Dilworth family papers


Collection 3623

1932-1974, undated
(3.4 Linear feet ; 9 boxes)
© Historical Society of Pennsylvania1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Summary Information

Repository
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Creator
Dilworth family
Title
Dilworth family papers
ID
3623
Date
1932-1974, undated
Extent
3.4 Linear feet ; 9 boxes
Author
Finding aid prepared by Arek Torosian and Benjamin David Walter-Range.
Language
English

Preferred citation

Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Dilworth family papers (Collection 3623), Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

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Abstract

Richardson Dilworth (1898-1974) was elected mayor of Philadelphia in 1955 and served the city until 1962. With former Philadelphia mayor and U.S. Senator Joseph Clark by his side during his professional career and personal life, Dilworth’s reform policies led to urban renewal and economic development. His work inspired the creation of Independence Mall, Society Hill, and SEPTA, as well as community centers, the local public park system, and the restoration of the city’s parks and historical sites. Dilworth also advocated for organized labor unions, civil rights, public housing, water fluoridation, and constitutional revisions. He denounced municipal corruption, and segregation in private schools.

This collection consists primarily of personal correspondence between Richardson Dilworth and his family, which includes direct members and distant relatives. Amongst the former are the following: his wife, Ann, with letters folded in their original envelopes dating from 1932-1935 and 1942-1943; his children, Anne, Patricia, Warden, and Brockie; and his brother, Dewees. Amongst the latter are his daughter-in-laws, Olive White and Elizabeth, the wives of Brockie and Warden, respectively; his grandchildren/the children of Warden and Elizabeth; his sister-in-law, Edith, the wife of Dewees; and his nephew, J. Richardson, the son of Dewees and Edith. Each of these individuals has at least one folder that contains their letters to Dilworth and copies of his letters to them, as well as scattered pictures of mostly newborns and children.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2019

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

Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Gift of Deborah Bishop, 2011.

Accession number 2011.003.

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Related Materials

Related materials

At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:

Richardson Dilworth papers (Collection 3112)

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Controlled Access Headings

Genre(s)

  • Correspondence.

Geographic Name(s)

  • Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs--20th century.

Personal Name(s)

  • Bishop, Deborah D.
  • Dilworth, Richardson

Subject(s)

  • Family life--Pennsylvania--20th century.
  • Family life--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
  • Family life--Personal correspondence--20th century.
  • Family life--Upper Class--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--20th Century.
  • Spouses--Correspondence-–20th century.
  • Spouses--Correspondence.

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Collection Inventory

Box 1 
Box Folder

J. Richardson Dilworth 1965-1973 

 1 1

J. Richardson Dilworth 1955-1965 

 1 2

J. Richardson Dilworth 1946-1955 

 1 3

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Box 2 
Box Folder

Dewees W. Dilworth 1948-1958 

 2 1

Dewees W. Dilworth 1945-1948 

 2 2

Mrs. Dewees W. Dilworth 1958-1972 

 2 3

Patricia D. Lees 1969-1974 

 2 4

Olive White Dilworth 1955-1972 

 2 5

Harry W. Hackett Jr. 1959-1972 

 2 6

Anne D. Hackett 1961-1974 

 2 7

Anne D. Hackett 1944-1960 

 2 8

Anne's Wedding August 3, 1958 to December 17, 1958 

 2 9

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Box 3 
Box Folder

Brockie Dilworth: St. Mark's School 1941-1946 

 3 1

Brockie Dilworth: St. Mark's School 1939-1940 

 3 2

Brockie Dilworth: U.S. Marine Corps 1946-1951 

 3 3

Brockie Dilworth: University of Chicago 1959-1963 

 3 4

Brockie Dilworth: University of Chicago 1957-1958 

 3 5

Brockie Dilworth: University of Chicago 1955-1956 

 3 6

Brockie Dilworth: University of Chicago 1948-1954 

 3 7

C: Miscellaneous 1939-1967 

 3 8

B: Reports 1940-1953 

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Box 4 
Box Folder

Brockie Dilworth 1969-1970 

 4 1

Brockie Dilworth 1967-1968 

 4 2

Brockie Dilworth 1964-1966 

 4 3

Brockie Dilworth 1961-1963 

 4 4

Brockie Dilworth 1971-1974 

 4 5

Warden Dilworth: 2063 Yale University 1950-1954 

 4 6

Correspondence: Warden Dilworth (St. Mark's School) 2063 1944-1950 

 4 7

Reports - Yale University Warden Dilworth 1950-1960 

 4 8

2063-3 Reports - St. Mark's: Warden Dilworth (St. Mark's School) 1944-1950 

 4 9

Memoranda: 2063 Warden Dilworth (St. Mark's School) 1945-1950 

 4 10

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Box 5 
Box Folder

Warden Dilworth: U.S. Marine Corps 1954-1956 

 5 1

Warden Dilworth: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 1966-1974 

 5 2

Warden Dilworth: October, 1956 to August 1966 (Roxbury Latin) 1963-1966 

 5 3

Warden Dilworth: October, 1956 to August 1966 (Roxbury Latin) 1958-1962 

 5 4

Warden Dilworth: October, 1956 to August 1966 (Roxbury Latin) 1956-1957 

 5 5

Elizabeth Thayer Dilworth 1955-1968 

 5 6

Christopher Dilworth-Timothy Dilworth-George Thayer Dilworth 1966-1973 

 5 7

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Box 6 
Box Folder

Ann Dilworth Correspondence April 9-13, 1943 

 6 1

Ann Dilworth Correspondence April 1-8, 1943 

 6 2

Ann Dilworth Correspondence March 21-31, 1943 

 6 3

Ann Dilworth Correspondence March 9-20, 1943 

 6 4

Ann Dilworth Correspondence March 1-8, 1943 

 6 5

Ann Dilworth Correspondence February 18-28, 1943 

 6 6

Ann Dilworth Correspondence February 9-17, 1943 

 6 7

Ann Dilworth Correspondence February 2-8, 1943 

 6 8

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Box 7 
Box Folder

Ann Dilworth Correspondence January 23-31, 1943 

 7 1

Ann Dilworth Correspondence January 10-22, 1943 

 7 2

Ann Dilworth Correspondence January 1-9, 1943 

 7 3

Ann Dilworth Correspondence December 23-31, 1942 

 7 4

Ann Dilworth Correspondence December 1-22, 1942 

 7 5

Ann Dilworth Correspondence November 19-30, 1942 

 7 6

Ann Dilworth Correspondence November 1-18, 1942 

 7 7

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Box 8 
Box Folder

Ann Dilworth Correspondence October 20-30, 1942 

 8 1

Ann Dilworth Correspondence September 14-27, 1942 

 8 2

Ann Dilworth Correspondence May 18-June 9, 1942 

 8 3

Ann Dilworth Correspondence July 21-30, 1935 

 8 4

Ann Dilworth Correspondence July 10-20, 1935 

 8 5

Ann Dilworth Correspondence July 1-9, 1935 

 8 6

Ann Dilworth Correspondence June 3-30, 1935 

 8 7

Ann Dilworth Correspondence March-May 1935 

 8 8

Ann Dilworth Correspondence January-February 1935 

 8 9

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Box 9 
Box Folder

Ann Dilworth Correspondence September 3-December 22, 1934 

 9 1

Ann Dilworth Correspondence July 6-August 31, 1934 

 9 2

Ann Dilworth Correspondence January 4-June 30, 1934 

 9 3

Ann Dilworth Correspondence July 1-December 22, 1933 

 9 4

Ann Dilworth Correspondence March 11-June 29, 1933 

 9 5

Ann Dilworth Correspondence January 27-September 22, 1932 

 9 6

Ann Dilworth Correspondence Undated 

 9 7

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