Historical Society of Frankford facts for kids
The Historical Society of Frankford is a special place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's like a museum and a history club all rolled into one! This society helps people learn about the past, especially the history and traditions of the Frankford neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia. It's a non-profit group, which means it uses all its money to help people learn, not to make a profit. The society was one of the first groups to join the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies.
The society started in 1905 and officially became a chartered organization in 1920. Its main goal is to encourage people to study history, especially the everyday life and stories of Frankford and the areas nearby. The society buys historical items using its own funds, and it also accepts gifts of old items. The building where the society is located was built in 1930. It's a strong, fireproof building made of stone, brick, and steel. There's plenty of space inside to keep old papers and documents safe.
What They Keep Safe
The Historical Society of Frankford has many interesting items, all related to the Frankford area of Philadelphia. Imagine finding old papers from hundreds of years ago!
Here are some of the cool things they have:
- Old Documents: They have deeds, leases, and other important papers from 1681 to 1887. These show who owned land and how it was used long ago.
- Court and School Records: You can find old court records from 1824 to 1925. They also have records from schools in the area.
- Business Records: The society keeps account books from different businesses. This includes records from the Oxford-Provident Building and Loan Association, which was one of the very first in the United States, from 1831 to 1863.
- Fire Company Records: Learn about the brave fire companies that protected Frankford from 1793 to 1871.
- Community Groups: They have records from groups like the Philanthropic Society and the Lyceum, which were important community organizations.
- Civil War History: There are records related to the American Civil War, showing how people in Frankford were involved.
- Family Stories: The society has information about local families, which is great for people interested in their family history.
- Letters and More: You can also find old letters and other papers from people and businesses in the area.
The society has about 250 books and 1,000 other items. They keep everything organized so it's easy to find. For example, old deeds are sorted by the name of the person who gave the land, and then by date. Other materials are sorted by the author's name and then by date. They have a special card catalog with 1,250 cards to help people find what they are looking for. If you are a researcher, you can ask the secretary or another officer to see these materials.
On Television
The Historical Society of Frankford even had a visit from the famous Keno brothers, Leigh and Leslie! These identical twins are well-known from the TV show Antiques Roadshow. They visited the society's building at 1507 Orthodox Street.
Leigh Keno said that day was "incredible." He mentioned they could have spent ten days there because there was so much to see. They felt like they only saw a tiny part of the collection during their visit. "Every drawer we opened had something to explore," he recalled. During their visit, the Keno brothers found a special old photograph called a daguerreotype. This type of photo was popular in the 1850s. They believed this daguerreotype from the Frankford collection was very valuable!
See also
- List of historical societies in Pennsylvania
