

Slides: Lemon Hill (1999-2002) 

 49

Negatives (undated) 

 49

Return to Table of Contents »

4. Media, artifacts, and miscellaneous (1872-2006, undated) 

Scope and content note

Series 4 (1895-2006) contains media, artifacts, and a handful of items indirectly related to the collection. The miscellaneous materials include a few folders of personal correspondence belonging to chapter president Jane Gordon Coxe Fletcher. Among these are a number of letters from noted Standardbred horse trainer and breeder Alex B. Coxe with related clippings. Several diplomas and certificates for Bradbury Bedell and Charles Henry Reed are also in this series.

Media (1999-2003, undated) 
Box

Audio cassettes: Board meetings and annual meeting (1999-2000, undated) 

 50

Computer disks, 3.5 inch (2): Friends of Lemon Hill strategic plan (March 2003) 

 50

Computer disk, 3.5 inch: CDA Chart in Word (undated) 

 50

Compact disk: Fanlight invitation (undated) 

 50

Compact disks (2): Images of Lemon Hil (undated) 

 50

Videotape, VHS: Lemon Hill painting party and reinstallation (September - November 1997) 

 51

Videotape, VHSC: Lemon Hill painting party, Camilla, docent training (1997) 

 51

Videotape, VHS: Lemon Hill docent training number 1(2 copies) 

 51

Videotape, VHS/VHSC: Long range plan, Patricia Wilson Aden (2 copies) (January 1998) 

 51

Videotape, VHS: Long range plan, Patricia Aden (1998) 

 51

Videotape, VHS: Gideon School practice tour (May 1999)  

 51

Videotape, VHSC: Gideon School educational program (May 1999)  

 51

Videotape, VHSC: Service learning, Rhoads School, (October 1999)  

 51

Videotape, VHS: Service learning, Gideon Elementary, Rhoads Middle School (1999) 

 51

Videotape, VHS/VHSC: Hearts and Art, Radnor Hunt (February 1999) 

 51

Videotape, VHSC: Lemon Hill collection care (October 2001)  

 51

Videotape, VHS: Lemon Hill collection care, Kim McCarty (November 2001)  

 51

Videotape, VHS: Practice tour (undated)  

 51

Videotape, VHS: Service learning, Rhoads School; last 12 minutes, Lemon Hill collection care (undated)  

 51

Artifacts (circa 1916-1932, undated) 
Box

Dies for Elise Willing Balch Medal (circa 1916) 

 52

William Penn commemorative medals presented to Mrs. Thomas Lynch Montgomery (24 October 1932)  

 53

Wood box with three manicure tools with Parisian Loonen Ivory handles (undated)  

 54

Colonial Dames banners (2) (undated)  

 55

CDA Chapter II fringed flag (undated) 

 55
Box Folder

Brass plaque (undated)  

 47 5A

Two buttons from New Citizens’ Reception Committee (undated) 

 47 5B

Miscellaneous (1872-2006, undated) 

Jane Gordon Coxe Fletcher (1914-1988) 
Box Folder

Personal correspondence of Jane Gordon Coxe Fletcher (1914-1988) 

Note

Contains letters and clippings from Alex B. Coxe (uncle of Jane Gordon Coxe Fletcher), noted Standardbred owner and breeder.

 47 6-9

Clippings from Jane Gordon Coxe Fletcher correspondence, horse racing (1918-1921) 

 44A 5

Passport of Jane Gordon Coxe (1923-1925) 

 3 22

Belmont Driving Park racing program (16 August 1922) 

 3 23

Lexington Grand Circuit Meeting racing programs (September 1930) 

 3 24

Other materials (1872-2006) 
Box Folder

Yale College baccalaureate diploma for Bradbury Bedell (1876) 

 44A 6
Oversize

Albany Law School diploma for Bradbury Bedell (1877) 

 Flat file 21
Box Folder

Yale College baccalaureate diploma for Charles Henry Reed (1872) 

 44A 7
Oversize

University of Pennsylvania medical diploma for Charles Henry Reed (1878) 

 Flat file 22
Box Folder

Medical registration fee receipt for Charles Henry Reed (1881) 

 47 10

Certificate: Collegii Medicorum, Philadelphiensis, for Charles Henry Reed (1887) 

 44A 8
Volume

Colonial Days and Dames, Anne Hollingsworth Wharton (1895) 

Note

Note: Number 21 of 508 copies printed.

 48
Box Folder

Material removed from Volume 48 (1895) 

 47 11

How to display the United States flag, pamphlet and brochure (1935-1969) 

 47 12

The Green Scene, Horticulture in the Delaware Valley  (September 1975 - October 1975) 

 47 13

Time, Special 1776 Issue (4 July 1976) 

 47 14

United Way special campaign (1977-1978) 

 47 15

KYW-TV public affairs guide (circa 1978)  

 46 10

Architectural Collections: The Athenaeum of Philadelphia  (1990) 

 47 16

Brandywine Catalyst, newsletter of the Brandywine Conservancy (September 1995) 

 47 17

"Resources for Recovery, Post-Disaster Aid for Cultural Institutions" (May 2000) 

 47 18

Limited structural survey, 2012 Delancey Place (2003) 

 47 19

Parish directory, Church of the Messiah, Gwynedd, Pennsylvania (October 2006) 

Note

This item was with the membership files.

 47 20

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