ms081 Scharf (John Thomas) 1843-1898Papers 1750-1947MS 81 Joan Grattan Special CollectionsThe Milton S. Eisenhower LibraryThe Johns Hopkins University
3400 N. Charles StreetBaltimore, MD21218USAPhone: (410) 516-8348
May 15, 2008 Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Finding aid written in English Scharf (John Thomas) 1843-1898Papers 1750-1947MS 81 Special CollectionsThe Milton S. Eisenhower LibraryThe Johns Hopkins University Contact Information Special Collections The Milton S. Eisenhower Library The Johns Hopkins University 3400 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 (410) 516-8348 Email: archives@jhu.edu Joan Grattan

©2008 The Johns Hopkins University

 Descriptive Summary ms081 Scharf (John Thomas) 1843-1898 Papers 1750-1947 Scharf, John Thomas, 1843-1898 Johns Hopkins University. Special Collections. 1.7 linear feet English. The collection consists of original documents and notes of historian and author, John Thomas Scharf, and those of other historians, including Henry B. Dawson and Thompson Westcott.

The material relates to various aspects of Americn history in the 18th and 19th centuries. Subjects include events from the period of the American Revolution, settlement of Native Americans in Florida, and early histories of cities in New York and Pennsylvania.

Related material can be found in the John Thomas Scharf Collection at the Maryland Historical Society.

 Administrative Information Provenance

The Scharf Collection was presented to The Johns Hopkins University in 1891, and most of the items were transferred to the Maryland Historical Society in 1897. This collection is formed by materials that was not included in the transfer.

 Use Restrictions

Access to the collection is unrestricted.

 Preferred Citation

John Thomas Scharf Collection, MS 81

Special Collections,

Milton S. Eisenhower Library,

The Johns Hopkins University

Biographical Note

John Thomas Scharf was an American historian, author and collector. He was born in Baltimore in 1843, and left home at 18 to join the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After the war, Scharf became a lawyer, an editor for several Baltimore newspapers, a politician, and an officeholder. He was also an collector of historical materials, particularly those dealing with Southern history.

Scharf was the author of several volumes of local history related to Baltimore City and Baltimore County. His other works include A History of Philadelphia (1884), and A History of Westchester County (1886). Scharf died in 1898.

Box Contents 1 Material re: Indians in Florida, 1840s 1 Draft of book on Florida Indians, n.d. 1 West Chester County, NY History, n.d. 1 Henry B. Dawson writings: Revolutionary War, n.d. 1 Henry B. Dawson writings: New Hampshire, n.d. 1 Henry B. Dawson writings: Correction of Cadwallader Colden's work, n.d. 1 Henry B. Dawson writings: Notes, n.d. 1 Henry B. Dawson writings: Mexican War, n.d. 1 Henry B. Dawson writings: Civil War, n.d. Box Contents 2 Typescripts of 1795 Baltimore directory, 1795 2 Philadelphia broadsides, 1831; 1846 2 Notes re: the Washington Monument, n.d. 2 "Benjamin Franklin and His Influence Upon the Literature of Philadelphia," J. T. Scharf, n.d. 2 Printed article on St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, by G. A. Wenzel, n.d. 2 Incoming correspondence, 1880-1881 2 State of Maryland documents, 1849 2 Muster roll of Westchester County, n.d. 2 Writing: draft chapter on topography and geology of West Chester County, n.d. 2 Writings: draft chapter on Ossining, n.d. Box Contents 3 Thompson Westcott correspondence, 50 items, 1830-1850s 3 Westcott research materials for "Men of St. Louis," n.d. 3 Article on the U.S. Naval Asylum, n.d. 3 Newspaper clippings from Philadelphia, n.d. 3 Notes, n.d. Box Contents 4 Thompson Westcott's notes and writings on Philadelphia, n.d. 4 Philadelphia documents, 20 items, 1766-1830s