Colonial Dames Stenton records 01 Finding aid prepared by staff of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania

Small Archival Repositories using data provided by Stenton.

Last updated on May 09, 2014.

Stenton Colonial Dames Stenton records

Table of Contents

Summary Information...... 3 Biography/History...... 4 Scope and Contents...... 4 Administrative Information...... 5 Related Materials...... 6 Controlled Access Headings...... 6 Collection Inventory...... 8 Logan papers - Copies...... 8 Site-related history...... 8 Colonial Dames management records...... 8 Buildings and grounds...... 8 Collections...... 8 Bound volumes...... 8 Audio/visual collections...... 8

- Page 2 - Colonial Dames Stenton records

Summary Information

Repository Stenton

Creator National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Title Colonial Dames Stenton records

Call number 01

Date [inclusive] 1898-2000

Extent 45 linear feet

Language English

Abstract Stenton is an historic site administered by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 1899. James Logan erected this example of early Georgian architecture between 1723 and 1730 in what was countryside in Philadelphia County but is now part of the City of Philadelphia, near the neighborhood of Germantown. Logan had come to Philadelphia with William Penn in 1699 as his secretary, and for the rest of his life remained the Penn family’s representative in the colony and was at the center of Pennsylvania’s political life. The Colonial Dames Stenton records, 1898-2013, document the Dames administration of Stenton as an historic site. The collection includes copies of primary-source Logan family papers; secondary-source research on the Logan family and Stenton; site maintenance studies, plans, and records; administrative records of the Colonial Dames, including various committees' records, financial records, and the correspondence and files of several Dames; audio-visual materials; and various other records.

- Page 3 - Colonial Dames Stenton records

Biography/History

Stenton is an historic estate administered by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. James Logan erected this example of early Georgian architecture between 1723 and 1730 in what was countryside in Philadelphia County but is now part of the City of Philadelphia, near the neighborhood of Germantown. "Logan had come to Philadelphia with William Penn in 1699 as his secretary, and for the rest of his life remained the Penn family’s representative in the colony and [was] at the center of Pennsylvania’s political life. Although now in a densely populated urban area with factories and railroad nearby, Stenton’s present three-acre site preserves significant buildings, landscape, and objects. As perhaps the most important building in Philadelphia extant from the early 18th century, Stenton offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to explore the material culture and the political, cultural, social and architectural history of one of the elite families in Colonial Pennsylvania, as well as the lives of others who lived and interacted with the property. In 1899, the Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Dames of America entered into a lease agreement with the Logan family to manage Stenton. Then, after the property was purchased by the City of Philadelphia, the Society of Colonial Dames was charged in 1910 "to preserve and maintain Stenton as an historic object lesson." Today, managed by the Stenton Committee of The NSCDA/PA, the historic site is interpreted to a wide public. "The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is dedicated to preserving our State and National heritage through preservation of historic properties, conservation of antiquities and archives, education, scholarships, patriotism and respect for our Colonial ancestors whose distinguished service prior to 1776 and ideals are the foundation of our Country. One of the Society’s most important service projects is the preservation and administration of Stenton." Bibliography: Quoted text from: Stenton. "A Brief History of Stenton." Accessed October 8, 2013. http://stenton.org/ index.php/about/

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of records of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America relative to their administration of the historic site Stenton. It is organized into seven series: "Logan papers - copies," "Site-related history," "Colonial Dames management records," "Buildings and grounds," "Collections," "Bound volumes," and "Audio-visual collections." The first series, "Logan papers - copies," includes copies of primary-source documents created by James Logan, his family members, including the diaries (1815-1839) of his daughter-in-law Deborah Norris

- Page 4 - Colonial Dames Stenton records Logan, and other individuals related to Stenton, used as reference by Stenton site staff. Many of the original manuscripts are stored at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The second series, "Site-related history," includes secondary-source resources about the Logan family and Stenton, including genealogy, Stenton research by various scholars and staff, reports and articles pertaining to the Logans and Stenton, and archaeology dig files and reports. The third series, "Colonial Dames management records," includes minutes from various committees (library, postcard, garden, museum, archaeology, guide, genealogy, costume, furnishings, central, and other committees), financial records (Stenton Fund financial reports, grant-related materials, maintenance bills, etc.), and papers of Letitia Ellicott Wright (1861-1933, a Logan descendent who headed up Stenton's first garden committee), Lilian Streeter Lucas Chance (1927-2013, former president of the Colonial Dames in Pennsylvania), and Margo Burnett (former Stenton Executive Director; records primarily pertaining to site management). The fourth series, "Buildings and grounds," includes restoration plans, historic structures reports, contract bids and specifications, and related correspondence and other materials for the house and barn. The fifth series, "Collections," includes documentation and research about the artifacts in Stenton's collections. The sixth series, "Bound volumes," includes minute books of the Stenton Mansion Committee and its predecessors, the Committee on Historic Houses and Committee of Thirteen; Stenton Garden Committee scrapbooks and accounts; Stenton publicity scrapbooks, and several other volumes. The last series, "Audio/visual collections," includes reproductions/prints of graphics, some videos, and glass lantern slides.

Administrative Information

Stenton Finding aid prepared by staff of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories using data provided by Stenton.

Access Restrictions Contact Stenton for information about accessing this collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note Materials created or collected by the Colonial Dames and Stenton administrators.

- Page 5 - Colonial Dames Stenton records

Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.: Logan family papers, 1638-1964 (bulk 1670-1872), Collection 379. Library Company of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.: Logan family papers, 1684-1925.

Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.

Family Name(s)

• Logan family

Geographic Name(s)

• Germantown (Philadelphia, Pa.) • Philadelphia (Pa.)

Personal Name(s)

• Chance, Lilian Streeter Lucas, 1927-2013 • Logan, James, 1674-1751 • Wright, Letitia Ellicott Carpenter, 1861-1933

Subject(s)

- Page 6 - Colonial Dames Stenton records • Historic buildings • Historic gardens • Historic preservation • Historic sites • Stenton (Philadelphia, Pa.)

- Page 7 - Colonial Dames Stenton records Series A.2. Logan papers - Copies

Collection Inventory

Series A.2. Logan papers - Copies.

Series B. Site-related history.

Subseries 1. Genealogy. 1 boxes.

Subseries 2. Stenton research. 3 boxes.

Subseries 3. Reports and articles pertaining to Logans/Stenton. 3 boxes.

Subseries 4. Archaeology. 6 boxes.

Series C. Colonial Dames management records.

Subseries 1. Committee minutes and related papers. 7 boxes.

Subseries 2. Papers of specific individuals.

Subgroup. Letitia Wright. 1 boxes.

Subgroup. Lil Chance. 3 boxes.

Subgroup. Margo Burnette. 1 boxes.

Subseries 3. Financial records. 4 boxes.

- Page 8 - Series D. Buildings and grounds.

Subseries 1. House. 5 boxes.

Subseries 2. Barn. 2 boxes.

Series E. Collections. 1 boxes.

Series F. Bound volumes.

Subseries 1. Minutes. 7 boxes.

Subseries 2. Garden. 2 boxes.

Subseries 3. Log house. 1 boxes.

Subseries 4. Publicity and events. 1 boxes.

Series G. Audio/visual collections. Scope and Contents note

Includes 4 16mm film reels of log house; several boxes of lantern slides and glass negatives of the house and garden Colonial Dames Stenton records Subseries 1. Reproductions/prints

Subseries 1. Reproductions/prints. 2 boxes.

- Page 9 -