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To create the Web pages relating to the people and places that made up
Penn in the 18th century, a number of sources were used. Many of the original
documents can be read in their entirety on-line on the Penn
in the Age of Franklin Web site, a related exhibit created jointly
through SCETI by the
University Archives and the Rare
Books and Manuscript department at the Penn
Library.
In general sources for this Penn in the 18th Century Web exhibit (biographies
and histories of the Charitable School, Academy, College and then University)
have been limited to sources held at the Penn Archives.
In an effort to combat the potential for errors, when there has been
any doubt about a given source, every effort has been made to find at
least one other reference as a check for the information. Many sources
provide redundant information. Any researcher can consult the sources
used in the creation of these Web pages. Below is a list of the major
primary and secondary sources, with citations and descriptions, including
information on each work's organization and accuracy. Whenever information
for a biography was drawn from a source not listed here, each supplementary
source is cited on the biography page itself.
REFERENCES
Primary Sources:
For a full listing and description of University Archives documents
dating from the 18th century consult the online Guide
to the Archives General Collection of the University of Pennsylvania,
1749-1820.
Many key primary documents from the University Archives and from
the University of Pennsylvania Library's Rare Books and Manuscripts department
may be viewed online on the Penn
in the Age of Franklin Web site. Included are Charters
and Constitutions, Trustees Minutes, Tuition Books, curriculum and commencement
materials, and documents written by Benjamin Franklin, William Smith and
others.
Other documents are available online in PDF format, including:
Research materials compiled by the University
Archives:
- Alumni Records
These are files held at the University of Pennsylvania Archives.
Most deceased alumni have a file, although information can be minimal,
especially for 18th century individuals. The contents of these files
vary greatly in type, quantity and usefulness, depending on the individual.
- Lost Alumni
Francis James Dallett, Scott W. Hawley, and the staff of the University
of Pennsylvania Archives.
This is an unpublished, partially completed compendium of information
about early students of Penn. The information is organized chronologically
by class. It is very thoroughly researched, and highly accurate with
regard to information directly relating Penn. Information contained
within regarding degrees from other schools, etc. should be verified.
Published Secondary Sources:
- American National Biography
American Council of Learned Societies & Oxford University Press.
Online: www.anb.org
This is essentially the online version of the Dictionary
of American Biography. Most, but not all, of the biographical
sketches available on the Web can also be found in the print version.
Likewise, there are a few sketches in the print version that are not
online. If the biographical sketch online differs from the print version,
the online version reflects the latest, most complete research. The
articles are well researched and sources are cited. This is a great
reference tool, but it is a paid subscription site only. ANB is accessible
through many colleges and universities. Members of the Penn community
can access ANB through Penn's
library website.
- Biographical Catalogue of the Matriculates of
the College 1749-1893
A Committee of the Society of Alumni. Philadelphia: Avil Printing Company,
1894.
This work is a good starting place for researching people who attended
Penn. It gives very brief outlines of people's lives including the
dates of their degrees and degree types. It is organized chronologically
by class, with the names of the trustees and other officers at the
start of the book. The source is generally reliable, but there are
errors and information should be verified whenever possible.
- The College, Academy and Charitable School of Philadelphia:
The Development of a Colonial Institution of Learning, 1740-1779
William L. Turner, University of Pennsylvania doctoral dissertation,
1952
- The College of Philadelphia, 1749-1779: Impact of an Institution
Ann Dexter Gordon, University of Wisconsin doctoral dissertation, 1975
- The Dictionary of American Biography
The American Council of Learned Societies. New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons, 1964.
This is a classic reference for biographies of famous Americans.
Composed of a number of volumes, the DAB is organized alphabetically
by last name. The articles are well researched and sources are cited.
On the whole, the book is very accurate and a great tool. (Also see
the online version )
- Lawmaking and Legislators in Pennsylvania
Horle, Foster, & Scheib. Philadelphia: The University of Pennsylvania
Press, 1997.
This book is one in what will someday be a many volume set. The volumes
are organized chronologically, and contains essays on the lives of
many Pennsylvania Legislators. To the reader or researcher of early
Pennsylvania history this book is a tremendous resource. The essays
are thorough and well researched with citations included. At the time
of this writing, only the first two volumes are available, although
the third is on the way. Volume 2 runs through 1756.
Patriot-Improvers: Biographical Sketches of Members
of the American Philosophical Society, volume 1
Whitfield J. Bell, Jr., American Philosophical
Society, 1997.
This is the first of several volumes of biographical sketches of members
of the American Philosophical Society, elected between 1743 and 1769.
This volume includes all those who were members up through 1746. The
entries are carefully cited.
- Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
This is the magazine published quarterly by the Historical Society
of Pennsylvania. The journal has been published since the mid 19th
century. Therefore, the reliability of the articles, and the degree
to which they cite sources varies quite a bit. That said, those articles
being published currently are usually of a scholarly quality. Perhaps
most importantly, all of the volumes have been very well indexed through
the mid 1990s.
- Portraits in the University of Pennsylvania
Addison. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1940.
This book was put together as part of Penn's bicentennial celebration
in 1940. As might be expected, it contains portraits of famous Penn
people. The images are often accompanied by a short biographical sketch
of the subject. The book does not include citations, and therefore
has only been used when it is the only source of information found
for a given person.
- University of Pennsylvania
Cheyney & Oberholtzer. Boston: R. Herndon Company, 1901. 2 volumes.
This book, part of the series, Universities and Their Sons,
contains information about Penn from 1740-1900. At the start of the
book are a number of essays about Penn, its origins, and the history
of formal education. In the latter half of the book are biographical
sketches of important people in the university's history. The ordering
is unclear, but it is indexed. Like many 19th-century works, this
book is full of useful information, but does not give sources for
the information, and is regularly incorrect. Therefore, the book is
a good starting point, but should not be used as a single reference
when possible. Unless otherwise indicated, all citations refer to
volume 1.
The 187 pages of this exhibit were researched, written and created
by Mary D. McConaghy, Michael Silberman, and Irina Kalashnikova. This
exhibit first appeared on the Web in 2004, as part of the celebration
of Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday.
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