Rare Collections
Rare Collections
Featured Rare Collections at the State Library
Rare Collections at the State Library of Pennsylvania include the original books purchased by the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1745 for reference use by the legislators, rare books published by Pennsylvania presses between 1685 and 1865, miscellaneous rare works such as Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle from 1493, a pamphlet collection of works from the 19th and 20th centuries, original manuscripts penned and signed by Penn family members, historical Pennsylvania newspapers, and more. The featured collections shown here have been digitized by the State Library of Pennsylvania and are freely accessible.
Digital Materials from Rare Collections
The Rare Collections at the State Library of Pennsylvania are extensive, containing a variety of collection types in Pennsylvaniana and beyond. Select a format of general interest to browse specific collections.
The Penn Family Collection
William Penn, the founder of the Pennsylvania colony, and his reputable descendants 
left a material legacy that is today spread across many institutions, from local libraries and state institutions, to universities and private collections. The State Library of Pennsylvania houses a select few original materials from the Penn family in Rare Collections, including:
- A contract settling the Pennsylvania-Maryland boundary signed by Lord Baltimore and Hannah Penn (among others)
- A letter from William Penn Jr. to his father William Penn upon arrival in Philadelphia and Pennsbury Manor
- A book containing multiple William Penn lithograph portraits and two Penn letters, one from William Penn and one from his father, Sir William Penn
Also included in the digital holdings is William Penn's First Frame of Government for Pennsylvania / Frame of 1682, which is owned by the Pennsylvania State Archives and provided here with permission. All of these materials can be accessed by clicking the button below.
To find more on the Penn Family and William Penn's Charter and First Frame of Government, please follow the links to the Pennsylvania State Archives catalog.
The Penn Family Collection
William Penn, the founder of the Pennsylvania colony, and his reputable descendants left a material legacy that is today spread across many institutions, from local libraries and state institutions, to universities and private collections. The State Library of Pennsylvania houses a select few original materials from the Penn family in Rare Collections, including:
- A contract settling the Pennsylvania-Maryland boundary signed by Lord Baltimore and Hannah Penn (among others)
- A letter from William Penn Jr. to his father William Penn upon arrival in Philadelphia and Pennsbury Manor
- A book containing multiple William Penn lithograph portraits and two Penn letters, one from William Penn and one from his father, Sir William Penn
Also included in the digital holdings is William Penn's First Frame of Government for Pennsylvania / Frame of 1682, which is owned by the Pennsylvania State Archives and provided here with permission. All of these materials can be accessed by clicking the button below.
To find more on the Penn Family and William Penn's Charter and First Frame of Government, please follow the links to the Pennsylvania State Archives catalog.