Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire records

The Philadelphia Contributionship, the oldest fire insurance company in the United States, was founded in 1752 and received a charter in 1768. From the beginning, the company inspected houses to be insured, reported faults in construction, and recommended changes to help protect against the risk of...

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Bibliographic Details
Corporate Author: Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire (Creator)
Collection:Philadelphia Contributionship For the Insurance of Houses From Loss By Fire Records
Collection Number:V41
Format: Manuscript
Language:English
Subjects and Genres:
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LEADER 02585ntc a2200217 u 4500
001 ead-V41
008 230125i xx eng d
040 |e dacs 
041 0 |a eng 
099 |a V41 
110 2 |a Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire  |e creator 
245 1 |a Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire records  |f 1839-1965 
300 |a 36.0 Linear feet  |f 36 linear feet, 33 boxes,  
520 |a The Philadelphia Contributionship, the oldest fire insurance company in the United States, was founded in 1752 and received a charter in 1768. From the beginning, the company inspected houses to be insured, reported faults in construction, and recommended changes to help protect against the risk of fire. Initially the company was purely mutual, whereby each member's deposit money was carried in a separate account, which was credited with interest earned and charged with its share of the losses. In 1763 this practice was changed so that all interest was earned on, and losses paid out of, a common account and each member's liability was limited to the amount of his deposit money. In 1810 the system of seven-year renewable policies was replaced with perpetual policies that require no renewal. The collection consists of insurance survey records on properties in Philadelphia and elsewhere in Pennsylvania, organized by location and including written reports, notes, diagrams of buildings (occasionally including blueprints), photographic prints, and negatives. Properties surveyed include houses, schools, churches, businesses, and non-profit institutions. Survey notes include policy numbers, names of owners, and information regarding a building's location, dimensions, construction, heating, lighting, waste disposal, and overall condition, as well as recommendations for safety improvements and whether or not to insure. There are also newspaper clippings, claims for losses by fire, and correspondence related to policies and claims. 
541 1 |a 13 boxes are labeled "1974 Accession." 
650 7 |a Architecture--Pennsylvania--20th century.  |2 Local sources 
650 7 |a Architecture--Philadelphia--20th Century.  |2 Local sources 
650 7 |a Built environment--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--20th century.  |2 Local sources 
650 7 |a Insurance, Fire--Pennsylvania--19th century  |2 Local sources 
650 7 |a Insurance, Fire--Pennsylvania--20th century  |2 Local sources 
852 |a The Historical Society of Pennsylvania  |b Philadelphia Contributionship For the Insurance of Houses From Loss By Fire Records  |c V41