Are you looking for sources on your historical research topic, but desire a fresh alternative to the well-trodden archival canon? Try a small repository!

On the Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories, we have discovered some incredible underutilized--or altogether untapped--archival resources in the Philadelphia area. In this blog post, I'll highlight a few collections that present strong research potential. The list is not meant to be exhaustive, but just points out some noteworthy resources in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties.

Inventors

• Historical Society of Tacony: Historical Society of Tacony Frank Shuman collection, 1912-2011, 0.5 linear feet -- Frank Shuman designed the world's first solar power plant
• Sunrise Mill: Chevalier Jackson papers, 1914-1940, 9.8 linear feet -- Chevalier Jackson invented the bronchoscope for removing foreign bodies from throats
• American Swedish Historical Museum: American Swedish Historical Museum John Ericsson collection, 1838-1938 [bulk 1859-1890], 16 linear feet -- John Ericsson's inventions helped the U.S. Navy during the Civil War

Women's History

• Strawberry Mansion: Women's Committee of the Philadelphia Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition of 1926 records, 1921-1927 [bulk 1926-1926], 7.25 linear feet -- The Women's Committee's Revolutionary-era reconstruction "High Street" was the biggest success of the failed 1926 exposition
• Worcester Historical Society: Christine Shearer and Irma Schultz scrapbooks, 1935-1970, 1.5 linear feet -- By winning big bucks in commercial jingle-writing contests, these sisters combat the stereotype of women as passive consumers vulnerable to advertisers' tricks
• Germantown Historical Society: Foulke and Long Institute for Orphan Girls records, 1857-1948, 4.75 linear feet -- Records offer a glimpse into the lives of orphan girls, among the most powerless groups in society

Military/War History

• 1st Regiment Infantry Museum: 1st Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania records, 1812-1970, 16 linear feet -- Records of the oldest continuously existing troop in the United States National Guard
• Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library: Records of numerous G.A.R. posts -- "Personal War Sketches," often included in post records, detail Civil War veterans' reminiscences
• Historical Society of Montgomery County: Fornance and Knox family papers, 1815-1976, 23 linear feet -- This large collection of family papers includes robust correspondence and photographs from World War I

Charity/Philanthropy

• Germantown Historical Society: Germantown Relief Society records, 1873-1953, 2.5 linear feet -- Records of the first US group to organize and coordinate charitable work
• Wissahickon Valley Historical Society: Amchem Products, Inc. records, 1925-1986, 7.5 linear feet -- The founder of this company's paid off all his employees debts as their Christmas bonus in 1936
• Eastern State Penitentiary: State Penitentiary for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania records, circa 1830-1970, 31 linear feet -- The Quakers who founded this historic prison thought they were helping inmates become penitent

Art and artists

• Philadelphia Sketch Club: Philadelphia Sketch Club records, 1860-2012, 54 linear feet -- Records of America's oldest club for artists
• Mummers Museum: Robert H. Finnigan costume sketches, circa 1966-1978, 2.25 linear feet -- Beautifully rendered sketches of costumes for Philadelphia's unique New Year's parade tradition
• Old York Road Historical Society: Russell Smith family papers, 6 linear feet -- Russell Smith (1812-1896) was a landscape painter who became a prominent theater curtain painter, and his son Xanthus (1839-1929) was known for his Civil War naval battle scenes