Springfield Township Historical Society photograph, manuscript, and deed collection 02 Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Faith Charlton through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. Last updated on August 13, 2013.
Table of Contents Summary Information...3 Biography/History...3 Scope and Contents... 4 Administrative Information... 5 Controlled Access Headings...6 - Page 2 -
Summary Information Repository Creator Title Springfield Township Historical Society photograph, manuscript, and deed collection Call number 02 Date [inclusive] 1789-1987 Extent 5 linear feet Language English Abstract Springfield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania was surveyed and laid out in 1743. The township was primarily a rural farming community for most of its history, although population increased with suburbanization in the late 20th century. The Springfield Township Historical Society photograph, manuscript, and deed collection, 1789-1987, consists of various materials from numerous inhabitants and organizations from the township. A large number of oral histories on audiocassette tapes also form part of the collection. Biography/History The area now known as Springfield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania was first inhabited by the Lenni Lenape. The first Caucasian settler arrived in 1728 and set up a trading post. He was followed - Page 3 -
by more English, Scotch, Irish, and German settlers. Lands were transferred from the Lenni Lenape inhabitants to white settlers as part of the Penn family's 1737 "Walking Purchase." The Township of Springfield was surveyed and laid out in 1743. A stage coach first passed through Springfield in 1763, travelling the King's Highway between Bethlehem and Philadelphia. It was replaced by the Quakertown and Eastern Railroad in 1857. By the 1840s, there were six villages within the Township of Springfield: Springtown, Pleasant Valley, Passer, Zion Hill, Gruversville, and Rocky Valley. As of 2013, only Springtown, Pleasant Valley, and Zion Hill still exist. Springfield Township is the third largest municipality in terms of land area in Bucks County. For most of its history, the township was primarily a rural farming community. In 1964, farm lands and open fields accounted for 63.4% of its total acreage; woods and water comprised an additional 29.7%. Population increased with suburbanization in the late 20th century. Bibliography: Riter, Betty Gross and the Springfield Township Historical Society. "Springfield History & Trivia." Accessed July 16, 2013. http://www.springfieldbucks.org/uploads/history%20%20trivia%20sheet.pdf. Scope and Contents This collection includes various photographs, manuscripts, and deeds relating to the inhabitants and institutions of Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The copy and original photographs depict local people, groups, buildings, and landscapes. Some photographs are framed, some are in photograph albums, and some are loose. The deeds and indentures date mostly from the 19th century, although some are from the 18th and 20th centuries. Many were transferred to the Society by the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds (1801-1911). The manuscripts include various family, personal, and business papers, including wills and marriage and baptismal certificates. The collection also includes about 75 audiocassette tapes of oral histories, 1980-1996. Some have been transcribed; a partial inventory exists on-site. The following is an inventory of the manuscripts: Baron, Maynard, painting and paper hanging invoices and receipts, circa 1940 Family photograph album, circa 1880 Freble, Robert C. (Pleasant Valley Selling Agent) ledgers, 1914-1925 (3 vols) Hess, D. F., ledger Ott, John J., family papers, 1839-circa 1900, mostly Dr. John Ott's professional papers and financial records, 1875- circa 1900, with some miscellaneous family papers Palisades High School handbooks, a few from 1950s-60s Photo album of buildings in Zion Hill, Passer, Pleasant Valley, Bursonville, circa 1980 Photographs of local groups, buildings, people - Page 4 -
Pickens/Simmons sheet music Rush, Earl, scrapbook pages, circa 1930s-1950s Sear, Emma J., penmanship book Springfield Township School Board financial statements, 1893-1921 Springfield Twp High School alumni materials, 1916- circa 1940s Springfield Union Sunday School (Pleasant Valley) records, 1954 Tests from 6th through 8th grades at the Church School, circa 1940 Town and County Choristers records, circa 1960 Unidentified ledger, 1870 Unidentified utilities ledger, circa 1965-1976 Virginia Monitor, bound issues, 1820-1822 (property of George W. Plauker) Washington Camp #598 (Pleasant Valley), Patriotic Order of Sons of America, dues ledger, 1896-1897 Yost, Franklin S., farm supply dealer, circa 1905 Administrative Information Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Faith Charlton through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. Sponsor This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Access Restrictions Contact Springfield Township Historical Society [Bucks] for information about accessing this collection. Immediate Source of Acquisition Note Materials collected from various sources by the Springfield Township Historical Society. Processing Information Note Summary descriptive information on this collection was compiled in 2012-2014 as part of a project conducted by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to make better known and more accessible the largely hidden collections of small, primarily volunteer run repositories in the Philadelphia area. The - Page 5 -
Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories (HCI-PSAR) was funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This is a preliminary finding aid. No physical processing, rehousing, reorganizing, or folder listing was accomplished during the HCI-PSAR project. In some cases, more detailed inventories or finding aids may be available on-site at the repository where this collection is held; please contact Springfield Township Historical Society [Bucks] directly for more information. Controlled Access Headings Geographic Name(s) Bucks County (Pa.) Springfield (Bucks County, Pa. : Township) Subject(s) Genealogy Local history - Page 6 -