This series contains material authored by, or related to, individual members of the Rush family.
| Papers of Dr. Benjamin Rush, 1789-1813 | Box 1, F1 |
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Preserved are five receipts spanning the years 1782-1813, one letter (Apr 30, 1789) from Wallis & Keen concerning Dr. Rush, and a letter from Thomas Fitzsmons to Dr. Benjamin Rush, June 19, 1790. |
Included is one receipt dated May 11, 1816 from Paul Williams and Co. Included as well are four letters one of which is a letter of introduction from Edward P. Fry on behalf of maestro Antonio Baroli. Three letters from her children are preserved, one from Anne Emily Rush Cuthbert (1799-1850) postmarked from Montreal, and two from her twelfth child Samuel Rush (1785-1859). An additional letter not listed below is preserved only in fragments.
| Anne Emily Rush Cuthbert to JSR, 1837 Jul 5 | Box 1, F2 |
| Samuel Rush to JSR, 1840 Jul 14 | Box 1, F2 |
| Samuel Rush to JSR, Jul 31 | Box 1, F2 |
| Edward P. Fry for A. Baroli to JSR, 1848 Mar 7 | Box 1, F2 |
Richard Rush (1780-1859)was the third child of Dr. Benjamin Rush and Julia Stockton Rush.
Contains one 1808 vellum deed (removed to oversized) concerning land at 6th and Prune street in Philadelphia, and three letters. One letter written in London in 1819 concerns the arrival of General Cadwalader, and a second letter is a dinner invitation from the English diplomat David Urquhart (1805-1877). The last letter of 1835 requests a midshipmens warrant for his son Madison Rush Mahlon Dickerson (1770-1853), Secretary of the Navy.
Attributed to the estate of Richard Rush is a published history of the title to the farm of Dr. Benjamin Rush called Sydeham. The history covers the years 1692-1860, and has been updated to 1861 with handwritten additions pertaining to the dispersal of Richard Rush's property by his sons.
Brief of title, to lots of ground, situate on the west side of fifteenth street, in the twentieth ward of the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia: T.H. Town, 1860.
| Richard Rush to [unknown], 1819 Jul 13 | Box 1, F3 |
| David Urquhart to Richard Rush | Box 1, F3 |
| Richard Rush to Mahlon Dickerson | Box 1, F3 |
Benjamin Rush (1811-1877) was the first child of Richard and Catherine Murray Rush. This folder contains two letters to J.H. McCalla dated 1863 and 1864, the second of which refers to General Cadwalader. The third letter is undated and from captain Joseph S. Biddle regarding the funeral of Madison Rush (d. 1856). Included as well is an announcement of Benjamin Rush's funeral in 1877.
| Joseph S. Biddle to Benjamin Rush, [1856 Jul 20] | Box 1, F4 |
| Benjamin Rush to J.H. McCalla, 1863 Oct 29 | Box 1, F4 |
| Benjamin Rush to J.H. McCalla | Box 1, F4 |
| Will of Madison Rush | Box 1, F5 |
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Madison Rush (1821-1856) was the seventh child of Richard Rush and Catherine Murray Rush. This folder preserves a handwritten copy of his will made out in 1856 and registered April 29, 1857. |
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| Papers of Richard H. Rush, 1856 | Box 1, F6 |
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Richard H. Rush (1825-1893) was the ninth child of Richard Rush and Catherine Murray Rush. This folder contains a page of calculations related to a curve in the Germantown Railroad between 20th and 21st streets. The leaf is numbered thirteen and dated September 3, 1856. |
James Rush was the eleventh child of Dr. Benjamin Rush and Julia Stockton Rush.
| Papers of James Rush, 1816-1855 | Box 1, F7 |
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Contains three receipts from 1816-1817, and a notebook which, according to the inscription, was used by J. Rush from September to November 1855 for revisions to the fifth edition of his book entitled The Philosophy of the human voice. |
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| Estate papers of James Rush, d. 1869 | Box 1, F8 |
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Contains a volume inventorying items from the estate sold to family members including a set of blue silk furniture from the breakfast room and a set of "Egyptian" china. Preserved as well are printed copies of: The Last will and testament of Dr. James Rush of the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Collins, 1869. (removed to be cataloged with printed material) Provisions of the last will and testament of Dr. James Rush, relating to the Library Company of Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Collins, 1869. (removed to be cataloged with printed material) |
Benjamin was the tenth child of Dr. Benjamin Rush and Julia Stockton Rush
Included is one letter from Benjamin Rush's brother Samuel Rush that was sent aboard the ship Clothier commanded by captain John Phillips to Benjamin Rush who was then in Canton, China. Preserved as well are three letters of introduction from 1824, when Benjamin Rush relocated to the city of New Orleans to establish the firm of Rush and Ralston. One of these is to George Washington Campbell (1769-1848) former United States Senator and Secretary of the Treasury who was then living in Nashville. Another is from William Chandler, of the Philadelphia firm Chandler-Price, which were pioneers in the New Orleans trade.
| Samuel Rush to Benjamin Rush, 1819 Jun 2 | Box 1, F9 |
| W. Chandler to Joseph Fowler, 1824 Sep 30 | Box 1, F9 |
| Robert Ralston to L.T. Hobson & Co, 1824 Oct 4 | Box 1, F9 |
| Alex Sorman to G.W. Campbell, 1824 Oct 10 | Box 1, F9 |
| J.R. Latimer to Benjamin Rush, 1825 Mar 23 | Box 1, F9 |
Samuel Rush was the twelfth child of Benjamin Rush and Julia Stockton Rush.
Includes receipts from 1824-1832, which include a bill for the coffin of his first son James Rush (1829-1831). Preserved as well is correspondence spanning the years 1837-1849, from Samuel Rush's nephew James Cuthbert (1800-1842), fellow Philadelphia lawyer William Henry Dillingham (1789-1854), and Joshua York of Pittsburgh.
| Joshua York to Samuel Rush, 1837 Nov 3 | Box 2, F10 |
| W.H. Dillingham to Samuel Rush, 1840 Apr 6 | Box 2, F10 |
| James Cuthbert to Samuel Rush, 1840 Oct 6 | Box 2, F10 |
| Samuel Rush to S.W. Carmel, 1845 Apr 25 | Box 2, F10 |
| John Guest for Edward G. Guest to Samuel Rush, 1845 Aug 18 | Box 2, F10 |
Includes legal material, and a page of portraits made in November 1845. Preserved as well is correspondence related to General George S. Gains (1784-1873), who negotiated the removal, T. Hartly Crawford (1786-1863), Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Thomas L. McKenny (1785-1859) Superintendent of Indian Affairs, William B. Lewis (1784-1866) Second Auditor to the Treasury and a close associate of President Andrew Jackson, J.J. McRae enrolling and disbursing agent for the removal of the Choctaws, and Charles Fisher (1786-1849) former U.S. congressman and author of the 1844 book Choctaw claims.
| J.J. McRae to Samuel Rush and, 1844 Jun 24 | Box 2, F11 |
| Samuel Rush to T.H. Crawford, 1844 Sep 4 | Box 2, F11 |
| Choctaw Commission to T.H. Crawford, 1844 Oct 16 | Box 2, F11 |
| William B. Lewis to Samuel Rush, 1845 Feb 21 | Box 2, F11 |
| Charles Fisher to Samuel Rush, G.S. Gains, and Tyler, 1845 Jun 12 | Box 2, F11 |
| L.M. McKenny to Samuel Rush, 1850 Jul 8 | Box 2, F11 |
| Receipts, 1844-1849 | Box 2, F12 |
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Includes receipts for the West Chester Railroad Company; the City Hotel, Washington, D.C.; Wright and Brothers umbrellas; subscriptions to the newspaper Union of Washington, D.C.; and the jeweler Perry O'Daniel. |
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| Receipts, 1850-1851, and n.d. | Box 2, F16 |
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Includes receipts for the West Chester Railroad Company, the clothier Bennett & Co., and the Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Company. |
Samuel Rush appears to have acted as an intermediary in a real estate sale from Robert Mercier of West Chester to John R. Poizat of Philadelphia. Included are legal notes, signed agreements, as well as the following correspondence:
| John R. Poizat to Samuel Rush, 1849 Sep 7 | Box 2, F13 |
| Samuel Rush to John R. Poizat, 1849 Sep 11 | Box 2, F13 |
| Samuel Rush to John R. Poizat, 1849 Sep 12 | Box 2, F13 |
| John R. Poizat to Samuel Rush, 1849 Sep 12 | Box 2, F13 |
| John R. Poizat to Samuel Rush, 1849 Sep 21 | Box 2, F13 |
| Samuel Rush to John R. Poizat, 1849 Sep 24 | Box 2, F13 |
Includes correspondence with his children, his friend E. Clapp, and fellow lawyer J. Williams Biddle (1821-1856). Preserved as well is a letter from Washington Townsend (1813-1895) requesting S. Rush to present an ode at the public dedication of the Oaklands cemetery in West Chester, and a letter from the Fame Fire Company of West Chester requesting S. Rush to present a lecture at their regular meeting.
| E. Clapp to Samuel Rush, 1849 Jun 26 | Box 2, F14 |
| E. Clapp to Samuel Rush, 1850 Sep 14 | Box 2, F14 |
| E. Clapp to Samuel Rush, 1850 Oct 30 | Box 2, F14 |
| J. Williams Biddle to Samuel Rush, 1850 Nov 20 | Box 2, F14 |
| J. Williams Biddle to Samuel Rush, 1850 Dec 7 | Box 2, F14 |
| E. Clapp to Samuel Rush, 1851 Jan 2 | Box 2, F14 |
| Samuel Rush to Sister, 1851 Jul 12 | Box 2, F14 |
| William Rush to Samuel Rush, 1851 Oct 10 | Box 2, F14 |
| William Rush to Samuel Rush, 1851 Oct 22 | Box 2, F14 |
| William Rush to Samuel Rush, 1853 Sep 28 | Box 2, F14 |
| William Rush and Julia W. Rush to Samuel Rush, 1853 Oct 5 | Box 2, F14 |
| Washington Townsend to Samuel Rush, 1853 Oct 31 | Box 2, F14 |
| W. Worthington, Jr. Henry Fleming, Jr. Cyrus P. Painter of the Fame Fire Co.to Samuel Rush, 1853 Dec14 | Box 2, F14 |
| William Rush to Samuel Rush, 1854 Nov 2 | Box 2, F14 |
| Samuel Rush to Sister, 1856 Jul 21 | Box 2, F14 |
| B. Rush (1811-1877) to Samuel Rush, n.d. Aug 22 | Box 2, F14 |
| W.D. Jones to Samuel Rush, n.d | Box 2, F14 |
Preserves W. Rush's report cards from the West Chester Academy, one letter from Julia W. Rush and two from Samuel Rush. Includes as well copies of Euclid's theorems Samuel Rush made for W. Rush March 14, 1851.
| Julia Rush to William Rush, 1845 Mar 13 | Box 2, F17 |
| Samuel Rush to William Rush, 1851 Apr 11 | Box 2, F17 |
| Samuel Rush to William Rush, 1853 Apr 13 | Box 2, F17 |
This collection generally relates to Samuel Rush's tenure as Deputy Attorney-General for Philadelphia County and Recorder of the city of Philadelphia.
| Records of court cases, Oct 1839, Feb 1840 | Box 2, F18 |
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These pages numbered 1-12 and 85-90, and covering October 23-28, 1839 and February 19-26, 1840, contain lists of litigants, and court decisions. |
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| Records of court cases, May 10-Jul 9, 1841 | Box 2, F19 |
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These pages numbered 1-76, contain lists of litigants, some testimony, and court decisions. Indexed. |
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| Papers related to legal matters, 1835-1850 | Box 2, F20 |
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Contains notes related to an 1835 estate case, a draft of a deposition made November 1845 related to the notebooks of Dr. Benjamin Rush, and other legal material. |
Ten items from Series I of the Rush Family Papers could not be specifically related to individuals in the family. In most cases this is the result of letters or receipts being addressed merely to Mr. or Mrs. Rush.
| Unidentified Rush material, 1790-1876 | Box 2, F21 |
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Includes an April 25, 1790 invitation to meet the friends of Henry Hobart (1775-1830) at the King's head in the Market-Place seemingly addressed to Richard Rush who would only have been ten years of age. This may in fact be an invitation to Dr. Benjamin Rush, who according to his Commonplace Book, knew Henry Hobart. Included as well is a sheet detailing expenses related to architectural improvements to properties associated with the Rush estate. It is unclear which Rush this estate was associated with, but the architectural firm involved was that of Collins and Autenrieth. Included as well are two letters from an unidentified Sibyl to her father one of which is dated October 17, 1872, and an invitation to a Mr. Rush for the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of William and Mary Lippincott. |
This handwritten manuscript authored by Alexander Biddle (1819-1899) replies specifically to the publication of President Reed of Pennsylvania: a reply to George Bancroft and others, published in 1867. In subject, both this manuscript and the 1867 book to which it responds, contribute to the controversy that surrounded the publication of George Bancroft's ninth volume of his History of the United States, published in 1866. This annotated MS contains paginated and unpaginated pages in what may represent various stages of revision. As described in F22 the text was corroborated with extracts of letters.
| Title page and unpaginated text | Box 3, F22 |
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These leaves may represent a previous draft of the document that appears in F23 or a different section of the final work. Each Page bears significant annotations and revisions. Title page includes an epigraph from Romans 2:1. |
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| Text pages 1-4, 4, 6, 10-11, 16-27 | Box 3, F23 |
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These pages are inconsistently paginated and may represent fragments of various versions. The pages bear numerous revisions throughout. |
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| Letter extracts related to Dr. Benjamin Rush, pp. 1-10 | Box 3, F24 |
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Pages one and two reproduce letters published in Thomas Jefferson Randolph ed. Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 4. (Charlottesville, Va: F. Carr and Co., 1829). |
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| Letter extracts related to Dr. Benjamin Rush, pp. 11-19 | Box 2, F25 |
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Page 17 contains an extract from Eli K. Price, Memoir of Philip and Rachel Price, (Philadelphia: Printed for Eli K. Price and Philip M. Price, 1852). |
These handwritten pages preserve letters formerly in the possession but unpublished by Alexander Biddle. They consist of letters from John Adams to Dr. Benjamin Rush during the period 1810-1813.
| Pages [1]-30, containing letters from 1810-1812 | Box 2, F26 |
| Pages 31-64, containing letters from 1812-1813 | Box 2, F27 |
| Biography of Benjamin Rush | Box 3, F28 |
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Anonymously authored typescript describing the life of Dr. Benjamin Rush. Annotated 10pp. This was published in John Welsh Croskey comp., History of Blockley: A History of the Philadelphia General Hospital from its inception, 1731-1928, (Philadelphia: F.A. Davis, 1929), 526-532. |
This series preserves partial typescripts for both volumes of Alexander Biddle's publication of Dr. Benjamin Rush's letters. Each volume o the two volume set bore an individual title.
| Pages A-62 to A-89, and A-133 to A-139 | Box 3, F29 |
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These pages correspond to published pages 57-83, and 125-132. |
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| Pages A-157 to A-191 | Box 3, F30 |
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These correspond to published pages 148-182. |
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| Pages A-331 to A-342, A-350 to A-364, and B-1 to B-2 | Box 3, F31 |
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These pages correspond to published pages 308-318, 324-337. The pages in the B series appear not to have been published, they record letters to Dr. Benjamin Rush from John Quincy Adams, June 15, 1812; and from Samuel Adams April 14, 1785. |
| Pages [1]-28, 62-63, 71-82, and 80-82 | Box 3, F32 |
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These pages correspond to published pages 3-31, 65-67, 74-82, and 83-86. |