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Allen and Roberts Family papers
Notifications
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
Quaker farmer, inventor, and manufacturer, Samuel Allen (1841-1918) was the son of John and Rebecca Leeds Allen. He attended Westtown School near Philadelphia and married Sarah Hooten Roberts in 1866. As early as 1866, Allen had experimented with two tin wash basins attached by a metal clasp. The basins rotated and spread fertilizer or garden seed evenly. He and Elisha Roberts formed the S.L. Allen & Co., which made Planet Junior Gardening Equipment and later invented the sled known as "The Flexible Flyer." They were later bought out by a New York firm. (from Dictionary of Quaker Biography)
Sarah H. Roberts Allen (1843-1928) married Samuel Allen in 1866 and was the daughter of Elisha Roberts and Elizabeth Hooten Roberts (1819-1889). She died in Orlando, Florida, "in her 86th year". She was a member of Chester Monthly Meeting, New Jersey. (from The Friend, v. 101, p. 494)
Susan Janney Allen, daughter of Sarah and Samuel Allen, was possibly conducting missionary work with displaced Native Americans, and also the corresponding secretary and treasurer of "The Friendly Haven Association."
Elisha and Elizabeth Roberts's children were: William Hunt, Samuel S., Anna B., David, Sarah H., and Joseph Roberts.
Primarily correspondence of the Quaker Roberts and Allen families of the Philadelphia area in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Central figures include: Samuel L. Allen (1841-1918), Sarah (Sallie) H. Roberts Allen (1843-1928), Susan Janney Allen, Anna B. (Annie) Roberts, and Lillie Allen. Their topics provide insight into social networking and close family ties as well as health issues, attendance at Meeting, and some travel, occasionally noting external events such as the Civil War.
Letters and papers arranged alphabetically by author.
Original processing information unknown.
People
- Roberts family
- Allen family
- Allen, Susan Janney
- Roberts, Elisha
- Roberts, Lizzie
- Allen, Sarah H. Roberts
- Allen, Samuel Leeds
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
Samuel Allen's letters are primarily to his daughter, Susan, as well as to his wife and parents, mainly with details of his travel, business and family. He writes about attending an agricultural meeting (1872); visiting rice swamps in Georgia (1885); contemplating manufacturing sleds as well as agricultural implements (1887); business problems for Philadelphia Quaker meetings (1887); hopes Germany will follow Russia's example into a republic form of government (1917)
Physical Description30 items
50 items
Primarily written while traveling, the letters often refer to interactions with Native Americans in various parts of the United States and a great deal about driving
Physical Description25 items
Other letter writers include: Charles Allen, E. Allen, Elizabeth Allen, George Allen, John C. Allen, Lillie Allen, Ruthanna Allen
Physical Description30 items
Letter writers include:
Rachel Alsop (ca. 25 items), Frances Andrews (3 items), Mrs. Arnold (1 item)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Anna B. (1 item), E. Balderston (1 item) , Jane Bartlett (1 item), J. Henry Bartlett (1 item), B. Barton (1 item), H.J. Beans (1 item), Frances Boice (2 items), J.T. Braun (1 item), Thomas K. Brown (1 item: mistakes in relations with [Native Americans]), Brown's Mills TB Sanatorium, Lucy Burt (4 items), John Bushnell(1 item: interested in [Susan] Allen's Noiseless Portable), G.D. Bustamante (1 item: interested in Samuel Allen's machines)
Physical Description1 folders
California Book-plate Society (1 item); Carter family (3 items)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Clarice d'Apery (2 items); Ruthanna de Couo (3 items); Carrie Denton (1 item); -, Dickson (1 item); Elizabeth Dunn (1 item); S.J. D. (1 item);
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Essie Edgerton (8 items); Grace Evans (1 item); Rebecca Evans (1 item); William Bacon Evans (3 items); Mary Ewing (2 items);
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Mary Anna Forsythe (2 items; refers to Sarah Allen's grandparents as being superintendent and matron as Westtown School); Prince Gardner (5 items: relating to Society of Friends issues); S. Garrett (3 items); H. Goodwin (1 item); Gribbel family (1 item); Mary G. (1 item)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: H. Howson (1 item); Hayes Lithographing Co. (2 items); Hearth & Home (1 item); Anna Hiss (1 item); Dora Hoag (1 item); Susanna House (1 item); Ed Hunt (1 item); S.H. (1 item); Innes & Sons (1 item)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: J.G. Martin (1 item); Louisa Jacob (1 item); Elizabeth James (2 items); Anna Janney (1 item); Susan W. Janney (ca. 2o items, 1862-1916); Herbert Job (1 item); Helen Just (1 item). Highlights include: Janney, Susan. 1862-63. [refers to ravages of Civil War, some of which have affected her family]
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Ida Kei-- (1 item); Charles Kellogg (2 items); Emily Kellog (ca. 20 items); Anna Ketchal (1 item)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Emma Langenecker (ca. 20 items);Morris E. Leeds (1 item); M.M. Leeds (1 item); Sarah Leeds (1 item)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Esther MacAdam (3 items); Mansfield Shop (2 items); Rebecca Matlack (1 item); Henry Merrill (2 items); Ambler Moncure (3 items); Edith Moncure (1 item); Moore's Rural New York (1 item)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Sarah and H.S. Paine (2 items); Paragon Shorthand Institute (1 item); Paul Peck (1 item)
Physical Description1 folders
1864-1873 & n.d. ca. 25 items. Written primarily to her sister, Sallie Roberts Allen on issues relating to family, attending Meeting, visiting with friends and the events of daily life, with a reference to polio (1873 8/17)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: A.W. Roberts (2 items); David Roberts (2 items); E.H. R[oberts?] (3 items); Elisha Roberts (5 items); E.W. [Elizabeth Weston] Roberts (ca. 10 items); Lizzie Roberts (ca. 15 items); William H. Roberts (2 items). Contents relate daily life, family, friends and acquaintances, many written from Westtown and affording some information about the school
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: William Rhoads (2 items); Arthur Richie (1 item); Edward B. Richie (6 items); Isaac Richards (3 items); E.H. Rollins (1 item); [Rugs] (1 item); R.H. R-- (1 item); Ruth R-- (1 item); Margaret R-- (1 item) Note: In 1885, Samuel Allen, Edward Richie and William H. Roberts are on the letterhead for S.L. Allen & Co. stationery
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: C.F. Saunders (6 items); H.C. Scattergood (1 item); Thomas Cattergood (1 item); Ann Sharpless (1 item); R.G. Smedley (3 items); Smiley Brothers (1 item); Anna Smith (5 items); E.B. Stokes (2 items); Joshua Stokes (1 item); William Stokes (1 item) Note: Item for Joshua Stokes is a funeral announcement (1867)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Amelia Taber (1 item); E. Tatnall (2 items); Lucy Tatnall (2 items); R.A. Tatnall (ca. 20 items); Alice Taylor (1 item); Ann Thayer (1 item); P.S. Thayer (1 item); Wanda Thomas (1 item); William Tomsley? (1 item)
Physical Description1 folders
Letter writers include: Susan Walker (1 item); Anna Warrington (1 item); A.B. Way (1 item); Westtown School (4 items); Edward Wildman (2 items); Lydia Willis (2 items); Robert Wood (3 items); Edward Yarnall (2 items)
Physical Description1 folders
3 folders
10 photographs, all taken in Hugo OK in 1917 depicting unnamed people and fields of flowers: coreopsis & roses. The envelope in which they were found was labeled "Sue's Oklahoma."
Physical Description1 folders
Includes the papers of Charles Allen, Samuel L. Allen, Sarah H. Roberts Allen and Susan Janney Allen.
Allen, Charles: 3 student exercise notebooks, including copy work, Latin, therapeutic applications;
Allen, Samuel L.: Notes re agricultural tools made during trips to Calif. and Brocton in 1898 & 1899; Financial accounts, 1864-82;
Roberts, Sallie H. (later Sallie Roberts Allen): 2 diaries, 1864 & 1866;
Allen, Susan J.: Grades from Westtown Boarding School, 1895; 2 financial accounts; '"The Friendly Haven Association" Industrial Home and Hospital Service for the Welfare and Uplift of the American Indian'. Susan J. Allen, Corresponding Sec'y & Treas.