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Independence Seaport Museum's Library is one of the nation's premier regional maritime research centers, offering an impressive range of materials widely used by historians, authors, sailors, maritime enthusiasts and students.
The library houses more than 12,000 volumes, 9,000 ship plans and a significant collection of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, maps and charts.
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Collection highlights include:
The Barry-Hayes Papers, which includes correspondence, journals, and financial papers of the Commodore John Barry and Patrick Hayes families
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The John Lenthall Collection of plans and drawings of American naval and merchant vessels, 1790-1874*
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The William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Company Collection of plans, contract books and photographs, 1830-1927, 1941-1946**
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The New York Shipbuilding Company Photograph Collection
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The Captain John Green Papers featuring materials regarding the China trade
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The Thayer Collection of ocean liner ephemera compiled by a Titanic survivor and his son, containing postcards, deck plans, menus, and photographs of liners
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Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard photographs and oral histories of workers recorded in 1994 and 1999
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Logbooks and journals of voyages from merchant and naval vessels from the 18th to the 20th century
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Letters, photographs, journals and scrapbooks kept by sailors who served aboard ISM’s historic ships OLYMPIA and BECUNA
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Records of Philadelphia area rowing clubs
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Periodicals from 1728 to the present, with a complete run of the New York Maritime Register.
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* on loan from The Franklin Institute
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**on loan from the Franklin Institute and Atwater Kent Museum
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Contacting and Visiting the Library
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The Library is open to the public by appointment only Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 4pm.
For more information or to schedule an appointment:
Call 215.413.8639 - Fax 215.925.6713 - Email
OR Mail to: ISM Library
211 South Columbus Blvd. & Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
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Electric outlets for laptop computers are available in the Library.
When writing for reference assistance, please be specific in stating your request and be sure to provide complete contact information. There is a $15 processing fee for handling research requests. Checks should be made payable to Independence Seaport Museum Library. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for a response.
Genealogists should be aware that the library’s collections generally do not support detailed genealogical research. Those beginning to undertake a genealogy project are strongly encouraged to view the National Archives Genealogy Page before contacting the library. For passenger arrivals at the Port of Philadelphia, please contact the National Archives Mid-Atlantic branch.
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