col. 210 box 1 .1-.5; box 2 .6-.7The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Title:               Certificates and medals

Dates:             1768-ca. 1920

Call No.:         Col. 301

Acc. No.:        [various]

Quantity:        ca. 80 items

Location:        3 G 7-8

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This artificial and still open collection contains printed certificates, including birth and marriage certificates, memberships, commissions, and diplomas.  Most are of a large size and illustrated, many in color.  Of particular note are birth and baptismal certificates from the Pennsylvania German area of south central Pennsylvania.  They are brightly colored with designs stylistically similar to fraktur.

 

ORGANIZATION

 

The certificates are divided by size and then arranged in accession number order. 

  

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are primarily in English, but also in German.

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

PROVENANCE

 

Gifts and purchases from various sources.    

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:            Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

                        Yale University.

                        Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Massachusetts.

                        Marriage customs and rites.

                        Libraries.

                        Medicine.

                        Postal service.

                        Societies.

                        Religion.

                        Ships.

                        Armed Forces.

                        Art – Exhibitions.

                        Baptism.

                        Education.

                        Freemasonry.

                        Illumination of books and manuscripts, Pennsylvania Dutch.

                        Birth certificates.

                        Certificates.                

               

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION

 

Note: This finding aid also includes a certificate in another collection besides Collection 301.

 

 

CERTIFICATES

CALL NUMBER

ACCESSION NUMBER

TYPE OF ITEM

ORGANIZATION

PLACE

DATE

NAME

PRINTER/ENGRAVER

SUBJECTS

DESCRIPTION

Col. 301

10x072

marriage certificate

Quakers at Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

1754

Edward Penington, Sarah Shoemaker

marriage

Quaker marriage certificate with signatures of congregation, including furniture makers Benjamin Trotter, Thomas Maule, and John Smith.

Col. 301

54x013.2

certificate

True Assistant Society of New York

New York

1800

Daniel Schenck; John Thompson; Jonah Halsted

P.R. Maverick Liberty St. (E)

societies

blue engraving with added color of two men shaking hands and eagle with American shield

Col. 301

65x030

certificate of approval

Carpenters' Company

Philadelphia, PA

1827

John M. Ogden; Joseph Worrell

carpentry

approval as measurer of carpenter's work

Col. 301

65x618

military commission

State of New York

New York, NY

1810

Robert S. Reade; Daniel D. Tompkins; Daniel Hale

armed forces

commission as lieutenant in militia

Col. 301

67x150.2

certificate of appointment

Postmaster General of the United States of America

Washington City, D.C.

1836

David Reynolds, Esq.; Amos Kendall

postal service

commission as postmaster

Col. 301

68x006.5

marriage certificate

[1850-1899]

F.J. Pilliner (E)

marriage

blank-printed with lithograph of bridal party

Col. 301

68x006.6

baptismal certificate

Pennsylvania

1855

Maria Schneider; Jacob Smith

H. Sebald (E)

baptisms

in German; color lithograph; pictures of wedding and baptism with angels and floral designs

Col. 301

70x034

membership certificate

Marion Chapter No.7 R.A.M.

New London, CT

1841

George C. Wilson

A. Doolittle New Haven (E)

freemasonry

engraving with symbols of masons; ribbon with embossed seal

Col. 301

70x043

membership certificate

Free and Accepted Masons

Canaan, NY

1801

Darius Lewis

freemasonry

illustrations of allegorical figures and symbols of masonry

Col. 301

71x007

membership certificate

Ancient, Regular, Free and Accepted Masons

Jasper, TN

1841

Elijah D. Wheeler

C.C. Torrey Nashv. (E)

freemasonry

engraving of Masonic Hall in Nashville; ribbon with seal and printed ribbon attached

Col. 301

73x077

marriage certificate

Edinburgh

1785

Alexander Spence Goldsmith; Rabbina Wallace;

marriage

marriage certificate

Col. 301

73x219

baptismal certificate

Edinburgh

1789

Alexander Spence Goldsmith; Rabina Wallace; Jean Hallyburton

baptism

baptismal certificate

Col. 301

74x106

marriage certificate

Nottingham, MD

1849

Alphonso Kirk; Mira Kirk

marriage

Quaker marriage certificate with signatures of congregation

Col. 301

74x382.75

membership certificate

Cosmopolitan Art Association

New York, NY

1858

C.L. Derby; M.S. Coburn

art;exhibitions

Col. 301

75x135

certificate of merit

Society for Promoting Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures

Northhampton, MA

1821

Beach Loveland, Northhampton

Ralph Rawdon (E)

societies

detailed illustration of allegorical figures; man in colonial dress with plow; eagle; farm landscape

Col. 301

76x451

marriage certificate

Nazareth, PA

1858

Samuel Hahn, Sophia Weldy, Wm. L. Leunert

Wagner, York (E)

marriage

printed marriage certificate; floral border and clasped hands

Col. 301

77x343.2

membership certificate

Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Boston, MA

1875

E.M.P. Wells

W.H. Dougal Georgetown D.C. (E)

Independent Order of Odd Fellows

vignettes of woman with children; men shaking hands; emblem of Odd Fellows(1834), sun, other symbols; embossed seal

Col. 301

77x439

membership certificate

Middlesex Society of Husbandmen and Manufacturers

Massachusetts

1820

John Skinner, Esq.

J.R. Penniman (artist); Annin & Smith (E)

societies

engraving of two men under a tree

Col. 301

77x455

membership certificate

Benevolent Congregational Society

Providence, RI

1786; 1793

John Howland

societies

printed; ornate border; seal

Col. 301

77x638 (see 90x097)

certificate

Masons

Worcester, MA

1794

Isaiah Thomas; Jonathan Grout, Jr.

freemasonry

handwritten; membership certificate; wax seal with mason's emblem

Col. 301

78x025

liberal arts diploma

Yale College

New Haven, CT

1816

Horatium Hooker

A. Doolittle (E)

education; Yale University

blue embossed ribbon; Latin text

Col. 301

78x026

diploma

Yale College

New Haven, CT

1819

Horatium Hooker

N. & S.S. Jocelyn, N.H. (E)

education; Yale University

Latin text

Col. 301

78x108

certificate of purchase

Auxiliary Mount Vernon Fund

Boston, MA

1859

William Brockbank

Mount Vernon; George Washington

two illustrations of Mount Vernon in 1796

Col. 301

78x187

membership certificate

Library Company of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

1769; 1773

Philip Syng; Fras. Hopkinson; Edmund Physick

Library Company of Philadelphia; libraries

membership certificate for Philip Syng; transferral of holdings to son-in-law Edmund Physick on reverse side

Col. 301

78x249

membership certificate

Essex Agricultural Society of Massachusetts

Essex, MA

1818

James H. Duncan

E.G. Perkins (E)

societies; agriculture

engraving with allegorical figures and symbols

Col. 301

78x298

certificate

Reading, PA

1839

Henrietta Blatt

Egelmann (P)

religion

printed in German; includes 8 stanzas of music; floral wreath borders

Col. 301

79x182

certificate

Chancellor of the State of New York

New York, NY

1842

Joseph Bridgham; Reuben Hyde Walworth

J.H. Hall ? (E)

law

admission as solicitor in court of Chancery of the State of New York; engraving of seal of New York

Col. 301

79x183

certificate

State of New York

New York, NY

1842

Joseph Bridgham; Samuel Nelson

Balch Rawdon & Co. Albany (E)

law

admission as attorney to Supreme Court; engraving of allegorical figure of Justice; seal with portraits

Col. 301

79x323

marriage certificate

State of Tennessee

Gibson County, TN

1867

T. Stone; Fanny Sloton

Trenton Gazette (P)

marriage

illustration of a wedding

Col. 301

80x030.1

membership certificate

Society of Master Sail-Makers

New York, NY

1815

Robert Ferguson; Stephen Aglen

societies; sailmakers

engraved vignettes of sailmaking; sailing ships; allegorical figures

Col. 301

80x187

certificate

The Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry

Providence, RI

18--

James Rhodes

Horton Prov RI (E)

societies; agriculture

engraving of farm scene with cows, tree, and agricultural implements

Col. 301

80x232

membership certificate

Free Masons

Charleston, SC

1789

Benjamin Pitman; A. Alexander

freemasonry

illustrated wtih allegorical figures and masonic symbols; text in Latin, English and French

Col. 301

81x307

one-year pilot certificate

Port of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

1807

John Coppinger

sailing

illustration of lighthouse

Col. 301

82x091

weekly report card

Grammar-School of Columbia College

New York, NY

1833

C. Anthon

education; Columbia College

Col. 301

83x033.1

membership certificate

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions

Boston, MA

1848

Mrs. E.A. Laurie

Penniman (artist); Annin & Smith (E)

societies

engraving of figures in oriental-type setting looking toward sailing ship and rising sun; title is quote from Isaiah

Col. 301

83x033.2

membership certificate

Boston Seaman's Friend Society

Boston, MA

1850

Ellen A. Laurie; Alpheus Hardy; Frederick A. Benson; Mr. & Mrs. Edward Smith

J.R. Penniman (artist); Annin & Smith, Boston (E)

societies

illustration of Jesus walking on water and saving sailors

Col. 301

83x168

membership certificate

Lodge of Mark Master Masons

Albany, NY

1810

Benjamin Cook; Ezra Ames; James Woods; Jedediah Sanger; Samuel Edmonds

freemasonry

Col. 301

85x195

marriage certificate

1838

John Weist; Elizabeth Maus; Jacob Geiger

Wagner, York (E)

marriage

illustration of floral border; clasped hands

Col. 301

86x110

membership certificate

Society for Promoting Agriculture and Domestic Manufactories

Newburgh, NY

1889

Thomas McKissock

Rawdon & Balch Albany (E)

societies

detailed illustration of farm with trees, cows, and figures

Col. 301

86x180

marriage certificate

Quakers at Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

1768

Edward Dawes; Mercy Gray

marriage

Quaker marriage with signatures of congregation

Col. 301

87x195

one-year membership certificate

Independent Order of the Odd Fellows

Delaware

1873

T.W. Ferree; George C. Morton; John W. Dennison

W.H. Dougal Georgetown D.C. (E)

Independent Order of Odd Fellows

vignettes of mother and children; men shaking hands; seal of odd fellows

Col. 301

90x097(see 77x638)

membership certificate

Masons; Morning Star Lodge

Worcester, MA

1794

Isaiah Thomas; Jonathan Grout, Jr.

freemasonry

Col. 301

94x015

marriage certificate

Wilmington, DE

1873

John Gilbert; Sallie Kirk

Methodish Episcopal Book Room, Philadelphia (P)

marriage

embossed and printed in gold

Col. 301

PH 1153

membership certificate

Society of the Cincinnati

Philadelphia, PA

1784

Benjamin Frothingham

societies

drawn by Aug. L. Belle, engraved by J.J. LeVeau, designed by L'enfant, signed by George Washington and J. Knox

Col. 301 box 1

07x034

membership certificate

New York Benevolent Society of Journeymen Cabinet Makers

NY

1821

George Lansdown; Danl. Turner; Andrew Anderson

societies

illustration of two female figures sitting on couches between a desk and bookcase

Col. 301 box 1

08x101

baptismal certificate

Oxford M.E. Church

1912

Florence Ruth Seiples; Harry & Laura Seiples; A.L. Shalkop

baptisms

color illustration of dove, flowers, and baptismal font

Col. 301 box 1

09x110.31

membership certificate

Good Will Fire Company

Philadelphia, PA

1868

Wm. H. Urian

J. Queen del.; P.S. Duval Sons & Co., Philadelphia

societies

illustrations of fire engines, hats, hoses, burning building; photocopy.

Col. 301 box 1

09x111.4

military commission

Baltimore City Guard

Baltimore, MD

1858

Joseph P. Warner

armed forces

commission for captain of Company A of the city guard battalion; photocopy.

Col. 301 box 1

09x111.5

diploma

King's College (now Columbia University)

New York, NY

1758-1759

Samuel Verplank

education

handwritten diploma with seal; photocopy.

Col. 301 box 1

09x111.8

discharge

Ft. Moore's Company, U.S. Volunteers

Fort George, MD

1813

Thomas Warner, silversmith

armed forces

discharge letter by order of Brig. Gen. Boyd

Col. 301 box 1

09x111.9

resolution

U.S. Congress

1867

Cyrus W. Field

thanks to Field for establishing telegraphic communication by means of atlantic cable across Atlantic Ocean; photocopy.

Col. 301 box 1

12x162.2

Victory Liberty Loan medal

U.S. Treasury Dept.

Washington, D.C.

1918

Mrs. W.A. Jordan

patriotic service

circular silver medal awarded to patriotic service in behalf of the Liberty Loan. Made from captured German cannon.

Col. 301 box 1

12x162.3

medal

Salon d'Art, L'Exposition Universelle de Gand

Ghent, Belgium

1913

Robert Macfarlane Cocks

L.A. De Smeth

medals; photography

man seated at desk

Col. 301 box 1

12x162.4

membership certificate

Skull and Circle Honorary Society of St. John's College and University

1933

George H. MacMurray

societies

Col. 301 box 1

12x162.5

medal

medals

metal box with blue silk ribbon; no information on the outside.

Col. 301 box 1

76x098.1094

marriage certificate

Lebanon Co., PA

1831

Henrich Tyger; Carolina Roth

marriage

handwritten; design border; in color; in German

Col. 301 box 1

76x098.1095

confirmation certificate

1839

Egelmann (P)

confirmation

printed document in German; hymn on reverse

Col. 301 box 1

76x098.2002

membership certificate

Pennsylvania German Society

Philadelphia, PA

1924

David Ellsworth Lick

societies

form of letter

Col. 301 box 2

12x162.1

donation certificate

Memorial Christian Church

Washington, D.C.

1883

Gibson Bros., Printers, Washington

donations

blank form for contributors to church building fund. Lists names of members of Excecutive and General Building Committees.

Col. 301 box 2

63x066

marriage certificate

Quakers at Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

1763

Jesse Kendall; Mary Marshall

marriage

Quaker marriage certificate with signatures of congregation

Col. 301 box 2

63x067

marriage certificate

Quakers at Wilmington

Wilmington, DE

1791

Henry Reynolds; Mary Kendall

marriage

Quaker marriage certificate with signatures of congregation

Col. 301 box 2

63x068

marriage certificate

Quakers at Bradford

Chester County, PA

1763

James Kendall; Susannah Clayton

marriage

Quaker marriage certificate with signatures of congregation

Col. 301 box 2

68x183.34

birth certificate

Bennville, PA

1869

Charles Milton Kissling; Saul Kissling

J.E. Stohlmann (P)

birth certificates

in German; ornate border with biblical scenes

Col. 301 box 2

68x183.35

birth certificate

Schuylkill County, PA

1850

Daniel Isenbach

birth certificates

in German; large designs of angels, birds and eagle; color added

Col. 301 box 2

68x183.36

birth certificate

Seidelberg Township, PA

1849

Levi German

Blumer, Busch, Allentown, PA (P)

birth certificates

in German; large designs of angels, birds and eagle; color added

Col. 301 box 2

68x183.37

birth certificate

Montgomery County, PA

1864

Noah Harwick; Martin Wetzler

Gaeger and Leifenring, Allentown, PA (P)

birth certificates

in German; large designs of angels, birds and eagle; color added

Col. 301 box 2

68x183.38

birth certificate

Heidelberg township, PA

1863

Daniel Burbacher

Th. J. Scheffer - Harrisburg (P)

birth certificates

biblical illustrations; designs of men, birds, books, caryatids, etc.; color added

Col. 301 box 2

68x183.39

birth certificate

Lebanon, PA

1867

Bertley

birth certificates

in German; illustrations of biblical scenes such as the Last Supper; color added

Col. 301 box 2

68x183.40

birth certificate

Berks County, PA

1874

Agnes Magdalena Helbart

R.H.O. Grossmann (P)

birth certificates

in German; illustrations of biblical figures; color added

Col. 301 box 2

68x183.41

birth certificate

Berks County, PA

1887

Robert James Brown

"Eagle" Book Store, 542 Penn St., Reading, PA (P)

birth certificates

illustrations of angels, birds, cherubs; color added

Col. 301 box 2

76x098.1061

incorporation certificate

American Native Men's Beneficial and Charitable Society

Reading, PA

1828

Calvin Blythe, Secretary; Andrew Shulze, Governor

societies

Col. 301 box 2

76x098.1100

marriage certificate

Reading, PA

1836

Daniel Scherman; Maria Morgen

Johann Ritter

marriage

angels, birds in color; in German

Col. 301 box 2

76x098.934

military commission

Militia of Pennsylvania

Schuylkill Co., PA

1826

Jacob Minnig

armed forces

commission for captain of first company of the twelfth battalion

Col. 301 box 2

77x139

membership certificate

True Republican Incorporated Society

Philadelphia, PA

1801

John Weaver, Sr.

John Bower (E)

societies

engraving of allegorical figure, eagle; symbols including snake, broken chain, crown, etc.

Col. 301 box 2

78x305

certificate

Grand Lodge of Masons

Blackstone, MA

1900

Harry Clinton Moore

American Bank Note Co., Boston (E)

freemasonry

engraving of gothic arches; allegorical figures

Col. 301 box 2

79x114

membership certificate

Inscrutable Society

Hanover

1808

Thos. Waterman

Wightman (E)

societies

Indian and eagle on pillars

Col. 301 box 2

79x303

membership certificate

Society of the Cincinnati

Csweco, NY

1849

Samuel Hart

C. Parsons ? (artist); G. & W. Endicott Lith. New York (E)

Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Massachusetts

engraving of allegorical figures, lion, soldiers, sailing ships, eagle; wax sealattached

Col. 301 box 2

80x096

membership certificate

Grand Lodge of Maine

Portland, ME

1848

Rufus K. Sewall

Annin & Smith (E)

freemasonry

allegorical figures; symbols of masons

Col. 301 box 2

80x262.1

certificate of appointment

Postmaster General of the United States of America

Washington City, D.C.

1890

Christian Griffenberg; John Wanamaker

postal service

commission as postmaster of Odessa, Delaware

Col. 301 box 2

82x058

membership certificate

Homoeopathic Medical College

Philadelphia, PA

1850

Charles Wild, M.D.

G. Shoemaker, P.S. Duval's Lithy. Philada. (E)

education; medicine

illustration of building

Col. 301 box 2

82x059

membership certificate

Societate Homoeopathico Medica Massachusettensi

Norfolk, MA

1856

Charles Wilde, M.D.

H. Billings (artist); J. W. Watts, Smith, Knight & Tappan Engs. Boston (E)

societies; medicine

engraving of allegorical figures and symbols of medicine; blue ribbon with embossed stamp

Col. 301 box 2

86x200

marriage certificate

Quakers at Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

1804

Joseph Parry; Anna Shoemaker

marriage

Quaker marriage certificate with signatures of the congregation

Col. 301 box 2

86x201

marriage certificate

Quakers at Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

1789

Joseph Shoemaker; Anne Williams

marriage

Quaker marriage certificate with signatures of the congregation

Col. 301 box 2

97x094.1

donation certificate

Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon and Hospital

Philadelphia, PA

1862

Mary Douglas

T. Sinclair's Lith., Philadelphia, PA

donations

color illustration of soldiers in front of saloon, and one being given items by children; Douglas donated boxes of lint

Col. 301 box 2

97x094.2

donation certificate

Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon and Hospital

Philadelphia, PA

1863

Mary Douglas

Fred S. Schell (Artist); Ashmead (P); Adrian & Sharp (E)

donations

color illustrations of bunting, canoon, interiors of saloon and hospital; Douglas donated lemons, crackers

Col. 301 box 2

97x094.3

donation certificate

Citizens Volunteer Hospital

Philadelphia, PA

1863

Mary Douglas

P.S. Duval & Son (P); James Queen Lith.

donations

color illustrations of exterior and interior of hospital; Douglas donated money