Resources
Located in the historically important Philadelphia area, Haverford College is ideally placed to take advantage of rich archival and institutional resources available for historical research. Students interested in early American history enjoy a cornucopia of sources within just a few minutes of campus. The remarkable collections in Philadelphia also make it possible to carry out research on topics ranging from medieval manuscripts to the history of modern science, as well as modern Europe, Latin America, and China. Below are some of the local archives and institutions that history students have used.
Archives & Collections
The Philadelphia area is unusually rich in archives and collections. From the special collections and Quaker collection here at Haverford to the various archives in central Philadelphia, students have no trouble finding interesting and unique primary sources to use in their original research projects.
- Haverford's Special Collections
- Haverford's Quaker Collection
- Bryn Mawr's Special Collections
- Swarthmore's Special Collections
- The Free Library
- Center for Advanced Judaic Studies Library
- University of Pennsylvania, Rare Books and Manuscripts
- Philadelphia Art Museum
- Henry Charles Lee Library, University of Pennsylvania (inquisition records)
Institutions & Organizations
In addition to specific collections, a number of well-established institutions and organizations in Philadelphia have their own archives. Students often find working in these archives particularly rewarding because it gives them an opportunity not only to develop an interesting project but also to become familiar with important local institutions.
- The Academy of Natural Sciences
- Chemical Heritage Foundation
- American Philosophical Society
- The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
- American Friends Service Committee
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Fellowships & Grants
Support for student internships and research is available from a variety of sources. The History Department itself administers summer support for highly-qualified students in the major. In addition, students have also been successful in applying for internships and research support from the Gilder Lehrman History Scholars Program, the Hurford Humanities Center, and the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship. Finally, the Career Development Office can help students locate summer internships.
For information on the F. Page Newton '75 History Fund and other sources of departmental funding, contact Professor Darin Hayton