Penn in Hand: Selected Manuscripts

Asylum for Orphan Girls (London, England)

[Minutes and records of the Guardians] [manuscript].

[London], 1758-1783.

2 volumes (88, 176 leaves) : paper ; Volume 1: 311 x 200 (311 x 182) mm. bound to 319 x 208 mm.; Volume 2: 305 x 196 (319 x 173) mm. bound to 310 x 208 mm. + 1 ticket.

2 volumes of records of an institution established in a former inn in the Lambeth area of London to provide housing, care, and education to orphaned and poor girls, originally between the ages of 8 and 12. The first volume is the first minute book of the guardians of the Asylum or House of Refuge for Orphans and Other Deserted Girls of the Poor, beginning with their first meeting on 10 May 1758. Sir John Fielding, brother of the novelist Henry Fielding, was one of the original Guardians and played a central role in the establishment of the Asylum. The minutes document the clothing and food of the girls; the staff hired, including a matron, a plainwork teacher, a cook, and a gardener; the process of admitting girls and information about the girls admitted; a benefit held for the Asylum at the Sadler's Wells Theatre; financial support of the Asylum through individual subscriptions; and expenses. The minutes cover meetings up to 25 February 1761. The second volume contains orders and rules excerpted from the minutes from 1758 through 1783 (f. 25r). A small ticket printed with the words Asylum, Tea and Coffee, is laid in the second volume.

Ms. codex.

Title supplied by cataloger.

Pagination (Volume 1): Paper, 88 leaves; [i-v], 1-112, [i-ii], 113-160, [i-ix]; contemporary pagination in ink, upper outer corners.

Foliation (Volume 2): Paper, i + 176 leaves; 1-16, [17-176 (f. 27-176 blank)]; contemporary foliation in ink, modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto.

Layout: Written in 28-30 (Volume 1) and 23-24 (Volume 2) long lines; left vertical bounding line (Volume 1; Volume 2, f. 1-17).

Script: Written in cursive script.

Binding: Contemporary (18th-century) blind-tooled leather over pasteboard; Volume 1 has marbled endleaves.

Origin: Written in London, 1758-1783.

UPenn Ms. Codex 1623.

Friends of the Library Endowment Fund.

George L. Murray Fund.

Julia B. Leisenring Book Fund.

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts University of Pennsylvania Ms. Codex 1623