FBI's Art Crime Division Returns 19th Century Notebooks To Girard College

The FBI's Investigation of Art Crime Team recently returned two notebooks from the early 1800s to Girard College in Philadelphia, according to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney's Office.

The notebooks cataloged Girard College founder Stephen Girard's expenditures and are dated 1809 and 1811.

During that time, Girard was richest man in the U.S. and the ledgers were kept by Girard's clerk and right-hand man H.J. Roberjot.

The books were taken from the college's Stephen Girard Collection more than 10 years ago, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Girard College President Clarence Armbrister has described the notebooks as painting a picture of the daily life of Girard, particularly in terms of Girard’s generosity and charitable nature.

According to President Armbrister, Girard’s best known act of philanthropy was the endowment of Girard College in his will in 1831.

Girard College opened its doors on its 43-acre campus in Philadelphia in 1848 and has educated children for over 168 years.

Today, Girard College is a five-day boarding school, for students from families headed by a single parent or guardian and with limited financial resources. All accepted students receive full scholarships for the length of their enrollment at Girard College.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Art Crime Team and was handled by Assistant United States Attorney K.T. Newton.

Image via chrisinphilly5448, Flickr Commons