Singer and Bunker families papers

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Background note

Scope and content note

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Title

Singer and Bunker families papers

ID

3958

Date [bulk]

Bulk, 1870-1965

Date [inclusive]

1719-2011

Extent

2.8 Linear feet ; 7 boxes, 7 volumes, 2 flat files

Author

Finding aid prepared by Randi M. Kamine.

Language

English

Abstract

The collection is a compilation of original records, family papers, copies of records, and genealogical information on Casper Singer, his son Casper Jr., and their extended families. A sizable portion of the collection concerns the related Bunker family. There is little in the way of personal correspondence. There is, however, a large collection of family photographs.

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Background note

Casper Singer (circa 1700-1759) and his wife Anna Margartha emigrated to the Philadelphia area from Alsace Germany before 1727. A first-born son died in childbirth. Their second son, Casper Jr, was born in 1738 (died 1797). The senior Casper married a second time. In his will dated March 9, 1759, he leaves his estate to his wife Catharina and his six children: Casper, Christina, Hannah, Evah, Catharina and Susannah.

One of the more distinguished members of the Singer family was Edgar Arthur Singer Jr (1873-1955). He was the former Adam Seybert Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania and highly regarded in the field of Philosophy. Edgar Arthur Singer Jr. married Helen Bunker in 1905 (died 1953). Their son, Richard Bunker Singer (1914-2010) was an accomplished researcher and physician. He taught at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Helen Bunker’s family genealogy is well represented in this collection.

Also represented in the collection is Dr. Arthur G. Singer, Jr. Arthur was born in Philadelphia in 1912, the son of Arthur G. Singer and Edith Good Singer. He went to Haverford College, and was a physician in Philadelphia. He died in 2002.

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Scope and content note

The bulk of the collection consists of genealogical records, letters pertaining to the genealogy of the Singer and Bunker families, and photos of their families and their extended family. The vast majority of items in the collection are copies.

One item of interest is a printed copy of “An Act for the Better Enabling Divers Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania to Trade and Hold Lands Within Said Province” (1739 under King Charles). It allows Casper Singer to trade, and buy and sell property in Pennsylvania.

A mathematics workbook dated 1813 gives the researcher an interesting take on what and how math and business accounting, e.g finding the amount of an annuity at simple interest, was taught in the early 19th century.

There is little personal correspondence in the collection. However, there are a few letters from Edgar Singer to his wife that show a close and loving relationship.

The Singer family’s interest in the visual arts is indicated by the various prints in the collection and the fact that they were personal friends of the artist Harry Kidd. William Henry Singer (1868-1943) was an artist of some renown. He was the founder of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown. Born in Pittsburg, he died in Norway. There is an original framed watercolor portrait of Helen Bunder Singer by Harry Kidd titled “Portrait of a Lady,” C. 1930. There is a sketch by William Raymond Bunker (1869 -1835), possibly of his mother.

Of interest are several letters written by Walter T. Singer during World War I . They are written to his family when he was on active duty at the front.

Other families documented in the collection are the Poulder, Tresse, Shively, Wing, and Hinman families.

There are several volumes in the collection. Among them are published genealogies of the Bunker family (with branches identified from Massachusetts, Delaware, and Maryland), a student’s mathematics book dated 1813, and a recipe book by Sarah T. Rorer published in 1914.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2020.

Access restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Gift of Elizabeth S. M. Estey, 2015.

Accession number 2015.055.

Processing note

Three notebooks containing copies of alchemical texts and a group of related papers were removed from the collection for conservation. Once repairs have been made, these materials will be returned to the collection and this finding aid will be updated. For information on the status of these items, please contact the HSP archives department or see an HSP librarian.

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Controlled Access Headings

Family Name(s)

• Bunker.
• Singer.

Genre(s)

• Family histories.
• Photographs.

Personal Name(s)

• Bunker, Helen., -1953.
• Estey, Elizabeth S. M.
• Singer, Arthur G., Jr., Dr., 1912-2000.
• SInger, Casper, circa 1700-1759.
• Singer, Edgar Arthur, Jr., 1873-1935.
• Singer, Richard Bunker, 1914-2010.

Subject(s)

• Alchemy.
• Genealogical correspondence.
• Genealogy.
• Mathematics--Problems, exercises, etc.
• Pennsylvania--Genealogy.

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Collection Inventory