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Philadelphia City Archives
3101 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 685-9401
http://www.phila.gov/phils/carchive.htm
Contact Person:
Ward Childs, City Archivist, ward.childs@phila.govThe Institution:
In a relatively new location near Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, the City Archives was established in 1952 in order to "preserve all City records not in current use which possess historical, administrative, legal, research, cultural or other important value."
The Collections:
The collections found in the Philadelphia City Archives are typical county records. That they document Philadelphia's history means that they can be used to much larger effect, by tracing the development of the country's first major trading center and its role in establishing both regional and national commercial networks. Most relevant to economic and cultural historians using this guide are county court records, district and borough records before the city's consolidation in 1854, general financial and assessment records, and records dealing with real estate issues, from deeds to internal improvements.
The reading room contains microfilm cabinets of records and film reader/printers (researchers must pay for both time and copies). Film reels contain indexes to deeds, naturalization and cemetery records, mortgages, and so on. Also located in the reading room are bound volumes of indexes recording deaths and marriages. Manuscript material must be paged from a closed-stack area by one of the archivists or assistants.
The website provides a comprehensive guide to the contents of the Archives and a brief history of each agency.
Collection Strengths that are related to Economic History:
RG1: Tax Records
Records of the tax collectors are contained within the County Commissioners' records, as their functions overlapped in the eighteenth century. Commissioners had "authority to share with the assessors in the assessment process and in the allocation of tax receipts among the various county projects, to take part in the appointment of the County Treasurer, and to issue warrants and levy fines against delinquent taxpayers and collectors."
- 1.1 County Commissioners Minutes, 1718-66, 1771-76, 1797-1801, 1837-1841 (7 vols.; no index) (vol. 1771-74 in collection of Historical Society of Pennsylvania).
- Contents of minutes deal mostly with administration of Philadelphia County tax system, maintenance of and collection of rent on public properties, wages of and payments to contractors. Also included are instructions to tax collectors on annual collections of taxes and records of tax abatements.
- 1.4 Tax Receipts, 1757 (1 vol.; no index)
- Summary statements organized by ward and township.
- 1.5 Property Value in County, 1779 (1 vol.; no index)
- Fragmentary (only 9 pages); list of property holders and total value of holdings.
- 1.6 County Carriage Tax Assessment Ledger, 1783-94 (2 vols., index)
- Listed by ward and owner; includes number of carriages and sedans and their assessed value; also billiard tables.
- 1.7 State Personal Tax Assessment Ledger, 1832 (2 vols., index)
- Names of taxable people and personal property taxed.
- 1.8 State Tax Assessment Ledger, 1779-83, 1785-89, 1834-35, 1841-46, c. 1847, 1848-54 (82 vols., partial index)
- Organized by city ward and county district; includes name, occupation, property taxed and assessed value (mostly of real estate). Also includes special assessments for establishment of sinking fund, raising funds for Continental Congress. Volumes for 1832-54 include taxed persons' addresses.
- 1.9 County Tax Assessment Ledger, 1791-1826, 1841-46, c. 1847, 1848-54 (117 vols., mostly indexed)
- Organized by city ward and township, lists name, occupation, personal and real property taxed, assessed value. (County tax assessments for 1782-1790 based on state assessments for the purpose of raising money for Congress or paying debt.)
-1.10 County Tax Duplicate, 1773, 1775, 1793-95, 1798, 1800, 1810-19, 1822, 1836-7, 1839, 1841, 1843, 1847-8, 1850, 1851, 1853 (56 vols., index)
- Includes dog tax.
- 1.16 Enumeration of Taxables, Slaves, Deaf and Dumb Persons, 1793, 1800, 1821, 1828, 1835 (10 vols., 1 microfilm reel, no index)
- 1.24 Road Damages Payments, 1831-38 (1 vol., index)
- Listed by roads, includes property holders awarded damages.
- 1.28 Provincial Tax Assessment Ledgers and Duplicates, 1769, 1774-75 (2 vols., 1 reel of microfilm, index)
- Organized by City Wards and County districts, includes names, sometimes occupation, personal and real property taxed and assessed value.
RG2: County Treasurer Records
Records from an office created in 1700, sharing powers with the County Commissioners since 1718. From 1776-1789 the County Treasurer also served as the City Treasurer.
- 2.1 Accounts, 1777-1803, 1848-54 (3 vols., no index)
- City and count receipts, balances, revenues from taxes, etc.
RG5: Recorder of Deeds
Position began as Master of the Rolls, established in 1682. Chief duties included preparing deeds, mortgages, leases, and other similar instruments.
- 5.1 Deed Book, 1684-1863 (1342 vols., index; also on microfilm)
- Recorded copies of deeds, listed by date, grantee, grantor (including wife's name), parties' occupation and general residence, property price.
- 5.2 Exemplifications of Recorded Instruments in Pennsylvania Land Office, 1683-1799 (11 vols., index)
- Mostly transactions related to Philadelphia County.
- 5.3 Patents, City Lots, 1781-85 (1 vol., index)
- Patents granted for land in city owned by Commonwealth and sold at auction. Includes grantee, price, property description, dates of sale, etc.
- 5.4 Register, Sales of City and State Island Lots, 1781-87 (1 vol., index)
- Entries include lot number, acreage, price per acre, purchaser, total price.
- 5.5 Mortgage Contracts, General Loan Office, 1736-55 (6 vols., index)
- Includes dates of making and recording, parties involved, mortgagor's occupation and residence, amount of loan, property used as collateral, terms of repayment.
- 5.6 Mortgage Books, 1749-1800 (39 vols., index)
- Includes dates of making and recording, parties involved, mortgagor's occupation and residence, amount of loan, property used as collateral, terms of repayment.
- 5.8 Miscellaneous Book, 1799- (46 vols., index)
- Recorded copies of instruments not included above. "Great variety of entries" including those dealing with business firms, bills of sale, agreements and bonds.
- 5.13 Auctioneers' Bond Book, 1842-74 (3 vols., no index)
- Copies of bond, list dates, auctioneers' names, addresses, amount of bonds.
- 5.22 Manufacturing Companies, Agreements, 1849-75 (3 vols., index)
- Certificates of incorporation. Lists corporate name, date of organization, total amount of capital stock, place of business, list of officers, other relevant information.
- 5.23 Partnership Books, 1836- (34 vols., index)
- Documents (certificates, articles of association, etc.) related to partnership formations and dissolutions.
RG20: Common Pleas Court
Established in 1707, absorbed functions of the Orphan's Court in the mid eighteenth century. Handled civil court cases
- 20.2 Appearance Docket, 1757- (882 vols., index); 20.3 Judgment Docket, 1810-11, 1819-74 (30 vols., index); 20.4 Execution Docket, 1769-1874 (35 vols., index); 20.5 Equity Docket, 1836-74 (11 vols., index)
Summaries of civil cases, listing parties, attorneys, cause of action, summary of legal actions, disposition of cases.
- 20.10 Mechanics Lien Docket, 1836-74 (26 vols., index)
- Plaintiff, claimee, cause and amount of claim, notice of satisfaction.
- 20.11 Report of Tax Collectors of Real Estate to be Sold for Non-Payment of Taxes, 1803-18 (1 vol., index)
- Entries include locations of lots and buildings, owners' names, years and amounts of unpaid taxes.
- 20.16 Sheriff's Deeds, 1736- (221 vols., index)
- Date, plaintiff, defendant, purchaser, location of property, amount sold for.
- 20.17 Minutes July 1789-March 1874 (46 vols., index); missing 1792-99, 1804-08, 1809-1812, 1819-21
- In addition to usual civil cases appearing in Appearance Docket, Minutes include cases involving dissolution of corporations, extinguishments of ground rents, petitions of insolvency, some rulings of property assessments, damages for street openings, and warrants for seizure of absconding slaves and apprentices.
- 20.19 Proceedings in Equity, 1837-74 (34 cubic feet, no index)
- Papers include parties involved, dates, include bills of discovery, petitions for injunctions, bonds given, disposition of case, etc.
- 20.30 Insolvency Petitions and Bonds, 1790-1868 (9 cubic feet, no index); missing 1791-5, 1805-6, 1844, 1847, 1849, 1860; 20.30a Insolvent Docket, Dec. 1828-Aug. 1842; 20.30b Insolvent Bonds, Sept. 1827-Dec. 1833
- Includes date of petition, name and occasionally occupation of petitioner, schedule of creditors, amount of and reason for debt, inventory of petitioner's real and personal property. Also includes reasons for petitioner's insolvency, often detailing personal information about family status, business failures, etc.
RG21: Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions and Oyer and Terminer
Established in 1682. Court of Quarter Sessions was in charge of overseeing road and bridge openings, appointing and auditing various county officials, and licensing taverns, hackneys, and peddlers.
- 21.2 Docket, 1753-1838; 1843-79 (114 vols., most indexed); missing 1771-2, 1781-9, 1813-14, 1821; 21.3 Oyer and Terminer Docket, 1794-1840 (7 vols., 1815-40 indexed); missing 1810-14, 1834; 21.4 Minute Book, 1799-1802, 1804-5, 1807-22, 1824-5, 1829-38, 1846-52, 1854- (42 vols., index)
- Entries for each court term list judges and court officers, grand jurors, information regarding criminal cases. Also, road petitions, road viewers' reports, apprentice cases, tavern and peddlers' licenses issued.
- 21.12 Liquor Licenses, Minute Book, 1820- (7 vols., no index); missing 1825-40
- Entries include name and address of licensees; vol. 1841-9 includes hawkers' and peddlers' licenses.
- 21.25 Road Docket, 1685- (79 vols., index); 21.26 Road Petitions, 1685- (903 cubic feet, index); 21.27 Road Case Record, 1836- (21 vols., index)
- Petitions for laying out and opening roads, streets, bridges; reports of court-appointed road viewers, actions taken in regard to openings, etc..
RG22: Prothonotary of the District Court
Established in 1811 to share function of civil court with Court of Common Pleas.
- 22.1 Appearance Docket, 1811-74 (236 vols., index); 22.2 D.S.B. Docket, 1811-74 (59 vols., no index); 22.3 Execution Docket, 1811-74 (120 vols., index); 22.6 Mechanic and Municipal Lien Docket, 1836-74 (25 vols., index); 22.20 Minute Book, May 6, 1811-Jan. 2, 1875 (51 vols., some indexes)
- Civil case index listing parties involved, attorneys, cause of action, legal steps, disposition of cases, property against which levied, notices of satisfaction, liens.
- 22.11 Sheriff's Deeds, 1811-74 (91 vols., index)
- Date, plaintiff, defendant, purchaser and location of seized and sold property.
- 22.18 Insolvent List, June 1821-June 1830 (1 vol., index)
- Entries by court term, insolvent's name, name of persons opposing insolvency, date discharged.
RG35: Overseers of the Poor
Established in the early eighteenth century, Overseers of the Poor were to collect a poor tax and distributed it among the city's indigent. In 1735, the Overseers were put in charge of the Alms House and House of Employment.
- Contributors to the Relief of the Poor: 35.1 Treasurer's Accounts, 1766-88 (2 vols., no index); 35.2 Accounts, Legacies Left to Poor, 1783-88 (1 vol., no index); 35.3 Alms House Managers Minutes, 1766-88 (3 vols.)
- Receipts and expenditures balanced annually; individual accounts for legacies; managers' minutes.
- Overseers of the Poor: 35.4 Minutes, 1768-88 (4 vols., no index); 35.5 Indentures Made, 1751-87 (1 vol., index); 35.5a Poor Tax Duplicate, 1767 (1 vol., index)
- Minutes; lists of children's names, dates of indentures and masters to whom they were bound, terms of indenture; list of poor tax payers, assessed values, amount of tax levied.
- Guardians of the Poor: 35.6 Minutes, 1788-1887 (32 vols. and 1 cubic foot; some indexes); 35.7 Extracts from Minutes, 1816-21 (1 vol., no index); 35.8 Letter Book, 1823-86 (9 vols., index), missing Nov. 1835-March 1839
- Secretary's rough copies for each meeting; partial index to Examination of Paupers, letters sent to counties where they lived; correspondence of Board of Guardians to authorities in other cities regarding residents in Philadelphia Alms House.
- 35.11 Poor Tax Register, 1819-47 (56 vols., index); 35.12 Poor Tax Duplicate, 1803-53 (84 vols., index); 35.14 Miscellaneous Papers, 1807-87 (no index)
- Organized by ward/borough, taxable's name; includes assessments of personal and real estate and taxes levied. Miscellaneous Papers include unpaid taxes, bonds and sureties for Board appointments, cancelled loan certificates, etc.
- Alms House Managers: 35.17 Bonds and Agreements, 1808-30 (1 vol., index); 35.18 Orders on Treasurer, 1788-1801 (2 vols., no index)
- Copies of agreements made with suppliers, builders; records of payments, including amounts and purpose.
- 35.32 Committee on Manufacturing Minutes, 1807-87 (10 vols., no index); missing Jan. - Nov., 1810
- 35.45 Treasurer, General Ledger, 1789-1804, 1819-1887 (9 vols., some indexes); 35.46 Accounts Ledger, 1788-1887 (12 vols., no index); 35.48 Treasurer's Reports, 1843-55 (8 vols., no index); 35.49 Treasurer's Weekly Entries, 1791-1822 (7 vols., no index); 35.50 Orders Drawn by Treasurer for Bills Passed by Board of Guardians, 1823-60 (11 vols., no index); missing June 1832-April 1833
- Varied returns of Collectors of Poor Tax, Alms House expenses, weekly summaries of paupers' admissions and dismissals; extra Volume of "Sundry Personal Accounts, 1788-9" in 35.46; accounts of disbursements, etc.
- 35.53 Receipts and Expenditure Schedule, 1830-57 (2 vols., no index); 35.55 Steward "Dissections" of Cash Receipts, 1810-21 (3 vols., no index) missing Nov. 1811-May 1814
- Treasurer's receipts; steward's weekly summaries grouped by types of services and fees.
- 35.63 Expenses, Provisions and Services, 1806-60 (13 vols., no index); 35.64 Commodity Purchase Accounts, 1810-25 (2 vols., partial index)
- All commodities purchased by various departments and expenses incurred.
- 35.75 Daily Occurrence Docket, 1787-1888 (58 vols., no index); missing Oct. 1790-Feb. 1792, Aug.-Dec., 1799
- Earlier entries include materials used, items produced, expenses, inmate work at manufacturing shoes, spinning, and weaving.
- 35.76 Daily Issues, 1805-32 (10 vols., no index); 35.77 Daily Receipts and Issues of Food and Supplies, 1801-3 (3 vols., no index); 35.78 Weekly Receipts and Issues of Food and Supplies, 1793-1808 (3 vols., no index); 35.79 Daily Receipts, 1805-11 (5 vols., no index); 35.80 "Baker's Accounts," 1810-18 (1 vol., no index); 35.81 Clothing Issues Ledger, 1805-71 (21 vols., partial index)
- Daily, weekly, and monthly records of inmates' food and clothing requirements.
- Steward's Records: 35.88 Cash Book, 1805-62 (23 vols., no index); 35.89 "Dissections" of Expenditures, 1806-68 (7 vols., no index); 35.90 Weekly Statements of Manufactory Production, 1835-44+ (7 vols., no index); 35.91 Weekly Summaries of Goods Manufactured, 1834-8 (1 vol., no index); 35.92Weekly Statements of Tailoring Work, 1835-44 (2 vols., no index); 35.93 Weekly Statements of Painters' and Glaziers' Work, 1836-41 (1 vol., no index); 35.94 Weekly Statements, Shoemaker's Production, 1835-8 (1 vol., no index); 35.95 Weekly Statements, Weavers' Production, 1834-5 (1 vol., no index); 35.96 Weekly Statements, Carpenters' Production, 1835-9 (1 vol., no index); 35.97 Outdoor Spinners' Accounts, 1806-7 (1 vol., no index); 35.98 Monthly Summaries of Manufactory Costs, 1843-5 (1 vol., no index); 35.99 Manufactory Inventories, 1845-51 (1 vol., index); 35.100 Manufactory Accounts Ledger, 1808-10 (1 vol., no index); 35.101 Manufactures' Sales Journal, 1805-08 (1 vol., no index); 35.102 "Merchandise Accounts," Jan.-July 1807 (1 vol., no index); Cotton and Wool Spinning and Sales Journal, Feb.-Sept. 1808 (1 vol., index)
- Taken together, journals describe and record daily activities of Alms House manufactories; money made from cottage industries embarked on by residents.
- 35.193 Alms House Factory, Production Accounts, May 1835-May 1842 (1 vol., index)
- Records for each manufacturing department at the Alms House, including turning, shoe making, tailoring, carving, gilding, coopering, spinning, weaving, tin-smithing, blacksmithing, rope making, knitting, soap making, candle making, painting, glazing, milling. Includes expenses, number of workers, broken down by department.
- 35.196 Alms House "Sundries Account," Sept. 1808-May 1810 (1 vol., no index)
- Weekly itemized entries of goods and services used by manufactory (including amounts paid to workers, costs of equipment, raw materials, repairs).
RG35: Inspectors of the Jail and Penitentiary House; Inspectors of the County Prison
Similar to Alms House records, these records contain not only personal information about inmates, but also contain accounts of prison expenses and the output and income from internal manufacturing enterprises.
- 38.8 Committee on Manufacturing, Minutes, 1840-52 (2 vols., no index)
- Prison Financial Records: 38.14 Accounts of Prison, City, and County Treasurers, 1836+ (3 vols., no index) missing 1848-53 ; 38.15 Accounts Ledger, 1835+ (10 vols., index) missing 1847; 38.16 Rough Accounts Ledger, 1840-53 (2 vols., index) missing 1843-4; 38.17 General Accounts of Expenses, 1824-54 (2 vols., no index) missing 1837-47; 38.18 "Sundry" Expenses and Receipts, 1829+ (9 vols., no index); 38.19 Cash Book, 1814+ (19 vols., no index) missing 1817-20; 38.21 Receipt Slips, 1827-36 (1 vol., no index); 38.22 Departmental Sales Journal, 1833-53 (3 vols., no index); 38.23 General Sales Journal, 1833-38 (2 vols., index); 38.24 Incidental Sales Journal, 1844-53 (1 vol., no index); 38.25 Cut Stone Sales Accounts, 1822-36 (1 vol., index); 38.26 Goods Purchased Against Prisoners' Earnings, March-Dec. 1834 (1 vol., no index); 38.27 "Stock Book," 1800-05 (1 vol., no index)
- Large and small accounts of the Prison, recording details of expenditures for prison as a whole and for manufacturing departments; itemized accounts of cash disbursements; inventories and accounts of manufacturing departments; records of prison manufactures purchased, payments received; summaries of individual prisoners' accounts.
RG90: Board of Surveyors, Department of Engineering, Surveys, Zoning
The city's first surveyors were appointed in the early eighteenth century to act as fence viewers and regulate the setting of foundations and party walls. In 1769 surveyors were given the authority to oversee all streets, watercourses, and sewers.
- 90.6 Draughts, City Blocks, ca. 1814 (5 vols., no index)
- Remnant of 9-volume survey compiled by City Surveyor. Volumes contain large scale-drawings of city blocks, streets, and alleys with dimensions. Some plans also include lot outlines and owners' names.
- 90.25 "Extracts from John Reed's Book and Measures of the Most Principal Streets, Squares, Etc. Taken by the Regulators Since the Year 1782, Collected by Thomas Nevell," ca. 1782 (1 vol., no index)
- Includes dates of surveys of all city lots from the Delaware River to 8th St., locations of lots, dimensions, purpose, and occupants/owners. Also some proposals about sewers, and general physical dimensions of city plan.
- 90.28 Map of the City of Philadelphia, ca. 1784-97
- Bounded by Vine St., Cedar (South) St., Delaware River, and Broad. Includes street names, locations of important places (i.e., Alms House, churches, burial grounds, New Market, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania).
- 90.40 Surveys, 3rd Survey District, ca. 1780+ (12 cubic feet, index)
- Individual surveys of "old city" (Vine to South, river to river) including real property lines, owners' names, etc.
RG93: Wardens of Lighting and the Watch; Street Commissioners; City Commissioners; City Tax Assessors; City Tax Collectors
Established in 1700, street commissioners had the authority to regulate and repair the city's streets and bridges, and to levy taxes for such purposes. City commissioners regulated lighting and watching, city property, wells, pumps, and so on. Records relate not only to city infrastructure but also to taxation for maintenance of such infrastructure, and are grouped together to reflect overlap of agencies.
- 93.1 City Tax Duplicate, 1791-1854 (31 vols., index)
- Entries by name of person taxed, total assessed value and taxes levied.
- 93.2 Registered Taxes, 1824-53 (1 vol., no index)
- Record of unpaid city taxes.
- 93.5 Minutes of the Wardens (of Lighting and the Watch), Oct. 7, 1771-Aug. 15, 1781 (4 vols., no index)
- Includes Minutes of meetings of Wardens and Assessors; also includes lists of assessors and collectors for some years.
- 93.6 Wardens' Accounts Ledger, Nov. 1784-May 1787 (1 vol., no index)
- Receipts of taxes collected by public officials and renters of city property.
- 93.7 Minutes of the Streets' Commissioners, Dec. 25, 1765-Sept. 8, 1768, July 14, 1770-Sept. 17, 1772, Oct. 30, 1778-Dec. 28, 1781, June 27, 1788-May 30, 1789 (4 vols., no index); 93.8 Minutes of the City Commissioners, June 3, 1789-March 8, 1790 (1 vol., no index)
RG95: City Treasurer
In pre-revolutionary times, the mayor or an alderman often served as the city treasurer, and from 1776-89, the county treasurer served as the city treasurer. In 1807, overseeing the sinking fund was added to the treasurer's duties.
- 95.2 General Ledger, 1800+ (17 vols., index); missing 1802-08
- Entries consist of annual balanced statements of all city accounts.
- 95.4 Cash Accounts, 1802+ (23 vols., no index); missing October 1804-July 1807, 1816-19
- Monthly receipts and expenditures.
- 95.5 Day Book, 1800, 1816-29, 1854 (3 vols., no index)
- Receipts and expenditures; also includes loans, water rents, taxes.
- 95.6 Quarterly Statements of Accounts Submitted to City Councils, (2nd quarter) 1809- (3rd quarter) 1813 (3 vols. and 1 cubic foot, no index)
-Statements of all accounts, loan funds, appropriation schedules, taxes, water and property rents, etc. Also includes many special matters, such as fund for relieving yellow fever victims.
- 95.7 "Accounts Summary," 1802-06 (1 vol., no index)
- Many and varied accounts with little organization but great detail.
- 95.8 Papers, 1799-1811 (1 cubic foot, no index)
- Include tax collectors' bonds, statement of accounts; many prepared for city solicitor.
- 95.10 Receipt Notices, 1838-76 (12 vols., no index)
- Copies of treasurers' receipts.
- 95.13 Receipts, Taxes and Water Rents, 1806-54 (6 vols., no index); missing Sept. 1833-March 1843
- Entries by date, amount, person from whom received.
- 95.15 Receipts Journal, Rentals of City Property, 1806-29 (3 vols., no index); missing 1815-18
- Entries by date, amount received, tenants' name, property location.
- 95.18 Receipts, Check Stubs, 1792-1835 (24 vols., no index)
- Records of payments made by treasurer.
- 95.19 Account with Bank of Pennsylvania, 1815-16 (1 vol., no index)
- Entries by date, amount of deposit made by treasurer.
- 95.21 Appropriation Ledger, 1812-24 (1 vol., no index)
- Lists expenditures by appropriation item number.
- 95.24 Expenditures, Public Property, 1839-53 (1 vol., index)
- Accounts for public squares, markets, wharves, buildings, bridges, etc.
- 95.25 Expenditures, City Stables, 1834 (1 vol., no index)
- Expenses for horses, provender, harnesses, carts, etc.
- 95.29 Waterworks Loan Interest Payments Order Stubs, 1800-05 (1 vol., no index); 95.30 Loan Interest Payments Order Stubs, 1819-22 (1 vol., no index)
- Stubs list number, amount paid, to whom, for what.
- 95.32 Loan Certificate Transfer Journal, 1801-66 (4 vols., no index)
- Entries for each transfer, including date, parties involved; chiefly concern water, dam, Fairmount Works loans.
- 95.35 Loan Certificate Redemption Stubs, 1831-76 (4 vols., no index)
- Entries by late, loan involved and amount redeemed.
- Trusts and Legacies: 95.45 Stubs, Notices of Bond Payments Due, Franklin Legacy, 1812-29 (1 vol., no index); 95.46 Check Stubs, Franklin and Scott Legacies, 1832-54 (1 vol., no index); 95.47 Accounts Ledger, Scott Legacy, 1830-70 (1 vol., index); 95.48 Day Book, Scott Legacy, 1829-69 (1 vol., no index); 95.49 Account Ledger, Wills Hospital Trust, 1831-70 (1 vol., index); 95.50 Cash Accounts, Wills Hospital Trust, 1831-70 (1 vol., no index); 95.51 Stock and Real Estate Acquisitions and Sales, Wills Hospital Trust, 1831-69 (1 vol., no index); 95.52 Receipts Book, Wills Hospital Trust, 1831-54 (1 vol., no index); 95.53 Check Stubs, Wills Hospital Trust, 1832-54 (1 vol., no index); 95.56 Accounts Ledger, Franklin Legacy, 1791-1868 (1 vol., index); 95.57 Journal, Franklin Legacy, 1791-1870 (1 vol., no index); 95.58 Bond Book, Franklin Legacy, 1791-1825 (2 vols., no index)
- Bonds made for loans to artisans, date, amount due, person owing, notices of payment; loan amounts, borrowers' names and occupations; journal entries of cash transactions; trust accounts including loans, cash, interest, real estate and stocks; fund's account with bank and individual borrowers; daily entries of receipts and expenditures. (Record series 95.56-95.58 are housed at the American Philosophical Society.)
RG96: Constables
By 1711 provision, constables were responsible for providing information similar to city assessors.
- 96.1 Constables' Returns to Assessors, 1762-80 (3 vols., no index)
- Entries list householder's name and occupation, house landlord and rent, inmates, hired and bond servants, etc.
RG120: City Council(s)
Although Penn's charter made provisions for a Common Council in 1691, these provisions weren't observed until the Proprietor's Charter of 1701 created a Common Council consisting of officers of the Corporation only (including the Mayor, Recorder, aldermen, and councilmen). The Council was abolished in 1776; the Act of March 11, 1789 reincorporated the city and established a freeman-elected Council, consisting of aldermen and common council members, who appointed the Mayor and Recorder.
- 120.1 Common Council Minutes in Manuscript, 1704-76 (3 vols., no index); 120.2 Common Council Minutes in Manuscript, 1789-1855 (10 vols., some indexes); missing Oct. 1823- Oct. 1847; June 1850-Sept. 1853; 120.3 Select Council Minutes in Manuscript, 1796-1869 (11 vols., some indexes); missing Nov. 1807-March 1811, April 1814-May 1821, June 1832-Dec. 1863; 120.4 Journal of Councils, 1835-54 (20 vols., index)
- Reports to and of Councils on various subjects typical of city governance, including property, sanitation, finance, highways, legacies and trusts, water, city rents, street paving and repairs, utilities, and so on.
- 120.10 Committee on City Property, Minutes, 1836-8 (2 vols., no index); 120.11 Committee on City Property, Agreements, 1836-55 (1 vol., no index); 120.12 Committee on City Property, Tobacco Warehouse Journal, 1845-56 (2 vols., no index)
- Entries by date, list contractor, materials and labor to be furnished, purpose of project; most dealing with Tobacco Warehouse, construction of market houses, improvement of public squares.
- 120.14 Committee on Cleansing the City, Minutes, 1834-5 (1 vol., no index); 120.15 Committee on Cleansing the City, Appropriation Expenditure Accounts, 1841-4, 1852-4 (1 vol., no index); 120.16 Committee on Cleansing the City, Weekly Disbursals, Sept.-Dec. 1834 (1 vol., index); 120.17 Committee on Cleansing the City, Order Stubs, 1834-5 (1 vol., no index)
- Records dealing with cleaning contractors.
- 120.18 Committee on Finance, Minutes, 1834-54 (3 vols., no index)
- Full proceedings of committee; includes financial statements.
- Miscellaneous Committees: 120.25 Committee on Lighting and Watching, Minutes, 1834-5 (1 vol., no index); 120.27 Committee on Paving, Minutes, 1834-5 (1 vol., no index); 120.32 Committee on Sinking Fund, Minutes, 1824-34 (1 vol., no index); 120.33 Joint Special Committees Minutes, 1834-5 (1 vol., index)
- Records relative to street lamps; road paving and upkeep; establishment of Gas Works, Second Bank of U.S., Schuylkill Canal, and street openings.
- 120.42 Committee on Water, Papers, 1804-54 (2 cubic feet); 120.43 Committee on Water, Bills Received, 1804-54 (2 cubic feet); 120.44 Committee on Water, Register of Water Loan Subscribers, 1806 (1 vol., index)
- Filed chronologically; correspondence, contract proposals, agreements, bonds, drawings; bills include dates, creditor, itemization of materials and services purchased.
- 120.48 Zoning Ordinances in Manuscript, 1833+ (103 vols. total, no index); missing 1834-40; 1842-8
- 120.52 Ordinances and Resolutions in Regard to Girard Estate Outside of Philadelphia County, 1832-4 (1 vol., no index)
- Regarding appointment of agents, payments of taxes, land improvement, expenditure authorization.
RG130: Mayor's Court, City Court
Established in 1701, a court meeting quarterly and presided over by the Mayor to handle felonies (except capital cases), misdemeanors, and nuisances.
- 130.1 Docket, 1759-1837 (16 vols., index); missing 1764-79, 1786-8
- Entries for each court session; includes recapitulations of all public house licenses (1759-63), list of all public vehicles registered in the city (1761), entered into record also include regulations about taverns, liquor licenses, inns
RG153: Bureau of, Trustees of Ice Boats
Established by an ordinance of 1837
- 153.2 Cash Journal and Ledger, 1837-77 (1 vol., no index); 153.3 Receipt Notices, 1837-46 (1 vol., no index); 153.5 Towage Account Book, 1842-55 (1 vol., no index)
- Receipts and expenditures, accounts of services; entries of vessel name, mater, tonnage, points between which towed, charge.
RG158: Board of Port Wardens
Established in 1766 Act of Assembly to license harbor pilots, maintaining navigational aids, clearing obstructions to Delaware River, develop regulations for movement of vessels in port.
- 158.2 Minutes, 1766-73, 1784+ (11 vols. in total)
- Microfilmed from copy at Free Library.
RG202-223 Township and Borough Records
Many accounts are bounded by the year 1854, the date of city incorporation and reorganization. These records are valuable because they contain information about the daily operations of Philadelphia's immediately surrounding areas. Surveys record physical lay-outs of these areas and how they changed over time. In addition, paving and water accounts indicate the degree to which improvements were made, by whom, in what locations, and at what cost. Most of these records span the first half of the nineteenth century, but for areas such as Southwark (est. 1762) there are earlier documents dating back to the mid and late eighteenth century.
- Blockley Township: 202.1 Supervisors of Public Roads and Highways, Highway Tax Duplicate and Accounts, Sept. 1763-Apr. 1765 (1 vol., no index); 202.2 Supervisors of Public Roads and Highways, Tax Duplicates and Accounts, August 1765-March 1798 (1 vol., no index); 202.3 Overseers of the Poor, Tax Duplicates and Accounts, May 1752-March 1776 (1 vol., no index); 202.4 Overseers of the Poor, Settlement of Accounts, 1788-97 (1 vol., no index)
- Lists of highway assessors and supervisors, name of taxed, total taxes paid, accounts listing date of payment for road repairs, costs, and reasons; duplicate entries of assessors and information on road repairs; records of poor tax collection.
- Bristol Township: 204.1 Overseers of Poor, Poor Tax Duplicate, 1847 (1 vol., no index)
- List of names, assessed value, total tax.
- Borough of Frankford: 207.1 Board of Burgesses, Minutes, 1839-54 (2 vols., no index); 207.2 Ordinances, 1800-53 (2 vols., no index)
- Copies of ordinances passed, records of leases entered into by Borough.
- Borough of Germantown: 208.1 Town Council Minutes, 1844-45 (1 vol., no index); 208.2 Grund Und Lager Buch, 1682-1702 (1 vol., index); 208.3 Map of the Borough of Germantown, 1849
- Grund und Lager Buch typed translation from original copy in possession of Historical Society of Pennsylvania; contains township data and deeds.
- District of Kensington: 209.1 Board of Commissioners, Minutes, 1827-54 (5 vols., no index); missing May 1831-Sept. 1834, June 1836-May 1840, March 1848-Dec. 1852; 209.2 Board f Commissioners, Digest of Acts of Assembly and Ordinances, 1847 (1 vol., index); 209.3 Board of Commissioners, Committee on Water Works, Minutes, 1848-54 (2 vols., no index); 209.4 District Surveyor, Register, 1828-51 (1 vol., index); 209.5 District Surveyor, District Plan, Oct. 23, 1829; 209.6 District Treasurer, General Ledger, 1848-52 (1 vol., no index); 209.7 District Treasurer, Account Ledger, 1837-54 (1 vol., no index); 209.8 District Treasurer, Street Paving Expense Assessment Ledger, 1828-36 (1 vol., no index); 209.9 District Treasurer, Street Paving Accounts, 1837-54 (2 vols., partial index); 209.11 District Treasurer, Tax Register, 1824-50 (1 vol., no index); 209.12 District Treasurer, Day Book, State Treasurer's Account, 1845-53 (1 vol., no index); 209.13 District Treasurer, Loan Accounts Ledger, 1828-54 (3 vols., partial index); 209.24 District Treasurer, Coach Register, 1841-53 (1 vol., no index)
- Commissioners Reports include 1847 table of number and capacity of manufactures; Surveyors Records include entries for lots surveyed, dates of conveyance and parties involved, drafts of plans for streets and canals; Treasurers' Accounts organized by subject headings such as loans, paving, lighting expenses, market rents, etc., and include information about paving costs, rental of public property, assessments and taxes collected, loans; enumeration and assessed value of coaches owned by residents.
- Township of Kingsessing: 210.1 Supervisors of Public Roads and Highways, Tax Duplicate, Sept. 1763-April 1765 (1 vol., no index)
- Lists of highway assessors and supervisors, name of taxed, total taxes paid, accounts listing date of payment for road repairs, costs, and reasons; duplicate entries of assessors and information on road repairs; records of poor tax collection.
- Borough of Manayunk: 212.1 Borough Council Minutes, 1840-54 (2 vols., no index); 212.2 Treasurer's Accounts, 1841-51 (1 vol., no index); 212.3 Treasurer's Day Book, 1847-54 (1 vol., no index); 212.4 Overseers of the Poor, Apprentice Indenture Papers, 1847-53 (18 agreements, no index)
- Monthly and annual statements of accounts, expenditures, etc.; indenture papers include name of master, trade to be taught, terms of contract.
- Moreland Township: 213.1 Overseers of the Poor, Poor Tax and Dog Tax Assessment Ledger, undated (1 vol., no index)
- Entries organized by road of taxpayer residence, includes name, occupation, number and valuation of horses, cows, dogs, and carriages.
- Moyamensing Township and District: 214.1 Board of Commissioners, Minutes, 1846-54 (1 vol., no index, pp. 1-5 missing); 214.2 Board of Commissioners, Indenture Book, 1836-45 (1 vol., no index); 214.4 Board of Commissioners, Committee of Accounts, Minutes, 1848-53 (1 vol., no index); 214.6 Surveyor and Regulator, Survey of Lots, 1833-48 (1 vol., index); 214.7 District Treasurer, Monthly Receipts and Expenditures, 1837-54 (2 vols., no index)
- Indenture book lists name of apprentice, master's name and trade to be taught, terms of indenture; Board minutes contain information on bills to be paid, amount, fund from which charged; real and personal property taxes and recapitulations of totals; survey information includes lists of property owners by block, descriptions of lots, some maps; Treasurer's accounts list disbursements and receipts, balances of various accounts.
- District of Northern Liberties: 215.1: Board of Commissioners, Minutes, 1803-51 (3 vols., partial index); missing April 1828-June 1847; 215.5 Board of Commissioners, Highway Committee, Minutes, 1841-54 (1 vol., no index); 215.6 Board of Commissioners, Committee on Markets, Minutes, 1841-54 (1 vol., no index); 215.7 Board of Commissioners, Watch and Lamp Committee, Minutes, 1841-54 (1 vol., no index); 215.8 Board of Commissioners, Watering Committee, Minutes, 1836-54 (1 vol., no index); 215.9 Board of Commissioners, Watering Committee, Account Book, 1829-46 (1 vol., no index); 215.11 District Treasurer, General Account Ledger, 1833-54 (3 vols., no index); 215.12 District Treasurer, Market Accounts, 1841-54 (1 vol., index); 215.13 District Treasurer, Account Ledger, Schuylkill Water Works, 1843-54 (1 vol., no index); 215.14 District Treasurer, Loan Certificate Stubs, 1845-54 (3 vols., no index); 215.15 District Treasurer, Transfer of Loan Certificates, 1845-54 (3 vols., no index); 215.16 District Treasurer, Tax Collector Accounts, 1843-54 (1 vol., index); 215.18 District Treasurer, Receipts Ledger, 1833-54 (1 vol., no index); 215.19 District Treasurer, Receipt Duplicates, 1840-54 (1 vol., no index); 215.20 District Treasurer, Disbursement Ledger, 1833-45 (1 vol., no index); 215.22 District Surveyor, Plat Book, 1825-8 (1 vol., index)
- Watering Committee accounts include records of water pipe laid, equipment inventories; Treasurers' accounts include balanced monthly accounts with corporation, expenditures for market upkeep and rental receipts, water works accounts and reports from engineers, loan certificates and transfers (including Pennsylvania Railroad Loan Stock transfers), general income and outgo of funds; Surveyor plat book contains surveys, including street names, lot lines, dimensions (in microfilm; original at American Philosophical Society).
- Penn Township: 217.1 Surveyor's and Engineer's Field Book, 1831-54 (1 vol., no index)
- Names of owners and lots surveyed, boundary lines, including parts of Sixth St., Ridge Road, Broad St. Pennsylvania Ave., and Camac, memorandum of marking stones along streets, water levels at the Schuylkill, Fairmount Dam, and Wissahickon Creek.
- District of Penn: 218.3 Board of Commissioners, Finance Committee, Minutes, 1848-54 (1 vol., no index); 218.4 Board of Commissioners, Finance Committee, Register of Bills, 1847-52 (1 vol., no index); 218.9 District Treasurer, Transfers of Loan Certificates, 1847-53 (1 vol., no index); 218.10 District Treasurer, Paving Accounts, 1844-6 (1 vol., no index); 218.11 District Treasurer, Tax Register, 1837-53 (1 vol., no index); 218.13 District Treasurer, Disbursal Receipts, 1849-54 (2 vols., no index)215.5 Board of Commissioners, Highway Committee, Minutes, 1841-54 (1 vol., no index)
- Contents of Register of Bills include those of creditors detailing items furnished, and employees listing type and location of work done, rates of pay, fees, etc.; Paving accounts include property owners, amount and cost of paving; typical tax rolls, assessments, payments, and delinquents.
- District of Richmond: 219.1 Board of Commissioners, Minutes, 1847-54 (2 vols., no index); 219.2 District Surveyor, Register, 1847-53 (1 vol., no index); 219.4 District Treasurer, Accounts, 1847-54 (2 vols., no index); 219.6 District Treasurer, Disbursal Receipts, 1847-53 (1 vol., no index)
- Survey information; accounting records, etc.
- District of Southwark: 221.1 Board of Commissioners, Minutes, 1829-35; 221.3 District Surveyor, Register, 1786-1854 (2 vols., no index); 221.4 Map of Part of Southwark, 1826; 221.5 Maps of Areas of Washington Ave., Front St., Greenwich Point Road, and Delaware River, 1818, 1838, 1843 (5 maps); 221.8 District Treasurer, Interest Payments on Loans Ledger, 1829-53 (2 vols., no index); 221.9 District Treasurer, Loan Certificate Stubs, 1832-80 (15 vols., no index)
- Survey information, including some maps, names of property owners; district expenses
- District of Spring Garden: 222.1 Board of Commissioners Digest of Ordinances & Acts of Assembly, 1833, 1852 (2 vols., index); 222.2 Committee on Culverts Minutes, 1844-54 (1 vol., no index); 222.3 Committee on Paving Minutes, 1827-44 (1 vol., no index); 222.4 Committee on Paving Order Stubs, 1823-37 (1 vol., no index); 222.6 Watering Committee, 1826-45 (1 vol., no index); 222.7 Watering Committee Stubs, Requests for Water Supply, 1834-42 (3 vols., no index); 222.8 Watering Committee Water Permits Register, 1845-8 (1 vol., no index); 222.9 Watering Committee Water Permits Record, 1830-42 (1 vol., no index); 222.10 Watering Committee, Water Rents Duplicates, 1846 (1 vol., no index); 222.11 and 222.12 Watering Committee, Stubs, Water Cut-Off Request Forms, 1836-43, 1832-54 (1 vol., no index, 4 vols., no index) missing 1849-53; 222.13 District Superintendent Stubs of Orders to Property Owners to Pave Footways, 1847-52 (1 vol., no index); 222.16 and 222.16a District Treasurer Accounts, 1830-54 (4 vols., no index) and General Ledger, 1843-54 (1 vol., no index); 222.17 District Treasurer Miscellaneous Accounts, 1835-41 (1 vol., index); 222.18 District Treasurer Culvert Accounts, 1837-54 (3 vols., index); District Treasurer Footway Accounts, 1826-54 (3 vols., index); 222.20 District Treasurer Iron Pipe Accounts, 1826-54 (1 vol., index); 222.21 District Treasurer Street Paving Accounts, 1814-54 (4 vols., index); 222.22 District Treasurer Service Charges ledger, 1815-43 (1 vol., no index); 222.23 District Treasurer Service of Bills Ledger, 1838-51 (2 vols., no index); 222.24 District Treasurer Cash Journal, 1825-35 (1 vol., no index); 222.25 District Treasurer Cash Book, 1830-5 (1 vol., no index); 222.26 District Treasurer Journal 1835-52 (3 vols., no index); 222.27 District Treasurer Loan Book, 1845-54 (1 vol., no index); 222.28 District Treasurer Interest on Loans Ledger, 1851-4 (1 vol., no index); 222.29 District Treasurer Transfer of Loan Certificates, 1848-64 (2 vols., no index); 222.31 District Treasurer Register of Orders, 1846-54 (1 vol., no index); 222.32 District Treasurer Order Stubs, 1836-54 (8 vols., no index); 222.33 District Treasurer Subs of Checks and Disbursal Receipts, 1827-52 (9 vols., no index), missing Jan. - Feb. 1830, Sept. 1832- March 1835, Dec. 1845-Sept. 1848, Aug. 1850-March 1852); 222.35 District Treasurer Streets, Highways, Paving Payroll, 1844-54 (4 vols., no index); 222.37 District Treasurer Receipt Notices, 1839-54 (5 vols., no index); 222.38 and 222.39 District Treasurer, Market Stall Rentals Ledger and stubs, 1842-51 (2 vols., no index and 1 vol., no index); 222.40 District Treasurer Subs, Certificates for Carts and Drays, 1828-41 (2 vols., no index); 222.41 District Treasurer Stubs, Permits to Place Building Materials in Streets, 1846-54 (2 vols., no index); 222.42 District Treasurer Stubs of Permits to Take Up Pavements, 1830-54 (2 vols., no index); 222.44 District Treasurer Registered Corporation Taxes, 1848-53 (1 vol., no index)
- Records contain information about road improvements, local ordinances, expenses and payments by district. Also records regarding property ownership, water usage, gas rents, individual footway maintenance, and so on. A wealth of material regarding the running of one of Philadelphia's oldest city districts.
- Borough and District of West Philadelphia: 223.2 Borough Treasurer's Disbursals Receipts, 1837-43 (1 vol., no index)
- Entries list date, amount paid, to whom and for what.
RG 225: Non Municipal Records, Federal and State: Records related to Philadelphia but not generated by the city itself. Many records are microfilm versions of items and collections held at the State Archives in Harrisburg but are important for Philadelphia-based research.
- 225.3: Province of Pennsylvania, Provincial Assembly, Warrants and Survey Returns, compiled 1759-61 (9 vols., index)
- Transcriptions of Provincial Secretary's records, include survey orders, property descriptions, maps, owners' names and purchasers of land.
- 225.9: United States Direct Tax of 1798 (6 microfilm reels)
- Records only of those relating to Philadelphia city and county. Lists real estate and slaves; location of property, owners, assessed value and tax.
- 225.16: Enumeration of Taxables, Montgomery, Northampton and York Counties, 1786, 1793, 1800 (1 reel of microfilm, no index)
- Contains list of taxables, number of slaves, occupation, sex, age, etc.
- 225.47: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Land Records, 1683-1819 (11 reels of microfilm)
- Records include early land records, not including patents. Records also contain some early Philadelphia survey records and an early Philadelphia deed book.
- 225.48: Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Eastern District, Sheriff's Deeds, 1796-1876 (4 reels of microfilm)
- Deeds to property seized by the sheriff. Entries list all parties involved, description of the property, and amount received at auction.
RG 227: Non-Municipal Records, miscellaneous
- 227.1: Ward Atlases, 1849-55 (161 vols., index)
- Maps include property lines, streets, and water, gas, and sewage lines.
- 227.3: City Directories, 1785-1936 (140 vols., indexed)
- Directories prior to 1862 often include Camden references as well.
