Philadelphia Bicycle Club records
Collection 1357
1879-1902(1.375 Linear feet ; 1 box, 10 volumes)
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Creator
- Philadelphia Bicycle Club.
- Title
- Philadelphia Bicycle Club records
- ID
- 1357
- Date
- 1879-1902
- Extent
- 1.375 Linear feet ; 1 box, 10 volumes
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Sarah Leu.
- Sponsor
- This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
- Language
- English
- Text [Volume]
- 1-10
- Mixed materials [Box]
- 1
- Abstract
- The Philadelphia Bicycle Club was organized in 1879 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to advance the interests of cycling and promote the riding of bicycles as a means of exercise, locomotion, and enjoyment. The Philadelphia Bicycle Club was dissolved in 1902 and its assets were distributed to the Philadelphia Cycle and Field Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Bicycle Club records, 1879-1902, consist of administrative materials such as minutes, charter and bylaws, correspondence meeting announcements, and membership materials, as well as financial and property records, including several materials related to the construction and maintenance of the club house at 26th and Perot streets.
Background note
The Philadelphia Bicycle Club was the first bicycle club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was organized in 1879 to advance the interests of cycling and promote the riding of bicycles as a means of exercise, locomotion, and enjoyment. The Club was incorporated in 1885 and established a club house the following year on 26th and Perot streets. Membership was open to both men and women. Members in good standing with the Philadelphia Bicycle Club were eligible for membership in the Philadelphia Cycle and Field Club, which was organized by the members of the Philadelphia Bicycle Club and had a club house in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Bicycle Club was dissolved in 1902 and its assets were distributed to the Philadelphia Cycle and Field Club.
Establishment of the Philadelphia Bicycle Club inspired other bicycle clubs to form in and near the city, including the century Wheelmen, the Quaker City Wheelmen, and the Pennsylvania Bicycle Club. Several of the city's bicycle clubs united to form the Associated Cycling Clubs of Philadelphia. This group took measures to promote cycling in the city and its parks and championed causes such as improving the quality of the city's roads. William R. Tucker was a member of the Philadelphia Bicycle Club who also served as president of the Associated Cycling Clubs of Philadelphia.
Scope and content note
The Philadelphia Bicycle Club records, 1879-1902, consist of administrative materials such as minutes, charter and bylaws, correspondence meeting announcements, and membership materials, as well as financial and property records, including several materials related to the construction and maintenance of the club house at 26th and Perot streets, such as property transfer documents, construction contracts, mortgage and tax documents, and other related materials. Of interest in the collection is the calculations of the distances ridden by various members of the club, information about the awards given out to various members, and the listing of the various bicycles owned by the club's members.
The Charter, bylaws and amendments (volume 1), 1879-1895, contains information about the Club's colors, uniforms, and whistle code. The Charter and By-Laws of the Philadelphia Bicycle Club and Philadelphia Cycle and Field Club (volume 2), 1891, is a published volume that also contains member lists, dates of important events in PBC history, park rules for bicycles, and information about the Associated Cycling Clubs of Philadelphia and the League of American Wheelmen. There are also several advertisements for various businesses in this volume, many of which relate to cycling, bicycle accessories, clothing, and other bicycle-related goods.
The correspondence in box 1, folders 2 and 3, mostly contains letters relating to the building and furnishing of the club house, including bids from various Philadelphia firms.
The meeting announcements contain information about the monthly meetings for both the Philadelphia Bicycle Club and the Philadelphia Cycle and Field Club. The meeting announcements also have names of proposed members for the clubs, some of which have been handwritten into the printed announcements.
Insurance documents in the collection relate to fire insurance for the club house as well as equipment insurance for the club's bicycles, uniforms, and other items kept at the club house. The insurance documents contain detailed lists of the bicycles and other equipment belonging to each member.
There is a sampling of pamphlets from heating companies with illustrations of heating systems from the late 19th century in the collection, which could be of interest to researchers studying the history of home heating.
Overview of arrangement
I. Administrative, 1882-1902; 19 folders, 4 volumes
II. Financial, property, and legal, 1885-1901; 11 folders, 6 volumes
Administrative Information
Publication Information
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2017.
1300 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift of Henry W. Wills after Mr. W. R. Tucker's decease (Secretary of the Club).; 1942 acquired
Related Materials
Related materials
Available at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:
William R. Tucker scrapbook, 1878-1893, collection Am.1735
William Robinson Tucker correspondence, 1882-1898, collection 1836
Controlled Access Headings
Subject(s)
- Clubs and Associations--19th Century
- Recreation--Bicycling
- Utilities--Steam Heat
Collection Inventory
I. Administrative 1879-1902 |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Annual reports 1897-1899 |
1 | 1 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
Charter, bylaws, and amendments [handwritten] circa 1879-1895 |
1 | |||
|
Charter and By-Laws of the Philadelphia Bicycle Club and the Philadelphia Cycle and Field Club with List of Members Published by the House Committee 1891 |
2 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Correspondence 1886 January-April |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Correspondence 1886 May-December |
1 | 3 | ||
|
Correspondence 1888, 1891-1901 |
1 | 4 | ||
|
Correspondence - loose envelopes (4) 1897, undated |
1 | 5 | ||
|
Club House Committee mission statement and report 1882 April 11 |
1 | 6 | ||
|
List of documents and papers of the Philadelphia Bicycle Club 1895 |
1 | 7 | ||
|
Meeting announcements 1891 |
1 | 8 | ||
|
Meeting announcements 1892 |
1 | 9 | ||
|
Meeting announcements 1893 |
1 | 10 | ||
|
Meeting announcements 1894 |
1 | 11 | ||
|
Meeting announcements 1895 |
1 | 12 | ||
|
Meeting announcements 1896 |
1 | 13 | ||
|
Meeting announcements 1897 |
1 | 14 | ||
|
Meeting announcements 1898 |
1 | 15 | ||
|
Meeting announcement (3) 1900 January |
1 | 16 | ||
|
Membership - Associated Cycling Club dues 1899-1902 |
1 | 17 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
Membership - Philadelphia Bicycle Club and Cycle and Field Club dues 1888-1893 |
3 | |||
|
Membership - Dues and notes 1891-1899 |
4 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Membership - Dues and resignations 1899-1902 |
1 | 18 | ||
|
Membership lists 1879-1895 |
1 | 19 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
Membership records 1894-1898 |
5 | |||
|
Minute book 1895-1902 |
6 | |||
|
|
||||
II. Financial, property, and legal 1885-1902 |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Advertising for heating systems, locks, and lights 1885-1886 |
1 | 20 | ||
|
Estate of William S. Perot - Deeds, mortgages, and letters 1886-1895 |
1 | 21 | ||
|
Mortgages and taxes 1886, 1893-1900 |
1 | 22 | ||
|
Contract with William R. Dougherty and building specifications from R. G. Kennedy 1886 April 20-29 |
1 | 23 | ||
|
Club House technical drawings (exterior) and lot plan circa 1886 |
1 | 24 | ||
|
Insurance 1886-1892 |
1 | 25 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
Second mortgage bond records 1887-1893 |
7 | |||
|
Mortgage balance and interest book 1890-1901 |
8 | |||
|
Cash account book 1894-1902 |
9 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Reports of loans 1895-1899 |
1 | 26 | ||
|
Estate of Harold R. Lewis 1897 |
1 | 27 | ||
|
Advertising pamphlets for tires and cyclometers 1897, 1899 |
1 | 28 | ||
|
Bills and receipts 1897-1900 |
1 | 29 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
Checkbook with stubs and deposit notes 1898-1902 |
10 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Deposit lists 1899-1901 |
1 | 30 | ||
|
Checks [removed from checkbook, volume 10] 1899-1901 |
1 | 31 | ||
|
|
||||