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James Wood papers

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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.

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James Wood was born on November 12, 1839 to Stephen and Phoebe (Underhill) Wood on a farm just north of Mt. Kisco, New York. He was the youngest of seven children, and "started his early religious training with his parents at Mt. Kisco." (American Bible Society (ABS)). His formal education included the local Bedford Academy, the Westtown School of Pennsylvania (1850-1851) and Haverford College (1853-1857). While at Haverford College, Wood was the editor of the "Collegian," and president of the Henry Society. Listed as a graduate of 1858, Wood also received an honorary master's degree in 1883 after "he gave an illuminating course of historical lectures at Haverford College," (Jones). James Wood married Emily Hollingsworth Morris on June 6 (or possibly 7), 1866; the couple had three children: Ellen M., Carolena M. and Levi Hollingsworth. After graduating from Haverford College, Wood's activities diversified. According to the American Bible Society's biography of Wood, he was "interested in education, philanthropy, in the various branches of agriculture, in archaeology, history, Indian lore, anthropology, science, in prison reform and above all, in the Bible and religion," (ABS, 2). Professionally, Wood served as President of the Genesee Salt Company in Piffard, New York. Yet he was also committed to agricultural work; becoming one of the first American breeders of Ayrshire cattle and Hampshire Down sheep, as well serving as the president of the Bedford Farmers' Club. He also served on the Board of Managers of Haverford College from 1885 to 1925 and as a trustee of Bryn Mawr College starting in 1902, and eventually becoming a board chairman from 1914 to 1918.

His interest in prison reform can be seen in his involvement in founding the New York State Reformatory for Women at Bedford, serving as president of the Board of Managers from 1900 to 1916; as a member of the Executive Committee of the New York Prison Association; and as the president of Westchester Temporary Home for Destitute Children. Wood was known as "a leader in prison reform and methods of correction." (ABS, p. 2). Politically, Wood unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1886, and acted as the town supervisor of Bedford, New York from 1862 to 1863.

Among Wood's many interests, the Bible and religion were extremely important to him. According to the American Bible Society, he was "one of the outstanding leaders and a spokesman of his own church, the Society of Friends," (ABS, page 6). From 1855 to 1925, Wood served in many capacities with several Quaker organizations. His roles include serving as the presiding clerk of the New York Yearly Meeting of Friends, the president of the General Conference of Friends in 1887, chairman of the Westchester County Bible Society from 1893 to 1925, vice president of the American Bible Society from 1903 to 1911, the 14th President of the American Bible Society from 1911 to 1919, and president Emeritus of the American Bible Society from 1919 to 1925. Additionally, in 1893, Wood was asked to present the "views and ideals of the Society of Friends at the Congress of Religions held at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago." (ABS) He also wrote a pamphlet entitled "The Distinguished Doctrines of the Religious Society of Friends," in 1898. In 1902, Wood and his daughter Carolena served as delegates to the 4th Quinquennial Conference of the Society of Friends in Indianapolis.

Wood died on December 19, 1925 in Mt. Kisco, New York. According to the American Bible Society, James Wood's grandson, (also named James Wood), followed his grandfather by graduating from Haverford College in 1950, serving as a trustee of Bryn Mawr College, and as President of the American Bible Society from 1984 to 1989. Wood is remembered as someone "who served his church on a national and world level as well as in his own community," (ABS, p. 14).

Bibliography:

American Bible History. http://www.americanbiblehistory.com/james_wood.html (accessed July 7, 2010).

American Bible Society Remembrance of James Wood, undated (Box 1).

Jones, Rufus M. "James Wood," The American Friend, Vol. XIII, No. 53, December 25, 1925.

The James Wood papers are divided into twelve series: "Biographical Material:" "Agriculture;" Business and Financial Material;" "Collected Quaker Material;" "Correspondence;" "Hugh Barbour Writings and Talks regarding James Wood;" "Journals;" "Organizations;" "Photographs and Albums;" "Political Involvement;" Prison Reform;" and lastly, "Writings by James Wood." This collection contains many materials, including correspondence, photographs, record books, awards, and printed material such as newspapers and pamphlets. Given Wood's heavy involvement in agriculture, this collection has high research value for those interested in farming methods, live stock breeding, and general agriculture history from the late nineteenth to early-twentieth centuries. Also of note to researchers is a series covering Wood's work in female prison reform, which includes several official reports and newspaper stories in this area.

The "Biographical" series contains records spanning Wood's time at Haverford in 1865 to notices of his passing in 1925 and 1926. Highlights of this series include the "Clippings" folder, which contains several newspaper articles about James Wood. Also included in this series is his 1865 Haverford College paper titled "Journeyings," as well as obituaries from many newspapers. The Westchester County Historical Society and American Bible Society published their own remembrances of Wood, which are included in this series. Also found in this series is Wood's Marriage Certificate from 1866, and an autograph album from 1886. Researchers looking for biographical information on James Wood should use this series as well as the "Hugh Barbour Writings and Talks regarding James Wood" series.

The series "Agriculture" contains writings and materials collected by James Wood, regarding his farming activities and involvement. The series is divided into the following six subseries: "Writings by James Wood;" "Collected Materials;" "Sheep Material;" "Farm Dog Material;" "Horse Material;" and "Poultry Material." "Writings by James Wood" include his speeches and published works, as well as his paper, "Ideas on Horticulture." Within "Collected Materials," are "Collected farming documents and materials" that Wood kept, such as pamphlets regarding local taxation affecting farms, lists of farming materials and other related items. Also included within "Collected Materials," is the "History of the Bedford Farmers Club" by Wood, his certificate of nomination to National Farmer's Congress, and the New York Farmers Proceedings.

Also within the series, "Agriculture," are the following four subseries: "Sheep Material;" "Farm Dog Material;" "Horse Material;" and "Poultry Material." These four subseries hold materials such as clippings, notes, records, and awards. Of the four, "Sheep Material," is the most extensive. Included in this subseries are "Writings on Sheep in various publications by others;" "Writings on Sheep by James Wood in the Cultivator and Country Gentleman" from 1884 and 1887; and "Correspondence regarding Bulk Sheep." Also found within the subseries is additional correspondence, clippings, competition materials, photographs, and flock records.

The "Business and Financial" series contains Wood's records of the Genesee Salt Company, Arizona Improvement Company, and Erie Barge Canal. Wood was involved with these companies from 1896 to 1906. Included in this series are many of his financial records from Hamilton Bank, the Dickinson Family Estate, and Insurance information.

The "Collected Quaker Material" series reflects Wood's great involvement in Quaker affairs. Included are various clippings and publications on Quaker events, as well as Quaker meeting materials from the New York Yearly Meeting (1893-1925), the Five Years Meeting at Braewold (1902), and the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (undated).

The series "Correspondence" consists of letters sent to and from Wood. These are arranged as the following: "To James Wood" (alphabetically by sender's last name); "From James Wood" (alphabetical by recipient's last name); "To James Wood" (alphabetical by country or city of sender): and "Invitations and Cards to James Wood." Within those arranged by country or city of origin, are letters sent to James Wood from across the world, including Austria, Holland, Panama, Cuba, and Scotland.

The "Hugh Barbour Writings and Talks regarding James Wood" series include works by Barbour related to James Wood. A biographer of Wood from the 1990s onwards, Barbour wrote on Wood's life in Mount Kisco, and his involvement in the Quaker movement at Braewold. Barbour presented these writings at the Earlham School of Religion (1994) and at the Quaker Historian and Archivists Meeting (1996).

The series "Journals" contains two journals kept by Wood, one of which is titled "Journeyings" from 1864 which contains the notes on the paper, of the same title, written by Wood as a student at Haverford College. The other spans many years, detailing information from 1881 through 1916.

The "Organizations" series contains records of Wood's involvement in several organizations, including the American Bible Society, the town of Bedford, Braewold Meeting, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, the Good Roads, and White Plains Court House. Researchers should consult the folder containing Wood's resignation as the President of the American Bible Society as it summarizes his involvement with the Society.

"Photographs and Albums" is the ninth series within the collection. This series contains photograph albums from Egypt; England; Europe; Germany and Switzerland; and Palestine. These albums have been carefully created, and each photograph is accompanied by a caption. Also found in this series is a Postal Souvenirs postcard album, holding photo postcards from his travels. Additionally, researchers will find individual photographs of James Wood and his family within this series.

The "Political Involvement" series contains predominately newspaper clippings related to James Wood's unsuccessful candidacy for National Congress in 1886.

The "Prison Reform" series contains newspaper clippings, published New York State reports, and statements by James Wood on reforming women's prison conditions in New York. Also included are newspaper clippings written by others regarding Wood's work in this area. This series has high research value for anyone interested in prison reform from the period spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The final series, "Writings by James Wood," contains his "Addresses and Lectures," writings "On Topics," and "Notes." "Addresses and Lectures" contains such titles as "The Distinguishing Doctrine of the Religious Society of Friends," given in 1908 at the 12th Street Meeting House in Philadelphia and a "Historical Address," delivered to the Presbytery of Westchester in 1888. Wood wrote on a variety of topics and subjects, such as art and public worship, Quaker principles, education and social reform, immigration and development, and many others.

The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project.

This collection was minimally processed in 2009-2011, as part of an experimental project conducted under the auspices of the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries to help eliminate processing backlog in Philadelphia repositories. A minimally processed collection is one processed at a less intensive rate than traditionally thought necessary to make a collection ready for use by researchers. When citing sources from this collection, researchers are advised to defer to folder titles provided in the finding aid rather than those provided on the physical folder.

Employing processing strategies outlined in Mark Greene's and Dennis Meissner's 2005 article, More Product, Less Process: Revamping Traditional Processing Approaches to Deal With Late 20th-Century Collections, the project team tested the limits of minimal processing on collections of all types and ages, in 23 Philadelphia area repositories. A primary goal of the project, the team processed at an average rate of 2-3 hours per linear foot of records, a fraction of the time ordinarily reserved for the arrangement and description of collections. Among other time saving strategies, the project team did not extensively review the content of the collections, replace acidic folders or complete any preservation work.

Publisher
Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Forrest Wright
Finding Aid Date
December, 2009
Sponsor
The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources' "Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives" Project.
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Standard Federal Copyright Law applies (U.S. Title 17)

Collection Inventory

Archival Resource Key. Clippings, undated.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Journeyings, paper written while a student at Haverford College, 1865.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. End of Civil War clipping, 1865 February 23.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Marriage Certificate, 1866.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Travel Documents (Passports, Financial), undated.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Autograph Album, circa 1886.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Power of Attorney to L. Hollingsworth Wood (Son of James), 1910 June 4.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. American Bible Society Remembrance of James Wood, 1919-1998.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Will, 1923.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Historical Society Reference, 1924-1991.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Letters to Carolena Wood Morris, Ellen M., and Levi Hollingsworth Wood (James' children) regarding James Wood Death, 1925-1926.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Newspaper Obituaries of James Wood, 1925-1926.
Box 1

Archival Resource Key. Collected Writings, 1880-1889.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Speeches, 1884, 1888.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Ideas on Horticulture, 1910.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. List of Agricultural Societies and Farmers Clubs, 1876.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. New York Farmers Proceedings, 1884-1886.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. New York Agricultural Society, 1890.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Collected farming documents and materials, circa 1890s.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Live Stock Journal 1891 Almanac, 1891.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. The Bureau of Agriculture: Worlds Columbian Commission, 1893.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. History of the Bedford Farmers Club by James Wood, 1895 February 20.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. New York Certificate of Nomination to National Farmer's Congress, 1899.
Box 2
Archival Resource Key. Writings on Sheep in various publications by others, 1880-1889.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Writings on Sheep by James Wood in The Cultivator and Country Gentleman , 1884, 1887.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence and Clippings, 1886-1902.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Hampshire Down Flock Record 1890, 1890.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Hampshire Down Flock Record, 1891-1892.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Hampshire Down Flock Record, 1895-1896.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Competition materials, 1896-1899.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence regarding Bulk Sheep, 1897-1901.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Photographs, undated.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Subseries d. Farm Dog Material, undated.
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. Subseries e. Horse Material, 1884-1888.
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. Subseries f. Poultry Material, 1876.
Box 6

Arrangement note

Arranged by the importance in James Wood's career.

Archival Resource Key. Genesee Salt Company (3 folders), 1896-1906.
Archival Resource Key. Arizona Improvement Company, undated.
Box 8
Archival Resource Key. Erie Barge Canal, 1903.
Box 8
Archival Resource Key. Hamilton Bank and Checks, undated.
Box 8
Archival Resource Key. Dickinson Estate, 1896-1908.
Box 8
Archival Resource Key. Insurance Information, 1905-1924.
Box 8
Archival Resource Key. Income, 1904-1923.
Box 8
Archival Resource Key. Income Tax, 1914-1921.
Box 8
Archival Resource Key. Assorted records, 1888-1925.
Box 8

Archival Resource Key. "The Discipline", 1887-1890.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. New York Yearly Meeting, 1893-1925.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. The Friend, 1900.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Friends Quarterly Examiner, 1900.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Five Years Meeting at Braewold, 1902.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. "Spirit and Politics of Relief," Professor David McFadden, 1996.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Clippings from Quaker Events, undated.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, undated.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Publications and Clippings, undated.
Box 9

Archival Resource Key. Allen, Edward and William.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Braithwaite, J.N.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Burroughs, E.M.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Cross, Emeline.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Doyle, Elizabeth.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Friends (Quaker).
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Grauf, Frances Louis.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Harris, J. Rendel.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Harrison.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. High Point Normal and Industrial School.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Male, William H.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Peace Congress.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Rhoades, J.E.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Robinson.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Speakman, Martha.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Wood, Ellen Morris.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Unidentified.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Shinn, James, 1891 March.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Wood, Ellen Morris.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Wood, Carolena; Levi Hollingsworth; Ellen.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Austria.
Box 11
Archival Resource Key. Caledonia (steam ship).
Box 11
Archival Resource Key. Canada.
Box 11
Archival Resource Key. Cuba, Mexico, Texas, California, Utah, Colorado, Chicago, New York.
Box 11
Archival Resource Key. Dresden, 1891.
Box 11
Archival Resource Key. England.
Box 11
Archival Resource Key. Europe (2 folders), 1881, 1890, 1891, 1892.
Archival Resource Key. France.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Germany.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Holland.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Ireland.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Isle of Mann.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Italy.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Norway.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. New York City.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Panama.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Scotland.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Switzerland.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Wales.
Box 12
Archival Resource Key. Subseries d. Invitations and Cards to James Wood.
Box 12

Archival Resource Key. "New York Friends as a Model of American Quaker History," presented at Earlham School of Religion dinner, 1994 November 9.
Box 13
Archival Resource Key. "James Wood: Letters and Papers at Braewold", 1995.
Box 13
Archival Resource Key. "The Woods of Mount Kisco", 1996-1997.
Box 13
Archival Resource Key. "The Woods of Mount Kisco," presented at Quaker Historian and Archivists Meeting, 1996.
Box 13
Archival Resource Key. "Quaker Cross-Currents", 1990s.
Box 13
Archival Resource Key. American National Biography submission, 2001.
Box 13

Archival Resource Key. "Journeyings" journal notes (regarding paper written as a student at Haverford College), 1864.
Box 14
Archival Resource Key, 1881-1916.
Box 14

Archival Resource Key. American Bible Society: James Wood Presidential Resignation, 1919.
Box 15
Archival Resource Key. Bedford: Biographical Sketches of past town Supervisors, 1994.
Box 15
Archival Resource Key. Braewold: Writings about James Wood, 1867-1901.
Box 15
Archival Resource Key. Bryn Mawr (3 folders), 1896-1963.
Box 15
Archival Resource Key. Haverford College material, undated.
Box 15
Archival Resource Key. New York Appointment of James Wood to represent Good Roads Conference, 1895.
Box 15
Archival Resource Key. White Plains Court House, 1864.
Box 15

Archival Resource Key. Egypt photo album, undated.
Box 16
Archival Resource Key. England photo album, 1890s.
Box 16
Archival Resource Key. Europe photo album, undated.
Box 17
Archival Resource Key. Germany and Switzerland photo album, undated.
Box 17
Archival Resource Key. Palestine photo album, undated.
Box 18
Archival Resource Key. Postal Souvenirs, postcard album, undated.
Box 18
Archival Resource Key. Photographs of James Wood and Family (3 Folders), undated.
Box 18
Archival Resource Key. Photographs of Emily Wood, undated.
Box 18
Archival Resource Key. Unidentified photograph, undated.
Oversize Roll

Archival Resource Key. Clippings regarding James Wood, undated.
Box 19
Archival Resource Key. Congressman candidacy, 1886.
Box 19

Archival Resource Key. Publications, Reports, and Clippings regarding Women Prison, 1913-1996.
Box 19

Archival Resource Key. Historical Address, (Delivered to the Presbytery of Westchester), 1888.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. "The Society of Friends and its Mission", 1893.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. "The Bi-Centennial of the New York Yearly Meeting: An Historical Sketch," (An Address Delivered at the Celebration at Flushing), April 29, 1895.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. "The Purchase Meeting," (Quaker Hill Series), 1905.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. "George Fox," (Fox Oaks in Flushing), 1907.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. "The Distinguishing Doctrines of the Religious Society of Friends," (A lecture delivered at 12th Street Meeting House, Philadelphia), 1908 January 24.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. Untitled, (Friends Church), 1909.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. Art and Public Worship, undated.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. Colonies and Governments, undated.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. Confederation and Constitution, undated.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. The Development of Doctrine in the Progress of the Protestant Reformation in England, undated.
Box 20
Archival Resource Key. Discovery and Settlement, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Early Christianity and War, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Education and Social Reform, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. European Letter, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Extemporaneous Speaking, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Haverford College, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Immigration and Development, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. The Indians of the West, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Irish Home Rule, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. The New Constitution and Discipline, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Nine Partners Celebration, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Pastoral Needs of our Congregation, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. The Pastoral Question, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Periods of American History, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Principles of Government, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Quaker Freedom or Thought, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Quaker Principles and Church Government, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Questions for Ministers or Elders, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Reasons for the Existence of the Religious Society of Friends, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. The Relation of Quaker Doctrine to Modern Thought, undated.
Box 21
Archival Resource Key. Subseries c. Notes.
Box 21

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