Old Philadelphians

Old Philadelphians, also called Proper Philadelphians[1] or Perennial Philadelphians,[2] are the First Families of Philadelphia, that class of Pennsylvanians who claim hereditary and cultural descent mainly from England, also from Ulster, Wales and even Germany, and who founded the city of Philadelphia. They settled the state of Pennsylvania.

They are considered part of the historic core of the East Coast establishment, along with other wealthy families such as Boston Brahmins of Boston and The Four Hundred of New York City.[2] These families were influential in the development and leadership of arts, culture, science, medicine, law, politics, industry and trade in the United States.[2] They were almost exclusively white Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs),[3] and most belonged to the Episcopal church and Quakerism.[4]

  1. ^ See generally, Baltzell, Nalle , "Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadelphia" and "Philadelphia Gentlemen: The Making of a National Upper Class."
  2. ^ a b c See generally, Burt.
  3. ^ Ivory, Karen (2011). Philadelphia Icons: 50 Classic Views of the City of Brotherly Love. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 52. ISBN 9780762767656.
  4. ^ Baltzell, E. Digby (2011). Philadelphia Gentlemen: The Making of a National Upper Class. Transaction Publishers. p. 236. ISBN 9781412830751.