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The Deshler-Morris House Committee, Inc. Records document the years 1941-1999. Catalog Number: INDE 104154 Table of ContentsCopyright and RestrictionsHistory Scope and Content Hierarchy Series Descriptions Container List Series I: Correspondence, 1950-1988 Series II: Family Records, 1973, undated Series III: Financial Records, 1951-1983 Series IV: Furnishings, 1950-1996, undated Series V: Garden/Landscaping, 1949-1990 Series VI: Germantown Historical Society, 1949-1966 Series VII: House Committee, Inc., 1949-1999 Series VIII: Publications, 1941-1990, undated Series IX: Research Materials, 1950-1971, undated Series X: Special Events, 1951-1999 Series XI: Women's Committee, 1971-1996 Series XII: Photographs, 1949-1954, undated Copyright and RestrictionsThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The various state privacy acts govern the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations.
If a user later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the user may be personally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement. This institution's permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document doesn't indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from this document without first obtaining permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded. HistoryThe Deshler-Morris House Committee interprets the history of the Deshler-Morris House in cooperation with the National Park Service and Independence National Historical Park. Located in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood, the Deshler-Morris House is historically significant for its role in the 1777 Battle of Germantown and as the only remaining Philadelphia residence of George Washington. The house operated as a private residence until 1948, when the Morris family donated it to the National Park Service. At that time, Independence National Historical Park signed a cooperative agreement with the Germantown Historical Society establishing the society's role in maintaining and interpreting the house. The society created the Deshler-Morris Women's Committee to interpret the house's history, staff the house museum, and fundraise for its maintenance.In 1984, the cooperative agreement was dissolved, and the Deshler-Morris Women's Committee incorporated as a 501 (3)(c) non-profit organization. In May 1985, the newly-named DeshlerMorris House Committee signed a memorandum of agreement with the National Park Service. Under the terms of this new agreement, the National Park Service assumed management of the house while the committee continued to interpret its history. Since its inception, the Deshler-Morris House Committee has been staffed by a team of volunteers dedicated to preserving and interpreting Germantown's history. The committee continues to play a role in interpreting the history of the Deshler-Morris House and its significance in the story of our nation's founding. Scope and ContentDeshler-Morris House Committee, Inc. Records1941-1999 and undated Catalog Number: INDE 104154 Volume: 4.5 LF Description: The Deshler-Morris House Committee, Inc. Records document the Committee's involvement in interpreting the history of the Deshler-Morris House in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Materials in this collection include correspondence, meeting minutes, financial records, historical research files, newsclippings, printed material, and photographs. This collection spans the years 1941-1999. Researchers should note that records dating from 1862-1912 have been removed from the collection and integrated into the Morris Family Papers. Organization: This collection is arranged into twelve series: Series I: Correspondence Series II: Family Records Series III: Financial Records Series IV: Furnishings Series V: Garden/Landscaping Series VI: Germantown Historical Society Series VII: House Committee, Inc. Series VIII: Publications Series IX: Research Materials Series X: Special Events Series XI: Women's Committee Series XII: Photographs Restrictions: No Associated Materials: Independence National Historical Park Archives: Morris Family Papers Associated materials can also be found at the Germantown Historical Society, Pat Henning Library and Archives HierarchySeries I: Correspondence, 1950-1988Series II: Family Records, 1973, undated Series III: Financial Records, 1951-1983 Series IV: Furnishings, 1950-1996, undated Series V: Garden/Landscaping, 1949-1990 Series VI: Germantown Historical Society, 1949-1966 Series VII: House Committee, Inc., 1949-1999 Series VIII: Publications, 1941-1990, undated Series IX: Research Materials, 1950-1971, undated Series X: Special Events, 1951-1999 Series XI: Women's Committee, 1971-1996 Series XII: Photographs, 1949-1954, undated Series DescriptionsSeries I: Correspondence, 1950-1988This series is arranged chronologically. This series contains the correspondence of the Deshler-Morris House Committee. Included among the correspondence is a notable letter from First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. Series II: Family Records, 1973, undated This series is arranged alphabetically. This series contains genealogical research files on the families who once inhabited the Deshler-Morris House, including the Morris family. Series III: Financial Records, 1951-1983 This series is arranged chronologically. This series contains the Deshler-Morris House Committee's financial records, and includes receipts, account statements, and expense reports. Series IV: Furnishings, 1950-1996, undated This series is arranged alphabetically. This series contains documentation regarding furnishings at the Deshler-Morris House, and includes object loan information, furniture inventories, newsclippings, and appraisal files. Series V: Garden/Landscaping, 1949-1990 This series is arranged chronologically. This series contains records regarding the grounds of the Deshler-Morris House, and includes landscaping plans, reports, and correspondence. Series VI: Germantown Historical Society, 1949-1966 This series is arranged chronologically. This series contains records relating to the Germantown Historical Society, who maintained the Deshler-Morris House in conjunction with the Deshler-Morris House Committee and the National Park Service. Materials include agreements, blueprints, correspondence, and caretaker information. Series VII: House Committee, Inc., 1949-1999 This series is arranged alphabetically, and thereunder chronologically. This series contains records that were, for the most part, created by the Deshler-Morris House Committee after they incorporated as a non-profit organization. Materials include annual reports, Board meeting minutes, visitor books, and cooperative agreements with the National Park Service. Series VIII: Publications, 1941-1990, undated This series is arranged alphabetically. This series contains publications on subjects related to a variety of subjects, including the National Park Service, the Deshler-Morris House, and the Germantown neighborhood. Researchers should note that some nineteenth-century historical pamphlets have been removed from this series and placed in the Morris Family Papers collection. Series IX: Research Materials, 1950-1971, undated This series is arranged alphabetically. This series contains historical research files on a variety of subjects, including early American building styles, fashions, and histories of the Deshler-Morris House. Series X: Special Events, 1951-1999 This series is arranged alphabetically, and thereunder chronologically. This series contains planning documents for special fundraising events at the Deshler-Morris House, including card parties, fashion shows, Christmas tea parties, and herb sales. Series XI: Women's Committee, 1971-1996 This series is arranged chronologically. This series contains records that are mostly related to the Deshler-Morris Women's Committee, the precursor to the Deshler-Morris House Committee. Materials include correspondence, meeting minutes and agenda, and address lists. Series XII: Photographs, 1949-1954, undated The photographs are arranged chronologically. This series contains photographs and postcards documenting the Deshler-Morris House and various events held there. Researchers should note that some nineteenth century photographs and a stereoview were removed from this series and placed in the Morris Family Papers collection. Container ListBox 1 SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE, 1950-1988 Folder 1: Correspondence regarding the inventory of the house, 1950-1957 Folder 2: Correspondence regarding an estimate for window curtains, 1952 Folder 3: Letter from Mamie Eisenhower, 1954 Folder 4: Correspondence from Mrs. James W. Wister, 1965 Folder 5: Correspondence regarding silhouettes of David Deshler and his daughter, 1971 Folder 6: Correspondence regarding a Deshler family visitor, 1983 Folder 7: Thank you note to Deborah Crease McLaughlin, 1987 Folder 8: Correspondence regarding the Martha Canby Morris receipt book, 1988 SERIES II: FAMILY RECORDS, 1973, undated Folder 9: Allen genealogical chart, undated Folder 10: Burghalter genealogical chart, undated Folder 11: Correspondence – Edith Morris Engle Roberts, undated Folder 12: "History of My Ancestors" – James C. Dillow from family Bible [photocopy], undated Folder 13: List of surnames – Deshler, undated Folder 14: Membership in the Huguenot Society [photocopy], 1973 Folder 15: Morris genealogical chart and notes, undated Folder 16: Owners of house – notes, undated SERIES III: FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1951-1983 Folder 17: Expenses, 1951-1954 Folder 18: Insurance survey, 1954 Folder 19: Photographer – Bill of sale, 1979 Folder 20: Printer – Bill of sale, 1979-1980 Folder 21: Sales account book, 1979-1980 Folder 22: Account statements, 1980-1981 Folder 23: Expenses, 1981-1982 Folder 24: Account statements, 1981-1982 Folder 25: Account statements, 1982-1983 SERIES IV: FURNISHINGS, 1950-1996, undated Folder 26: Acquisitions and loans, 1950-1984 Folder 27: Colonel Isaac Frank's inventory – General Washington period, undated Folder 28: Dining room dishes and finery, 1996 Folder 29: Display chronology, undated Folder 30: Dolls, 1981 Folder 31: Inventory of rooms, 1954 Folder 32: Newsclippings, 1989 Box 2 Folder 1: Philadelphia Art Museum, 1981 Folder 2: Saitto Company – Appraisals, 1950 SERIES V: GARDEN/LANDSCAPING, 1949-1990 Folder 3: Plans and correspondence, 1949-1956 Folder 4: Report, 1980 Folder 5: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society nomination, 1990 SERIES VI: GERMANTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 1949-1966 Folder 6: Agreement and report, 1949 Folder 7: Blueprints, 1949 Folder 8: Leases with caretakers, 1949 Folder 8.2: Correspondence, 1949 Folder 9: Business correspondence, 1949-1958 Folder 10: Dedication ceremony, 1950 Folder 11: Correspondence regarding the condition of the house, 1951 Folder 12: Correspondence regarding handmade iron gridiron, 1951 Folder 13: Correspondence regarding historic house tours, 1951-1955 Folder 14: Host and hostesses, 1954-1966 Folder 15: Host and hostesses – Address book, 1962 SERIES VII: HOUSE COMMITTEE, INC., 1949-1999 (Additional materials can be found in Boxes 6-9) Folder 16: Annual Report, 1998-1999 Folder 17: Board meeting minutes, 1949 Folder 18: Board meeting minutes, 1990-1991 Folder 19: Board meeting minutes, 1992-1993 Folder 20: Board meeting minutes, 1993-1994 Folder 21: Board meeting minutes, 1994-1995 Folder 22: Board meeting minutes, 1996 Folder 23: Cooperative Agreement Data Sheet, 1989 Folder 24: Cooperative Agreement with the National Park Service, 1999 Box 3 Folder 1: Correspondence, 1972 Folder 2: Corporate Records, Volume I, 1984-1989 Folder 3: Corporate Records, Volume II, 1989-1993 Folder 4: Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation grant proposal, 1999 SERIES VIII: PUBLICATIONS, 1941-1990, undated Folder 5: American Antiques, 1976 Folder 6: Book of etchings of Germantown, undated Folder 8: Extracts from the journal of Elizabeth Drinker [photocopy], undated Folder 10: Friends of Independence National Historical Park News Bulletin, 1974, 1990 Folder 12: Independence National Historical Park project, undated Folder 13: Martha's Memos, 1982 Folder 14: The Masland Calendar, 1959 Folder 15: Meeting News, 1948 Folder 16: Morris House, 1955 Folder 17: National Park Service pamphlets, Number 1 and 2, 1941-1947 Folder 18: Newspaper clippings, 1947-1987 Folder 19: Newspaper clippings, 1948-1976 Box 4 SERIES IX: RESEARCH MATERIALS, 1950-1971, undated (Additional materials can be found in Box 5) Folder 1: Dress pattern, Bicentennial costume, undated Folder 2: Early American homes, 1954, 1971 Folder 3: House guides, undated Folder 4: House history, undated Folder 5: Script, "Opposites in Harmony" – President Washington meets with his Cabinet, undated Folder 6: Storybook, 1950 SERIES X: SPECIAL EVENTS, 1951-1999 Folder 7: Bridge and canasta party, 1951 Folder 8: Card party notebook, 1974-1975 Folder 9: Card party/fashion show notebook, 1977 Folder 10: Card party/fashion show, 1978-1979 Folder 11: Christmas Tea, 1978-1979 Folder 12: Christmas Tea, 1984 Folder 13: Christmas Tea, 1998-1999 Folder 14: Herb sale, 1977-1982 Folder 15: Old Germantown historic tour, 1954 Folder 16: Weddings, 1979 SERIES XI: WOMEN'S COMMITTEE, 1971-1996 Folder 17: Correspondence, 1971, 1982 Folder 18: Minutes, 1972-1984 Folder 19: Address lists, 1978-1981 Folder 20: House guides, 1979 Folder 21: Constitution/House Agenda, 1981-1982 Folder 22: Bill of sale, 1984 Folder 23: Drawing for pottery plate, 1996 Box 5 SERIES IX: RESEARCH MATERIALS, 1950-1971, undated Binder: Interpretation for volunteers, 1963-1971 Box 6 SERIES VII: HOUSE COMMITTEE, INC., 1949-1999 Visitors book, 1949-1956 Visitors book, 1956-1960 Box 7 Visitors book, 1960-1972 Visitors book, 1972-1981 Box 8 Visitors book, 1981-1986 Box 9 Volunteers – Address book, 1949 Box 10 SERIES XII: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1949-1954, undated Reception, December 9, 1949 Dedication, May 16, 1950 House mantel, 1951 Flower Mart, 1952 Contact sheet, correspondence with Mamie Eisenhower, 1954 Benjamin Franklin letter – Salutation, undated Backyard of house, undated Rooms in the house, undated Postcards, undated |
Last updated: April 27, 2023