Transcription and analyses of inventory lists for specified historical periods in Philadelphia and nearby jurisdictions, done by students of Roger W. Moss and of Gail C.Winkler for American Domestic Interiors, University of Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Program.

The inventory lists are public probate records. Researchers have noted will numbers, death dates etc., and have noted some biographical information. Almost all the women listed were widows. Any others were spinsters. The term gentlewoman is used to denote women for whom no other occupation is listed and who were relatively wealthy.