Maud Richards collection on the Ashhurst, Eyre, and Leiper family papers

This small collection of genealogical research, photographs, printed material, and manuscript material, 1813-1964, assembled by Maud Richards, documents the history of members of the Ashhurst, Eyre, and Leiper families of Philadelphia.

Series 1 contains a manuscript genealogy, compiled circa 1933, with information on the Eyre, Connolly, Little, and Ashhurst families. Many original manuscript items, chiefly receipts, payment orders, and signature cuttings, have been inserted into the volume for their autograph value. There are also occasional items of correspondence.

Material on the Ashhurst family is contained in Series 2. The series includes a receipt book, 1853-1872, of John Ashhurst (1809-1892) for laborers' wages, tax, and rent on his property in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Series 2.2 is a scrapbook [disbound] concerning the children of John Ashhurst, Jr. The scrapbook, compiled by Maud Richards circa 1960-1964, contains photographs, genealogical information, newsclippings, and correspondence, 1874-1964. The series also includes seven photographs, 1878-1890, andjbiographical memoirs, one of Roger Ashhurst (1875-1903), circa 1903, and two of Astley P. C. Ashhurst (1876-1932). The latter were written by physician Edward T. Crossan in 1932 and 1933.

Genealogical material on the Eyre family, compiled by Maud Richards, circa 1933-1961, and Donald C. Geist, undated, is preserved in Series 3. The material, 1896-1961, includes correspondence, newsclippings and printed materials, and one photograph. The series also contains manuscripts receipts and payment orders of Eyre and Massey, a shipbuilding firm, concerning repairs to the brig "Lightning" in 1813 and three shipping guarantees, 1838.

Series 4 contains correspondence and newsclippings about members of the Leiper family, 1901-1937, compiled by Maud Richards. Seven photographs, 1893-1948, are also preserved in this series.