Philadelphia Area Archives

Start Over Subject Slavery and the church -- Society of Friends

Anthony Benezet letters, 1750-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:: .5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:: A collection of letters of Anthony Benezet (1713-1784), a prominent Friend, philanthropist and teacher. These letters, which are addressed to various persons, reflect cultural and religious aspects, the efforts of Friends to abolish slavery, interest in education, opposition to intolerance and war, missionary work, and observations on Indigenous Americans. Mention is made in the letters of Conrad Weiser, George Whitfield, Samuel Wetherill, and others; and there are frequent references to publications in which Benezet was interested.

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

John Woolman diary, 1772

Extent:: 0.0080 linear ft. (1 volume)
Abstract:: John Woolman's diary from his voyage to England in 1772, the original manuscript of which is held at the Mount School, York, United Kingdom. Entries discuss Woolman's travel with Samuel Emlen, including preparations for the voyage, description of weather conditions, conditions on board, religious reflection, and reflection on the slave trade.

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

Rebecca Jones letterbook, 1797-1805 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.12 linear ft. (1 volume)
Abstract:: Rebecca Jones's letterbook includes her personal correspondence with Leonard Snowdon. Letters describe meetings Jones attended, discussions of the abolition of slavery, and news of friends and family. Included in the volume is a brief account of Jones's convincement.

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

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Records: Committee on Race Relations and its predecessors (1919-1970), 1921-1969 (inclusive)

Extent:: 6 linear ft. (12 boxes)
Abstract:: Records, 1921-1969, of the Race Relations Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and its predecessors, the Anti-Lynching Committee (1919-1921), Committee on the Interests of the Colored Race (1921-1929) Committee on Race Relations (1921-1929), and the Joint Committee on Race Relations(1929-1955).

Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Enos and Hannah Sharpless family papers, 1790-1861 (inclusive)

Extent:: .1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (4 folders.))
Abstract:: This collection contains family papers and correspondence of Enos and Hannah Sharpless including two copy books of the latter. The letters primarily concern family matters. Two documents of note are a letter from Johnson Knight concerning the Quaker testimony on slavery and a pass issued for an enslaved person bought by Enos Sharpless in order to be liberated.

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

Elizabeth Sellers Papers, 1845-1851 & n.d (inclusive)

Extent:: .1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (3 folders.))
Abstract:: This collection consists of documents relating to the withdrawal of Elizabeth Sellers from the Society of Friends and her subsequent disownment. Included is a letter from to Darby Monthly Meeting explaining her reasons for leaving the Society of Friends. In the letter she accuses Quakers of failing to take action on issues of temperance, pacifism, and abolition. Also included are genealogical notes on the Sellers family.

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

Mott Manuscripts, 1831-1898 (inclusive)

Extent:: 3 linear ft. (6 boxes)
Abstract:: Lucretia Mott was a prominent Philadelphia Quaker minister and a leader in reform movements, especially antislavery, education, peace, and women's rights. She was born in 1793 in Nantucket, Mass., the daughter of Thomas and Anna Coffin, and educated at Nine Partners Boarding School in Dutchess Co., N.Y. In 1811, she married James Mott and they settled in Philadelphia, Pa. The Motts were active Hicksite Quakers, and Lucretia served as clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and traveled in the ministry. James Mott died in 1869, and Lucretia died in 1880. The bulk of the collection consists of material which was assembled at the time of the publication of Life and Letters by Anna Davis Hallowell in 1884. It includes original correspondence of Lucretia Mott and her husband, James M. Mott, with family and other reformers of their day. Also contains sermons, essays, and antislavery documents, and the diary of Lucretia Mott's trip to England to attend the World's Antislavery Convention of 1840.

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

New York Yearly Meeting collection of papers concerning slavery, 1778-1870 (inclusive)

Extent:: .01 linear ft. (1 folder)
Abstract:: The collection contains a small number of miscellaneous papers relating to efforts within New York Yearly Meeting to support the manumission of enslaved people, abolition, and education of formerly enslaved people, 1778-1870. Most are copies of reports presented to New York Monthly Meeting or to the Yearly Meeting, compiled as a reference file.

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

Hambleton family papers, 1829-1855 and undated (inclusive)

Extent:: .01 linear ft. (3 folders)
Abstract:

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

Frost family correspondence, 1831-1871 (inclusive)

Extent:: 7 items (1 folder)
Abstract:: The collection contains correspondence between members of the Gideon and Mary W. (Willets) Frost family, Hicksite Quakers of Westbury, Long Island, New York. Gideon Frost was a successful merchant, philanthropist, and founder of Friends Academy at Locust Valley. Family members were active in Quaker concerns, especially education and abolition. The letters mention prominent Friends, family, and anti-slavery concerns.

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