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Rare Journals Stolen From Philadelphia College Returned

Matt Rourke
/
AP
In this Jan. 19, 2010 file photo, shown is Founder's Hall on the Girard College campus in Philadelphia.

Federal authorities say two rare, early 19th century notebooks have been returned to a Philadelphia college after they were stolen from a collection sometime between 1965 and 2006.

The documents, from 1809 and 1811, were part of a set of four journals belonging to the Stephen Girard Collection at Girard College. School officials discovered the volumes were missing at some point last decade.

The journals were written by H.J. Roberjot, who served as an adviser to Girard. They provide a glimpse into the daily life of the millionaire, who once was considered the wealthiest man in America.

The missing documents resurfaced last summer when a rare book dealer contacted the American Philosophical Society after purchasing them in a private sale. The society contacted Girard College and then involved the FBI.

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