Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia records
The Engineers' Club of Philadelphia records span from the late 19th century to the late 20th century and are housed in 59 boxes and 32 volumes. For the most part, the records document the club's history and general operations through meeting minutes, committee papers, and membership files...
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Collection: | Engineersâ Club of Philadelphia Records |
Collection Number: | 3144 |
Format: | Manuscript |
Language: | English |
Subjects and Genres: | |
Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
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LEADER | 07771ntc a2200385 u 4500 | ||
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001 | ead-3144 | ||
008 | 150619i18771877xx eng d | ||
040 | |e dacs | ||
041 | 0 | |a eng | |
099 | |a 3144 | ||
110 | 2 | |a Engineers Club of Philadelphia |e creator | |
245 | 1 | |a Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia records |f 1877-1988 | |
300 | |a 20.6 Linear feet |f ; 59 boxes, 33 volumes | ||
351 | |b Series 1: Club and board minutes Series 2: House and renovation committees (historical) Series 3: Administration Suberies 3.a.: Subject files Subseries 3.b.: Membership Subseries 3.c.: Miscellaneous | ||
500 | |a Materials Separated from the Resource: None. | ||
520 | |a The Engineers' Club of Philadelphia records span from the late 19th century to the late 20th century and are housed in 59 boxes and 32 volumes. For the most part, the records document the club's history and general operations through meeting minutes, committee papers, and membership files. It would appear that much of this collection was culled for the purposes of publishing the club's history in 1970, thought there are plenty of files that date from the 1970s and 1980s. The collection has been roughly divided into three series (Club and board minutes,House and renovation committees [historical], and Administration), and generally remains in the order found. As with most organizational records, there are many carbon copies and photocopies, so researchers may find scattered duplicate papers, esepcially between series 1 and 3. Beyond its service as club documentation, the collection could also be used to trace the engineering profession and engineering projects in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania over the course of the 20th century. | ||
520 | |a The Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia has its roots in the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, where numerous engineers congregated to view the latest scientific and mechanical advances. The club itself was established in December 1877 and Professor Lewis Haupt (1844-1934) was named its first president. The club’s objectives included the “professional improvement of its members, the encouragement of social intercourse among men of practical science, and the advancement of engineering in its several branches.” This collection of the club's records covers about 100 years of its history and consists of minutes, correspondence, financial papers, committee reports, minutes of committee meetings, publications, awards given by the club, records of resignations, 100th anniversary planning documents, invitations, and menus. There are also papers pertaining to club affiliates, membership, and classes, as well as several disbound scrapbooks of club mailings, copies of the club's newsletter, Bulletin, and papers pertaining to the club's published history. | ||
524 | 8 | |a Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Engineers' Club of Philadelphia records (Collection 3144), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. | |
540 | 1 | |a The collection is open for research. | |
541 | 1 | |a Gift of the Engineers' Club of Philadelphia, 1990. Accession number 1990.3. | |
545 | |a The Centennial Exhibition of 1876 was organized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of American independence. From May to November that year, spectators from across the nation and around the world viewed and experienced the latest American advancements in industry, technology, agriculture, science, and the arts. Counted among those visitors were local groups of engineers that came to see the newest technological innovations. In the late nineteenth century, Philadelphia was growing politically, socially, and economically. Several large-scale projects, such as the building of city hall and the westward expansion of the city, called for dozen of city planners and engineers to work together toward their completion. Despite this, at the Centennial word spread that Philadelphia engineers did not seem to know each other and that they should be more social with one another. This notion stuck with Charles E. Billin, an engineer who lived in west Philadelphia, for many months after the exhibition. In the winter of 1877, Billin hosted a gathering of local engineers at his home; thus began a series of social events at the homes of various engineers. With just over twenty members, the Engineers' Club of Philadelphia was officially established at one of the last events of the year, at the home of Coleman Sellers Jr. on December 17, 1877. Among its founders were Charles A. Ashburner, George Burnham Jr., Lewis M. Haupt, and M. R. Muckle Jr. The club's objectives were to improve the social relations between local engineers to promote the study and practice of engineering through meetings and the circulation and discussion of professional papers. The club's constitution and by-laws were adopted in January 1878, and Professor Lewis M. Haupt was named its first president. Haupt was born in 1844 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He studied at Harvard, was a member of the Army Corps of Engineers, and served as a topographical engineer for Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. He also taught math and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and was awarded an honorary degree from the school in 1883. Regular meetings were held twice a month and the club met at various locales in its formative years, including 10 North Merrick Street, 1518 Chestnut Street, and 1523 Chestnut Street. By about the mid 1880s, membership in the club had grown to over 100 and suitable meeting quarters were eventually procured at 1122 Girard Street. Here the club remained until it moved to 1317 Spruce Street in 1907; this became their home for the next several decades. Internally, and mostly during its early years, members focused on reading and discussing each other’s unpublished and published papers. The club also published its meeting proceedings and newsletters Engineers and Engineering and the Announcer (later theDelaware Valley Announcer). In addition, the club held dinners and receptions, kept its members informed of engineering-related events and conventions, and played host to other engineering societies. The club's members also had access to their own library that included bound volumes, pamphlets, maps, and drawings on subjects ranging from architecture and buildings materials to railroads and mining. At various points during its history, the club also formed its own orchestra, glee club, and lecture circuit, and provided opportunities for field trips both locally (Reading, Pennsylvania, 1896; Hog Island, 1920) and regionally (Seammel Potteries, Trenton, New Jersey, 1928; New York World's Fair, 1940). The Engineers' Club of Philadelphia (www. engrclub.org) currently resides at 216 South 16th Street. It continues to provide professional development and hold special events for engineers and those interested in the field of engineering. | ||
555 | |a Finding Aid Available Online: | ||
600 | 1 | 4 | |a Haupt, Lewis M. (Lewis Muhlenberg) |d b. 1844. |
650 | 0 | |a Engineering firms--United States. | |
650 | 0 | |a Engineering proceedings. | |
650 | 0 | |a Engineering--Education. | |
650 | 0 | |a Engineering--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia. | |
650 | 0 | |a Engineering--Pennsylvania. | |
650 | 0 | |a Engineering--Problems, exercises, etc. | |
650 | 0 | |a Engineering--Social aspects--United States. | |
650 | 0 | |a Engineering--Societies, etc. | |
650 | 0 | |a Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions--20th century. | |
651 | 0 | |a Philadelphia (Pa.)--Economic conditions--20th century. | |
852 | |a The Historical Society of Pennsylvania |b Engineersâ Club of Philadelphia Records |l 3144 | ||
856 | 4 | 2 | |y Link to finding aid |u http://www2.hsp.org/collections/manuscripts/e/ECP3144.html |