Philadelphia Area Archives

Start Over Subject Quaker businesspeople Year 1950 to 1999

Elkinton, Waring Family papers, 1815-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 11.51 linear ft. (27 boxes, 1 tube)
Abstract:: This collection includes information about multiple generations of the Elkinton and Waring families. It is concentrated on two generations: firstly, that of Howard West Elkinton (1892-1955) and Katharine Wistar Mason Elkinton (1892/3-1961), his wife, and secondly, that of their daughter, Theodora Elkinton (1927-) who married Thomas Waring (1921-2001). It is a story of life choices made by these Quakers: for Howard and Katharine Elkinton, to serve under the American Friends Service Committee in Europe after World War I and during World War II providing relief aid, and for Theodora and Tom Waring to continue this tradition by serving in Finland after World War II and then in the field of education in the United States.

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

Cope-Evans Family papers, 1683-2012 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7.5 linear ft. (18 boxes)
Abstract:: The Cope-Evans papers cover the years 1683 to 2012, and detail the history of the inter-related Cope and Evans families, important Philadelphia-area Quakers. The papers are divided into four series: Personal and Family papers, Business papers, J. Morris Evans papers, and Miscellaneous.

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

Richard Hockley letterbook, 1737-1742, 1965-1967 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.02 linear ft. (1 volume, 1 folder)
Abstract:: This collection is comprised of the single letterbook of Richard Hockley and contains business correspondence. The majority of letters in the volume are written by Richard Hockley on his travels for the business interests of Thomas Hyam, a London merchant. Letters are written from a variety of locations, including Barbados, Charleston, South Carolina, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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

Biddle family Papers, 1793-1951 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4 linear ft. (8 boxes)
Abstract:: This collection contains the papers of Philadelphia Quaker Owen Biddle (1737-1799), his son, Clement Biddle (1778-1856), and numerous descendants. Owen Biddle, a scientist and merchant, was a member of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting and helped in the establishment of Westtown School (1799). Owen Biddle's papers, 1772-1793, (Series 1) include correspondence, and journals, some of which relate to his Revolutionary War activities. Three of his letterbooks, 1778-1779, have been microfilmed. The collection contains correspondence, journals, letterbooks, and account books, together with other manuscript material reflecting the social and cultural life and religious activities of a prominent Quaker family of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Papers of Lucy Biddle Lewis (1861-1941) are important for association with the women's suffrage movement and for early activities of the American Friends Service Committee. Other names represented in the collection are Jane Addams, Emily Greene Balch, Clement...(see more)

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

Isaac Hicks Family Papers, 1798-ca. 1956 (bulk 1798-1818) (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.21 linear ft. (1 box (approx 100 items))
Abstract:: Isaac Hicks (1767-1820) was a New York Quaker merchant. He established a large fleet of international trading vessels and financially helped to support his cousin, Edward Hicks (1780-1849), the Pennsylvania Quaker folk artist. Isaac Hicks traveled extensively with his cousin, Elias Hicks (1748-1830), the New York Quaker minister. The collection contains primarily the correspondence of Isaac Hicks, including letters from Isaac Hicks to his wife describing religious journeys taken with Elias Hicks; some letters concerning the Separation of 1827-28; and business letters. Correspondents include: John Comly (letters about Edward Hicks, the primitive painter), Elias Hicks, John Murray, Jr., Thomas Rotch, William Rotch, Thomas Sturge. The letters provide insight into Quaker family life on Long Island and the travels of a Quaker minister. Also of interest is a letter concerning the disownments of Isaac T. Hopper, James Gibbons, and Charles Marriott, as well as an anecdote conveying the...(see more)

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

Alfred Parrish family papers, 1851-1957 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.5 linear ft. (5 boxes)
Abstract:: Business letter books, estate papers, and personal correspondence of Alfred Parrish (1848-1921). He and his brother Dillwyn Parrish were involved with tramway (trolley) development internationally. A birthright Quaker from Philadelphia, Alfred Parrish left the United States in 1879 and spent the remainder of his life in Europe, mostly England and Italy. His daughter, Gladys Parrish Huntington, was a well-known novelist.

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

Partnership for Productivity Records, 1968-1990 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.75 linear ft. (6 boxes)
Abstract:: Contains the records, 1968-1987, of Partnership for Productivity, a Quaker-sponsored program in overseas economic development, created to advise small business ventures primarily in African countries. Founded in 1969 by David H. Scull with an initial project in Western Kenya, it was designed to provide capital for loans or investments combined with management counsel and personal supervision through its two organs, the Partnership for Productivity Foundation/USA, Inc., and the Partnership for Investments/USA, Inc. In December 1986, the Board was forced to liquidate the corporation after a sudden financial crisis created when liabilities caused the enterprise to collapse. Also includes a small amount of miscellaneous papers concerning the donor, A. Keith Smiley, including his statement on My concern for Right-Sharing of the World's Resource written in 1990.

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

Francis A. Harvey Diaries, 1928-1942, 1962-2001 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:: This collection contains 18 diaries/daybooks kept by Francis A. Harvey, a birthright Quaker. Harvey lived in many parts of the United States as part of his work for the S.S. Kresge Company. The diaries detail the lives and travels of Francis Harvey and his Mennonite wife, Elsie Harvey.

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

Morris-Shinn-Maier collection, 1720-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:: 78 linear ft. (131 boxes)
Abstract:: This collection spans approximately 200 years, from the late 1700s to the late 1900s, and five generations of the Morris-Shinn-Maier family, which are traced through matrilineal and patrilineal lines. They were prominent Quaker businessmen and lawyers in the Philadelphia area, and a large portion of the collection is dedicated to their legal and business material, as well as a great deal of very detailed financial material. There is also a quantity of personal material, namely diaries and correspondence, and material from philanthropic work done by later generations. Principal individuals include Paul David Irwin Maier, William Morris Maier, Anna Shinn Maier, Levi Morris and Naomi McClenachan Morris. A genealogical chart done by a Haverford student while processing the collection has been printed out and is included in the box 1191 (ovs).

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

Rhoads-Evans-Garrett Family Papers, 1699-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:: 25.2 linear ft. (60 boxes, 8 volumes)
Abstract:: The William Evans Rhoads family papers collection contains letters, financial material, deeds, photographs, genealogical charts and more, related to William Evans Rhoads, his children, and his ancestors extending back to the early 1800s. William Evans Rhoads was a Quaker businessman living in Moorestown, New Jersey at the turn of the 20th century.

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