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The Langstroth Family papers document the activities and relationships of several generations of the Langstroth family, originally of Philadelphia, including the founding of several schools for women and African Americans, the experiences of a patient the Friends Asylum, and service in the Civil War.

The correspondence series comprises 600 items covering 1831-1955, and sheds light on the personal lives, careers, and activities of several generations of the Langstroth family. The bulk of the earliest letters, dating from the 1830s, are from Catharine Langstroth to her father and siblings. These letters concern the death of her sister Sarah, financial issues, and the health of several family members, including Margaretta, and refer to temperance (July 20, 1835 “It affords me much pleasure to know that you gathered in your hay on temperance principles”) and religious study. One letter of particular interest is dated January 3, 1839, and was written by Margaretta during a stay at the Friends Asylum in Philadelphia. It describes a harrowing series of treatments for unspecified mental problems: “My head has been cut open to the bone for 3 inches; and large [peas?] inserted; a lead placed over the slit and on the top of this a bread & milk poultice has been applied for two months… My hair has been shaved at least 6 times; and three times since the head was opened.” Margaretta also described the Asylum’s lectures, food, and other patients (“only deranged at intervals”).

Letters from the 1840s and 1850s were written by a variety of family members and document the founding of Mount Holly Institute for Young Ladies; the courtship of Thomas Langstroth, III, and Mary Hauss; and a range of religious attitudes, from Margaretta’s intense piety to Thomas’ doubt (December 12, 1853: “most all the young men in our church just before they got married have made a profession of religion, and how have they turned out! Look at them one half are as bad as they were before: but I have no right to judge.”). In early 1855, Margaretta wrote a series of letters from near Pine Bluff, Arkansas, describing her efforts at religious and educational outreach to slaves, for whom she felt sympathy (February 7, 1855: “Slaves! poor slaves! how my heart bleeds for them, they toil from night to morn, from morn to night--live and die here without knowledge enough to save the soul.”).

Little documentation of the family exists from the Civil War period, despite Edward and Thomas’ service on opposite sides, but Edward’s letter to Margaretta of July 14, 1865, indicates a rift between himself and his sisters, perhaps arising from his joining the Confederacy. Letters of the 1860s and 1870s are mainly incoming to Margaretta and concern teaching, finances, and advice. A number of letters to Thomas from the 1880s contain information about his brother Edward’s health. Approximately 25 folders of letters date from the 20th-century and were written between Hugh Tener Langstroth, his sister, Sara Paxson, and other relatives. These concern travel, social visits, health, and business matters.

The financial and legal documents series consists of 124 items relating to the Langstroth family, covering 1778-1913. It includes wills, records relating to milling, land indentures, an account book of 1814-1817 kept by Thomas Langstroth, Jr., paperwork related to loans, and other materials. Some materials relate to the bank failure which forced Langstroth to sell his mill in 1836. Only 15 items date from 1851-1913.

The diaries and journals series represents six volumes and a few fragments, covering the 1830s to the 1860s, all written by Margaretta Langstroth. The volumes dating from the 1830s contain biographies of historical figures and may have been used in school. Subsequent diaries recorded daily entries of varying length, covering parts of 1864-1868. The 1864 volume includes Margaretta’s memorials of deceased family members and is thus a good source of genealogical information. More commonly, her entries describe daily activities, religious meditations, and frequently seem to reflect a fragile mental state, as in this exceprt of April 15, 1865: “Abraham Lincoln shot in the Washington Theatre Secretary Sewar [sic] had this throat cut I hope Edwar [sic] has no hand in this what makes me fear that he had” or an entry of June 19, 1866, describing the death of a robin: “I felt very badly cannot describe my suffering poor bird…read hymns as it was dying wondering if it would live elsewhere[.] In bed all day so distressed so wretched…” In a number of passages, Margaretta noted the Sunday School classes that she taught, and commented on the number of students and the subjects of her lessons.

The Weston family World War II photograph albums consist of four volumes containing approximately 374 images as well as one box of ephemera documenting the camp life and leisure time of married couple Lawrence and Elizabeth Weston. Lawrence served in the United States Army in France during World War II while Elizabeth worked as a nurse.

The Weston family World War II photograph albums consist of four volumes containing approximately 374 images as well as one box of ephemera documenting the camp life and leisure time of married couple Lawrence and Elizabeth Weston. Lawrence served in the United States Army in France during World War II while Elizabeth worked as a nurse.

Volume one (27.25 x 16.5 cm) contains approximately 88 snapshots and one holiday card. The album is constructed like a graduated flipbook, with images loaded into plastic sleeves bound with metal pins. Many images have typewritten notes on the back written by Lawrence Weston. The photographs primarily depict Lawrence's time at Fort Dix in 1940 and 1941, showing soldiers at rest and camp life scenes. Also present are photographs taken in Trenton, New Jersey.

Volume two (27.25 x 16.5 cm) contains approximately 98 snapshots and three negatives. The album is constructed in the same flipbook style as volumes one and three. The images chronicle leisure time in France in Reims and Ancerville around 1945. Of note are several pictures of French civilians standing next to men in uniform, images of Lawrence at a plane crash site, and a cardigan knit from a parachute.

Volume three (27.25 x 16.5 cm) contains approximately 96 snapshots. This album is also constructed in the same flipbook style as volumes one and two and continues where the second volume leaves off. The first half of the album contains more images from France leading up to Lawrence Weston’s departure from Le Havre and Camp Lucky Strike in August of 1945 while the latter half concerns his return to the United States with his arrival in Boston Harbor in January of 1946. Several identified images of Elizabeth Weston are present, and some of the inscriptions on these photographs may be in her hand. The album concludes with views of Detroit, Michigan.

Volume four (30.5 x 24.25 cm) contains approximately 92 snapshots that detail Elizabeth Weston's life from her time in nursing school until 1942. Many images feature her siblings and coworkers while a 1942 trip to Canada is also represented. The album is blue with a ship design on the front cover and is spiral bound.

Also present is one box of ephemera containing three card photographs, 10 tickets and identifications cards, three "letters on record" envelopes, a memo book, two Bond Drive advertisements, a pamphlet on Camp Maxey, four event pamphlets, a copy of a Formula for Peace, a map of Fort Dix, seven documents relating to Lawrence's candidacy to Officer's Candidate School, a certificate, two 1920 letters regarding the location of Lawrence's father, Elizabeth's certificate as a registered nurse, a large map of Germany, and four 1945 copies of The Stars and Stripes.