Philadelphia Area Archives

Start Over Subject Society of Friends -- Indian Affairs

Associated Executive Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs, 1758-1929 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2 linear ft. ((8 boxes))
Abstract:: Records deal with the work of Friends in running mission stations in Oklahoma to the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma (Bah Kho-je), the Modoc Nation, the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe, the Osage Nation (Wahzhazhe) and other Native American peoples. Letters from superintendents and missionaries in the field describe the difficulties and experiences of Friends in their work. Topics discussed include attempts to Christianize Native Americans, improve living conditions, Native American education, use of peyote and alcohol, disease, Native American dances, conflicts with other religious denominations, protection of Native Americans from schemes and abuses.

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

Theodore Brinton Hetzel papers and graphics, 1866-1987 (inclusive) 1930-1987 (bulk)

Extent:: 13 linear ft. (26 boxes)
Abstract:: Theodore Hetzel (1906-1990) was a Quaker professor of engineering at Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania, whose interests led him to involvement with Native American and Quaker issues. An avid photographer, the materials in this collection are primarily photographic, as well as correspondence and documents.

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

"Account of a visit paid to the Indians in New York State", Undated.

Extent:: 0.1 linear ft. (1 volume)
Abstract:: This collection is comprised of the single volume manuscript describing Joshua Sharpless's visit to Native American tribes in New York state with John Pierce and Henry Simmons. The inside cover includes the signature of Aaron Sharpless, and it appears that he may have copied the manuscript from the diaries of Joshua Sharpless.

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

Carolena M. Wood papers, ca. 1900-1909 (bulk)

Extent:: .1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (3 folders.))
Abstract:: The collection contains correspondence concerning Quaker organizations, obituary and memorial notices, and papers which reflect Carolena Wood's participation in Quaker organizations. A letter from John Nicholson describes Friends work with the Seneca Indians, 1900.

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

Samuel Parsons correspondence, 1805-1831 (inclusive)

Extent:: .1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (1 folder ; 11 items.))
Abstract:: The collection contains correspondence received by Samuel Parsons of New York Monthly Meeting. Correspondents include William and Hannah Jackson, ministers of New Garden Monthly Meeting, Pa.; London Friends writing to James Mott, Parsons, and Richard R. Lawrence in response to their report of Friends' activities with native Americans; Samuel Bettle of Philadelphia concerning the Separation, offering advice for New York Yearly Meeting; Daniel Comstock describing the program of study at the Rensselaer School in Troy, NY; and Ann Shipley of Wilmington, Ohio, describing visits from Quaker ministers including John and Elizabeth Meader.

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

Correspondence concerning John Unthank Gift, 1835-1837 (inclusive)

Extent:: .1 linear ft. (.1 linear feet (1 folder.))
Abstract:: Contains correspondence concerning the gift of Dr. John Unthank of Limerick, Ireland, of £1,000, to be divided between two concerns: first, to the Ohio, Indiana and Baltimore Yearly Meetings to be applied by them through their Indian committees toward promoting the so-called civilization and Christian instruction of Native Americans; and, secondly£250 each to Indiana and Ohio Yearly Meetings toward establishing boarding schools for the children of members. Samuel Parsons of New York Yearly Meeting (Orthodox) served as agent in distributing the funds.

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

Joint Committee on Indian Affairs of the Four Yearly Meetings of Genesee, Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia, 1836-1850 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:: The Indian Committees of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Genesee (Hicksite) united in 1838 to protect the Seneca Indians from the Ogden Land Company which was trying to buy their land. This collection contains papers relating to the joint committee of representatives, including correspondence chiefly concerning the ceding of Seneca lands in New York by treaty under questionable circumstances. Correspondents include Benjamin Ferris (1780-1867).

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

Albert Lamborn Green Papers, 1869-1935 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.25 linear ft. (1 box ( 29 folders))
Abstract:: Albert Lamborn Green (1845-1947) was a Quaker Indian Agent for the Otoe Agency in Nebraska during the period of President Grant's "peace policy," 1869-1872. The bulk of the correspondence in this collection is comprised of letters written to Green from Philadelphia Friends in regard to gifts in support of Indian work. Later letters written by Green describe from memory the social life and customs of the Otoe Indians. The collection has information on the Otoe language, vocabulary, etc., and also correspondence in 1934-1935 with J. Russell Hayes giving an account from memory of life among the Otoes in the 1870s. Some drawings are included in the collection. Correspondents include William Dorsey, Thomas Garrigues, Benjamin Hallowell, J. Russell Hayes, Samuel M. Janney, Samuel Jeanes, Joseph Powell, John Saunders, George Smith, and Benjamin Stratton.

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

Levinus King Painter Papers, 1960-1983 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.75 linear ft. (2 boxes (3 volumes))
Abstract:: Levinus King Painter (1889-1983) was a Quaker minister, author, and social activist. Born in Spiceland, Indiana, in 1889, he attended Spiceland Academy, Earlham College, and Hartford Theological Seminary. His pastoral service began in Collins, New York, in 1914, and he later served at Poplar Ridge (N.Y.), Monkton and South Starksboro (Vt.), Clintondale (N.Y.), Putney (Vt.), and back to Collins from 1942-56. He also worked as Interim Secretary of Friends Africa Mission from 1956-1957. Papers include scrapbooks, some correspondence, and writings.

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

Lightfoot Family Manuscripts, 1737-ca. 1948 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear ft. (3 boxes)
Abstract:: The Lightfoot family was a Pennsylvania Quaker family descended from Thomas Lightfoot, a Quaker minister who emigrated from Ireland to Kennett Monthly Meeting in 1716 with his family. The collection includes three journals which have been attributed to his grandson Thomas on the basis of contextual detail. These accounts document visits to meetings in the mid Atlantic region, New Jersey to Virginia, from 1757 to 1760. Jacob Lightfoot, a son of Thomas and Sarah Lightfoot, married Mary Bonsall, a prominent Quaker minister. The journal of her 1757 religious visit with Grace Fisher to Quaker meetings in the Concord Quarter is included in the collection. Mary and Jacob's grandson, Thomas Lightfoot, was an Indian Agent in southeastern Nebraska during the period of Quaker involvement in President U.S. Grant's "peace policy." Another descendent, Thomas Montgomery Lightfoot, did extensive genealogical research on the Quaker families that settled in Maiden Creek. The papers of Thomas and Mary...(see more)

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