Joshua Humphreys papers

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Biographical/Historical note

Scope and Contents note

Administrative Information

Related Materials

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Correspondence

Miscellaneous

Summary Information

Repository

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Creator

Humphreys, Joshua, 1751-1838.

Title

Joshua Humphreys papers

ID

0306

Date

1660-1931, undated; bulk circa 1770 - 1931

Extent

4.0 Linear feet ; 19 volumes, 5 boxes

Author

Finding aid prepared by Melissa K. R. Hozik

Language

English

Mixed materials [Box]

1-5

Mixed materials [Volume]

1-19

Abstract

In 1751, Joshua Humphreys was born in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and became the nation's most important naval architect in the post-Revolutionary era concerned with building and retrofitting military fleets. His most well-known ship is the Constitution, which is known as "Old Ironsides" and is the oldest commissioned U.S. naval vessel still afloat. In 1803, Humphreys retired, and his son Samuel continued the business. This collection consists of volumes, including daybooks and financial records; correspondence; family papers; and legal documents.

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Biographical/Historical note

Joshua Humphreys was born on June 17, 1751, in Haverford, Pennsylvania, to Joshua Humphreys (Sr.) and Sarah (Williams) Humphreys, who owned large amounts of land in Delaware County. In Humphreys’s youth, he became a ship carpenter’s apprentice in Philadelphia, and after the death of the master, Humphreys was given control of the ship yard. His later creation of his own ship yard made him well-known in the colonies as a naval architect, and he was commissioned by the U. S. government in 1776 to build ships in Philadelphia and prepare them for the Revolutionary War.

After the war, Humphreys was again commissioned by the federal government to build a naval fleet to protect the country from pirates and other attacking ships. These ships needed to be as high quality as those of other European countries, though the fleet would be much smaller. Humphreys made some key changes to improve six frigates that became the foundation of the American Navy. His designs and modifications were approved by the government, and in 1794 he was formally appointed naval constructor, with the charge to build the frigates. Not all of the ships were built in Philadelphia, and only the United States was built in Philadelphia under his supervision. All of the ships, however, included the modifications suggested by Humphreys, and became known for their speed and efficiency.

By 1801, the government no longer needed a formal naval constructor, and Humphreys was given the task to build a ship yard for use by the Navy in Philadelphia. He began to participate politically in the city, and was considered a very successful businessman in Philadelphia. He married Mary Davids in 1776, and they had eleven children. Joshua Humphreys's brother Charles was a member of the Continental Congress; his son Samuel was also a naval architect, and worked with the federal government after Joshua Humphreys resigned; and his grandson Andrew Atkinson Humphreys served as a general during the American Civil War. Joshua Humphreys died on January 12, 1838.

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Scope and Contents note

The collection consists of three series. The first series is a collection of Humphreys’ daybooks, ledger books, and letter books. Though most of the volumes are financial records, there are some instructions on how to build ships that occasionally include hand-drawn diagrams. One notable volume is Volume 1, a book on how to draw designs for ships, which includes dimensions for specific ships, including the Randolph and other merchant vessels refitted into frigates during Revolutionary War. The volume also contains dimensions for new ships built after the war, including the  Constitution, or “Old Ironsides.”

The second series is correspondence, much of it to Humphreys. The third series consists of miscellaneous documents, comprised of family members’ papers and legal documents as well as items from unrelated individuals, such as William Penn.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania 2010

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Gift of the Humphreys family.

Processing Information note

The correspondence in boxes 1 and 2 was once bound into two volumes. The old volume and page numbers have been retained, as noted in the arrangement note on page 5 of the guide.

The papers in boxes 3, 4, and 5 were processed in the box order found, but within each box items were placed in chronological order.

According to previous collection records, this collection contains Joshua Humphreys' "Journal of a Voyage from Philadelphia to Lisbon," 1809. As of 11/9/2010, this item cannot be located.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note

At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:

Andrew Atkinson Humphreys papers, Collection 0304.

Clement Humphreys papers, Collection 0306.

Related collections at other institutions:

Humphreys family papers (05186), 1840-1918; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Southern History Collection.

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Controlled Access Headings

Family Name(s)

• Humphreys family.

Personal Name(s)

• Humphreys, Charles.
• Humphreys, Clement, 1777-1803.
• Humphreys, Daniel.
• Humphreys, Samuel.
• Penn, William, 1644-1718.

Subject(s)

• Constitution (Ship).
• Franklin (Ship).
• Naval history.
• Shipbuilding.
• United States (Ship).
• Voyages and travels.
• Wharton and Humphreys.

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Collection Inventory