Leon Gardiner collection of American Negro Historical Society records


Collection 0008

( Bulk, 1860-1890 ) 1715-1962, undated
(8.9 Linear feet , 16 boxes, 35 volumes)

Summary Information

Repository
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Creator
Gardiner, Leon, 1892-1945.
Title
Leon Gardiner collection of American Negro Historical Society records
ID
0008
Date [bulk]
Bulk, 1860-1890
Date [inclusive]
1715-1962, undated
Extent
8.9 Linear feet , 16 boxes, 35 volumes
Author
Finding aid prepared by Willhem Echevarria.
Sponsor
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Lori Cohen.
Language
English
Abstract
The American Negro Historical Society was founded in 1897 by a group of Philadelphia blacks to study and preserve materials documenting the American black experience. Among the founders and early members were Robert Adger, W.M. Dorsey and Jacob C. White, Jr., who donated materials to the society, some of which are present in the collection. The collection is composed of administrative records of the society and materials collected by some of its members, including correspondence, minutes, reports, financial documents, membership lists, records of lectures and debates, library catalogues, baseball lineup and scorecards, speeches, printed matter, and portraits of distinguished black leaders and abolitionists.

Return to Table of Contents »


Background Note

The American Negro Historical Society was founded in Philadelphia in 1897 by a group of upper-class African-Americans. The society’s membership was open to both men and women and its mission focused on collecting historical materials related to African-American history. Members met monthly at its headquarters in the parish house of the Church of the Crucifixion to discuss matters related to race, collection of materials, and the publishing of pamphlets and other printed material to share the history of African-Americans.

Founding members of the organization held prominent positions in Philadelphia’s society. The first president of the organization, Robert Mara Adger, was a city merchant and the son of an abolitionist; Theophilius J. Minton, who became the organization’s first vice-president, was an attorney. William Carl Bolivar, bibliophile and journalist with a particular interest in historical documentation, wrote columns for The Philadelphia Tribune. William Henry Dorsey worked as a Philadelphia municipal official, Matthew Anderson served as minister of the Berean Presbyterian Church, and Henry L. Phillips, the society’s treasurer, was the rector at the Church of the Crucifixion.

According to William C. Welburn, who studied William Carl Bolivar’s interest in preserving the history of African-Americans, the efforts of organizations like the American Negro Historical Society “formed the foundation for black collections and collecting practices today and were integral to the development of African American historical studies and African diaspora studies in general.”

Return to Table of Contents »


Overview of Arrangement

I. Correspondence and Personal Papers, 1812-1962, undated; 83 folders

II. American Negro Historical Society Records, 1861-1905, undated; 20 folders

III. Banneker Institute, 1790-1865, undated; 28 folders

IV. Pythian Baseball Club, 1867-1870, undated; 16 folders

V. Lebanon Cemetery, 1825-1901; 12 folders

VI. Philanthropic, Civic, and Religious Organizations, 1829-1893, undated; 38 folders

VII. Portraits of Black Leaders and Abolitionists, undated; 3 boxes

VIII. Negro Activities: Broadsides, Printed Matter, and Miscellaneous material, 1825-1904, undated; 2 boxes and 28 folders

IX. Volumes, 1715-1933, undated; 35 volumes and 5 folders

Return to Table of Contents »


Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania 2013

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

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Processing Information note

A microfilm guide for this collection is available at the reference desk. Please see the Alternative Formats note in this finding aid for more information on this collection's microfilm.

Volumes 11 and 12, records concerning the Clarkson Institute, were mistakenly included in this collection when the collection was reprocessed. They have been removed from this collection to their proper collection, the Pennsylvania Abolition Society records (Collection 490). They can be accessed using the call numbers AmS .3311 and AmS .3313, respectively.

Return to Table of Contents »


Related Materials

Related Archival Materials

At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania Abolition Society papers (Collection 490)

Pennsylvania Abolition Society records (Collection 3637)

Abolition Society of Delaware minutes (Am .421)

At other repositories:

Scorecards, 1870(ca.)-1979, New York State Historical Documents; National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York.

William Still Correspondence, 1865-1899; Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, Temple University Libraries.

Return to Table of Contents »


Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • American Negro Historical Society.
  • Banneker Institute.

Personal Name(s)

  • Still, William, 1821-1902.
  • White, Jacob C., 1837-1902.
  • White, Jacob C., d. 1872

Subject(s)

  • African American abolitionists.
  • African American baseball players--History.
  • African American churches.
  • African American civic leaders--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
  • African American educators.
  • African American families -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
  • African American Presbyterians--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
  • African Americans--History--Societies--19th century.
  • African Americans--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--Societies, etc.
  • African Americans--Social Life and Customs--19th century.
  • Baseball--History--19th century.

Return to Table of Contents »


Bibliography

Welburn, William C. "To "Keep the Past in Lively Memory": William Carl Bolivar's Efforts to Preserve African American Cultural Heritage." Libraries and the Cultural Record 42.2 (2007): 165-179

Gatewood, Willard B. Aristocrats of Color: the Black Elite, 1880-1920. University of Arkansas Press, 2000.

Return to Table of Contents »


Collection Inventory

I. Correspondence and Personal Papers 

Box Folder

Gilbert Lyceum--Correspondence (1841) 

2G 13

Frederick Douglas Memorial Hospital--Announcements and Correspondence, Printed Material (1895-1901) 

3G 1-10

Frederick Douglas--Correspondence, Newspapers Clippings, Printed Material (1883-1898) 

3G 11-12

Robert Douglas Estate--Correspondence, Last Wills, Rent Records (1846-1893) 

3Ga 1-2

William Johnson Estate--Financial Records (1850-1855) 

3Ga 3

Macklin Estate--Financial Records (1845-1857) 

3Ga 4

William Octavius Catto--Correspondence and Personal Papers (1856-1871) 

3Ga 5

Perry Tilghman--Financial Records and Miscellaneous Papers (1852-1856) 

3Ga 6

Ann Powers; William Russell; Ralph Smith--Miscellaneous (1832-1850) 

3Ga 7

Jacob C. White Jr.--Letters, Accounts and Advertisements (1855-1899, undated)  

6G 1-20

James Still--Correspondence and Biographical Information (1879, 1962) 

9G 1-2

Isaiah C. Wears--Notebooks, Letters, Financial Papers, Newspaper Clippings (1855-1900) 

9G 3-10

William Still--Letters (1855-1902) 

9G 11-21

Jacob C. White Sr.--Bills and Receipts, Letters (1812-1865) 

12G 1-9, 22

Jacob C. White Jr.--Letters, Notes relating to Teaching, Account Book, Bills and Receipts, Miscellaneous School Material (1855-1898) 

12G 10-21

Return to Table of Contents »


II. American Negro Historical Society records 

Box Folder

Minutes, Printed Material, Correspondence, Reports, Bills and Receipts, Lists of Pamphlets, Lists of Black Autographs, Lists of Books by Black Authors, Lists of Books by White Authors, Miscellaneous (1861-1905, undated) 

10G 1-20

Return to Table of Contents »


III. Banneker Institute 

Box Folder

Constitution, Minutes, Reports, Bills and Receipts, Printed Material, Lectures (1790-1865, undated) 

5G 1-28

Return to Table of Contents »


IV. Pythian Baseball Club 

Box Folder

Scorecards, Membership, Correspondence, Checks, Bills and Receipts, Letters from Delinquents (1867-1870) 

8G 1-16

Return to Table of Contents »


V. Lebanon Cemetery 

Box Folder

Notes, Copies of Death Certificates, Printed Material, Correspondence (1825-1901) 

11G 1-12

Return to Table of Contents »


VI. Philanthropic, Civic, and Religious Organizations 

Box Folder

Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League--Correspondence (1861-1870, undated) 

2G 1-10

Agricultural and Mechanics Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey--List of Shareholders; Bills and Receipts (1837-1843) 

2G 11-12

Civil, Social, and Statistical Association of Philadelphia--Rules; Index (1867) 

2G 13

First African Presbyterian Church--Minutes, Correspondence, Rent Book, Financial Summaries, Expenses (1829-1893, undated) 

4G 1-23

Bethel Church of Philadelphia--Historical Chart (undated) 

4G 24

Programs of Philadelphia Sunday Schools--Printed Material (1862, undated) 

4G 25
Oversize Box

Union Society of Brethren at Philadelphia constitution [Ams .93] 1816 

Processing note

The constitution has been flatten and is available in Flat file 1. The metal tube in which the document was stored was rehoused in Box 14.

Flat file 1 14

Return to Table of Contents »


VII. Portraits of Black Leaders and Abolitionists 

Box

Black Leaders--Portraits--A-J (undated) 

7G (1)

Black Leaders--Portraits--K-Z; Abolitionists (undated) 

7G (2)

Women Abolitionists; Photographs of Philadelphia (undated) 

7G (3)

Return to Table of Contents »


VIII. Negro Activities: Broadsides, Printed Matter, and Miscellaneous material 

Box Folder

Miscellaneous--Broadsides [EMPTY FOLDER] (1825, 1863) 

1G 1-2

Miscellaneous--Articles--I.C. White--Christian Recorder (1893) 

1G 3

Miscellaneous--Broadsides and Printed Material (1866-1868) 

1G 4

Miscellaneous--Broadsides, Printed and Typed Material (1837-1904) 

1G 5-13, 18-19, 21-26

Miscellaneous--Broadsides and Printed Material--Religious 

1G 14

Miscellaneous--Broadsides and Printed Material--Insurance Companies and Banks 

1G 15

Miscellaneous--Broadsides and Printed Material--YMCA 

1G 16

Miscellaneous--Broadsides and Printed Material--G.A.R. 

1G 17

Miscellaneous--Broadsides and Printed Material--School 

1G 20

Miscellaneous--Newspaper Clippings 

1G 27

Miscellaneous Negro Literary Undertakings (1875, undated) 

2G 14

Miscellaneous Loose Items (1882) 

1G 28
Box

Negro Activities--Programs, Advertisements, Flyers, Invitations, Tickets, Visiting Cards, Miscellaneous [Photocopies] 

13G

Negro Activities--Programs, Advertisements, Flyers, Invitations, Tickets, Visiting Cards, Miscellaneous [Originals--DO NOT SERVICE] 

13Ga

Return to Table of Contents »


IX. Volumes 

Volume

Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League--Minutes of the Executive Board [Ams .237] (1864-1868) 

1

Agricultural and Mechanic Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey--Constitution; Stock Transfers [Ams .302] (1839-1846) 

2

Agricultural and Mechanic Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey--Stock Certificates [Ams .303] (1840-1844) 

3

Banneker Institute--Minute Book [Ams .32] (1853-1855) 

4

Banneker Institute--Minutes [Ams .321] (1855-1859) 

5

Banneker Institute--Roll Book [Ams .324] (1854-1865) 

6

Banneker Institute--Roll Book [Ams .325] (1866-1872) 

7

Banneker Institute--Treasury Receipt Book [Ams .327] (1855-1868) 

8

Banneker Institute--Order Book [Ams .328] (1867-1872) 

9

Banneker Institute--Lectures and Debates [Ams .329] (1859-1861) 

10

Clarkson Institute of Pennsylvania--Minute Book [Ams .3311] (1834-1838) 

Volume moved

The volume was mistakenly included in processing. It has been removed to its proper collection, the Pennsylvania Abolition Society records (Collection 490). Please see the microfilm guide for the Pennsylvania Abolition Society records for further information.

11

Clarkson Institute of Pennsylvania--Board of Maganager Minutes [Ams .3313] (1836-1838) 

Volume moved

The volume was mistakenly included in processing. It has been removed to its proper collection, the Pennsylvania Abolition Society records (Collection 490). Please see the microfilm guide for the Pennsylvania Abolition Society records for further information.

12

Zoar Sabbath School--Catalogue of Books [Ams .34] (1844) 

13

Daugthers of Africa--Minutes [Ams. 35] (1822-1838) 

14

Daugthers of Africa--Order Book [Ams .351] (1821-1829) 

15

Benjamin Lundy Philantropic Society--Roll [Ams .36] (1830-1842) 

16
Box Folder

Benjamin Lundy Philantropic Society--Roll [Ams .36] (undated) 

Arrangement note

This is a folder found empty during processing.

1G 33
Volume

Benjamin Lundy Philantropic Society--Accounts [Ams .361] (1838-1842) 

17
Box Folder

Newsclipping on Fugitive Slave; Jacob White--Rental Accounts [Materials Removed from Ams .361] (1845-1858) 

1G 30
Volume

Benezet Joint Stock Association--Minutes [Ams .371] (1854-1855) 

18
Box Folder

Benezet Joint Stock Association--Stock Certificates Issued to Scipio Sewell [Materials Removed from Ams .371] (1873) 

1G 31
Volume

Benezet Joint Stock Association--Board of Directors--Minutes [Ams .373] (1854-1855) 

19

Benezet Joint Stock Association--Record Book of Shares [Ams .375] (1871-1889) 

20
Box Folder

Benezet Joint Stock Association--Record Book of Shares [Materials Removed from Ams .375] (1871-1889) 

1G 32
Volume

Benezet Joint Stock Association--Order Book [Ams .377] (1871-1885) 

21

Lebanon Cemetery--Receipt Book [Ams .383] (1848-1853) 

22

Lebanon Cemetery--Book of J.C. White [Ams .387] (1874-1881) 

23

Lebanon Cemetery--Book of J.C. White [Ams .388] (1881-1886) 

24

William Still--Letter Book [Ams .47] (1873-1874) 

25

Slave Holder's Ledger [Ams .471] (1835-1841) 

26

C.S. Statistical Association of Philadelphia--J.C. White, Treasurer--Order Book [Ams .54, Part 1] (1860-1867) 

27

C.S. Statistical Association of Philadelphia--Civil and Social Committee of Superintendence--Constitution, By-Laws, Roll, Minutes [Ams .54, Part 2] (undated) 

27
Box Folder

Letters on Food Prices [Ams .65] (1822) 

Arrangement note

This is a folder containing two letters formerly in volume format.

1G 29
Volume

Laws of Maryland in Regard to Slaves [Ams .651] (1715-1791) 

28

Census of the Conditon of Colored People in Philadelphia--Taken by N. Kite [Ams .86] (1847) 

29

Census of People of Color of Philadelphia--Philadelphia City [Ams .87, Part 1] (1848) 

30

Census of People of Color of Philadelphia--Southwark and Moyamensing [Ams. .87, Part 2] (1848) 

30

Census of People of Color of Philadelphia--Spring Garden and West Philadelphia [Ams .87, Part 3] (1848) 

30

Census of People of Color of Philadelphia--Northern Liberties [Ams .87, Part 4] (1848) 

30

Some References to the Services of Negro Soldiers of Pennsylvania in the Various Wars of the Republic [Ams .92] (1933) 

31

Return to Table of Contents »