The Winterthur Library

 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.:         Col. 237          

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 New York and resided in Bergen County, New Jersey.  David J. Berdan, John's brother, attended Rutgers College in the 1840s.  He settled in Paterson, New Jersey.  The brothers had a sister whose initials were E.J.B.

 

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 Rutgers College; a printed sheet of calligraphy examples (a bird and a lion); a fortune-telling game; and some family letters. 

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:

            Rutgers University.

Beverages - Prices

Business records - New York (State) - New York.

            Calligraphy - Specimens.

College prose, American - New Jersey - New Brunswick.

            College students.

Dry-goods - Prices.

Education, Higher.

Elections - United States - 19th century.

Fortune-telling.

General stores - New York (State) - New York.

Hardware - Prices.

Illumination of books and manuscripts.

Kitchen utensils - Prices.

Private libraries - New Jersey.

Rent charges - New Jersey - Bergen County.

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.

 

Box 1:

 

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 New York" is also featured.  Headings were done in calligraphy.

            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 Bergen County, N.J. owned by J.H.B.  Headings done in calligraphy.

           

            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 Europe,” 10/16/1846

 

.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       Cicero's Letters”

 

.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 Europe            

 

.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, Jan. 12, 1846, signed Isaac M. Lee

 

 

Folder 9: Letters 

 

.31       Invitation from Miss Elisibeth Solomon, 9/10/1849

 

.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 Rutgers

 

.33       Letter, W. Ellis Gear, New York City, to David J. Berdan, Paterson, N.J., April 5, 1850, about paying money owed by Gear [or Geer] to Berdan

 

 

Folder 10: Receipts

 

.34       Receipt, Albert Berdan on behalf of A. A. Hopper, received payment from David J. Berdan, for unspecified goods, Paterson, July 20, 1852.

 

.35       Receipt, A. S. Heslor(?), on behalf of John Gallagher, received payment from David J. Berdan, for frock coat, Paterson, July 15, 1852

 

 

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, Brunswick College, N.J., embossing similar in style to paper in .37 and .41

 

.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…”

 

 

Folder 12: Poetry and prose

 

.43       Songs or poems about Rutgers University, entitled “The Corner Stone” and “Old Rutgers”

 

.44a     Poems: untitled, “Winter,” “Love & Wine,” untitled

 

.44b     Poem:   “How Am I,” dated Jan. 7, 1843

 

.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 Butler, on paper stamped with the name David Berdan, n.d.

            [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 Union,” by a Union Democrat, to be sung to the turn “Wait for the Wagon”) on one side and an American flag on the other.

            [The poem mentions Winfield Scott, who was the Whig party nominee for president in 1852.]

 

.61       Astrology report for Jan. 3, 1848

 

.62       List of apportionment for school funds in Franklin Township, Bergen County, New Jersey, Dec. 12, 1848, signed Henry B. Hagerman, town superintendent of public schools