Journal of the Philadelphia Conference, 1800-1814
Church records and registers
St. George's Methodist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Church discipline
Asbury, Francis, 1745-1816
Church finance
Church committees
Religious leaders
Itinerancy (Church polity)
Methodist Episcopal Church. Philadelphia Conference
Methodists
Methodist Church
Corporate minutes
Minutes of the annual Philadelphia Conference from 1800 through 1814, presided over by Francis Asbury and others. Each year's entry states the date, place, church leaders presiding, and members present, followed by the business discussed. Business regularly includes the recommendation and evaluation of traveling preachers, allegations of misbehavior, financial accounting, requests for assistance, and committee reports. An index of names, compiled from the records in 1868, appears at the rear of the book.
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1816-1817
African Americans
Camp meetings
United States--Delmarva Peninsula
Circuit riders
David Dailey's diary from his second year preaching on the Snow Hill circuit, from April 17, 1816 to March 16, 1817. As with his first few diaries, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he met, including separate black classes, and his physical and emotional state throughout. He still experiences bouts of depression, but also describes happiness and contentment in preaching, visiting the sick, and performing baptisms, marriages and funerals. He is particularly pleased by camp meetings that are successful in gaining converts. Several entries refer to a woman named Sally, who often attends meetings with Dailey and who would eventually become his wife. Copies of several letters between the two are included at the end of the volume.
Dailey, David
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1815-1816
David Dailey's diary from his time preaching on the Snow Hill circuit, from April 20, 1815 to April 16, 1816. During this time he notes his 24th birthday. As with his first two diaries, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, and his physical and emotional state throughout. During his third year as a traveling preacher, he seemed to find more joy in his preaching, particularly in "meeting with the blacks." He survives a bout of the measles and another unnamed "tedious illness," and is vaccinated for small pox. He also presides over two trials regarding member misconduct.
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1814-1815
David Dailey's diary from his time preaching on the Smyrna and Cambridge circuits, from April 5, 1814 to April 16, 1815. As with his first diary, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, including separate black classes, and his physical and emotional state throughout. Entries continue to paint a picture of a difficult life, including loneliness, hoarseness, bad weather and poor attendance, although he experiences some good days as he preaches, performs baptisms, and visits the sick and dying.
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1813-1814
David Dailey's diary from his time preaching on the Dorchester circuit, from April 5th 1813 to April 5th 1814. Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, including separate "black classes," and his physical and emotional state throughout. Entries paint a picture of a difficult life, as Dailey was lonely, suffered from hoarseness, and often traveled through bad weather to find only small gatherings and "hardened sinners." He often prays for greater faith in order to persevere.
Account of a camp meeting, David Dailey, 1819
Account of a camp meeting held on Tangier Island, in the Chesapeake Bay, in August 1819. Dailey notes the preachers and elders present, their circuits, and what they preached on. The meeting was plagued with heavy rainstorms, but there was still much singing and praying, as described by Dailey.
Diary of preacher David Dailey, 1819-1820
Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Baltimore Conference
David Dailey's diary from his time on the Cambridge Circuit, from April 7, 1819 to March 7, 1820. As with his first several diaries, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, including separate black classes, and his physical and emotional state throughout. This diary begins with a brief account of the Philadelphia meeting, which Dailey describes as disagreeable, and his assignment to the Cambridge circuit, which he explains is the same as the Dorchester circuit to which he was previously assigned. Dailey travels through much bad weather on horse and by canoe to preach, visit with the sick, perform baptisms, marriages, and funerals, and attend tent meetings. He also attends the Baltimore conference and records the names of the preachers he met there. Also during this time, Dailey's younger brother dies of typus, and Dailey's wife bears a second son.
David Dailey's diary from March 17 to November 19, 1817. On March 17 Dailey left the circuit and took his wife Sally to meet his family. He then attended the Philadelphia Conference, where he was appointed to the Accomack circuit. As with his first few diaries, Dailey recounts his travels, the people he meets, including separate black classes, and his physical and emotional state throughout. He still experiences bouts of sickness and depression, but also finds happiness in preaching, visiting the sick, performing baptisms, and attending camp meetings. During this time, Sally gives birth to a son. Also during this time, Dailey describes several trials, including those involving black members, and is involved in matters of church discipline such as expelling a member for "selling a human being in the Southern States."
Congregation Mikveh Israel (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Synagogue fund raising
Jews
Synagogues
Synagogue records and registers
Synagogues--Finance
Record of offerings given or promised to Congregation Mikveh Israel from 1786 to 1788. The book includes an alphabetical index of congregant names in the first two pages, followed by a listing of general offerings by quarter. More detailed records of individuals' offerings span two pages, verso and recto, and the book concludes with outstanding debts and balances.
Minutes, Society for the Visitation of the Sick and Mutual Assistance, 1813-1864
Charity
Care of the sick
Death
The Society for the Visitation of the Sick and Mutual Assistance started as "the Hebra," or a sacred society that ensures the bodies of deceased Jews are prepared for burial according to Jewish tradition and protected from desecration before burial. The new name was adopted around 1850 and made official by new Articles in 1853 (see page 250 in the bound manuscript.) Meeting minutes cover topics such as elections, resignations, admissions, expulsions and deaths of members; the drafting and redrafting of rules and regulations; accounting, including debt collection, donations and investments; interactions with other Jewish charitable organizations; and the organization of day and night watches.
Pews and pew rights
Record of seat rentals for Congregation Mikveh Israel from 1827 to 1844. Entries are listed by seat number, and include the name of the purchaser or renter, and yearly rent paid.
Copy of David Solis letter to Isaac Leeser, 1863
Leeser, Isaac
Congregation Beth El Emeth (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Jews--Dietary laws
Letters
Copy of a letter David Solis wrote to Rev. Isaac Leeser, who was the hazan of Congregation Beth El Emeth after retiring from Mikveh Israel. The copy was sent to the president of Beth El Emeth. Solis resigned his membership in the congregation due to what he described as Leeser's violation of Jewish dietary laws.
Solis, David H.
Account books
The majority of this book serves as a record of sundry accounts as drafted by the gabay (a position similar to a warden or a sexton) of Mikveh Israel, from 1824 to 1857. Accounts covered include seat rents/sales, ground and building rents, offerings and collections, salaries for synagogue employees, cleaning and repair of the synagogue, taxes, the Pennsylvania state lottery, bills for gas and coal, and donations to charity. The inside front cover of the book includes a printed copy of the 1828 act to enable Mikveh Israel to lease a lot in Philadelphia, and the first several pages cover yearly incomes versus expenditures from 1827 to 1856 as well as seat rents from 1824 to 1830. Page numbering then starts over with the gabay's entries.
Deeds
Cemeteries
Deed for a plot of land located in the Township of Moyamensing in the County of Philadelphia, granted by William G. Alexander and Joel B. Sutherland and their wives Catharine and Mary, to Congregation Mikveh Israel, for the sum of $2650 in 1841.
Record of checks paid by Congregation Mikveh Israel from 1862 to 1910. Each check stub includes a check number, date, payee name, amount, and goods or services purchased. Examples of payments include mortgage interest, charitable donations, and building maintenance and repair.
Account book, donations for building a new synagogue, 1782-1784
Religious facilities
Account ledger recording donations toward the construction of the new Mikveh Israel Synagogue. Pages are numbered chronologically: records start in 1782, from what appears to be the back of the book as scanned, proceed backward through the book until page 28, then continue from what appears to be the front of the book. Entries contain name of donor and amount and date donated.
Benjamin Dorr sermon 970, "The death & burial of Moses," 1865
Sermons
Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Dorr, Benjamin, 1796-1869
Bible. Old Testament
Bible. Pentateuch
Bible. Deuteronomy
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Episcopal Church
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon, delivered during a National Fast mourning the assassination of President Lincoln, contains Reverend Dorr's thoughts on Deuteronomy 34:5-8, ""So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor; but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended."
Benjamin Dorr sermon 969, "Jacob's Vow; or the duty and blessedness of giving," 1865
Bible. Genesis
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on Genesis 28:20-22, "And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."
Benjamin Dorr sermon 964, "Unspotted from the world," 1863
Bible. New Testament
Bible. James
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on James 1:27, "To keep himself unspotted from the world."
Benjamin Dorr sermon 961, "St. Paul at Athens," 1862
Bible. Acts
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on Acts 17:32-34, "And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him and believed."
Benjamin Dorr sermon 926, "Scripture Mysteries," 1859, 1864
Bible. Timothy, 1st
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on 1st Timothy 3:16, "Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." The inside front cover notes two dates Reverend Dorr delivered this sermon, once in 1859 and again in 1864.
Benjamin Dorr sermon 881, "The Christian Calling," 1858-1864
Bible. Ephesians
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on Ephesians 4:1-3, "Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." The inside front cover notes six dates Reverend Dorr delivered this sermon, from 1858 to 1864.
Benjamin Dorr sermon 852, "Christ's Promise: I will see you again," 1857-1862
Bible. Gospels
Bible. John
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on John 16:22, "Ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." The inside front cover notes six dates Reverend Dorr delivered this sermon, from 1857 to 1862.
Benjamin Dorr sermon 758, "Jesus Weeping over Jerusalem," 1851-1865
Bible. Luke
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon is marked for Advent, and lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on Luke 19:41 and 42, "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes." The inside front cover notes six dates Reverend Dorr delivered this sermon, from 1851 to 1865. Note: page numbering follows the text, which contains three page sevens.
Benjamin Dorr sermon 757, "Christian Confidence," 1851-1865
Bible. Timothy, 2nd
Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on 2 Timothy 1:12, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against this day." The inside front cover notes 17 dates Reverend Dorr delivered this sermon, from 1851 to 1865.
Benjamin Dorr sermon 744, "Keeping the heart," 1851-1865
Bible. Proverbs
Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. This sermon lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." The inside front cover notes seven dates Reverend Dorr delivered this sermon, from 1851 to 1865.
Benjamin Dorr sermon 735, "The Christian Armour," 1850-1862
Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. In this sermon, Reverend Dorr offers his thoughts on Ephesians 6:13, "Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." The inside front cover notes nine dates Reverend Dorr delivered this sermon, from 1850 to 1862, when he preached at the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, with Major General Meade present.
Benjamin Dorr sermon 697, "Obedience to Government," 1849, 1860
Politics and government
Church and state
Bible. Matthew
Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War. Reverend Dorr delivered this sermon in 1849 and again in 1860, and lays out his thoughts on Matthew 22:21 "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." Note: Page numbering in the original text starts over after page 6, with a second page 3.
St. Thomas' Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
African American churches
Church fund raising
Church management
Episcopalians
The vestry is the governing body of an Episcopal church; it is comprised of the rector and members of the congregation elected by other congregants. This bound volume contains the St. Thomas vestry meeting minutes from 1863 to 1876, including date, time of day (morning, afternoon, or evening), members and Reverend present, and a brief description of each meeting. Topics include bills, taxes, salaries, fundraising, recordkeeping, repairs and renovations, burials, elections, and pew rents.
The vestry is the governing body of an Episcopal church; it is comprised of the rector and members of the congregation elected by other congregants. This bound volume contains the St. Thomas vestry meeting minutes from 1848 to 1855, including date, time of day (morning, afternoon, or evening), members and Reverend present, and a brief description of each meeting. Note: Pages 32 through 36 of this volume were written upside down, starting from the back with page 36, and moving forward chronologically to page 32.
The vestry is the governing body of an Episcopal church; it is comprised of the rector and members of the congregation elected by other congregants. This bound volume contains the St. Thomas vestry meeting minutes from 1821 to 1831, including date, time of day (morning, afternoon, or evening), members and Reverend present, and a brief description of each meeting.
The vestry is the governing body of an Episcopal church; it is comprised of the rector and members of the congregation elected by other congregants. This bound volume contains the St. Thomas vestry meeting minutes from 1813 to 1821, including date, time of day (morning, afternoon, or evening), members and Reverend present, and a brief description of each meeting. Topics include church lotteries, overdue "seat money," building repairs, burials, elections, resignations, committee assignments, and parishioners in financial need.
Receipts and expenditures, circa 1790-1842
This bound manuscript is an accounting of St. Thomas’ finances between 1790 and 1842. The prominent African American abolitionist and clergyman Absalom Jones is listed throughout text, as are prominent Philadelphia businessmen and donors such as William Gray, John Nicholson and Robert Ralston.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents paid to St. Thomas from 1863 to 1876. Each listing includes the date rented, names of renters, pew number, and amount paid.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents paid to St. Thomas from 1818 to 1840. Each listing includes the date rented, names of renters, pew number, and amount paid.
Free African Society receipts and expenditures, 1790-1792; pew rentals, 1840
St. Thomas' earliest precursor organization, the Free African Society was formed by Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and others in 1787, with the goal of building community among black Philadelphians. This bound manuscript is a record of people who donated to the Society, or were paid for a service. The transactions span the years 1790 to 1792. The manuscript also includes a list of the names of church members who owed pew rent up to Easter Monday 1840, and five loose pew receipts dating from 1840 and 1870s.
Births and baptisms, 1795-1837, Absalom Jones
Registers of births, etc.
Baptismal records
Absalom Jones was the founder of of St. Thomas. This bound manuscript is a register of births and baptisms performed by Jones from 1796 to 1830. Each record includes the child's date of birth, child's and parents' names, and date of baptism. The record of one marriage performed in 1795 is also included on the first flyleaf of the manuscript.
Jones, Absalom, 1746-1818
St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Church bells
Church buildings
Church history
Sunday schools
The vestry is the governing body of an Episcopal church; it is comprised of the rector and members of the congregation elected by other congregants. This bound volume contains the dates, members present and business discussed at St. Peters vestry meetings from 1852 to 1871. Topics include but are not limited to: insurance policies on the rectory, house, bells and organ; election of vestrymen, officers, warden and rector; appointments to committees for finance, choir, Sunday school, library, burial grounds and bell; selection of delegates to the Diocesan convention; management of the St. Peters charity fund and Christ Church hospital; and income from pew rent and collections.
The vestry is the governing body of an Episcopal church; it is comprised of the rector and members of the congregation elected by other congregants. The vestry minutes begin with a copy of the 1832 Act by the Pennsylvania legislature which separated Christ Church and St. Peter's Church into two separate entities. Minutes from the vestry meetings from 1832 to 1852 follow, containing the dates and locations of the meetings, members present, and business discussed. Topics covered include but are not limited to: the settlement of separate financial accounts following the split from Christ Church, the hiring of a new minister and assistant minister, election of vestrymen and appointment of organist and choir, purchase of a new building to house the Sunday school, collection of pew rents, improvement of burial grounds, management of the church's charity fund, and committee reports.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript contains the pew rentals for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church from 1840 to 1848. Each listing includes pew number, name of renter, number of seats rented, seat rate, arrears, and total paid.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript contains the pew rentals for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church from 1838 to 1840. Each listing includes pew number, name of renter, number of seats rented, seat rate, arrears, and total paid.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript contains the pew rentals for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church from 1837. Each listing includes pew number, name of renter, number of seats rented, seat rate, arrears, and total paid.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript contains the pew rentals for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church from 1835 to 1836. Each listing includes pew number, name of renter, number of seats rented, seat rate, arrears, and total paid.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript contains the pew rentals for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church from 1832 to 1834. Each listing includes pew number, name of renter, number of seats rented, seat rate, arrears, and total paid.
Marriages, burials, and baptisms, 1830-1884
Marriage records
Burial records
Bound manuscript listing marriages, burials and baptisms performed at St. Peter's from 1830 to 1884. Marriages span the years 1832 to 1870. Each marriage listing includes the date of marriage and the names of the individuals being married. Often the name of the minister is listed at the top of the page. Burials span the years 1830 to 1884. Each burial listing includes the date of death, name of deceased, and age of death. Baptisms span the years 1831 to 1870. Each Baptism listing includes the date of baptism, name of person baptized, parents’ names, sponsor's name, and minister's name. Note: Due to the nature of scanning primary sources, page numbering for the images of this bound manuscript jump from page 18 to page page 51, and from page 84 to page 147.
Synagogue officers
Meeting minutes of the Board of Managers, or "adjunta" of Congregation Mikveh Israel, from 1824 to 1870. Each entry includes the date and usually the location of the meeting, names of members present, and business discussed. Business discussed includes (but is not limited to): regular elections of officers (parnas and adjunta, gabay, and secretary); assessment and collection of seat rents; the dedication of a new synagogue and ongoing repairs/improvements to the building; financial record keeping, including auditing accounts, debt collection, and payment of bills, rents and taxes; employment of officials such as the shamas (sexton), hazan (minister), and superintendent of the burial grounds; improvements to the burial grounds; and permissions for burials. This volume has been partially digitized, up to 1870. Names of officers for each Hebrew calendar year covered are listed at the back of volume, and those pages are also included.
Circumcision book of Dr. A. J. Weirtheim, 1810-1829
Circumcision
Medical records
Alexander Wertheim was a Dutch Jew who lived in New York and Baltimore before settling in Philadelphia, where he became clerk to the Board of Health. He died in 1830 at the age of 55. This book is a record of the circumcisions Dr. Wertheim performed from 1810 to 1829. Each entry records the date, place, father's name, and son's name.
Wertheim, Alexander
Account book, statement of receipts, 1856-1874
Record of funds received by Congregation Mikveh Israel from 1856 to 1874. Entries are organized by date, then names. Payments include seat rents, building rents, offerings and collections, initiation fees, and funeral costs. Note: page numbering starts over twice within the manuscript itself, at images 223 and 383.
Record of seat rentals for Congregation Mikveh Israel from 1845 to 1862. Seats are grouped by location and class; entries are listed by seat number and include the name of the purchaser or renter and yearly rent paid.
Mikveh
Petitions
Petition for the building of a mikveh, a Jewish ritual bathing facility. Subscribers pledge contributions towards the building of the mikveh, although signatures are not included with the document.