Search

Start Over Subject Lay ministry -- Society of Friends Language English Year 1804

Main content

Public Friends manuscripts collection, 1656-1899 (inclusive)

Extent:
.3 linear ft. (1 document box)
Abstract:
While the Society of Friends is a "ministry of all believers," historically certain members have been recognized for their spiritual gifts. Those who undertake to travel and preach with the approbation of their home meeting are known as Public Friends. Especially in the 17th, 18th, and 19th century, traveling ministers served a key role in forming Quaker social and theological networks, fostering unity within the Society of Friends, and providing spiritual enrichment to Quakers across the world. Ministers who felt a spiritual opening directing them to travel would tell their Monthly Meeting, and if approved, the meeting would write a minute for the minister to carry on their journey and present to the Meeting(s) they visited. Quaker Meetings would often keep records of the Public Friends who visited them. This collection consists of lists of Public Friends, as well as minutes from Quaker meetings approving ministers to travel. Items were written by various Quaker meetings or...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Main content

Friends Historical Library collection of memorials, 1760-1920 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft.
Abstract:
Memorials are brief biographical essays which testify to the spiritual values of a Quaker's life. Early meetings only wrote memorials for ministers, but today some meetings continue the practice to memorialize all deceased members. In the 19th century, in particular, some Yearly Meetings periodically published compilations of memorials. This collection consists of miscellaneous memorials, from various meetings and regarding various Friends, collected by the Friends Historical Library over time.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Main content

Smedley Family Papers, 1751-1996 (inclusive) 1821-1950 (bulk)

Extent:
12 linear ft. (23 boxes plus photographs)
Abstract:
The collection contains correspondence, journals and other writings, business and legal papers, and miscellaneous items of the Smedley family, a large and prominent Quaker family of Penncrest Farm, Middletown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The family was related to the Kite and Sharples/Sharpless families of Chester and Delaware Counties. The papers include significant correspondence of the Kite family, especially Thomas Kite (1785-1845) and Mary Kite (1792-1861), both prominent Quaker ministers, and Thomas's daughter, Susanna Kite (1809-1844) who married Aaron Sharpless. Their daughter, Elizabeth S. Sharpless married Edward G. Smedley of Middletown, thus merging the Smedley-Sharples-Kite families. In the 20th century, the property became the home of Edward Smedley's nephew, Walter Smedley (1862-1939), a Philadelphia architect, and his wife, Ida Wilkins Roberts Smedley (1896-1993). She married second C. Canby Balderston. The papers cover a wide range of subjects...(see more)

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Main content

Ann Jones Papers, 1793-1831 (inclusive)

Extent:
6 folders
Abstract:
This collection contains letters and other manuscripts relating to visits of English Friends to America in the 1820s and the controversies which led to the Hicksite-Orthodox Separation. Also included are letters from Elizabeth Rathbone, Liverpool, England, to "My Beloved Uncle;" Joseph Bringhurst, Philadelphia, to "My Esteemed Friend;" also Abel Thomas to Thomas and Mary Wistar (copy) as well as some miscellaneous Quaker papers.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Main content

Sheppard Family papers, 1656-1887 (inclusive)

Extent:
.8 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:
The collection particularly provides connections between the Irish and Philadelphia Friends in the 18th century, especially by the Sheppard and Wansborough families who intermarried. Included are letters of John Wilbur, central in the Gurney-Wilbur controversy.

Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]

Main content

William Reckitt papers, 1756-1831 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (6 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes photographic copies of letters regarding his travels in the ministry, family birth certificates, and a list of ship stores. Also included is a letter from John Pemberton, relating family news and giving an account of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Main content

Redman family papers, 1760-1806 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (4 folders.))
Abstract:
This collection includes Mercy Redman's journal of her visits to eighty-seven meetings in New York, New England, and Pennsylvania. During this time she met and travelled with John Woolman. Also included is a copy of the record kept by Thomas Redman of his imprisonment and trial for refusing to take an oath of loyalty to the United States. A poem written by John E. Redman and various other family documents are also included.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Main content

Conrow-Hunt Family Correspondence, 1786-1886 (inclusive)

Extent:
.1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (2 folders.))
Abstract:
Contains three letters, 1786-1787, with later manuscript copies, to Quaker minister and diarist, John Hunt, from Darling Conrow. John Hunt added a biographical note concerning Conrow to the final letter. Also contains a letter, 1886, concerning Hunt genealogy.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Limit your search

more »

more »

more »

more »

more »

Current results range from 1656 to 2020

View larger »