Special Collections Department
John Frederick Lewis Papers
Manuscript Collection Number: 129
Accessioned: Moyerman Collection.
Extent: 4.6 linear feet and 75 volumes.
Content: Letterbooks, correspondence, deeds, wills, clippings, postcards, ephemera.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: April 1999, by Anne E. Krulikowski.
-
Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
Table of Contents
Return to beginning of John Frederick Lewis Papers
Contents List
1 Series I. Letterbooks, 1884-1932
Consists of personal and business letterbooks of John Frederick Lewis;
several office books of Lewis, Adler & Laws and Francis Laws, Lewis's
law partner; two account books pertinent to two legal cases; a personal
checkbook of Lewis; and a log book for the Tug John F. Lewis. The
letterbooks contain handwritten and typed, mostly signed letters, dating
from March 4, 1884, to January 28, 1932.
Lewis's recordkeeping is a little confusing. He appears to have begun
keeping numbered letterbooks in the early 1880s when he first began to
practice law. Although his legal affairs (Lewis specialized in maritime,
insurance fraud, and real estate law) dominated, these letterbooks contain
correspondence relating to other concerns. Once Lewis established
himself, his attention turned more and more to his collecting activities, his
Morstein farm, and to the many other interests that marked his life.
Beginning in the mid-1890s and more so after the turn of the century,
these other interests constituted the bulk of his correspondence. For a time
in the teens, this series was labelled personal and contained letters only on
matters unconnected with his practice. Lewis, Adler & Laws also kept a
series of letterbooks and a few of these are included in this collection. In
the early 1920s, the numbering of Lewis's own series was given up, and
his letterbooks once again contain all the letters written by Lewis, personal
and business.
Books have been kept in chronological order, each book identified
primarily by the range of dates of letters within. However, if numbers
from Lewis's lifelong series are evident, they are indicated because the
gaps are more readily apparent. The six office books are indicated, but to
prevent confusion their numbers are not given.
March 4, 1884 to September 25, 1885
October 27, 1885 to November 10, 1886
6 November 13, 1888 to February 5, 1889
7 February 4, 1889 to April 27, 1889
9 September 18, 1889 to February 12, 1890
2 10 February 2, 1890 to June 28, 1890
17 March 8, 1893 to October 2, 1893
19 May 24, 1894 to October 8, 1894
20 October 8, 1894 to January 8, 1895
3 22 January 8, 1895 to April 1, 1895
23 April 2, 1895 to October 5, 1895
24 October 6, 1895 to January 3, 1896
26 April 16, 1896 to November 14, 1896
4 27 November 14, 1896 to May 6, 1897
28 May 5, 1897 to November 18, 1897
29 November 19, 1897 to March 12, 1898
5 30 March 15, 1898 to June 17, 1898
31 June 17, 1898 to November 4, 1898
May 31, 1899 to October 21, 1899
33 October 2, 1899 to January 8, 1900
6 January 8, 1900 to March 19, 1900
37 March 19, 1900 to June 5, 1900
October 16, 1900 to January 24, 1901
January 24, 1901 to April 8, 1901
7 41 April 8, 1901 to June 14, 1901
44 December 26, 1901 to March 21, 1902
46 June 5, 1902 to October 17, 1902
49 April 3, 1903 to June 30, 1903
8 50 July 1, 1903 to November 5, 1903
51 November 5, 1903 to February 4, 1904
52 February 4, 1904 to April 24, 1904
June 13, 1904 to November 26, 1904
9 November 26, 1904 to May 20, 1904
56 March 8, 1905 to June 7, 1905
59 February 26, 1906 to July 16, 1906
60 July 16, 1906 to November 20, 1906
10 61 November 20, 1906 to February 6, 1907
62 February 6, 1907 to May 9, 1907
63 May 14, 1907 to October 7, 1907
64 October 7, 1907 to December 17, 1907
11 Series I. Letterbooks, 1884-1932 (cont'd)
August 21, 1907 top November 18, 1907 (Office Book)
November 18, 1907 to March 2, 1908 (Office Book)
66 February 10, 1908 to April 24, 1908
70 January 28, 1909 to April 5, 1909
12 71 April 5, 1909 to July 12, 1909
73 November 24, 1909 to February 18, 1910
74 February 18, 1910 to May 3, 1910
76 September 12, 1910 to November 22, 1910
13 77 November 21, 1910 to February 2, 1911
79 April 18, 1911 to July 25, 1911
80 July 28, 1911 to November 14, 1911
81 November 14, 1911 to January 31, 1912
14 82 January 31, 1912 to April 13, 1912
83 April 13, 1912 to July 1, 1912
84 July 1, 1912 to November 11, 1912
85 November 12, 1912 to February 1913
15 87 April 17, 1913 to July 21, 1913
89 December 1, 1913 to March 9, 1914
90 March 9, 1914 to May 26, 1914
16 92 October 19, 1914 to January 21, 1915
94 March 29, 1915 to June 29, 1916
September 7, 1915 to October 18, 1915 (Office Book)
17 October 18, 1915 to December 7, 1915 (Office Book)
96 November 19, 1915 to February 2, 1916
97 February 2, 1916 to March 27, 1916
98 March 27, 1916 to June 12, 1916
18 106 December 19, 1917 to March 13, 1918
107 March 13, 1918 to June 3, 1918
108 June 29, 1918 to January 8, 1919
110 June 9, 1919 to November 18, 1919
19 October 1, 1919 to November 4, 1919 (Office Book)
April 26, 1920 to May 3, 1920 (Office Book, part)
111 November 18, 1919 to March 1, 1920
112 March 2, 1920 to October 26, 1920
20 113 October 27, 1920 to May 6, 1921
114 May 6, 1921 to December 28, 1921
21 December 28, 1921 to June 19, 1922
January 18, 1924 to October 1, 1924
22 October 1, 1924 to March 2, 1925
March 21, 1925 to December 3, 1925
23 December 3, 1925 to July 23, 1926
April 14, 1927 to February 3, 1928
24 November 19, 1928 to September 16, 1929
September 17, 1929 to April 24, 1930
25 February 26, 1931 to January 28, 1932
Index from Unidentified Letterbook
Checkbook (March 23, 1927 to August 22, 1927)
26 Eliza M. Klemm Estate Account Book
F1 Eliza M. Klemm Estate File
Eliza J. McCully Estate Account Book
Log Book for Tug John F. Lewis
27 Letterbooks of Francis Adler:
First half of 1899 (letters at beginning and end are illegible)
April 22, 1901 to August 6, 1901
28 Series II. Business Correspondence and Papers
This series consists of business correspondence and papers relating to the
cases with which John Frederick Lewis was involved. There are also a
number of deeds, wills, and contracts relating to various cases. Some
letters are addressed to other members of the law firm and there are a few
copies of letters sent by John Frederick. At the end of this series, which is
arranged chronologically, there are a number of folders containing papers
relating to specific cases. As noted, many letters were tipped onto guard
pages of a bound filing system, so there are letters on many topics other
than business in this series. Tipped-in letters are not always strictly
chronological, which is why a few folders repeat the time period of a
previous folder.
F2 1870-1884
F3 1885
F4 1886
F5 1887-1899
29 F6 1900-1906
F7 1907-1912
F8 1913-1915
F9 December 1915 - January 1916
30 F10 December 1915 - January 1916
F11 1917
F12 1918
F13 1918
F14 1918-1926
31 F15 1926
F16 1927-1931
F17 No Date
F18 Fernald Estate
F19 George P. de Silver Estate
32 F20 Battle vs. Sloan
F21 Nesson vs. S.S. Titanic
F22 Margaret A. Roper (Schooner)
Series III. Personal Correspondence
This series includes correspondence and papers related to the family life
and interests of John Frederick Lewis: letters addressed to John
Frederick Lewis and Anne Baker Lewis; papers relating to the two homes
of the Lewis family; and correspondence relating to the collecting
activities of John Frederick Lewis. Another group in this series is the
correspondence from Julia Lewis, widow of Henry Carvill Lewis, cousin
of John Frederick Lewis.
Series III.1. Personal Correspondence of John Frederick Lewis, 1882-1929
Correspondence received by John Frederick Lewis includes letters, postal
cards, and telegrams that contain donation requests, begging letters,
requests for Lewis to speak to classes and clubs on various topics, travel
arrangements, and auto repairs. There are also several letters concerning
the books he wrote as well as family notes addressed to both Lewis and his
wife.
F23 1882-1898
F24 1909
33 F25 1911-1919
F26 1922-1927
F27 1928
F28 1929
34 F29 No Date
F30 No Date
Series III.2 Correspondence Addressed to Anne Baker Lewis, 1909-1928
Correspondence received by Anne Baker Lewis was of a personal nature
and contains invitations, thank you notes, travel arrangements, and letters
from friends and family.
F31 1909-1928, No Date
Series III.3 Papers Relating to Henry Carvill and Julia F. Lewis
The bulk of this series consists of letters written by Julia and addressed to
John Frederick Lewis who handled Julia's business affairs, the estate of
Henry Carvill Lewis, and oversaw the renting, maintenance and sale of
Julia's house in Germantown, Pennsylvania. These letters were written
during the period of Julia's widowhood, when Julia and her daughter,
Gwen, lived in Heidelburg, Germany. Letters and documents relating to
Henry's estate are intermixed chronologically with Julia's correspondence,
since financial and legal matters are often the subject of her letters.
Julia's correspondence ends abruptly.
F32 1885-1894
F33 1895-1899
35 F34 1900-1902
F35 1903-1909, No Date
Series III.4 Papers Relating to 1914 Spruce Street, 1909-1928
1914 Spruce Street was the Lewis family home in Philadelphia. With only
a few exceptions, the correspondence in this series relates to a library
addition and other major renovations underaken during 1909. Many
letters are from Frank Miles Day & Brother, the Philadelphia architectural
firm that designed and oversaw the work, and provide details about the
design specifications, materials, and prices.
F36 1909-1928
Series III.5 Papers Relating to the Lewis Farm at Morstein, Chester County,
Pennsylvania, 1900-1929
This correspondence concerns the Lewis farm at Morstein. Much of it was
written by various managers of the property and addressed such topics as
employees, the animals, crops, and attempts to purchase more property. A
few letters were written by guests at Morstein. Correspondence relating to
church and other activities of Lewis in Chester County are also included.
F37 1900-1910
F38 1912-1918
36 F39 1926-1929, No Date
Series III.6 Papers Relating to the Collecting Activities of John Frederick
Lewis, 1909-1928
Most letters were written by book and art dealers providing information
about objects and their prices. Several written by European dealers in
1915 comment on the sinking of the Lusitania. Other correspondence
included here was written by conservators, frame makers, those soliciting
Lewis's expert opinion, and those who wished to borrow objects for
exhibits.
F40 1909-1912
F41 1915-1919
F42 1925-1927
F43 January - September 1928
F44 October to December 1928, No Date
Series IV. Correspondence Relating to Cultural, Philanthropic, and Civic
Activities
Series IV.1 Old St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1882-1929
This was the church attended by John Frederick Lewis. At least in the
1880s, Lewis was an active member of the congregation, participating in
the Young Peoples' Lutheran Association. Most of the correspondence
dates to the 1880s.
F45 1882-1929, No Date
Series IV.2 The Band Of Mercy, 1885-1910
The Band of Mercy was either a Lutheran or Christian charitable group,
the members of which distributed books, pamphlets, and hymns of a
Christian nature to orphans and others residing in institutions. Because
only one dated item (1910) did not originate in the 1880s, most of the
undated correspondence probably dates to the 1880s.
37 F46 1885-1910, No Date
Series IV.3 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1907-1928
John Frederick Lewis became President of the Academy in 1907. This
correspondence relates mostly to administrative matters, such as exhibits,
the art classes, students, and the awarding of scholarships, lecture
arrangements, employees, and lending paintings. Lewis also oversaw the
Academy's art school at Chester Springs, Chester County.
F47 1907-1912
F48 1913 - September 1916
F49 October & November 1916
38 F50 December 1916
F51 1917
F52 1917
F53 1917
39 F54 1917
F55 1918-1919
F56 No Date
Series IV.4 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1902-1926.
Lewis served on the Board of Trustees as well as on the Hall & Building
Committee. The building on the Parkway was completed in 1902. Many
letters relate to procuring appropriate shelving and storage supplies for the
various collections and furniture for staff and public rooms. There are
brochures of filing cabinets and estimates from various companies for the
supplies. Other letters relate to the art collection, and renting rooms to
Philadelphia clubs and societies. There are two signed letters from
Addison Hutton, the well-known Quaker architect who designed the
building.
F57 1902-1909
F58 1910-1913
F59 1911-1926, No Date
40 Series IV.5 Other Cultural, Philanthropic, and Civic Activities
Lewis was involved in many organizations and institutions in the city. A
number of letters from various mayors relate to Lewis's participation in
advisory committees to mayors and municipal departments. While other
institutions and clubs are represented by this correspondence, the most
prominent are listed below. Known positions held by Lewis are indicated.
Legal Affililiations
The Law Academy, Member of Argument Committee
Social
The Wistar Party
The DownTown Club (luncheon club)
The Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society
Philanthropic
Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Secretary
The Young American Humane Union, President
Civic
The Committee for a New Philadelphia
The Committee of Seventy
The Historical Pageant Association
The Permanent Committee on Comprehensive Plans
Sesquicentennial Commission, Mayor's Reception Committee
Cultural
American Academy of Music, President
Metropolitan Opera House Co. of Philadelphia
Philadelphia Grand Opera Association, Founding Member
The Art Alliance
The Art Jury, President
The Mercantile Library
The Apprentices' Library, President
The Free Library of Philadelphia, Trustee
The Contemporary Club (literary society)
The Pennsylvania Library Club, Member of Executive Committee
The Geneological Society of Pennsylvania, Vice-President
The Philadelphia War History Association, Chairman
The Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia
F60 1884-1910
F61 1912
F62 1915-1919
F63 1920-1927
F64 1928
F65 1929, No Date
Series V. Unidentified Correspondence and Papers
These documents were part of the Lewis collection, but their content
provides no basis for determining their connection to Lewis. The
fragments of letters possibly came unstuck from letters that were tipped
into binding.
F66 Correspondence Relating to the Friends' Book Store
F67 Letters to and From Unidentified People
F68 Letter Fragments
F69 Ephemera, including clippings, an art post card, brochures, a photograph
Return to beginning of John Frederick Lewis Papers
Back to the UD Special Collections Home Page
Return to List of Manuscript Finding Aids by Title
