MG-171. SAMUEL W. PENNYPACKER PAPERS, 1802-1816, 1851-1916.

Pennsylvania Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker (1843-1916) served on the Board of Public Education in Philadelphia, 1885-1889, as a judge of the Common Pleas Court No. 2 in Philadelphia, and was elected governor in 1903. During his gubernatorial administration, the State Archives was established as an administrative unit within the State Library. He was an active member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, a noted genealogist and amateur historian.

GOVERNOR’S PAPERS, 1902-1907.

Executive Correspondence, 1902-1907. Includes a letter dated November 5, 1902 from Robert J. Nelson of Reading, president of the Afro-American Republican League of Pennsylvania, congratulating Pennypacker for his gubernatorial victory "on behalf of 55,000 colored voters in Pennsylvania."

Applications for Miscellaneous Positions, 1902-1907. This series contains letters to and from Governor Pennypacker regarding applications for positions in state government. Included are the following letters relating to African Americans:

• A resolution from the Afro-American Republican League of Pennsylvania dated August, 1903 supporting the governor’s appointment of Robert J. Nelson to the Department of Mines.

• A resolution dated January 21, 1903 to United States Senator M. S. Quay and United States Senator Boise Penrose from F. L. Jefferson, secretary of the Afro-American Republican League of Pennsylvania.

• A letter dated January 22, 1903 to Governor Pennypacker from Afro-American League President Robert J. Nelson applying for a clerical position with the state.

• A letter and a resolution dated January 23, 1903 to Governor Pennypacker from P. S. Blackwell, a state organizer of the Afro-American Republic League of Pennsylvania.

• A letter dated February 3, 1903, to Governor Pennypacker from Cyrus T. Fox of Reading, president of the Pennsylvania State Editorial Association.

• A letter dated February 4, 1903, to Governor Pennypacker from Solomon Hood, pastor of the Campbell A.M.E. Church of Reading.

• A letter dated February 9, 1903 to Governor Pennypacker from B. F. Hunsicker of the Reading School District.

• A letter dated March 27, 1903 to Barclay Wharton from Robert J. Nelson.

• A letter dated March 31, 1903 to Governor Pennypacker from P. S. Blackwell.

Resolutions of Conventions and Associations, 1903-1906.

• Afro-American Republican League file contains a letter dated August 13, 1903 and signed by F. L. Jefferson together with a copy of a resolution adopted by the league’s Ninth Annual State Convention. The resolution endorses the election of Samuel W. Pennypacker and is signed by League President Robert J. Nelson and Secretary F. L. Jefferson. Also present is a letter dated June 17, 1905 and a resolution adopted at the league’s Eleventh Annual State Convention, also signed by Nelson and Jefferson.

• Frederick Douglass Memorial Exposition, 1905 file contains two letters from the organization’s president, Chicago attorney John G. Jones, dated May 9, 1905 and July 14, 1905, informing Governor Pennypacker about the Frederick Douglass Exposition of North America. The letters state that the exposition would open in Washington, D.C. in May 1906, and asked Governor Pennypacker to send a Black Pennsylvanian to represent Pennsylvania on the organization’s board of directors.

Legislation, 1903-1906. The Appropriations 1905 file contains the following letters to Governor Pennypacker which were received from churches, schools, and other organizations seeking state funding:

• Avery College Trade School. March 29, 1905, from Robert Boggs; March 31, 1905, from "a citizen of the 3rd Ward;" April 3, 1905, from Joseph L. Mahony, secretary and treasurer of Avery.

• Berean Manual Training and Industrial School. April 12, 1905, from Matthew Anderson; April 12, 1905, from Clarkson Clothier; April 14, 1905, from John F. Rayburn; April 14, 1905, from Matthew Anderson; April 17, 1905, from John H. Converse; and April 25, 1905, from E. W. Clark. Also present are two copies of The Berean Record, for November 1904 and March 1905 and an article entitled "Berean Manual Training School" that appeared in the January 19, 1905 issue of the Philadelphia Press.

• A letter dated April 8, 1905 from the Rev. Dr. D. S. Scott representing the Western Colored Industrial School for Farming and Domestic Science in Lawrence County.

• A letter dated April 11, 1905 from James A. Wakefield requesting funds for the Home of the Good Shepherd in Allegheny County.

• A letter dated April 12, 1905 from the Rev. E. E. Bland in support of the State Normal Industrial School for Colored Persons in Philadelphia.

• A letter dated April 14, 1905 from Thomas J. Gatewood (a former slave of Judge Pennypacker in old Virginia) in support of the Home for the Aged and Infirm Colored Women of Pittsburgh.

• A letter dated April 14, 1905 from attorney Harry W. Bass requesting funds for the Normal and Industrial School for Colored Persons in Philadelphia.

• Charter, constitution, and by-laws of the Philadelphia Protectory for Boys in Montgomery County dated March 13, 1899. Under Article II "no boy shall be excluded from the institution, nor shall any inmate thereof."

Return to Index | PHMC Home | State Archives |

aaGuideFindingAid^