Roswell G. Lamb Papers UPT 50 L218

Summary Information

Prepared by

J.M. Duffin

Preparation date

October 2017

Date [bulk]

Bulk, 1873-1912

Date [inclusive]

1835-1952

Extent

1.5 cu. ft.

PROVENANCE

Donated by Aaron V. Wunsch October 2017 (2017:058).

ARRANGEMENT

The papers are organized into two series: Lamb Family and Garland Family. Each series organized by name of family member and the subseries are arranged alphabetically by topic.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Roswell Gallup Lamb was born on March 4, 1889 in Montana, New Jersey, the son of Rev. Edward Wightman Lamb (1847-1896) and Annie Rebecca Tranor (1858-1929). After spending his early years in northern New Jersey, Roswell’s family came to Philadelphia around 1905 to live at 527 S. 41st Street which his mother inherited. Roswell entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1908 and graduated in 1912 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. His first job was as a construction inspector for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Wharves, Docks and Ferries. After two years at that job, he became the construction inspector for the United States Lighthouse Service in 1916 and moved to Summit, New Jersey. He held that position until 1939 when he entered the U.S. Coast Guard as an assistant engineer until his retirement in 1946. Shortly after his retirement he returned to the family home in West Philadelphia where he remained until his death in 1973.

Roswell married Elizabeth Arabella Gerhard in 1917 in Philadelphia. They had two daughters: Susan Margaret and Ruth Laura.

Garland Family Roswell G. Lamb’s connection to the Garland family is through his great-aunt Ann Rebecca Weaver. Roswell’s mother, Annie Rebecca Tranor, was the daughter of Martha Bedford Weaver (1837-1908) and Lewis James Tranor. Martha’s sister, Ann Rebecca, married Joseph Garland.

The Weaver family was from Delaware County, Pennsylvania. William Weaver (1801-1883) was a carpenter who lived outside of Chester, Pa. He and his wife Anna Neeld (1802-1869) had six children: William Weaver (b. 1824), Joseph Davis Weaver (1826-1895), Ann Rebecca Weaver Garland (1828-1905), Catharine Jemima Weaver Tranor (1831-1897), Henry P. Weaver (1834-1905), and Martha Bedford Weaver (1837-1908).

Anna Rebecca Weaver was born on December 2, 1828 in Delaware County. She married Joseph Garland around 1855. By 1868 she and her husband Joseph were living in Swarthmore, Pa. and by 1880 living in nearby Springfield, Pa. During the 1870s they lived on a farm and by 1880 Joseph was working as a teacher. Anna and Joseph purchased 527 S. 41st Street in West Philadelphia in 1886 and set up their new home there. Joseph continued to work as a teacher. He was employed by Episcopal Academy. Joseph died on December 16, 1905 several months after Anna who died on April 30. Joseph and Anna had no children.

Joseph Garland was born and raised in Philadelphia. He was the son of James Garland (1805-1868) and Ale Ann Brown (ca. 1806-1886). James Garland was a baker and confectioner. James and Ale had six children: Joseph Garland (1832-1905), William White Garland (b. 1835), James Albert Garland (1840-1900) who became a wealthy banker in New York, Stephen Tyng Garland (ca. 1844-1903), Walter Garland (b. ca. 1847) and Charles Minster Garland (b. ca. 1856).

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Roswell G. Lamb Papers document the early life of a University of Pennsylvania graduate and the daily life of a Delaware County and West Philadelphia resident from the 1870s to the 1910s. The correspondence in Lamb family series dates from the 1907 to 1912 and is primarily with the later wife and females friend of Roswell G. Lamb. Information on Roswell’s family history can be gathered from the genealogical notes which are fairly extensive on the origins and various branches of the New England Lamb family.

The Garland family series consists chiefly of the diaries of Anna Rebecca (Weaver) Garland from 1873 to 1905. They chronicle the daily routines of a middle class woman who moved from a rural to urban setting in West Philadelphia in the 1880s. In addition to the ubiquitous daily weather notations, the diaries also include references to tasks and chores Anna did as part of her day, visits from and to family members and other notable family events but has little commentary beyond general critiques of sermons and religious meetings. It provides a valuable glimpse into the everyday life of woman of her period.

Inventory