Palmer Cemetery records
Collection 3742
( Bulk, 1833-1888 ) 1805-1992(1.4 Linear feet ; 1 box, 8 volumes)
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Creator
- Palmer Cemetery (Philadelphia, Pa.).
- Title
- Palmer Cemetery records
- ID
- 3742
- Date [bulk]
- Bulk, 1833-1888
- Date [inclusive]
- 1805-1992
- Extent
- 1.4 Linear feet ; 1 box, 8 volumes
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Cary Hutto
- Sponsor
- Processing made possible by a generous donation from Dan and Donnamarie Dailey.
- Language
- English
Preferred citation
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Palmer Cemetery records (Collection 3742), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Abstract
Palmer Cemetery, located in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood, was founded in 1732 as the Kensington Burial Ground. It may be one of the city's oldest community graveyards. Palmer was formed on land belonging to Anthony Palmer, merchant and colonial governor, who died in Philadelphia in 1749. Though the property was meant for his family, Palmer wished that the land become a public cemetery for all Kensington residents. At some point, the space took on the name Palmer Cemetery, and is today generally known by that name; though the names "Palmer Cemetery" and "Kensington Burial Grounds" have been used interchangeably throughout the grounds' history.
The records of the Palmer Cemetery are comprised of seven volumes, one box of loose papers and small volumes, and one flat file. They span from the 1830s to the 1990s and make up the bulk of the collection. The volumes include account ledgers of the treasurer, 1838-1958; interment registers, 1859-1980; trustee meeting minutes, 1839-1912; and vault books, 1871-1874 and 1886-1887. Additional items include correspondence, bills, receipts, invoices, legal papers, financial documents, interment permits, and other miscellaneous items. There is also a modern photocopy of records from the 18th century pertaining to Anthony Palmer's estate (Box 1, Folder 11). There are no original records from the 1700s in the collection.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2014
1300 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200
Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Provenance
Donated by James D. B. Weiss in 2011 (Accession number 2011.054).
Processing note
This collection constitutes records that were originally part of the James D. B. Weiss collection of hospital and miscellaneous genealogical records (Collection 3659).
Related Materials
Related materials
At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:
Kensington papers (Collection 2148)
Kensington (Philadelphia, Pa.) indenture 1765 (Am .30950)
Kensington records, deeds, and surveys (Collection 340)
Kensington Soup Society records (Collection 3119)
Controlled Access Headings
Subject(s)
- Cemeteries--Pennsylvania--18th century.
- Cemeteries--Pennsylvania--19th Century.
- Cemeteries--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
- Cemeteries--United States.
- Cemeteries.
- Cemeteries–-Pennsylvania.
- Palmer Cemetery (Philadelphia, Pa.)--History.
Bibliography
Milano, Kenneth W. Palmer Cemetery and the historic burial grounds of Kensington & Fishtown. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2011. (call number F 158.61 .P25 M55 2011)
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Receipts, bills, invoices 1805, 1839-1885, 1911, 1914-1919, 1946, 1953, 1969, undated |
1 | 1 | ||
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Correspondence 1833-1879 |
1 | 2 | ||
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Interment permits 1840, 1864, 1865; bulk 1865 |
1 | 3 | ||
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Miscellaneous 1842, 1852, 1932-1969, 1990, undated |
1 | 4 | ||
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Interment and expense reports to the board 1849, 1885-1888, 1907, undated |
1 | 5 | ||
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By-laws, minutes, and miscellaneous legal documents 1862, 1965, 1976, undated |
1 | 6 | ||
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Account ledger for interments, vault management, and maintenance [incomplete] 1873-1887 |
1 | 7 | ||
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Treasurer's receipt book circa 1884-1913 |
1 | 8 | ||
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A. J. Getz vault book 1886-1887 |
1 | 9 | ||
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photocopies of Palmer Estate records (circa 1743-1885) 1992, undated |
1 | 10 | ||
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Anthony Palmer indenture, 1765 [photocopy of transcription] undated |
1 | 11 | ||
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Items removed from Internment register, Volume 5 undated |
1 | 12 | ||
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| Volume | ||||
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Kensington Burial Ground treasurer's account ledger 1838-1890 |
1 | |||
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Kensington Burial Ground treasurer's account ledger 1890-1919 |
2 | |||
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Kensington Burial Ground treasurer's account ledger 1919-1958 |
3 | |||
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Interment register 1859-1887 |
4 | |||
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Interment register 1887-1980 |
5 | |||
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Albert Emerick vault book 1871-1874 |
6 | |||
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Trustees meeting minutes of Kensington Burial Ground 1839-1889 |
7 | |||
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Trustees meeting minutes of Kensington Burial Ground 1889-1912 |
8 | |||
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| Oversize | ||||
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Account ledger for interments, Vault management, and maintenance [incomplete]; Interment records 1884-1887 |
Flat File 1 | |||
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