The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur
Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735
302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Berdan Family
Title: Papers
Dates: 1831-1852
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 92x168
Quantity: 1 box
Location: 34 K 4
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
The Berdans represented in this collection include John
Henry and David J. John Henry Berdan
operated a general store in
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
Collection contains college
notes, Valentines, poems, some correspondence, and other miscellaneous items,
mostly pertaining to David J. Berdan. Materials
assembled and kept by David J. Berdan during his years as a student at Rutgers
include a list of expenses for 1844 to 1847, a list of books in his library
(this list also includes receipts for ink and paste), lecture notes, and other
writings. Also in the collection are mid-19th century
valentines; poetry, including one in support of the candidacy of Lewis Cass for
president; songs for
The Daybook A of John Henry
Berdan records transactions in his general store in January and February of
1831 for such types of merchandise as dry-goods, hardware, and spirits. Although the entries are dated for Jan. and
Feb., the date on the cover is October 1831.
This discrepancy, plus the neatness of the entries, raises the
possibility that the day book was an exercise in bookkeeping rather than a real
day book. A short will dated February
24, 1832, a lease of a house dated February 27, 1832, and a receipt dated May
1, 1831, also seem to be exercises written by John Henry Berdan. A writing exercise, “Lord at they footstool I
would bow bid conscience,” is found on the same sheet of paper as the will,
lease, and receipt. John Henry Berdan's
manuscripts feature colorful decorative headings similar to those found in
Pennsylvania German documents.
ORGANIZATION
Materials relating to John Henry Berdan are found in folders 1 and 2. Most of the rest of the collection relates to Daniel J. Berdan. First are his college expense accounts and his college notes, followed by letters, receipts, Valentines, poems, calligraphy samples, and miscellaneous items.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Dave and
Nancy Dawson.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Berdan, John Henry.
Berdan,
David J.
Cass,
Lewis, \d 1782-1866.
Topics:
Beverages -
Prices
Business records
-
Calligraphy - Specimens.
College prose,
American -
College students.
Dry-goods -
Prices.
Education,
Higher.
Elections -
United States - 19th century.
Fortune-telling.
General stores -
Hardware -
Prices.
Illumination of
books and manuscripts.
Kitchen utensils
- Prices.
Private
libraries -
Rent charges -
Recipes.
School
notebooks.
Textile fabrics
- Prices.
Universities and
colleges - Curricula - History - 19th century.
Valentines.
Daybooks.
Receipts.
Letters.
Poems.
Greeting cards.
Lecture notes.
Proprietors.
Students.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 K
4
All
accession numbers begin with 92x168.
Folder 1:
.1 Daybook A, Jan.-Feb., 1831. (possibly an exercise book – see
note below)
Records
debits and credits accrued by John Henry Berdan. Such types of items as dry-goods, spirits,
soap, tea, hardware, brass tea kettles, textiles, and flour are
represented. A page entitled "list
of debts of John H. Berdan of
Note:
Although the entries are dated for Jan.
and Feb., the date on the cover is October 1831. This discrepancy, plus the neatness of the
entries, raises the possibility that the day book was an exercise in
bookkeeping rather than a real day book.
Folder 2:
.2 Will, lease, receipt, writing exercise, 1831-1832.
Will
of John Henry Berdan drafted in 1832.
Refers to brother, D.J.B, sister, E.J.B., and mother E.G. Also features a lease of a house in
Note:
because all these items are on the same sheet of paper, it is possible that all
these items were exercises in writing forms, rather than a real will, lease, or
receipt.
Folder 3:
.3 Expense book kept by David J. Berdan, 1845-1847.
Records
expenditures by Berdan while he was in college.
Gives brief titles of books purchased.
Also lists tuition and board payments, purchases of coal and clothing,
travel expenses, etc.
.4 "Miscellany," 1845.
Lists books in Berdan's library and recipes for cologne,
beer, ink, and paste.
Folder 4: College notes of David J. Berdan
.5 “Truth”
.6 “Where [sic] the Crusades Beneficial to
.7 “ The Principal Character and Events of Demosthenes”
.8 Translation of Plato's Contra Atheos,
vol. 1
.9 Translation of Plato's Contra Atheos,
vol. 2
Folder 5: College notes of David J. Berdan
.10 Greek lessons (in several pieces)
Folder 6: College notes of David J. Berdan
.11 “A
List of Texts,” 1845-1847, with Bible verses and name of person who preached
using that text
.12 “
.13 “Satire of Juvenile,” 1846-7
.14 “The Olinthiac Oration of Demosthenes”
Folder 7: College notes of David J. Berdan
.15-.22 Linguistic notes, Lectures 6-14
.23 Translation of the 1st 4 Acts of Terence of the Andero
.24 Homer's Odyssey
.25 “Was the Career of Bonepart [sic]
Beneficial to
.26 History notes
.27 “Cleanthian Hymn,” and other notes about ancient Greeks
Folder 8: College notes of David J. Berdan
.28 “Education” (essay)
.29 “Steam” (essay)
.30 Composition no. 46,
Folder 9: Letters
.31 Invitation from Miss Elisibeth Solomon,
.32 Letter,
Willard Ellis Geer to David Berdan, n.d., probably July
About
scholastic achievements of students at Rutgers and news of mutual acquaintances;
also describes recent July Fourth festivities; large grist mill under
construction; upcoming commencement at
.33 Letter,
W. Ellis Gear,
Folder 10: Receipts
.34 Receipt,
Albert Berdan on behalf of A. A. Hopper, received payment from David J. Berdan,
for unspecified goods,
.35 Receipt, A. S. Heslor(?), on behalf of John Gallagher,
received payment from David J. Berdan, for frock coat,
Folder 11: Valentines
.36 Poem on
stationery with decorated border, begins “Thay [sic] say that friendship but a
name/ A vain and empty sound.” Dated
Valentines Day, no year.
.37 Poem
on stationery with blind embossed border, signed Your Valentine; begins “If
every kind wish were a rose/ And the rose had not a thorn”
.38 Poem
to Miss Susan Jane, signed D.J.B. Begins
“The rose with the beuty [sic] which nature has lent/ May for a while some
pleasure present.”
.39 Blind
embossed envelope addressed to David J. Berdan,
.40 Two
poems, in two different hands, on one sheet of paper, dated February 14, 1849. The first poem begins “While passions sigh
and cupids dart/ Around us fly from heart to heart.” The second poem begins “Friendship the golden
tie/ That binds true hearts together.”
This poem is signed CSVD, D. Q. Berdan.
.41 Short
poem on blind embossed paper, dated Feb. 14, 1850. Poem begins “this day let me on you
impress[?]/ How fond my love and true.”
The paper is embossed Mansell.
.42a A
home-made Valentine consisting of two pieces of gold embossed foil and a scroll
pasted onto a sheet of blind embossed paper.
No poem, no name.
.42b A
plain envelope
.45 Poem,
“49,” part of which appeared on the Valentine in .40, above. Last line reads “Take this a truthful
Valentine,” illegible signature
.48 Poem, untitled, beginning, “I have seen a
pretty lady…” (see also .49 and 50)
.49 Poem on a
decorated sheet of stationery, dated Feb. 14, 1847, signed Adonis (same or
similar poem is found in .48 and .50).
Poem begins “I have seen a pretty lady/ Dear reader so have you.” Another poem in a different hand is found on
the last page.
.50 Poem
dated Feb. 14, 1851; poem is not quite identical to that on .49 above.
The
name Susan appears on last page.
.53 Poem,
beginning “Fair lady may I venture/ A valentine to write…”
.43 Songs or poems about
.44a Poems: untitled, “Winter,” “Love &
Wine,” untitled
.44b Poem: “How
Am I,” dated
.46 Poem, untitled, beginning “Dear lady on
these pages white…”
.47 Poem, untitled, beginning “When night has
thrown her mantle round…”
.51 A
political and patriotic poem about Cass and
[Lewis
Cass and William Orlando Butler were the Democratic Party’s candidates for
president and vice president for the election of 1848. They lost to the Whigs Zachary Taylor and
Millard Fillmore.]
.52 Poem:
“Thou Hast Learned to Love Another”
.54 A prose
piece entitled “The Malitia,” [i.e. militia,] apparently written about the time
of the Mexican War. Written with poor
spelling and grammar, but probably deliberately so.
.55 Poem:
“The Winter Hearth”
.56 Poem: “Musings,” signed with a name
written in Greek
.57 Poems: “The Spider and the Fly,” “He
Doeth All Things Well,” “Bonaparts Grave”
Folder 13: Calligraphy (printed)
.58 one
side: “Sample Page of Self-Instructor.
Also Sample Colors of Our Writing Inks.”
Shows a bird with a scroll on which is written “God Bless our home.”
Other side: “Real Pen-work
Lion. Sample Page of
Self-Instructor.” Shows a lion.
Folder 14: Miscellaneous
.59 “The
Questions,” a party game that asks questions about one's future spouse, dated Schrallenburgh,
May 24, 1849, and addressed to D.J. Berdan.
Part of the page is missing.
.60 Clipping
with a poem about the Union (“Hurra for the
[The
poem mentions Winfield Scott, who was the Whig party nominee for president in
1852.]
.61 Astrology
report for
.62 List of apportionment
for school funds in