Elfreth family commonplace books
Scope and Contents
This collection is comprised of five volumes of the commonplace books of various members of the Elfreth family, including Rebecca P. Elfreth, Jacob R. Elfreth Sr., Jacob R. Elfreth Jr,. and Jane P. Elfreth. The volumes include poetry, extracts, pressed leaves and flowers, and clippings of illustrations.
Dates
- Creation: 1820-1853
Creator
- Elfreth, Rebecca P. (Person)
- Elfreth, Jane P. (Person)
- Elfreth, Jacob R., Sr., 1789-1870 (Person)
- Elfreth, Jacob R. Jr., 1837-1924 (Person)
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions
Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).
Biographical Note
The Elfreth family was a notable Philadelphia Quaker family during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Jacob R. Elfreth Sr. (1789-1870) was initially apprenticed to enter into the hardware trade, but left the trade to become a teacher, first in New Jersey, and later at the Westtown School. He later became a bookkeeper for the Leigh Navigation Company, his occupation until he retired. Elfreth Sr. married Abigail Pierce in 1821, and the couple had ten children.
Jane P. Elfreth (1827-1912) was born in 1827, the daughter of Jacob R. Elfreth Sr. and Abigail P. Elfreth. She died in 1912.
Rebecca P. Elfreth (1835-1906) was born March 11, 1835, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Jacob R. Elfreth Sr. and Abigail P. Elfreth. Elfreth died August 19, 1906.
Jacob R. Elfreth Jr. (1837-1924), the son of Jacob R. Elfreth Sr. and Abigail Pierce Elfreth, was born on October 22, 1837, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a Quaker merchant, elder, and minister. Initially apprenticed for five years to J.R. Sowers & Co., dry goods, Elfreth started a carpet business with his brother, James Elfreth. Elfreth Jr. never married and died November 14, 1924, in Landsdowne, Pennsylvania.
Extent
0.28 linear ft. (5 volumes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection is comprised of five volumes of the commonplace books of various members of the Elfreth family, including Rebecca P. Elfreth, Jacob R. Elfreth Sr., Jacob R. Elfreth Jr,. and Jane P. Elfreth. The volumes include poetry, extracts, pressed leaves and flowers, and clippings of illustrations.
Acquisition
Unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Kara Flynn; completed August, 2015.
Genre / Form
Topical
- Title
- Elfreth family commonplace books, 1820-1853
- Author
- Kara Flynn
- Date
- August, 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
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