Charles R. Roberts and Walter E. Boyer Collections

These items were acquired by Alfred Shoemaker from the original collections of Charles R. Roberts and Walter E. Boyer. Charles Rhoads Roberts (1875-1943), a member of the Pennsylvania German Society, studied the history and genealogy of families in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and founded the Lehigh County Historical Society. Walter Ellsworth Boyer (1911-1960) was a noted illustrator, poet, scholar and collector of Pennsylvania German folk materials.

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David Bolten Mathematics Exercise Book, 1812

David Bolten

David Bolten of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, created this handwritten arithmetic exercise book in March, 1812. It contains problems and solutions under the headings of compound addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Applications, examples, cases and rules are included throughout the book. Examples include measurement of time, land and cloth as well as liquid and dry measurements. Also included is a section of problems on reduction, or the conversion of sums of money to other denominations.

The book was originally handed down to David A. Huber, the great-great-grandson of Bolten. David Bolten was married to Julia Schoener Bolten (1797-1881), buried in Niantic, Pennsylvania. Bolten's birth and death dates are unknown.
County Tax Notice, 1803

Unknown

This Philadelphia county tax notice, written to Frederick Shingle in 1803, assesses the amount of estate and personal taxes owed. It also notes the date of appeal at the Courthouse.

This notice was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Principles and Exercises in Geometry

Peter Rhoads Jr.

Copybook of geometry exercises by Peter Rhoads, Jr., a student in the first class at Franklin College in 1787; a series of angle and linear relationship studies. Book includes both geometry and trigonometry exercises, propositions and surveying applications.
Bill and Receipt for Oak Scantling, 1775

Joseph Ogilby

This handwritten bill and receipt, sent by Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia in 1775 and signed by Joseph Ogilby, records the cost of oak scantling.

The receipt was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Buckskin Breeches Order Slip, November 3, 1774

Daniel Richards

This handwritten order slip, sent to Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia on November 3, 1774 by Daniel Richards, requests buckskin breeches for Richard Finemore.

This slip was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Leather Breeches Order Slip, November 4, 1773

Michael M. Gannon

This handwritten order slip, sent to Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia on November 4, 1773 by Michael M. Gannon, requests breeches for a slave named John Stagg.

This slip was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Buckskin Breeches Order Slip, September 16, 1773

Michael M. Gannon

This handwritten order slip, sent to Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia on September 16, 1773 by Michael M. Gannon, requests buckskin breeches.

This slip was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Buckskin Breeches Order Slip, May 23, 1770

Unknown

This handwritten order slip, sent to Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia on May 23, 1770 requests buckskin breeches.

This slip was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Leather Breeches Order Slip, February 3, 1770

James Parson

This handwritten order slip, sent to Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia on February 3, 1770 by James Parson, requests breeches for his servant, Alexander McCarthy.

This slip was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Leather Breeches Order Slip, Circa 1770

Daniel Richards

This undated handwritten order slip, sent to Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia circa 1770 by Daniel Richards, requests a pair of breeches.

This slip was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Leather Breeches Order Slip, November 11, 1768

Lawrence Carter

This handwritten order slip, sent to Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia on November 11, 1768 by Lawrence Carter, requests breeches for his servant, Morton.

This slip was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Leather Breeches Order Slip, September 24, 1768

Edward Bonsall

This handwritten order slip, sent to Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia on September 24, 1768 by Edward Bonsall, requests leather breeches. The breeches are, presumably, for his servant, James Brown.

This slip was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Buckskin Breeches Order Slip, 1768

Michael M. Gannon

This handwritten order slip, sent to Frederick Shingle of Philadelphia in 1768 by Michael M. Gannon, requests buckskin breeches.

This slip was found in an account ledger attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810).
Account Ledger, 1766-1777

Friederich Schenckel (d. 1810)

This handwritten account book is attributed to Friederich Schenckel (d.1810), a leather breeches maker working in Philadelphia. Entries, written in German script, date from approximately 1766 to 1777. The book lists quantities of materials and their prices. One of his shops may have been called the Three Gloves and Breeches, located near the Indian Queen Hotel on Market Street.

Multiple order slips and a tax notice were also found in the account ledger.