MC 38 George W. Childs Scrapbooks, 1836-1874, 5 volumes
Volume 1 (1813-1867) begins with newspaper clippings about the 1836 “Philadelphia Public Ledger” and its owners Swain, Abell, and Simmons. There are also clippings from this time period regarding Childs’ own businesses, Childs and Peterson Publishers (announcements and reviews of books published and letters from authors and readers) and Childs Booksellers (advertisements). Volume 2 (1851-1866) contains additional information on the Philadelphia Public Ledger’s original owners, as well as a photograph of its original location on Chestnut Street. Also included are excerpts from Casper Sauder Jr.’s series on the history of Chestnut Street and its proprietors. Volume 3 (1867-1874) begins with announcements and advertisements for books published by Childs and Peterson, including “Bouvier’s Law Dictionary” and the “Dictionary of English Literature”. Volume 4 (1871-1874), the last scrapbook in the collection, contains newspaper clippings focused primarily on Childs’ social and philanthropic activities. This volume includes letters from Mayor Daniel Fox, George S. Phillips and David Stewart as well as letters from many prominent Philadelphians on such topics as gifts to the poor and to local hospitals, assistance for Horticultural Hall, the Edgar Allen Poe gravesite, and for the zoological society which Childs supported with A.J. Drexel.