01 Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. Last updated on November 09, 2012. Ryerss Museum and Library
Table of Contents Summary Information...3 Biography/History...4 Scope and Contents... 4 Administrative Information... 5 Related Materials... 5 Controlled Access Headings...6 Collection Inventory... 7 Documents...7 Photographs...10 Volumes... 13 - Page 2 -
Summary Information Repository Ryerss Museum and Library Creator Ryerss family Title Ryerss family papers Call number 01 Date [inclusive] 1758-1931 Extent 10.5 linear feet General Physical Description note 15 boxes, numerous framed items, and several loose items Language English Abstract The Waln family were prominent Philadelphia Quakers who made a fortune in the 18th-century China Trade and descended from the original Pennsylvania settler Nicholas Waln. Joseph Waln Ryerss built Burholme as his summer house in 1859, and upon his death he left it to his son, Robert Waln Ryerss (1831-1896). Robert Waln Ryerss was a lawyer. He scandalized Philadelphia society by marrying his housekeeper, Mary Ann Reed, eight months before his death. Mary Ann remarried, and spent the rest of her life traveling to collect items for the museum now located in Ryerss' mansion. The Ryerss family papers, 1758-1931, contain documents, photographs, and volumes. Most of the collection relates to Robert W. Ryerss, his Waln antecedents, or his wife Mary Ann Reed (later Bawn). - Page 3 -
Biography/History "A descendant of Nicholas Waln, one of the original Pennsylvania settlers who came to Philadelphia with William Penn on the Welcome in 1682, Joseph Waln Ryerss built his opulent summer retreat, Burholme, on 85 acres in 1859. Like his Waln ancestors, Joseph continued the family penchant for acquiring exotic objects from the orient, with the newly constructed Burholme serving as a worthy setting. When Joseph died in 1868 he willed Burholme to his son Robert Waln Ryerss [1831-1896], a lawyer. Robert also loved to travel and collected more treasures to be displayed at Burholme. Eight months before he died at the age of 65, Robert shocked Philadelphia society by marrying his housekeeper of many years, Mary Ann Reed. "Childless, Robert left Mary Ann a comfortable annuity and Burholme for her lifetime. Mary Ann traveled around the world and continued to collect objects for the museum. The will stipulated that upon Mary Ann's death the estate was to be turned over to the city of Philadelphia to be used as a park, library and museum "free to the public." Robert Ryerss also provided for the purchase of new books and maintenance of the house and grounds." Mary Ann turned the property over to the administration of the City of Philadelphia Fairmount Park Commission in 1905, and the Ryerss Museum and Library opened to the public in 1910. Mary Ann remarried to Episcopal Reverend John G. Bawn, and the couple remained involved in preparing and developing the museum. They traveled extensively to collect new items for its displays, and it was on such a collecting mission in China that Mary Ann died in 1916. Bibliography: Ryerss Museum and Library. "History." Accessed January 27, 2012. http://ryerssmuseum.org/ history1.html Scope and Contents The Ryerss family papers, 1758-1931, contain documents, photographs, and volumes. Most of the collection relates to Robert W. Ryerss, his Waln antecedents, or his wife Mary Ann Reed (later Bawn). The documents, which consist of letters, marriage certificates, and other miscellaneous papers, date from 1758 to 1931 and feature a significant amount of 18th-century items. The photographs mostly date from around the turn of the 20th century, and depict the cities to which Mary Ann traveled after Robert Ryerss' death. There is also a large collection of glass-plate negatives of Burholme. Additional photographs can be found in volumes of this collection. There are four photograph albums, mostly containing cartes-desvisite portraits of Ryerss/Waln family members. Other volumes in the collection include scrapbooks by - Page 4 -
Robert Ryerss' mother, Anne Waln; a book of recipes collected by Anne's mother, Phoebe Waln; and early catalogs of the Ryerss' Museum and Library collections compiled by Rev. Bawn. The rough inventory compiled by Ryerrs staff and given below includes boxed items in the Ryerss family papers. There are about 40 additional framed photographs not described in this inventory, mostly documenting the travels abroad of Mary Ann and Rev. Brawn after Robert's death. Administrative Information Ryerss Museum and Library Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. Sponsor This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Access Restrictions Contact Ryerss Museum and Library for information about accessing this collection. Immediate Source of Acquisition Note Gift of Robert Ryerss. Related Materials Related Archival Materials Note Haverford College, Quaker and Special Collections: Nicholas Waln Family Papers, 1783-1895 (bulk 1783-1819), Ms. Coll. 966. Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Robert Waln Papers, Collection 687. Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Smith-Waln Family Papers, Collection 1628. - Page 5 -
Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) Ryerss Museum and Library. Family Name(s) Waln family Geographic Name(s) Northeast Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pa.) Philadelphia (Pa.) Personal Name(s) Bawn, John G. Bawn, Mary Ann Ryerss, Anne Waln, 1813-1886 Ryerss, Robert W., 1831-1896 Subject(s) Collectors and collecting Libraries Museums Quakers Travel - Page 6 -
Documents Collection Inventory Documents. Box Bell Telephone Company of Philadelphia document, 1902. Uncataloged document box Benjamin Morgan, disownment from Society of Friends, 1772 [21-005-01]. Card of admission [21-041-01]. Early catalog of Robert W. Ryerss museum. Uncataloged document box Geneaology of Isaac La Fure [21-059-01]. History of Burholme [21-043-01]. Box D Joseph Waln Marriage Certificate 1801 [21-011-01]. Joseph Waln Marriage Certificate 1830 [21-012-01]. Land Patent-called the Ryerss Tract, 1792 [21-014-01]. Box 3 - Page 7 -
Documents Letter from Benjamin Franklin, 1771 [21-053-01]. Letter from Benjamin R. Morgan [21-054-01]. Letter from C. A. Robbins to Fairmount Park Commission, 1931 [21-057-01]. Letter from Eli Lewis to Martha Routh [21-048-01]. Letter Joseph Ryerss to his uncle, 1824 [21-044-01]. Letter My Friend...1797 [21-050-01]. Letter of Condolenscences of Atlantic Insurance to Robt W. Ryerss [21-058-01]. Letter Robert Barron's Testimony... [21-045-01]. Letter, Mary Ann Ryerss Bawn to Florence, 1906. Uncataloged document box Letter, Phoebe Waln to James Josiah [21-056-01]. London Times, 1806 [21-003-01]. Box 3 - Page 8 -
Documents Map of the Vicinity of Philadelphia (J. E. Gillette & Co.), 1861 [21-042-01]. Box D Marriage Certificate Benjamin R. 1761 [21-008-01]. Box 4 Marriage Certificate James Pemb. 1775 [21-009-01]. Box 4 Minute of Frankford Borough regarding visit of General Lafayette [21-046-01]. Morgan certificate to practice law [21-013-01]. Notes on Walne family history [21-040-01]. Poetry fragments. Uncataloged document box Receipt, D. Whelan, 1869 [21-07-01]. Robert W. Ryerss Diploma [07-052-02]. Box D Robert W. Ryerss Passport [21-047-01]. Ryerss Family Record [21-052-01]. Ryerss quit claim deed [21-055-01]. - Page 9 -
Photographs Samuel Mort Marriage Certificate 1758 [21-010-01]. Ten Schillings [21-031-01]. Box 3 Will of [Gozen] Ryerss, 1827 [21-051-01]. Photographs. Box Cathedral [21-071-01]. Chinese hand colored [21-069-01]. Colored photograph [21-074-01]. Colored photograph [21-075-01]. Colored photograph [21-076-01]. Colored photograph [21-077-01]. Colored photograph [21-078-01]. - Page 10 -
Photographs Colored photographs of European cities, circa 1900. Box E Glass plate negatives of Ryerss mansion. Small box Photographs of Ryerss Mansion and slide inventory lists. Unmarked document box Daguerrotype- Mrs. Annie Waln Ryerss [21-021-01]. Box 1 Hand tint photo [21-020-02]. Box 1 Hand tint photo [21-020-01]. Box 1 Joseph Ryerss [21-019-01]. Box 1 Joseph Ryerss (framed) [21-017-01]. Box 1 Mary Anne on pony w/ natives [21-061-01]. Box B Mary Anne Ryerss [21-018-01]. Box 1 Mary Anne Ryerss [21-018-02]. Box 1 Mary Anne Ryerss [21-018-03]. Box 1 Mary Anne Ryerss [21-018-04]. Box 1 Mary Anne Ryerss [21-018-05]. Box 1 Mary Anne Ryerss [21-018-06]. Box 1 Mary Anne Ryerss [21-022-01]. Box 1 - Page 11 -
Photographs Pennsylvania Delegation to The Seventh Continental Congress [21-073-01]. Robert W. Ryerss Memorial Hospital For The Insane [21-067-01]. Robert W. Ryerss Memorial Hospital For The Insane [21-068-01]. Ryerss in Carriage [21-060-01]. Box B Ryerss in Carriage [21-064-01]. Box B Ryerss in hand carriage China [21-065-01]. Box B Ryerss In Tradition Chinese costume [21-066-01]. Box B Ryerss on camel in front of Giza [21-062-01]. Box B Ryerss on steps [21-063-01]. Box B The Flume hand colored 5 x 7 [21-072-01]. Well dedication South India [21-070-01]. - Page 12 -
Volumes Volumes. "Soldiers of War" photograph album, Anna Waln Ryerss [21-028-01]. Box 2 Box Anna Waln [Mrs. Joseph Ryerss] scrapbook, greeting cards [3438]. Scrapbook box 3438 Anna Waln [Mrs. Joseph Ryerss] scrapbook, prints of royals and landscapes [3375]. Scrapbook box 3375 Anna Waln [Mrs. Joseph Ryerss] scrapbook, Waln family history clippings and decorative prints. Scrapbook box Anna Waln, commonplace book, 1824. no box Book of poems, 1815. Uncataloged document box Book of watercolor paintings by Anna W. Ryerss. no box Diary, 1868 [21-081-01]. no box Family photograph album, circa 1870-1900. Box 2 Ledger, James McDevitt, 1877-1891 [21-025-01]. Box 1 Parables book [21-030-01]. Box 3 Phoebe Waln cookbook [21-026-01]. Box 1 Photo album of Ryerss museum [21-024-01]. Box 1 - Page 13 -
Volumes Photograph album of Burholme with Waln family history [21-023-01]. Box 1 Photograph album, "Castle," circa 1870-1900. Box 2 Photograph album, wood cover, circa 1870-1900 [21-029-01]. Box 2 Rev. Bawn Catalogue of Books A [21-032-03]. Box 3 Rev. Bawn Catalogue of Books B [21-032-04]. Box 3 Rev. Bawn Catalogue of Chinaware, glassware, etc. [21-032-01]. Box 3 - Page 14 -