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Henry H. Albertson collection
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Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
William Hodgson, Jr. (1804-1878) was in the pharmaceutical business in Philadelphia with Daniel B. Smith as Smith Hodgson Manufacturing Chemists. He also helped establish the Primitive Friends Meeting in 1860. (Biographical information from "Dictionary of Quaker Biography").
Henry Albertson (1835-1895) was the son-in-law of William Hodgson, and a member of Primitive Friends, Olive Street (Philadelphia) Meeting. He married Mary R. Hodgson in 1871 (Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy Vol. II (1938) p. 948). He died at Lansdowne, Pa. (Biographical information from Friends Intelligencer 52 (1895) p. 380).
Henry Haines Albertson (1880-1959) attended Friends Select School and Cornell University and became a fruit grower near Ithaca N.Y. and then in Burlington, N.J. He served for many years as Clerk of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings. He married Maria Moon; children who survived him are Edith Albertson Greene, Elizabeth R. Albertson, Eleanor A. Murphey and Mary A. Thom (Biographical information from Friends Journal 5 (1959) p. 592).
Includes letters, many of which are by and to William Hodgson (1804-1878). All or most of the letter writers are Friends; a number of them are British Friends. Topics often include visits to other Friends, attending Meeting, health, religious or philosophical reflections, and because of the period of writing, often refer to the Wilbur-Gurney controversy.
Materials are arranged in series: letters (8 folders); biographical sketches and miscellaneous documents (1 folder); extracts and copies of documents (1 folder); graphics (1 folder).
A framed silhouette of William Hodgson (1804-1878) cut by Auguste Edouart in 1843 contained in this collection has been placed in 812A-R.
Gift of Edith Albertson Greene, February and April, 1983 and Edith Albertson Greene and Mary Thom, January and February, 1986. Accession #4399, 4456, 5982.
Original processing information unknown.
People
- Albertson, Henry Haines
- Albertson, Henry
- Hodgson, William
- Hodgson, Elizabeth
- Wilbur, John, 1774-1856
- Gurney, Joseph John, 1788-1847
Subject
- Publisher
- Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).
Collection Inventory
Correspondents include: H.H. Albertson, Robert Alsop, Lydia Barclay, Peter Bedford, Alice H. Carter, George Crosfield, Susan Dickinson.
Highlights include: Barclay, Lydia A. to William Hodgson. Aberdeen, Scotland, 1849-1854. 4 items. Wants to send some Quaker books to America, especially to mid-west where "old fashioned" books are "scarce"; she is working on journal of John Couran of Ireland; mentions E[lisha] Bates and other Quakers (1850); mentions John Wilbur and many English Friends, including J.J. Gurney, and their visits to America. scopecontent
Correspondents include: Thomas Evans, E.W.F. (sister of Stephen Otis), Thomas Frankland, C.E.G., L.E.G., S.C.G., Stephen Gorham, Stephen Gould, Phebe Haines, M. Hodgson.
Highlights include: -Frankland, Thomas to William Hodgson. Liverpool, 1827-38. 3 items. Describes agitation in the Meeting, especially an allegation of uneasiness with ministry of A. Braithwaite and Elisha Bates (1836); J.J Gurney finds "sound, worthy Friends" in the U.S., info about Gurney: was the only male English minister attending Yearly Meeting in Dublin where some disunity reported, but not in doctrinal subjects (1838) -G., L.E. to ? Sussex, Eng., 1870 6/17. Listing and discussion of important Quaker books. -G., S.C. to Mary Otis. Wales, [1875?] 1/11. Friends Meeting near Lord Powers' castle (whose ancestors were reportedly good to Quakers); other Quakers mentioned as well as travel -Gould, Stephen to John Wilbur. Newport, R.I., 1835 12/2. Reports that Thomas Evans is alarmed by state of Society (of Friends) in Ohio which could result in schism; mentions "Nixites" and Beaconites; several anti-Quaker books published; mentions several Friends -Harrison, John to William Hodgson. Manchester, [England], 1844 7/9. States gladness that despite hindrances, Truth of early Friends still maintained; pleased to hear of Hodgson's new publication and would sell some in England if sent; gives disparaging remarks about "Paul" in Letters of Paul and Amicus; other "right-minded" Friends. -Hodgson, (son of William) to Father. [n.d.] Discusses business, weather, family. -Hoyle, Benjamin to William Hodgson. Barnesville [Ohio], 1848 4/27. States hopes for end of difficulties within the Society; concern that Hodgson not recognizing the "smaller body" at the Yearly Meeting. scopecontent
Letters: Elizabeth Hodgson, 1854-1858 (mostly n.d.). 1 folder, 18 items. Most of the letters are directed to her husband, William Hodgson. They touch on daily events, various Friends, attending Meeting, visiting fellow Friends, health, news of his business.
Highlights include: -E.R.H. [Hodgson, Elizabeth] to William Hodgson. Philadelphia, 1843 5/18. Discusses experimental cure for consumption; arrival of the ship "TP Cope"; member of Balby Monthly Meeting has been refused reinstatement, apparently because does not adhere to "plain speech, etc." -Hodgson, Elizabeth to William Hodgson. Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania], 1854 6/12. Mentions Hannah Richardson, Phebe Haines and her visit to other Monthly Meetings; some news of his business. scopecontent
--- Letters: William Hodgson, 1839-1849 & n.d. 1 folder 13 items. Most of the letters are directed to his wife, Elizabeth Hodgson. They tell of travel in Pennsylvania, especially about quality of the roads, friends (Friends) seen, scenery, Meetings for Worship, Monthly and Preparative Meetings.
Highlights include: -Hodgson, William to Elizabeth Hodgson. Mount Carbon [Pennsylvania], 1839 6/19. Primarily on travel: roads, rail, scenery -Hodgson, William to Elizabeth Hodgson. Wolf Run [Pennsylvania], 1842 4/24. States reasons for visits to other Meetings include deficient attendance of religious meetings or "use or give ardent spirits"; describes the variety of people visited. -Hodgson, William to Elizabeth Hodgson. Wellsborough, [Pennsylvania?], 1842 5/31. Discusses visits with families that did not conform with their understanding of Quaker Meeting practices, "they were not quite free from Hicksism…", but felt it was "better than roaming among the woods or doing worse" -Hodgson, William to Elizabeth Hodgson. Muncy, [Pennsylvania], 1842 6/3. Speaks about the new settlement of Friends known as "Pennsdale" -Hodgson, William to Elizabeth Hodgson. Danville, 1849 10/12. States traveling as far as Port Clinton with Josiah White, Erskine Hazard and others. scopecontent
Correspondents include: Ann Jones, William Kirkwood, Daniel Koll, Enos Lee, Solomon Lukins, Robert A. Mather, Joseph E. Maule, Edward C. May, George Mendenhall, Samuel Moon, John Moore, H.F. Newhall.
Highlights include: -Jones, Ann to William Hodgson. Stockport [England?], 1843 4/13. Mentions disownment and persecution of John Wilbur and the reportedly lax state of things in Indiana, divisions in the Society -Koll, Daniel to William Hodgson. 1868-1870. 7 items. Religious thoughts and health issues -Mather, Robert A. to William Hodgson. Sydney, New South Wales, 1842 4/8. Discusses numbers of Friends in Sydney and elsewhere in the country [Australia] -Maule, Joseph E. to Samuel D. Otis. Philadelphia, 1867 1/13. Speaks of issues in Meetings; reports Ohio has suffered as a result of war and bounty claims -Mendenhall, George to Solomon Lukins. Greensboro, North Carolina, 1826 4/28. States that on the advice of Elizabeth Robson he has purchased a woman and child for $441; States that although he owns black people, he does not think of himself as an enslaver; although disowned, he still considers himself a Quaker; brother Richard chartering a boat to move enslaved peoples held captive by the Quakers to Haiti and Liberia (fragile condition) -Moon, Samuel to Mariana Otis. Morrisville Nursery, [New Jersey], 1883 12/30. Speaks on bountiful toys at the Wanamaker store; photos taken of their windmill, house, greenhouse and barn. scopecontent.
Correspondents include: H.B. Orchard, Deborah Otis, Lois Otis, Stephen G. Otis, John Pease.
Highlights include: -Orchard, H.B. to Mrs. Albertson. 1895 6/22. Sends condolences on the death of her husband, Henry. scopecontent
Correspondents include: Elizabeth R. Richardson, Rachel Rickman, Nelson E. Russell, C. Sargent, John G. Sargent, Thomas Thompson, Samuel Tuke, John Wilbur, Charles Wilson, Mary Wistar, Thomas Wood.
Highlights include: -Russell, Nelson E. to Greene Base Hospital, No. 23, 1918 8/1. Speaks of arrival in France and are running to capacity; mentions heart cases and gas victims. -Sargent, C. to "Fils" Fritchley, 1870 6/9. Refers to J[ohn] Wilbur. -Thompson, Thomas to William Hodgson. Liverpool, [England], 1836-1838. Re: Beaconites (1/19/1836); Reports events in Meeting resulted in several resignations, including of Isaac Crewdson and his wife [Elizabeth (Jowitt) Crewdson] from their eldership. In another letter dated 11/8/1836,speaks of continued agitation in the Meeting and trials of T.R. -Tuke, Samuel to William Hodgson. York, 1839 9/18. Speaks of dissension in the Society; traveling Friends, including the deceased Israel Pemberton. -Wilbur, John to Job Otis. Hopkinton, 1848 1/1. Condolences re: Otis' deceased wife; describes situation in Scipio Quarterly Meeting and publications regarding Wilbur-Gurney controversy. scopecontent
Miscellaneous - 19th century copies -Graphics, 1839 and n.d. 1 folder. 2 items. -"A Remarkable Dream, 1762" copied for Elizabeth Balderson in 1822 (acc. 6523) scopecontent
Unidentified Writers. 1 folder. 6 items.
Highlights include: -Hanna. Sherwood, 1881 9/22. Says she is going to teach at Union Seminary; speaks of love life. scopecontent
Biographical sketches (Joseph Hoag, David Sands); issue of marriage between schismatically-separated Friends; attack on The Friend signed by William Rhoads, Joseph Walton, Anne Peirce and Robert M. Smith (1857); other issues relating to the Society of Friends, such as answers to the query whether it is proper to marry the sister of a deceased wife.
Extracts from memories, narratives, memos, epistles, journals, also copies of sermons and epistles (19th century copies)
Silhouette of Thomas Shillitoe (1754-1836). Printed by Thomas Hodgson,Liverpool, [England] 1839. Also pencil sketch of silhouette. scopecontent