Abstract:

Austin Homer (1896-1974) was president of J.E. Caldwell Company, jewelers, silversmiths, and antiquarians in Philadelphia. Homer was a well-known business executive and was recognized as one of the nation's foremost authorities on contemporary and antique silver. He was also involved in designing children's toys. His papers consists of correspondence, speeches, patents, notebooks, and sketches while he was president of J.E. Caldwell Inc., and correspondence, contracts, sketches, and prototypes when he was a toy designer.

Abstract:

Crawford H. Greenewalt (1902-1993) was an executive with the DuPont Company and president of the firm from 1948 to 1962. He had a passion for the natural sciences, and combined his love of ornithology with photography. He was especially known for his high-speed photographs of hummingbirds. His ornithological interests included bird songs, the radiance of hummingbird feathers, and the evolution of shapes and sizes of birds in relation to their flight abilities. Greenewalt's personal papers are primarily focused on his retirement years and his avocational interests. The papers document Greenewalt's political activities in the Republican National Committee and include exchanges with many of the leading political and business figures of the day. Of particular significance are the papers describing Greenewalt's work in photography and ornithology, beginning in 1948. These materials trace his research interests in the hummingbird and bird flight and his trips to places like Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, the Antilles, New Guinea, and the Galapagos Islands in order to observe and photograph birds in their natural habitats. Other files describe Greenewalt's work on the visiting committee at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1965-1987), which evaluated the school's academic programs.

Abstract:

Edward Henry Kemp (1868-1948) and Josephine A. Kemp (1868-1941) were commercial photographers and traveling lecturers. The Kemps were best known for their photographic and motion picture travelogues, as well as their work in Camera Craft magazine. In 1912, the Chamber of Commerce invited its members to join an excursion to the Isthmus of Panama, with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce being the guide in charge of the trip and planning. The San Francisco Chamber chartered the SS Sonoma of the Oceanic Steamship Company from April 25, 1912, to return on May 21, 1912. The album is a travelogue of the SS Sonoma voyage from San Francisco to the construction site of the Panama Canal locks. The images show views of railroad construction, dredges, street views of Balboa, Panama la Vieja, bull fights, and Old Panama City. The album itself does not contain either Kemp's name or other identifying information, however, three of the photographs in the album match photographs that have been positively identified as being taken by the Kemps.

Scope and Contents: General files series is organized into five subseries: Loose papers; Bound volumes; Transcripts and extracts; Pictures, maps, and charts; and Residual material. The Loose papers subseries consists of various personal and official documents and is arranged chronologically. Also included is miscellaneous correspondence, 1819-1887, such as letters that were probably received as enclosures. The letters relate to America's policy toward China, the Civil War blockade, and the U.S. Army's policy toward formerly enslaved people in the Confederate states. Of particular interest is a transcript of a message from General Ulysses S. Grant to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton announcing the April 8, 1865, surrender of General Robert E. Lee.Loose papers also contain du Pont's personal papers, 1803-1886, such as his baptismal certificate, memoranda on household expenses, inventories of furnishings at Louviers, and a list of articles he purchased from the items displayed at the Crystal Palace Exhibition. There are also papers relating to Christ Church, 1851-1860, such as financial records and copies of the church's articles of association. Papers relating to California real estate owned by du Pont, 1849-1859, include deeds, legal documents, and memoranda describing du Pont's San Francisco properties and his efforts to manage them. Papers about the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, 1852-1854, include a copy of the proposed plan of organization (1853) and the board of director's resolutions.Papers relating to the cruises of the Congress and the Cyane, 1845-1848, describe the political situation in Mexico (1847) and include a copy of the proclamation of Robert F. Stockton to the people of California (1846). Papers about the cruise of the Minnesota, 1857-1859, consist of route maps, lists of British and French vessels engaged in the bombardment of the Chinese forts at the Peiho River (1858), and memoranda describing furniture and porcelain purchased by du Pont in Japan and China. The Naval Efficiency Board papers, 1854-1856, include memoranda on the composition and duties of the board and material on the Naval Retiring Board. Japanese Embassy papers, 1860, include correspondence addressed to Secretary of State Lewis Cass and other State Department officials, offering to entertain the Japanese diplomats during their American visit. Papers relating to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, 1861-1864, consist of correspondence...

Abstract:

H. Rodney Sharp (1880-1968) was a historic preservationist and husband of Isabella du Pont Sharp (1882-1946), a descendent of the founders of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. The collection contains typed transcripts of letters written by Sharp while the Sharp family, friends, and children's nurses traveled around the world.

Abstract:

Isabella du Pont Sharp (1882-1946) was a descendent of the founders of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. The collection contains typed transcripts of letters written by Sharp to her sister, Margaretta du Pont Carpenter (1884-1973) while the Sharp family, friends, and children's nurses traveled around the world. The letters are filled with details about traveling, sightseeing, hotels, shopping, meals, and clothing.

Abstract:

The Morris family of Philadelphia were brewers, merchants, land speculators, manufacturers, and prominent participants in public affairs. This collection contains fourteen albums of photographs and postcards of foreign scenes between 1881 and 1906.

Abstract:

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739-1817) was a French political economist, writer, publisher, and public administrator. Françoise Robin du Pont (1748-1841) was the second wife of du Pont de Nemours. The collection contains photocopies of letters of both du Pont de Nemours. His letter regards obtaining a "safe conduct" passport while heading a scientific expedition being sent to North America by the Institute National. Her letters are with a Bergen Point, New Jersey former neighbor, C. Preudhomme, and his son.

Abstract:

Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739-1817) was a French political economist, writer, publisher, and public administrator. The collection contains a letter he wrote to a colleague concerning his proposed voyage to America.

Scope and Contents:

This series contains maps, guidebooks, postcards, articles, travel itineraries, correspondence and other materials collected by William Pahlmann for his travels around the world. Pahlmann traveled extensively for most of his life for the combined purposes of recreation, seeking design inspiration and source materials, spreading his views, and cultivating potential clients and suppliers. Pahlmann traveled to every continent except Antarctica, but the emphasis is on the Americas, Europe, Eastern and Southern Asia, Australasia and Oceania, the Middle East, and the African littoral of the Mediterranean. Many items are as simple as tourist maps and brochures and tear sheets from National Geographic.