Guide to the Collection of Lawrence C. Woods, Jr., 1743-1801

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Collection of Lawrence C. Woods, Jr.
Creator
Woods, Jr., Lawrence C.
Collection Number
MFF#75
Extent
.10 cubic feet (2 folders)
Date
1743-1801
Abstract
Lawrence C. Woods, Jr. was a Pittsburgh insurance company executive who collected numerous books and manuscripts documenting the history of Western Pennsylvania. This collection consists primarily of materials collected by Woods, such as warrants, deeds, appointments, correspondence and legal materials created beteen 1743 and 1801.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
This guide to the collection was originally prepared by Historical Society Staff in 1974. The collection was rearranged and inventory rewritten by Corey Steeman on December 30, 1994. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in Summer 2000.
Sponsor
This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

Biographical Sketch of Lawrence C. Woods, Jr. (c1900-1990)

Lawrence C. Woods, Jr. was a Pittsburgh insurance company executive who had a life-long interest in the early history of Western Pennsylvania. Woods was a member and supporter of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania and served as the chairman of the Pittsburgh Bicentennial Celebration in 1958. Woods also played an important role in the civic development of the Pittsburgh as chairman and executive committee member of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Over the years, Woods collected numerous books and manuscripts documenting the history of Western Pennsylvania. Woods collected manuscripts written by some of the leading figures of early Western Pennsylvania history including: General Braddock, George Croghan, Johann Conrad Weiser and members of the Denny and Penn Families.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection consists primarily of warrants, deeds, appointments, correspondence and legal materials created between 1743 and 1801 that were collected by Woods in the twentieth century. Photocopies of all the items in this collection are available for research use. These manuscripts are sporadic in nature and only document individual episodes relating to contemporary issues and life in colonial Pennsylvania. For many items, the primary value lies in the signature of prominent figures in Western Pennsylvania history. Most of these items concern the activities of soldiers, merchants, land holders, and Indian traders in the early years of European settlement of the Western Pennsylvania frontier. Many of the activities documented by the manuscripts include the payment of troops, sale of land, and appointments to positions. Of special note in this collection is a warrant signed by General Edward Braddock (September 21, 1745) for the subsistence of five men for three months in the colonial army and a list of those killed and wounded at the Battle of Monongahela, dated July 9, 1755, by W. Wade. At this famous battle, fought at what is now Braddock (Allegheny County), Pennsylvania, General Braddock was killed in an attack by Native Americans and French forces. In the list, George Washington is mistakenly identified as one of the injured. A document signed by Indian trader George Croghan, dated July 6, 1771, acknowledges his debt of 1005 pounds to three Philadelphia men.

A number of letters provide more detailed accounts of life and concerns in the Pennsylvania frontier. Thomas Penn wrote two letters (February 12, 1767 and January 7, 1768) to Sir William Johnson concerning Indian lands that they wished to keep from Connecticut settlers of the Western Reserve. John Irwin's March 25, 1767 letter to Pittsburgh merchants Baynton, Wharton and Morgan concerns traders in the Shawnee towns in the region. Fort Pitt Commander Daniel Broadhead's September 6, 1780 letter to Nathaniel Greene documents the destruction of Shawnee towns in the region and general success of the expedition. Jared Ingersoll's November 24, 1797 letter to Jasper Yeates briefly documents judicial matters in Pittsburgh. Thomas Butler's June 3, 1800 letter to Samuel Hogdon requesting supplies also provides his views and his surprise of Timothy Pickering's resignation from the State Department after the XYZ Affair. In all, these manuscripts are best seen as individual items that document sporadic episodes in Western Pennsylvania history, not as documents that complement each other or any one subject.

Arrangement

The Lawrence C. Woods, Jr. Collection is housed in two archival folders and is arranged alphabetically by folder title with photocopies arranged to the front.

Conditions Governing Access

Researchers may only request photocopis of these documents (available in folder 1). Please see reference staff if you wish to see originals.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These items came in one accession in 1974.

Acc# 1974x Gift of Lawrence C. Woods, Jr., (Collection)

Preferred Citation

Collection of Lawrence C. Woods, Jr., 1743-1801, MFF #75, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Historical Society Staff in 1974.

This collection was rearranged and inventory rewritten by Corey Seeman on December 30, 1994.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Anna Maria Mihalega in July 27, 2000.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Baynton, Wharton, and Morgan (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Personal Names

    • Braddock, Edward, -- 1695?-1755.
    • Brodhead, Daniel, -- 1736-1809
    • Butler, Thomas.
    • Croghan, George, -- d. 1782.
    • Gage, Thomas, -- 1721-1787
    • Gibson, John, -- 1740-1822
    • George II, -- 1740-1822
    • Greene, Nathanael, -- 1742-1786.
    • Ingersoll, Jared, -- 1749-1822.
    • Irwin, John, -- 1739-1822.
    • Mifflin, Thomas, -- 1744-1800.
    • Penn, John, -- 1729-1795.
    • Penn, Thomas, -- 1702-1775.
    • Pickering, Timothy, -- 1745-1829
    • Weiser, Conrad, -- 1696-1760.
    • Yeates, Jasper, -- 1745-1817.
    • Denny family

    Geographic Names

    • Pennsylvania -- Commerce.
    • Pennsylvania -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
    • Pennsylvania -- Politics and government

    Other Subjects

    • Braddock's Campaign, 1755
    • Indians of North America -- Commerce
    • Indian land transfers
    • Indians of North America -- Pennsylvania
    • Trading posts -- North America
    • Shawnee Indians

Container List

Photocopies,, 1745-1801
Containers
Folder 1
Original Manuscripts,, 1745-1801
Containers
Folder 2