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Macalester and de Pedroso families papers
The Macalaster and de Pedroso family papers encompass letters, photos, and other items that date from 1806 to 2000. It is a small and somewhat scattered collection that contains a few rich pockets of documentation pertaining to both families. Much of this collection revolves around Lily Macalester...
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| Contributors: | |
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| Collection: | Macalester and De Pedroso Families Papers |
| Collection Number: | 4358 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
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| Physical Description: |
1.1 Linear feet ; 4 boxes |
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| Access: |
The collection is open for research. |
| Summary: |
The Macalaster and de Pedroso family papers encompass letters, photos, and other items that date from 1806 to 2000. It is a small and somewhat scattered collection that contains a few rich pockets of documentation pertaining to both families.
Much of this collection revolves around Lily Macalester Berghmans Laughton (1832-1891), and most of the letters in it are written to her. Among letters of interest are two letters written by George Childs in 1859. In a left-handed compliment, he remarks that Lily’s biography of President James Buchanan is pretty good for a woman. He writes, “I asked my friend if it was not well done for a woman…” and he replied, “the vivid description of the Mexican war as showing the author must have been a man.”
The remaining correspondence in the collection dates to the 1990s and concerns the De Pedroso family's interest in preserving the Macalester (then Foerderer) mansion, Glen Foerd, in Torresdale.
A significant part of the collection consists of photographs and etchings. Among them is a photo of Mrs. Lily Macalester Berghmans Laughton, and daughter Camille Macalester de Pedroso. There are several photos and etchings of Charles Macalester.
Charles Macalester was a significant supporter of the Peabody Education Fund. (George Peabody was an Entrepreneur and Philanthropist. Though born in Salem, Massachusetts, he is best remembered for the Trust, set up in London, which provided housing and education for the poor.) The collection has extensive minutes of the Peabody Education Fund. This small collection consists of letters, photographs and documents from the Charles Macalester (1798-1873) family, and to a lesser extent, the Jose De Pedroso family. It gives the researcher insight into a prominent Philadelphia family in the early and mid-nineteenth century. The documents touch on the family’s relationship with several United States Presidents as well as the upper echelons of Philadelphia society. |