Institution

An eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, the American Philosophical Society promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and community outreach.

General Contact Information

American Philosophical Society
104 South Fifth Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 440-3400

appointments@amphilsoc.org.

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Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 - 4:30 (appointment preferred)

Collections

Holdings, 1580's to present (7,500 linear ft.) consist of: 18th and 19th century manuscripts, primarily correspondence, related to science in general, including botany, entomology, geology, electricity, evolution and medicine; 20th century documents including correspondence diaries, laboratory notes, research reports, tape recordings and photographs concerning chiefly genetics and eugenics, biochemistry, quantum physics and medicine; the archives of the Society; several scientific societies; manuscript collections documenting the history, customs and languages of American Indians.

The Library documents the history of genetics and eugenics, the study of natural history in the 18th and 19th centuries, quantum mechanics, and the development of cultural anthropology in America.

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