Philadelphia Area Archives

Start Over Subject Quakers -- Education Year 1940 to 1944

William Wistar Comfort papers, 1867-1941 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Abstract:: Papers of William Wistar Comfort (1876-1955), president of Haverford College in a particularly sensitive time between two world wars and scholar of French literature. Comfort was a prolific writer and speaker on Quaker topics, but also on such diverse subjects as William Cowper, children's stories, education and music.

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

Emily Howland papers, 1926-1975 (inclusive)

Extent:: .5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:: The collection consists of correspondence between the administrator of Emily Howland's estate, Richard C.S. Drummond, and representatives of 39 mostly southern African American educational institutions, as beneficiaries of her will.

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

Elizabeth Gray Vining papers, 1897-1989 (inclusive)

Extent:: 14.5 linear ft. (24 boxes, 8 volumes)
Abstract:: Elizabeth Gray Vining (1902-1999) was an author of children's books and served as the tutor to the crown prince of Japan, Akihito, from 1946 to 1950. The collection consists of correspondence, materials regarding books authored by Vining, articles, lectures and addresses, photographs, and information documenting her and her family's lives.

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

Anna Gillingham Papers, 1849-1962 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4 linear ft. (8 boxes)
Abstract:: Anna Gillingham (1878-1964) was a prominent Quaker educator and author. She taught at Friends Central School in Philadelphia from 1901-05, was school psychologist in the Ethical Culture School in New York City from 1905-36, directed the remedial reading program at the Punahon School in Honolulu from 1936-38, and was a consultant on remedial reading after 1938. She also co-authored a book on remedial training for children with Stillman. She was co-founder of the Orton Society, a national organization promoting research and treatment of language disabilities. The collection includes correspondence, journals and other writings of Anna Gillingham. Also includes the correspondence of her parents, Theodore T. and Elizabeth H. Gillingham. Of particular interest in the latter are letters written by Theodore Gillingham while he was an Indian agent in Iowa and Dakota from 1881-1889.

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

Hallowell-Stabler Family Papers, 1811-1946 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.5 linear ft. (7 boxes)
Abstract:: The Hallowell and Stabler families were Quakers mainly of Sandy Spring, Maryland. James S. Hallowell was a noted educator, and Edward Stabler was the postmaster of Sandy Spring. The collection illustrates the life of a 19th century Quaker family in Alexandria, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Sandy Spring, Maryland, and Philadelphia, where several relatives resided. While emphasizing family affairs and domestic life, these papers contain material of interest on education, farm life, observations of the Civil War and the Federal bureaucracy, travel and hunting.

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

Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon Schlesinger Library Papers, 1906-1979 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3.5 linear ft. (7 boxes)
Abstract:: Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979) was born into an extended Quaker family who lived for generations in Clarke and Loudon counties, Virginia. She moved beyond the Virginia Quaker community to a career in the women's movement, first as a campaigner for women's suffrage (1917-1920), then as an educator and political activist in Virginia (1920-1928) and finally as a research economist for the Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor (1928-1956). During her retirement years, Pidgeon became active in Quaker affairs. The collection contains personal and professional papers of Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon (1890-1979), including family and other correspondence and papers relating to her activities as student, suffragette. and in her professional and organizational work.

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

Mary Williams Shoemaker Papers, 1860-1957 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:: Mary Williams Shoemaker (1861-1953) was a Quaker philanthropist from Germantown, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Franklin and Mary (Williams) Shoemaker. The collection contains chiefly journals (1934-1945) and correspondence (1914-1953) relating to Shoemaker's support of Quaker historical, educational, and social service agencies; together with correspondence of her brother, Thomas Howard Shoemaker (1851-1936), relating to his historical interests and civic activities. Includes deeds and business papers relating to Shoemaker family properties in Philadelphia and Pike County.

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

Parrish Family Papers, 1780-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:: Collection contains papers of the Parrish family, a prominent Philadelphia Quaker family. Includes correspondence, writings, and other papers of Edward Parrish, first president of Swarthmore College. Also of special interest is the correspondence of Dillwyn Parrish and his aunt and uncle, William and Deborah Parrish Wright; the letters of the Wrights in 1835 and 1836 give information about abolition and anti-slavery efforts in Lancaster County. A scrapbook assembled by Clemmons Parrish contains autographs and letters collected by his brother, Thomas C. Parrish. While most of the items in the scrapbook contain merely a short note and signature, there is some substantive correspondence including letters from John Dickinson, Samuel Parsons, John Neagle, and Maria Mitchell.

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

Fisher-Whitson Family Papers, 1778-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6 linear ft. (10 boxes (and folder))
Abstract:: This collection contains manuscripts and other materials relating to the Whitson, Smedley, Fisher and other Quaker families of southeastern Pennsylvania. Along with commonplace books, correspondence, and photographs are a series of thematically arranged genealogical binders assembled by the donors. Of particular interest are the battlefield correspondence of Sam Smedley who was killed in the American Civil War and the journal of Esther Whitson, later Cope, who served as a nurse with the AFSC in Russia in the early 1920s

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

Howard Haines Brinton and Anna Shipley Cox Brinton papers, 1859-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:: 26 linear ft. (57 boxes and 2 rolled objects)
Abstract:: Howard Haines Brinton and Anna Shipley Cox Brinton were 20th-century Quaker educators and prolific authors whose areas of expertise included the physical sciences and the Classics. Notably, they also worked for the American Friends Service Committee in Europe, for Friends Center in Tokyo, Japan, and as directors of Pendle Hill, an adult study center in Wallingford, PA. They were both recorded ministers in the Religious Society of Friends. This collection also contains materials of other Brinton, Bean, Cox and Shipley Family members.

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