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Robert Proud collection
The Proud collection is currently housed in 7 boxes and 1 flat file, spanning 1681-1903, with the bulk dates of 1681 to 1811. Some materials are bound and contained in folders. A large part of the collection is made up of various versions of Proud’s two-volume book that eventually was published as...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Collection: | Robert Proud Collection |
| Collection Number: | 0529 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
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| Item Description: |
Processing Information: In Box 7, the letters from John Proud had been consecutively numbered "Volume 7, pages 1, 2, 3" and so on. As of July 22, 2010, page 62 was found missing. |
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| Physical Description: |
2.8 Linear feet ; 7 boxes and 1 flat file |
| Access: |
This collection is open for research. |
| Summary: |
The Proud collection is currently housed in 7 boxes and 1 flat file, spanning 1681-1903, with the bulk dates of 1681 to 1811. Some materials are bound and contained in folders.
A large part of the collection is made up of various versions of Proud’s two-volume book that eventually was published as The History of Pennsylvania in North America. The other manuscripts in the collection are unpublished works, ranging from translated classical poetry to his autobiographical notes. However, there are no items in the collection outside of his autobiography that further document Proud’s life in Philadelphia or his contact with local citizens.
The collection is arranged into two series. In Boxes 1 to 4 are mostly handwritten copies and drafts of The History of Pennsylvania in North America, with addenda, observations, and notes that Proud took himself regarding businesses in Philadelphia and economic conditions of the region.
Box 4 chiefly contains primary materials ranging from 1681 to 1761 that Proud used in The History of Pennsylvania in North America. These include petitions to Governor William Penn with a response in Penn’s own hand (1684) and a copy of a statement to King William III (1699).
Boxes 5 to 8 contain memoranda, poetry (including translations of Boethius and Colvius), and other personal papers. There are also 61 letters to Robert Proud from his brother John in England, dating from 1774 to 1811. These letters had been bound into a volume (once numbered "7") and, at some point, were removed into folders. This set includes are some short documents in Proud’s handwriting that appear to be notes instead of letters. Robert Proud was born on May 10, 1728 in Yorkshire England, and was trained formally in a Quaker school in classical studies. He moved to Philadelphia in 1759, and by 1761 was teaching Latin at the Friends School. Proud was a staunch Loyalist. From 1775 to 1780, Proud left his teaching post and went into seclusion, where he began writing on various subjects. Most of his writings were never published. Also during these years, he worked extensively on what became his most best-known work, The History of Pennsylvania in North America. The book was highly unsuccessful, due to its Loyalist leanings, and some very strong inaccuracies. Robert Proud died in 1813 at the age of 85. The collection is arranged into two series, the first consisting mostly of handwritten copies and drafts of The History of Pennsylvania in North America, and primary source materials used in the book. The second series consists of memoranda, poetry, and other personal papers. |