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Elkinton, Waring Family 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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Katharine Wistar Mason Elkinton (1892-1961) was the daughter of Quakers Katharine Evans Stokes Mason and Samuel Mason. She attended Westtown School and took courses at a business college. She married Howard Elkinton in October of 1916. During World War I, she and Howard worked for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in France as relief workers (1917-1919). She taught and worked in the maternity ward of a hospital in Chalons while Howard was posted in Sermaize. Upon their return to the United States, the couple helped to found Chestnut Hill Monthly Meeting. In 1923, Katharine Elkinton established, along with business partner Sydney Cole, the Germantown Book Store in the front room of their home. The bookstore closed when both women were expecting babies. A printed postcard for the bookstore showed a Hessian soldier fleeing Philadelphia. In 1938, Katharine and Howard went to Germany; while Howard was director of the AFSC Berlin office, Katharine helped over 1,000 professional Jewish women emigrate to Australia.
Howard West Elkinton (1892-1955), the son of Joseph Elkinton and Sarah West Passmore, was a graduate of Haverford College and worked for the Philadelphia Quartz Company, a family business, until ca. 1930. He married Katharine Mason in October of 1916. They both worked in France during World War I, he in Sermaize doing harvesting work. He went to Germany in 1938 under AFSC auspices, this time as director of their Berlin office. He suffered broken bones in a car accident on his way to Poland. Back in the United States, Howard joined the Carl Schurz Memorial Foundation in 1944 to assist Wilbur Thomas in editing the Schurz magazine and the American-German Review, and became the executive director in 1946. He returned to Germany in 1947 and from 1948 to 1949, to investigate projects for the Oberlaender Trust and Foundation where he helped enable the rebuilding of the Goethe house and the establishment of the Free University in West Berlin.
Bernard Waring (1876-1959) founded the firm of Yarnall-Waring Company with D. Robert Yarnall. He was one of the founders of the American Friends Service Committee in 1917 and was on the committee to set up Civilian Public Service camps for conscientious objectors to be run by Quakers.
Thomas Waring (1921-2001), son of Quakers Bernard and Grace Waring, graduated from Wesleyan University in 1948. He spent the summer of 1942 on Wilbur and Mildred Young's share cropper land, and later worked on the Taylor farm, before transferring to a Civilian Public Service camp at Big Flats, New York and later in Coleville, California and Wells, Nevada in lieu of military service. He later served as an orderly at the Elmira hospital, a psychiatric institution. He and Theodora Elkinton married in 1946, and in 1947, the pair went to Finland as AFSC relief workers to help rebuild houses. In 1948, Thomas began teaching at the Shady Hill School in Nahant, Massachusetts, then Graland in Denver, Colorado, and back to Massachusetts (to teach and later as headmaster) at the Cambridge Friends School. He was clerk of Wellesley Meeting until 1978. He and Theodora divorced in 1979, and he later married Shirley Norton.
Theodora Elkinton Waring (1927-), daughter of Howard and Katharine Elkinton, attended Germantown Friends School from 1940 to 1944. Prior to that, she attended the Quaker school in Eerde (Netherlands), while her father worked for the AFSC in Germany. She began her involvement with Young Friends Fellowship in 1935 when she was 16; in 1943, she went to a Junior Work Camp at Vinal Haven Island in Maine; she started her association with Young Friends in 1943 as well. She attended Smith College as a religion major, but did not graduate. After her marriage to Thomas Waring in 1946, at Coulter Street Meeting in Philadelphia, they went to do relief work for refugees in Karelia, Finland. Their first child was born in 1949, and four more children followed. Thomas Waring's jobs took them to Massachusetts and Colorado and back to the east coast. She received her bachelor's from Simmons University in 1971, a master's in education from Lesley College in 1973, a master's in divinity from Harvard University, and finally a doctorate from Boston University School of Theology in 1983. This education prepared her to serve as a chaplain at the New England Baptist Hospital and later at the Danbury State Hospital. In 2001, she traveled to Japan to study Inazo Nitobe, who had married her great-aunt Mary Elkinton. Elkinton Waring is author of the book Sacred trust: a Quaker family since 1816, published in 2007.
This collection spans almost two centuries (1815-2006) and offers insight into the daily lives and work of the Elkinton and Waring families. The collection focuses on Howard and Katherine Elkinton and Theodora, their daughter, their daughter, who married Thomas Waring.
The papers provide insight into the private and public aspects of their lives, including Howard and Katharine Elkinton's work to assist in post-World War I France and again in Germany during World War II, both times under the auspices of the American Friends Service Committee. It is also includes information about the life of Theodora Elkinton Waring, who experienced events of the war when she and her brother attended a Quaker school at Eerde in the Netherlands, and again after the war in Finland, when she was a newly-married woman working with Thomas Waring, her husband, to help rebuild houses. The collection also tells the story of their intense relationship, which ended in divorce, and of Elkinton-Waring's determination to continue her education. She received her doctorate after her five children were grown and continued to give service as a chaplain.
In addition, the collection includes journals and letters of Evans, Stokes, Cope, and Mason family members, including the journal of Joseph Elkinton who worked among Native Americans in New York in 1816, as well as a letter of Sarah Moore Grimke and assorted papers of Peter Elkington, son of Howard and Katharine, and the children of Thomas and Theodora Elkinton Waring.
Other materials include detailed genealogical charts, biographical information, and photographs of various members of this extended family.
The Elkinton family name has been spelled variously as both Elkington and Elkinton, some members using one or the other spelling throughout their lives, others, including Theodora Elkinton Waring, changing the spelling during their lifetimes.
Letters and other materials are not all described, though total numbers are estimated for each section. Rather, letters or other documents of significance are chosen for description.
The Elkinton, Waring Family papers were donated to Special Collections, Haverford College in 2012 by Theodora Elkinton Waring.
Processed by Diana Franzusoff Peterson; completed July, 2013.
The following have been transferred to Quaker books (see Tripod for additional cataloging):
- The Lark's Nest / by L.V. Hodgkin. Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union, n.d.
- Sally Wister's Journal: a Tured Narrative. Bedford: Applewood Books, 1995.
- An American Quaker Inside Nazi Germany... / by Leonard S. Kenworth. Kennett Square: Quaker Publications, 1982.
- Another Dimension of the Holocaust: An American Quaker Inside Nazi Germany / by Leonard Kenworthy. Kennett Squares: World Affairs Material, 1982.
- Friends Face the World / ed. Leonard Kenworthy. Kennett Square: Quaker Publications, 1987.
- An Experiment in Frienddship... / by David Hinshaw. New York: G.P. Putnam, 1947.
- Quakers and Jews / by Allan Kohrman. 2004.
- Quaker Pioneers in Russia / by Jane Benson. London: Headley Bros., 1902.
- A Service of Love in Wartime / by Rufus M. Jones. New York: Macmillan, 1920.
- The Life of Dr. Nitobe / by Sukeo Kitasawa. Tokyo: Hokuseido, 1953.
- Reminiscences of Childhood / by Inazo Nitobe. Tokyo: Maruzen, 1934.
- The Ancestry and Descendants of George Elkinton of Burlington County, N.J. / by Arthur Adams. Hartford, 1945.
- Dr. Inazo Nitobe, Mary P.E. Nitobe. J. Passmore Elkinton, 1955.
- The Friends' Library ... / ed. William Evans and Thos. Evans. v. 22. Philadelphia: Jos. Rakestraw, 1838.
- Quiet Helpers Exhibit. Boston, Jan.-Feb., 2003.
- Quiet Helpers: Quaker Service in Postwar Germany / by Achim von Borries. Quaker Home Service & AFSC, 2000.
- In Rememberance [sic] of Things Past / by Peter W. Elkington. Revelstoke, B.C.: Peters, 1992.
- Pocono Lake Preserve ... / by James Zug et al. Pocono Lake Preserve, 2004.
- A Quaker Promise Kept... / by Lois Barton. Eugene Oregon: Spencer Butte, 1990.
People
- Nitobe, Inazō, 1862-1933
- Waring, Theodora Elkinton
- Elkinton, Howard W. (Howard West), 1892-1955
- Elkinton, Katharine Wistar, 1892-1961
- Waring, Thomas
- Elkinton family
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- Diana Franzusoff Peterson
- Finding Aid Date
- July, 2013
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
-
Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).
Collection Inventory
From various letter writers, 1860s-1870s, in several hands, but also epistles, poems, deeds, etc., primarily 1840s-1870s. There is an index at the end of the volume.
Physical Description1 volumes
Laid in is biographical information on Jonathan Evans (husband of Hannah Bacon) in an unidentified hand, no date
Physical Description1 volumes
3 volumes
4 volumes
Laid in are materials related to David C. Elkinton, Donald Elkinton Stokes and Donald E. Stokes
Grimke's letter of 1830 2/26 introduces a letter (in Grimke's hand) of Maria Haynes, an enslaved woman relating how she found religion and her gratitude to both Grimke sisters
"Record of her children." St. Anthony, Idaho, Tager Forest Reserve, no date. This record includes Katharine Mason Elkinton, mother of Theodora Elkinton Waring.
Another diary is dated 1919-1921
The volume begins with the dream of Benjamin Kite copied by his son, but includes copies of various other materials, e.g. testimony of Stephen Grellet, dream of Micah West, Remarkable transaction in Ireland, poems, extract of letters, convincements, religion among members of the Seneca Nation on the Buffalo Creek Reservation, etc.
The letters are written from Mexico where Bill appears to be scouting for a second home; mentions Francis Taylor and his work for AFSC in Mexico City; much discussion of money
Including from Katharine Wistar Evans Stokes, Jane E. Mason, Esther Stokes
Physical Description5 items
1 items
Letters from friends, clippings, programs upon the engagement of Howard & Kitty Elkinton
A description of Stephen Grellet after his return from Europe, 1813
1 items
typescript
4 items, 1939-2003, including letters to his grandmother in 1938 and to his sister (Dody) and certificate from Doukhobor Historical Society
1 items
1 items
Some of the notes on content are by the donor. Included are letters between Howard and Kitty as well as those of others to them. Not all the letters have notes, if content does not warrant.
A few childhood letters, ca. 1902-03 and reminiscences of life at Westtown, ca. 1911-12 by Katherine Wistar Mason Elkinton
Correspondence primarily of Howard Elkinton and Katharine Wistar Mason
Highlights include:
to Portia (aka KWM). Colorado, 7/31. Missed the Haverford summer school and Pocono Conference during his trip out west during the summer of his Haverford College junior year, which he describes (as well as in other letters to his family)
Correspondence primarily of Howard Elkinton and Katharine Mason. Often discuss family, friends and travel, including to Pocono Lake. Ca. 40 items
to Howard. 3/13. Refers to fellow newspaper men, as Howard was editor of the Haverford College Weekly
to Howard. 4/8. Refers to Alfred Noyes, poet laureate of the U.S. who was to speak at Haverford College
to Kitty. n.d. Has been selected for Phi Beta Kappa
Mason, Katharine E. to Sarah West Elkinton. 9/14. About her daughter and Howard Elkinton's relationship and her opinion on long engagements
to Howard. 9/17. Thinks she will take some courses at University of Pennsylvania
to Howard. 10/15. Will make a decision on their future together by spring. Suggests he would do well in publishing after graduation
Correspondence primarily of Howard Elkinton and Katharine Mason. Ca. 50 items
Highlights include:
to K.M. 2/8. The secret in mutual happiness is growth together. Discusses college for her, including attending Radcliffe, perhaps going into medicine
to H.E. 2/15. Suggests she might take up electioneering in the western states for the "grand cause of woman suff[erage]."
to K.M. 5/20. What would she think if he went to India for 3 years to help put Indians on a sound economical footing
to H.E. 7/6. Is at Northfield, Mass. for a Christian conference for girls
to family. 7/27. Revisiting his 1904 campsite at Naomi Pines.
to H.E. no date. Was at Westtown Boarding School where Rufus Jones, Morris E. Leeds and others were speakers on the ideals & requirements of a Quaker school
to H.E. 12/4. Is attending a business school, learning bookkeeping, shorthand and will start typing class
to K.M. 12/25. Is in Indiana working for Philadelphia Quartz Company; attaches a photo including Passmore Elkinton, two other people and himself
ca. 150 items (January-August in Box 4; September-December in Box 5)
The year Howard and Katharine became engaged; many letters of congratulations from family and friends, which also tell of other family events, but primarily between the two of them and giving a picture of who they are as individuals and the depth of their growing connection, as they probe any topic, from religion to literature. Many mentions of various family members
Highlights include:
to K.M. Anderson, 1/3. Job at Anderson, at least part of the time making barrels; New Year's outdoor skating.
to K.M.1/6. Only 4 letters in a month from Kitty and questions what has happened
to H.E. Germantown, 1/7. Kitty is learning shorthand in her business college courses
Cadbury, Henry J. Haverford, 2/8. Invites Kitty to Haverford and is happy for her
to H.E. Germantown, 2/13. She loves him even more after working out a difference of opinion
to K.M. New York, 2/13. Seems to be selling egg preserver for Philadelphia Quartz Co.
Elkinton, Joseph to Kitty. Pacific Ocean, 2/19. In addition to congratulating and enfolding her into their family, describes their experience visiting colleges and schools in Japan and China and communities of Friends. "The best Chinese are so superior to those we mostly see in Phila."
to K.M. 8/26. A philosophical discussion of the senses, selfishness and spiritual ideas
to K.M. 10/26. Refers to Friends Ambulance Unit and that he would like to raise money
to H.E. 10/27. The art of shorthand is being lost owing to the efficiency of the dictaphone
to H.E. 10/27. Idea of ambulance corps sounds excellent; (Quaker) meetings are Arch St and others might be interested, but Haverford & Germantown, already contributing to Haverford ambulance, might be reluctant
to H.E. 10/29. Thoughts on many topics from Russian literature and politics to loyalty and beliefs
to H.E. 10/29. Has been hanging posters advocating the vote for women
to H.E. 11/8. Recounts some of the writer whom she finds compelling in the spiritual sphere, including Rufus Jones, Walter Rauschenbusch and Rabindranath Tagore
to H.E.11/7. Refers to Haverford-Swarthmore game
to K.M. 11/9. Tells of some jobs he is working on -- an alley and a driveway
to K.M. 11/21. Refers to "Maxfield Parrish clouds"
to H.E. Cautions him against reading a book which she considers "filthy" and worthy of burning, though she's sure he hasn't read it
ca. 50 items from Jan 12 to Feb 8; ca. 50 from Feb 10 to June 12; in Box 5 ca. 60 items from June 13- July 11; in Box 5 ca. 50 items from July 12 to Nov. 3, 1916; in box 5
Box 5
A continuation of the exchange of letters between Howard and Kitty, generally while he travels for the Philadelphia Quartz Company (which is a family business), his locations usually evident from hotel letterheads, in the same playful and loving tone, and peppered with sketches in his letters to her, as well as letters of others to them.
Highlights include:
to K.M. New York, 1/12. Their program has the approval of his travelling companion; his notions on education; viewed a paraffin-coating machine
to H.E. While her mother has been sick, she has doled out aspirin, hot water bottles, mustard plasters, etc.; worked at the Employment Society handing out work to women who earn $.75/ week sewing for the hospitals
to H.E. 1916 1/14. Haverford College students go to the Frankford Asylum to entertain inmates
to H.E. 1916 1/13. Her family is against women working after marriage
to K.M. Syracuse, NY., 1/20. He is in favor of a woman working after marriage because it makes her stronger and more useful; discussion of faith & spirituality
to K.M. Schenectady, NY., 1/28. Thinks attending meeting should be for religious, not social reasons
to K.M. Albany, NY, 1/30. Believes charitable contributions should be to organizations, not to street beggars
to K.M. New York City, 1/31. Making purchases and reporting costs
to K.M. New York City, 2/2. Kinds of gifts they might receive for their wedding and how to record them properly
to K.M. Windsor Locks, CT, 2/3. Detailed list of things needed for their house
to K.M. Springfield, MA, 2/4. Mentions Haverford College and the students who perished in the war
to K.M. Springfield, MA, 2/5. Answers her question concerning the survival of certain religions
to K.M. Boston, 2/10. Tells her there is no place for depression; hopes he will be a good husband
to K.M. Boston, 2/11. Tells of his trip across Pennsylvania; thinks toward the time when they are married and that before there will be children, she may find she has time to do something to benefit the condition of society; also, to be sure that after their marriage, it is clear to her mother that she (Kitty) is the pilot and not her mother; also, that despite her feeling to the contrary, he isn't away all that much
to K.M. Boston, 2/14. Still thinking about work she could do that he would find acceptable would include an opportunity of study, including being a waitress
to K.M. Boston, 2/15. His work was to visit the plant of a company that make board and package stock and to see a pump
Edwards, L.T to H.E. Philadelphia, 2/14. H.E. has been accepted into Phi Beta Kappa
to H.E. "the 16th of the month." Wants to know more about the working poor; if she became a waitress, might she care if her friends see her at the job; one doesn't usually think about who does all the little unnoticed, but absolutely necessary bits of work that make up the routine of life, and why is society so stratified
Published notice to Haverfordians. 4/25. Requesting donations for the building of Sharpless Hall
to K.M. Boston, 2/16. Gives instructions on how to behave; tells of impressing important members of his company with information; description of office personnel and workings of a literary office
to K.M. Lancaster, PA. 5/24. Reports on war in Europe
Box 6
Many letters refer to preparations for the wedding of Katharine Mason and Howard Elkinton
Highlights include:
to H.E. 6/13. Having some sort of misgivings about women working outside the home the more she reads
to H.E. 6/15. Discussion of the role of women
to H.E. 6/17. Mentions Thomas R. Kelly who was a classmate of Howard's and that she has been at the Haverford graduation
to H.E. 6/23. He has given her a G.O.P. pendant; John Cary has struck it rich, finding oil wells on his place in the west
to H.E. 6/24. Mentions the possibility of war with Mexico
Mother to H.E. 6/27. Mentions arrival of Iwao Frederick Ayusawa
to H.E. 6/27. Philosophical discussion of love
to H.E. 7/19. Sometimes feels she should go abroad and nurse or work in some capacity
to H.E. 7/17. Refers to large number of cases of infantile paralysis (polio) and precautions being taken
Elkinton, Frances to K.M. Birmingham, England, 1916 8/24. Has traveled around Europe with rumors of war and returned to England
to H.E. 8/30. Reflects on their life after marriage: "This future of ours, at least for me, an unexperienced lot of hardships that are beyond my comprehension because they are beyond my experience."
to H.E. 9/6. Reveals her religious beliefs, and thinks they do not have a belief in common
Description of the wedding day for Katharine Mason and Howard Elkinton. Oct. 1916
to family. Description of honeymoon at Meadow Farm in Darlington, MD.
Note: the letters for 1917 begin with some fragments written from France by KME to her family on events of the war and her own activities, and then immediately start with July (January-June are not available). ca. 40 items
K.E. to ? fragment, n.d. Says she can do anything, from running a typewriter to running an auto, but not work with babies (no experience). She is at a hospital.
K.E. to family. 7/5. Their ship escapes potential U boat attack
K.E. to family. Paris, 7/15. Reports on a typical day's activities, including a very comfortable lifestyle, sightseeing and taking French lessons at the YMCA; soldiers everywhere
K.E. to family. [Paris, August ]. Cultural difference between American COs and British.
K.E. to H.E. The Commons, 8/9. Description of the French town of Sermaize les Bains
K.E. to family. Chalon, 8/14. Reports on her duties (washing babies) and relationships with other Americans, English and French
K.E. to mother. 8/20. While Howard works with college-educated men, she works with nurses who do not believe in higher education for women
K.E. to mother. 8/25. Has begun working in the maternity ward.
K.E. to family 8/30. Kitty will be allowed to work in Sermaize where Howard is. Behavior of the English.
K.E. to Aunt. 9/8. Describes the people with whom she is working
K.E. to family. 9/13. Describes what she will be doing in Sermaize.
K.E. to family. 9/17. Americans have to leave Chalon as authorities afraid their presence will bring bombing parties of the Boche on them. Plans forming to have all American workers in the F.W.D.R. under the Red Cross
K.E. to mother. Chalons, 9/18. Growing number of American relief workers
K.E. to family. Sermaize, 9/24. Describes her room; Howard doing harvesting work in the Meuse district
K.E. to family. Bettancourt, 10/8. Is looking after children evacuated from Bar-le-Duc, of whom there are over 100
K.E. to family. Sermaize, 10/15. Will be teaching a class of boys; has become well-acquainted with British relief workers, also mentions Frances Ferris and others from America
Most of the letters are from Katharine Wistar Mason Elkinton to family from France where she and Howard are doing relief work, giving descriptions of parts of France where they travel. Also, a guest book kept by KWE at Evres. ca. 40 items
H.E. to Jasper. Evres, 3/24. Reasons why their work in Evres is important and description of housing
Goodhue, Fran to Kit & H.. Evres, 8/15. Why he is leaving the Red Cross and joining the army signal corps
K.E. to family. Evres, 9/28. The line from the North Sea to Switzerland has been pushed back and Bulgaria is beginning to lean toward the Allies. Mentions the Spanish "grippe" that has affected many of their co-workers
(Some blank postcards of Evres inserted here)
K.E. to father. Evres, 12/7. Relief men build a farm machine repair shed in Evres. Two fires result in death of horses and men from Algeria and Morocco
ca. 35 items. In addition, there are a number of postcards, examples of type issued at the time, including one picturing recipient of aid from Society of Friends; at least some of the postcards show sites visited by Howard and Kitty en route back to US after armistice was signed; a small autograph book from the 19th century; a short manuscript by Kitty; and some clippings of pieces published by Howard and Kitty Elkinton, though no publication name.
"Mother" to KE. 1/14. Reports on Sam Mason's coming to Verdun district, as well as Vincent Nicholson and Bennett Cooper. Reports on many Quakers of their acquaintance. Her father will be the next president of the Ozone Club. Mrs. Dora Lewis has been in prison for starting fires on the White House grounds where suffragettes burn copies of Wilson's speeches or messages. Republicans in Congress are blocking the President in every way they can. Prices of some foodstuffs
KE to family. Argonne, 2/2. Getting to know Paris better; getting ready to leave France and hope to go to England, but still have red tape to overcome
HE to father. Evres, 2/28. With the war over, redistribution of relief workers in France. Would have liked to have heard Pres. Comfort's sketch of the Henry Cadbury situation "that called down such drastic procedures."; re Billy Silver as business manager of the football and cricket teams
KE to family. Evres, 5/4. Preparations for leaving Evres; some historical information about the city and some of its residents
KE to family. Mouthier, 5/25. Reports of places while traveling
Ca. 40 letters of Howard and Katharine Elkinton Waring, as well as some from young Tom Waring to his parents. Also includes a pamphlet by Elizabeth Biddle Yarnall on the founding years of Chestnut Hill Monthly Meeting, 1924-1931, which Howard and Katharine Elkinton helped to found
Highlights include:
HE to mother. 1922 2?/21. Death of baby Carol (photocopy)
KE to family. 1923 4/12. Howard will be paying Wyeth for a painting that is at the Curtis Building, will be reproduced in the Ladies Home Journal and will be presented to Westtown School in June. Has attended a lunch where Lord Robert Cecil spoke in favor of the League of Nations. Is working in a book shop (her own) and even getting foreign orders.
HE to family. Pocono Lake, 1925 10/1. Tells of his children including the one who died (Carol). and the glories of Pocono
KE to family. 1926 3/16. Loss of sensation in her leg and going to chiropractor
Mason, Katharine Evans to [Katharine Elkinton?] 1930. Account of family summer vacations
KE to ? no date. part of a photocopied letter describing emotional and psychological pain Howard Elkinton experienced when he left the employ of Philadelphia Quartz Co.
Ca. 80 items, primarily the letters of Howard (HE) and Katharine Elkinton (KE) during their time in Germany while he was Director of the Quaker Center in Berlin and then in Holland, but also letters and several typed reminiscences from that time period written later by Theodora (Dody) Elkinton (TE), as well as some written from Eerde and a few from Peter Elkinton, Evelyn Gregory (KE's sister) and from KE's mother.
Highlights include:
Neuse, Kurt to KE. Ommen, Holland, 1/8. The school cannot yet know how the Elkinton children (Theodora & Peter) will be ranked when they arrive; sorry he is not able to attend Yearly Meeting
Elkinton, Dody to grandmother. 9/3. They have been staying with the Dutch family of Pastor Menching
Lament of KE's book club on her absence during 2-year AFSC work while in Berlin, 1938-40 (poem)
Typed copy of highlights from the years 1938-1939 of work at the Quaker Center in Berlin as recorded by KE in weekly letters to her mother, 6/26, but primarily the annotations (made much later) by TEW looking back at this time
KE to her parents. Belgium, 7/? Have just arrived in Europe, the beginning of their German experience
Postcard showing the Quaker Meeting House in Bad Pyrmont which the family joined in July 1938
Typed reminiscences of TE
KE to family. 7/15 & 7/18. Reminiscing about the time 20 years earlier when they served in Europe, work at the maternity hospital in Chalons, but specifically about dinner with a family and a tour of the area (France)
KE to family. Bad Pyrmont, 7/26. Describes life for them in Bad Pyrmont, including ghetto for Jews
KE to family. Bad Pyrmont, 8/1. HE and she will both have an office in Berlin Quaker Center
KE to family. (Germany), 8/6.Alphons Paquet gave his impressions of America and then Tom Kelly and Howard Elkinton both read short papers, Howard on the independent meetings in the U.S. Mentions Gwen Catchpool, Gilbert MacMaster and others
KE to family. Christlicher Hosp?, 8/27. Division of the German government, all under the headship of Hitler; all doors are closed to Jews
KE to family. Denmark, 9/10. Attending an international Quaker conference where issues such as the future of Jews in Europe and the position of Quakerism in the church group are discussed
KE to family. Christliket Hospice, 9/16. Mentions that Chamberlain has been to Germany to talk with Hitler; the Czechs are holding out, but wonders if England will desert them; Berlin is lively; National Socialist Womens Work includes all quarters of the Reich and all occupations which might interest women: "worthwhile propaganda" and is interested in hearing the Nazi side of things as well as the Quaker side
HE to Masons. Berlin, 9/21. The AFSC and Friends Service Council contribute to their living expenses, providing 500 marks/month, which is enough for two people
KE to family. The Hospiz, 9/22. Understands that Chamberlain is "anything but popular with majority of his fellow citizens," while the German papers are jubilant that Hitler has gotten his way
KE to family. London, [10/]. Attending Meeting for Sufferings and staying in a house owned by J. Rendel Harris; opinion is united that Hitler will not be content to overlord only Germany
KE to family. "the same evening." She is answering letters (to the Quaker Center) concerning people in concentration camps or help in finding relations all over Germany
HE to ? [fragment] He never knows what will turn up at the Quaker Center: a visit from the Gestapo, a distinguished visitor from London, a tax item or a frantic wire from Prague
KE to family. Berlin, 11/11. Almost impossible for new applicants to get into the U.S. Day previous was the day of retaliation for the murder of the German ambassador in Paris and the windows of every Jewish store in the city (perhaps the country) were smashed
No Subnote Content
Ca. 50 letters primarily from Katharine W.M. Elkinton and Howard Elkinton from Germany and Paris and elsewhere in Europe, but also from children Peter and Theodora telling of their experiences at their Dutch school in Ommen and from Katharine's mother, Katharine Evans Mason, giving family news from home and Anna Barlow who stayed with them in May.
Highlights include:
HE to nephew J. Russell Elkinton. Ommen, 1/18. Reports on their 2-week stay in Paris where taxes, metro fares and postage rates have increased. Returning to Berlin. KE thinks Americans will be asked to leave Germany; Jews will soon be starving and cannot earn money as they are "deleted" by law from German life. They had hoped that the inter-government, Rublee, committee would do something worthwhile. Franco and Mussolini seen in newsreels; Chinese blowing up their cities before the Japanese soldiers. Good things about the Reich: solution to unemployment and safety in the city, but the "Jew question gets into people's eyes...hard to escape this psychological misfortune."
KE to family. Ommen, 1/20. Classes at Eerde that the children will take
KE to family. Berlin, 1/27. Reports on some of the cases that come to her in the Quaker office: mid-wives, nurses and university women trying to get visas, which require a job at their destination. Since Schacht's dismissal, the brown shirts are more in evidence; Rublee there again and all countries seem to be losing interest in the problem. No country seems to want people over 49
Mason, KE to KE. Philadelphia, 2/15. Heard George Walton speak of the visit that he Rufus Jones and D. Robert Yarnall made to the Gestapo. Although the information was "pretty thin." the main idea was that they were coming from America to help "the involuntary Germany refugees" resulting in a "distinct lessening of persecution"
KE to family. Berlin, 3/22. Had an evening with a "nice group of middle aged Nazis & their wives." Some disbelief, even after Sudeten Deutschland was taken over that Roumania or Poland might next fall and there would be no war with England over the colonies
KE to family. Berlin, 3/27. Since November, has interviewed & written letters to England for some 68 nurses, 50 mid-wives and 20 domestic situations and others for elsewhere
KE to mother. Berlin, 3/29.General feeling that expansion by Germany will be westward and done by absorption and not be open war; lines of people waiting to buy food, yet cafes and bakeries have cocoa, doffee and beer; movies and theatres are crowded
Physical Description1 folders
Ca. 100 letters, primarily from Katharine W.M. Elkinton and Howard Elkinton from Germany and Paris and elsewhere in Europe, but also from children Peter and Theodora telling of their experiences at their Dutch school in Ommen and from Katharine's mother, Katharine Evans Mason, giving family news from home
Highlights include:
KE to family. Berlin, 4/3. People over 60 who come to the Quaker office wishing to emigrate are not allowed by the government, but she tries to tell them that the Reich will not press them too hard and they would be worse off in a strange country without money or friends
HE to Katharine E. Mason. Hengelo, Netherlands, 4/4. Foreigners are not bothered much by issues that are fearful to Germans. Offers explanation of sentiments of the Jews. There are hundreds of thousands of persons who think that Hitler has done wonders for Germany. Offers different options for them to get together. Fiftieth birthday peace parade is being prepared. Reference to the Czech-Slovak affair. Even if Hitler acquires the Corridor and Danzig, he doesn't believe England will undertake another world war over affairs in the East, and the Nazis know this. Germany might attack England, but he doubts it. On the other hand, Roosevelt is "stinging the people to war as the last tattered chance of political salvage." (HE is quoting this last phrase)
KE to family. No place or date. Situation in Shanghai of so many penniless refugees, yet there are still some who want to go from Germany; specifics of other cases; mostly there is not much they can do, though occasionally they are "lucky."
KE to family. The Hague, 4/11. Description of parts of Holland and their stay there; two ladies tell them there was no immediate danger for Holland
KE to family. Ommen, 4/14. Dutch soldiers guard bridge heads and frontiers, precautions on the big dyke at Schwingen; continuing their trip in Holland
KE to family. Berlin, 4/20. Description of preparations and celebration for Hitler's 50th birthday. Each Aryan family along the route had been given candles for their windows
KE to family. Berlin, 4/25-27. The number of women applying for domestic situations in England increases daily --perhaps their last hope. KE has five outlets for her cases: Manchester, Cambridge, Suffolk, Birmingham & London, also Edinburgh; Howard was able to get permits for the Gottsteins (in whose house they had been living) to go to England until their number for U.S. comes up
HE to Katharine Evans Mason. Berlin, 5/1. Heard Hitler give a good speech in the Lustgarten stating that he has created a new nation out of a broken people. He has great range in speaking and made humorous remarks, with reference to FDR's telegram, and cautioned against "spook psychology."
KE to family. Berlin, 5/5. Accompanied by envelope with stamp and stamped with Nazi eagle and the words: "home of the Hitler youth."
KE to family. 5/13. German troops reported as assembling on the Polish border; hopes the Wagner child bill has passed the House & Senate, as it would be marvellous for U.S. to get an influx of such smart children & equally divided among Jews, Catholics, Protestants and dissidents; there is a Jewish graveyard across the road that has been smoothed out and ploughed under
HE to Samuel Mason. Berlin, 5/18. The "ugliest thing that exists is the growing sense of encirclement" that bodes ill for the future
KE to family. Berlin, 5/23. Honoring Ciano (1903 – 1944) who was an Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Benito Mussolini's son-in-law. In early 1944 Count Ciano was shot by firing squad at the behest of his father-in-law, Mussolini, under pressure from Nazi Germany, when the Italian banner hangs alongside that of the Third Reich at the same time as Alexander Kirk, American charge d'affaire was being welcomed; Howard arriving on the Hindenburg from a trip to Denmark
KE to family. Berlin, 5/27. Most things are cheaper in America than in Europe; materials are scarce in all fields; lots of important visitors in Germany; German troops who fought in Spain returning -- this despite Hitler's declaration that no German troops were fighting in Franco's cause.
HE to Katharine Mason. Berlin, 6/1. KE has just handled her 100th nurse --[ meaning who would be able to emigrate ] and has "succeeded in her field with more cases than we"
KE to family. Amsterdam, 6/11. Have come to get their German visas renewed before they sail for America
Mason, Katharine Evans to KE. Germantown, 6/16. They will have an open house for KE and family when they arrive. Attended Foreign Service meeting at 12th Street where Rufus Jones, Clarence Pickett and Henry Cadbury were in attendance, and where Jones remarked on HE's usefulness with those not refugees nor Quakers
KE to family. 6/25. Description of Bremen
HE to KE. Near Grenze, 8/25. Various options for son Peter to travel to leave the country and get to U.S.
HE to KE. Berlin, 8/27. Plan for son Peter and friend was to put them across the border where they would go directly to Mussey, then Paris. If war comes, they should catch the first ship out
PE to HE. Paris, 9/2. Belgian border is closed, so cannot go to Holland; people walking around with gas masks or just looking gloomy
HE to KE. Berlin, 9/2. Variations depending on whether there will be war or not, but assumes KE will return to Germany
HE to KE. Berlin, 9/3. War declared, though unclear what that means. Doesn't think England wants to begin the slaughter and France even less so. Feels it is important for him to stay to show that Quakers stay even when others go.
PE to family. Le Havre, 9/6. Fifteen year old Peter made his way to Le Havre only to find that he couldn't leave without a visa, so he went to the British consulate and might sail in two days time; he has registered with the U.S. consulate. "France has started to attack Germany."
HE to KE. Denmark, 9/7. Seems to be a lull, either before war or indicating that Western powers will not take active role, but hope that things will work themselves out; England & Germany appear to respect Holland's neutrality as well as Denmark's & Switzerland's. According to the German press, neither England nor France have much appetite "for a bloody carnival." Reason he did not go with his son trying to leave Europe is that he would have left his post in the Quaker center in Berlin
HE to KE. Somewhere over the North Sea, 9/9. Became so agitated over son, Peter's, welfare and decided to find him, but at the same time, Peter sailed to the U.S. Contemplating his next job, knows that he thrives on excitement
HE to Clarence Pickett. Copenhagen, 9/11 and 9/15 and from Homer Morris 10/10. Reports on various fronts of Quaker activity.
HE to KE. Copenhagen, 9/12. If she tells him not to go back to Berlin, that would be his decision, but could not leave without someone else being assigned to his post.
HE to KE. Copenhagen, 9/14. AFSC tells him to return to Berlin, though it is unclear whether for the duration of the war or not; in any case, German Friends will feel they are not deserted; crossing borders now is not easy, so if he gets into Germany, may not be able to get out
HE to KE. Copenhagen, 9/22. Reich will make decision whether to allow Quakers to continue in Germany
HE to KE. Copenhagen, 9/27. Reference to the need for Aryan-aid money for some who wish to leave and to Emil Fuchs
HE to PE. Copenhagen, 9/29. Germany wants a blitz-krieg, not a world war and has budded up to Russia so that both will offer a peace together before the war goes much further. Europe is tottering. One triumph of Friends is that Sweden is still willing to take 100 children if Friends will see that they are cared for. Denmark and Norway may do the same.
HE to KE. Berlin, 10/12. Disturbed by idea of ramped up Polish relief
AFSC to Homer Morris (copy). 10/13. In response to request for funds to help some people immigrate, AFSC states that American immigration law prohibits organizations paying for immigrant passage to America and will try to find individuals to contribute
Weise, D. to Hummel. Lubben, 10/17. Report from HWE's surgeons that he has broken collar and pelvis bones, and ends "Heil Hitler!" (This was the result of a car accident on the Reichs Autobahn as HWE was being driven to Poland on an AFSC mission)
Neuse, Rose to KE. Ommen, Holland, 10/18. Report on the Quaker school
Copy of a report by Homer and Edna Morris on AFSC Commission to Europe, October 1939
HE to KE. Berlin, 11/3. Polish relief work developing more and more satisfactorily
Society of Friends Refugee Comm (Harold Howard) to KE. Manchester, Eng., 11/3. Refugees being called before the Alien Tribunals in 3 categories: Nazi oppression, with stigma "enemy" removed; restricted to 5-mile traveling limit, but might be allowed to work; only those whose activities are thought to be "doubtful" are interned. At Manchester, all cases in the 1st category, including some who are Aryans
Shipley, Elizabeth to KE. Berlin, 11/6. People having difficulty paying for passage to leave Germany because tickets must be paid in "Deersee" and they at AFSC have now to make choices about whom to assist amongst those who want to leave
HE to KE. Berlin, 11/22. After HE leaves his post in Berlin, Elizabeth Shipley, and Edgar Rhoads and others will take his place
Ca. 90 letters from Howard Elkinton, Katharine Elkinton, Peter Elkinton and others. Included are some letters to and from Tom Waring, who begins college at Wesleyan, especially from his parents and friends.
Clark, Anasit to Thomas [Waring?}. Tours, 1/6. Some results of war are rising prices, e.g. in November 1939 100 kgs of coal cost 80 francs, which is very dear for the French; other instances of costs and taxes; views on pacifism
Roger -- to HE. London 3/6. People see 3 outcomes to the war: German victory, compromise, Allied victory, and there is a great deal of enmity to compromise [compromise is his point of view]; he has written a pamphlet called "On understanding Germans; state of c.o.s; he is working in the Peace Committee
HE to KE. On board S.S. Washington, 5/4. Beginning 6-month trip to Europe, sent by AFSC
HE to KE. Rome, 5/16. Much impressed with Howard Comfort, a "Quaker diplomat," who is known by all from the British and American Embassy to the American church
HE to KE. Berlin, 5/24. Dutch children evacuated from school in Eerde, while the German children stay on'
HE to KE. 6/3. "Whether we can all move out by Siberia remains to be seen" -- meaning in the path of war. "If the USA had recognized Manchukuo, it would be easier. Maybe knowing Nitobe Rhodes [sic] will come in handy
HE to KE. Berlin, 6/5. Difficulty of getting staffing for the Quaker Bureau.
HE to KE. Berlin, 6/18. France was invaded and the union of France & England thus liquidated. Reports how Quaker personnel are faring
KE to HE. Philadelphia, 6/20. At an AFSC meeting, objected to the views of some that people working in Germany or elsewhere should just stay, and Clarence Pickett said that in case of war, such people would be evacuated
HE to KE. 6/22. His trip to Petzen, Hanover and Bad Pyrmont was a success and he would like to go to Siberia and Tokyo
HE to KE. Berlin, 6/29. Questions value of AFSC emigration work; speculates on what will happen if all the Jews are removed from Europe
Heath, David to Tom and Walter. Poughkeepsie, 7/18. Appears that Burke-Wadsworth bill will be passed and conscription for all ages between 18 & 25 will result. Quakers may or may not be permitted exemption.
HE to KE. Lisbon, 7/29. Reports on his visits to all German, Italian and Swiss Quaker centers
Waring, Bernard to Tom Waring. Swallowfield, 8/13. Suggests Tom write to senators who oppose compulsory military conscription to thank them
HE to KE. Richmond, IN, 10/15. Is attending Five-Years Meeting where there are delegates from Ohio, Indiana, Western, Iowa, Nebraska and California Yearly Meetings, lectures
HE to KE. Columbus, OH, 11/11. Is on a speaking tour to tell about AFSC work in Europe accompanied by William Bacon Evans
The donor has placed a number of Waring family letters in this file and this arrangement has been left in place
Ca. 20 items.
HE to KE. NY, 3/22. How difficult it was to leave her to go back to Germany
KE to HE. 4/6. Has returned from a trip to the deep south
KE to HE. 5/26. A letter from the acting V.P. of the Red Cross says that there is no possibility of getting food supplies into Switzerland fro French & Belgian refugees
KE to HE. 5/5. Hearing news of the war in Iraq & Iran, the battle for oil crucial for both sides.
KE to HE. no date. FDR holding out on going to war because he is not yet sure he has the country behind him
Ca. 30 items. Mostly programs and cards annotated by Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW).
6/1. Red Cross Nursing certificate for Theodora Elkington
TEW to KE. Philadelphia, 8/9. Some "maturing" boys are beginning to behave inappropriately
TEW. no date. description of her first weekend work camp in Philadelphia run by Dave Richie for PYM; also, closing party of the Westtown workcamp, Sept. 1942. Wartime school needed extra farm help
College Settlement of Philadelphia (J. Theodore Peters) to Alice Darnell of Germantown Friends School. Philadelphia, 10/7. Invitation for students of Germantown Friends to come to their farm camp for a work party. Dody Waring apparently participated as she notes on the sleeve for the letter: "educational experience for me to meet inner city boys with their baggy zoot suits and gold chain and in fashion hair cut," good talk
Elkinton, Katharine to family. 9/7
Ca. 35 items. Primarily items reflecting Theodora Elkinton's activities during the year. These included attending American Young Friends Fellowship meeting, plays, dances in the form of invitations, diaries, programs with items as combined by the creator
Highlights include:
to KWE. 7/8. Reports on her first week at AFSC workcamp on Vinalhaven Island, ME
to KWE. 7/22. Trip from Vinalhaven to Milton and Moston for Peabody weddding
to KWE. 7/25. Description of life in Junior AFSC workcamp with Bill Carey at Vinalhaven
In 1944, there begins a profusion of correspondence between Tom Waring and Theodora Elkinton and in order to maintain the stream of that correspondence, Elkinton's letters to Waring are interfiled with Waring's within Waring family papers
Ca. 80 items
Materials include correspondence of Theodora Elkinton (TE) as well as her notes on various events, including that she selected Smith College based on friendly personal welcome, but that it was not a good choice; graduation from Germantown Friends School and impressions of and classes and activities at Smith
Letters are primarily by TE to her parents reporting on daily events and friends; also some from them (HE & KE) on various family events, and a few from her brother and some friends.
Highlights include:
to parents. 8/20. Reports on visit to Smith College
to parents. 9/17. Prayer life developing
to parents. 9/1. Helping out with a group working on a farm
to parents. 10/8. Describes a typical day at college
HE to TE. 10/18. Annotated article by HE about the Quaker School at Eerde which he hoped to revive
KE to TE. 11/6. Members of family voting for Dewey or Roosevelt
Richie, David to TE. 12/6. Richie's report on weekend work camp program
KE to TE. 12/11. Life in Germantown, PA
Elkinton, Peter to TE. Concord, NH, 12/12. Writes from CPS camp
ca. 130 items through December
Primarily correspondence of Theodora Elkinton who is still at Smith and reports on her studies, life and friends there, and others report on their personal lives, attending Quaker meeting
Letter writers include: Katharine Elkinton (KE), Howard Elkinton (HE), Lois Kelly, Caesar --, Peter Elkinton, R.P. Alexander, Frances Lukens, Charles Wood, Hali Giessler, Frances Stokes (aunt), Anne Sharpe, Tobie van Rosen, Joey Burns, Theodore Wright, Alix Feist
Highlights include:
H.E. Philadelphia 1.24. On reading insurance policies
Elkinton, Peter to parents. Northampton, 1/30. Thinking of applying for a more challenging position as a C.O.
2/7. copy of The Unification of Europe / by Felix Morley, which appeared in Human Events, which apparently came to HE (graduate of Haverford College where Felix Morley was president)
"Blue book" essays by TE, with additions by Thomas Waring
TE to parents. 2/18. weekly attendance at Smith Quaker Meeting
HE to TE. 2/25. "...each month [in America] brings some shift toward an involuntary world..."; woman in the armed forces; reference to Katharine Elkinton's diabetes
TE to parents. 2/25. Thoughts of doing AFSC relief work after the war in Europe
TE to parents. 3/4. Started freshman Bible Study group at Smith
KE to TE. 3/5. Brother Pete (a C.O.) was "inoculated with something."
HE to TE. 3/5. Pleased TE has chosen to be a religion major; philosophical thoughts on life, now that TE turns 18
von Rosen, Tobie. Stockholm, Sweden, 3/11. Refers to TE's engagement; loves being home and attends a folk high school for working youth who have only been able to go to public school, are very enthusiastic about studying and are mostly socialists, some students have been in concentration camps
TE to mother. 3/30. Asks that she not say anything about her relationship with Tom Waring
KE to TE. 4/8. The English army is in Zwolle, so must have bypassed Ommen (Holland) and can visualize the area well,
HE to TE. 4/10. Reference to the meeting of Joseph Elkinton and the Doukhobors at Halifax; his and her mother's concern for good race relations; change in the neighborhood where they live as a situation with which she and Pete will have to live, if they live there
TE to parents. 4/16. Heard a lecture by T.Z. Koo about his experiences in Shanghai under three years of Japanese rule
TE to parents. 4/23. As she hears news of the war in Europe, her own experiences in Holland and Germany allow her to visualize people and places and the future for Germany
KE to TE. 4/23. Story of Joseph Elkinton (TE's grandfather) influencing T.Z. Koo at the moment in his life when he had to decide whether to go into YMCA work and because Joseph Elkinton spoke to him, it turned him toward Christian work; life as a Christian speaker
HE forwarding copy of report from Margaret Jones to TE. 4/20. Report concerns the work of the AFSC for relief among Italian refugees in Switzerland, in some measure supported by Arturo Toscanini
KE to TE. 4/29. Report that Hitler, Goering and Goebbels have all been shot, supposedly by Himmler
HE to TE. 5/6. In a world in revolution, what does a school grade mean -- better to have understood content
KE to TE.5/7. "What folly to punish the leaders [of Germany] tho they may be guilty, or to condemn a whole nation, when we ourselves show the same spirit in many ways."
Elkinton, Peter to TE. 5/24. Announces his engagement to Harriet Francke
HE to TE. 6/9. Various references to Haverford College and Haverfordians,
Example of TE's work as a summer employee of Rumsey Electric Co., 6/28
HE to TE. Canada, 7/20. Wished TE had accompanied him, but gives reasons why it was good that she didn't
Elkinton, Peter to TE. 8/21. They both oppose having Howard Elkinton go to Germany for a 5 year stint
Elkinton, Peter to TE. 9/25. Since he went AWOL, his punishment will be an additional 3 months in C.P.S. camp
Elkinton, Peter to TE. 9/27. Civilian Public Service to be closed and all C.O.s to be released by June 1946
TE to parents. 9/30. Mentions that she will be going to hear T.Z. Koo lecture
HE to TE. Germantown, 10/6. Has turned down a post-war stint for the AFSC that would have taken him to Germany for up to a year in order to stay with family
KE to TE. 11/19. Approves of Tom Waring as husband for TE
HE to TE.11/22. Thinking about joining a group for relief efforts in Germany
ca. 10 items through March
Theodora Elkinton married Tom Waring at the end of June 1946 (beginning in 1947, her letters to parents and friends will be filed under Waring). Tom was released from CPS camp; Tom's decision to continue college at Wesleyan, so they moved to Connecticut, rather than both attending Earlham
Letter writers include: Alix Feist, Katharine Elkinton
Highlights include:
Feist, Alix to TE. London, 2/7. "Getting over a war is almost as strenuous as living under war conditions."
Wood, Charles to TE. 2/18. Re demonstrations in Manila, and that 200,000 soldiers are in Philippines for political reasons, etc. in connection with the Philippine elections; social games people play
TE to Howard Elkinton. 4/8. Re a women who wants to help the school in Holland, Eerde and whether HE will go to Germany to help Friends there
Myers, Agnes to TE. 4/25. Re meeting with "clearness committee" of Chestnut Hill Meeting before her marriage, which meeting, according to TE, never happened.
Earlham College (Opal Thornburg). 5/6. TE has been accepted at Earlham College
TE to parents. 12/17. Classes they are both taking at Wesleyan
Mason, Barbara to Katharine Elkinton.5/20. Has been accepted into a special service branch of the army, a job rather like the Red Cross
Through 1943, materials are letters to Thomas Waring. Beginning in 1944, it is correspondence of Thomas Waring
Container SummaryThrough 1943, letter
ca. 10 items. Letters to Tom Waring. Here also is one unsigned letter on Waring Letter File Company stationery dated 1902
Letter writers include: Grace Waring, Bernard Waring, Frank Tarbox, Charles Harriman, "Easie"
Highlights include:
Waring, Bernard. 7/18. re electrification of their home, Swallowfield
Waring, Grace.7/26. Notes that Tom is learning carpentry and plumbing at AFSC work camp
Ca. 40 items. These are all letters to Tom Waring (TW) except one by him, including from his parents, Bernard and Grace Waring, Frank Tarbox, Walt Johnson, Tom and Margaret Richie
Waring, Bernard to TW. Philadelphia 1/27. Mentions Camp Committee (Civilian Public Service) which is arranging for camps during the coming summer
Waring, Bernard to TW. Philadelphia, 2/25. TW could be useful at a CPS camp, according to Elmore Jackson
Waring, Grace to TW. Philadelphia, 2/26. Attended a C.O. meeting representing Race Relations committee of PYM. Young Peoples' Interracial Fellowship now housed on Brown St.
Waring, Grace to TW. Philadelphia, 3/5. Thinks it would be good for him to work in a CPS camp in CA; Norman Thomas coming for dinner, along with T. Spaulding, pres. of NAACP, Phila
Tarbox, Frank to TW. 3/8. Views on pacifism, lend-lease bill, which he considers like a declaration of war by the U.S., and if Japan attacks, the picture of destruction would be complete. Even if America stays out now, she will have to fight Germany for economic supremacy later. Is pacifism a hopeless cause? Names reasons to fight for democracy.
Waring, Grace. to TW. What constitutes a good marriage is both congeniality and sexuality
Waring, Grace to TW. 4/22. Advice on love
Binford, Naomi to TW. Philadelphia, 4/30. TW's application to work in CPS camp has been received. Would he go to Madisonville?
Tarbox, Frank to TW. Swarthmore, 8/4. Thoughts about religion
Waring, Grace to TW. 11/7. Heard a good talk by Mildred Scott Olmstead at Quarterly Meeting
Waring, Bernard to TW. Philadelphia, 12/9. Quaker position on war
Ca. 60 items. Letters to Tom Waring from friends and family, including parents Bernard and Grace Waring, Charles J. Harriman. Eva Hegermann, Frank Tarbox, Steven Reed, Nan (Waring?). Some letters come with annotations by the donor.
Highlights include:
Jim -. 1/8. As a C.O., must do more work to get this way of life so "future generations may be freed of this dreadful chaos;" someone from the same camp was chosen to do work along the Burma Road
Hegermann, Eva. Worcester, Mass., 1/8. Studying pacificism
Tarbox, Frank. 1/9. Discussion of war and peace
AFSC (Rhoads, Esther). Philadelphia 1/12. Friends have contributed more than $36,000 toward Civilian Public Service and other related developments.
Waring, Grace. Saturday. Father sent by AFSC to CA re race relations and Japanese-Americans
Waring, Bernard. 1/30. Has been asked by AFSC to go to Pacific Coast re moving some Japanese truck farmers away from the coast because of fear of sabotage in airplane and other munition plants; his work with coal field problems were somewhat like those in Southern California
Waring, Grace. 2/5. Thoughts on love
Waring, Bernard. Philadelphia, 4.23. Suggests he take courses synthesizing philosophy, sociology and religion at Wesleyan
Tarbox, Frank. Swarthmore, 5/2. Is thinking of joining the American Field Service which sends ambulances to Libya., but will enlist in the V7 Naval course giving him time to think; reasoning about philosophy as a major
Waring, Grace. 2/16. Clarence Pickett completed adjustments with the Federal government for the evacuation of the Japanese and their reestablishment, but the situation is much more complicated
Clarke, S. Naval Aviation Pre-Flight School, Iowa City, Iowa, 1942 6/20. "Just because I'm here, dont't forget I can still see your point of view and still admire you tremendously for sticking to it."
Waring, Grace. 6/23. Tom will be coming into his inheritance in the fall and he should do something (important) with it; interested in his thoughts on race relations given that he is seeing the Southern view
Waring, Bernard. E. Gloucester, MA, 8/23. Philosophical musings on the achievement of happiness
Best, Ralph. Belltown, TN, 11/16. Describes life on a farm
Tarbox, Frank. 11/23. Rationale for going into the army to fight in the war
Hegermann, Eva. 3/13. Pleased he has gotten a farm deferment
Physical Description2 folders
Ca. 50 items. Primarily letters to Thomas Waring (TW), the letters are from: Bernard and Grace Waring, Stephen Reed, Frank Tarbox, Paul Reynolds, H.E. Wells, Elbert Fretwell, Davary McClelland, Sam Hays, Walt Johnson, C.J. Harriman, Eva Ladd, Mildred Young
Letters from college friends often refer to current state at Wesleyan University
Highlights include:
Mason, Sam. 1/17. TW is exploring an agricultural draft deferment, and hoped to get work from his cousin Sam Mason, who does not have the money to pay him, but suggests he stay with them and look for some other farmer who would have work
Tarbox, Frank.1/17. Life at a naval base
Fretwell, Elbert K. (no date) Refers to the fact that TW is working on Howard Taylor's farm as agricultural draft deferment.
McClelland, Davary. 4/9. What COs working in a hospital do
Johnson, Walt. Elkton, OR, 7/5. What it is like working in a Civilian Public Service camp
Clarke, Stephen. Pensacola, FL, 7/8. "Don't ever change your ideas [about pacifism], for you are right (Clarke is serving as a Navy flyer)
Harriman, C.J. 8/14. Life in the army and methods he has learned and desire to conquer for God
Reynolds, Paul. 8/3. Philosophy and friendship necessary components of life; a teacher's job is to prepare the soil as well as to scatter the seeds; spent time with Bayard Rustin and others who wrestled with being COs before the government
Hays, Sam. 10/2. Variety of CPS assignments for COs
Johnson, Walter. McKinley, OR, 7/22. Explanation of various Civilian Public Service Camps and the people in them
Hays, Sam. McKinley, OR, 7/23. Detailed explanation of the work of the Civilian Public Service camp he is in (McKinley)
Ladd, Eva. Bennington, 10/8. Reference to Tom's engagement to Betsy Replogle
Young, Mildred. 10/10. Life as sharecroppers
Waring, Bernard. Philadelphia, 12/14. Sharing expenses for Martha Sharpless' mental health treatment
Ca, 225 items. Correspondence of Thomas Waring.
Primarily, these are letters between Thomas Waring (TW) and Theodora Elkinton (TE), whom he refers to as "Doad" from the beginning of their relationship. His are written from CPS camp at Big Flats, NY, later from Coleville, CA and Wells, NV, and are often philosophical; some are to his parents and are also quite descriptive; hers are written from Smith College and are thoughtful discussions on topics from books to religion to life's work; several earlier letters refer to TW's engagement to Betsy Replogle, which was then canceled.
Other letters to Thomas Waring are from Charles Harriman, Walt Johnson, Sam Hays, Frank Tarbox, Fretwell, Elbert, Bernard Waring, Grace Waring, Dorothy Waring Smith, Eva Ladd, Paul Reynolds, Mary McClelland, Cornelia Kruse, Martha Raymond, Peter Elkington, Robert Wilson, T[homas?] Richie.
Letters are to TW, unless otherwise noted
Highlights include:
Harriman, Charles. 1/4. What it means to be an American and why he is in the army
Johnson, Walt. 2/6. Setting up a new CPS camp in Oregon
Harriman, Charles.2/9. What he and others are fighting for is a world at peace because its peoples are working together to spread their wealth and resources and bring happiness and other similar sentiments
Fretwell, Elbert. 3/27. At Harvard, there are servicemen as well as younger and older students
Waring, Bernard. 3/5. He and Tom's mother have taken a stint as directors of a CPS camp
AFSC (David Henley) to David Richie. Copy of letter. 4/14. Responds to thoughts on how CPS camps are run by AFSC
TE. 6/14. First love letter to him in response to his and reveals some of her character
TW writes approximately every day from CPS camp with various descriptions about life there as well as philosophical musings
TW to TE. 6/17. Description of life at Big Flats, NY CPS camp
TW to TE. 6/22. Difference between political and religious conscientious objectors
TW to TE. 7/1. Describes his feelings on racial issues and various philosophical thoughts
TW to TE. 7/9. Another long philosophical letter
TW to TE. 7/17. Thoughts about becoming a doctor
TW to Grace Waring. 7/15. More on his experiences working in a hospital and what he is encountering
Waring, Grace. 7/18. Not sure AFSC should continue its administration of CPS and gives reasons
TW to TE. 7/20. Serving as an orderly at the Elmira hospital
Waring, Bernard. 7/20. Thoughts on why AFSC should continue running CPS camps
TE.7/21. Thoughts on why his becoming a doctor may not be what he wants.
TW to TE. 7/30. Doesn't understand how anyone could be anything but a pacifist, nor how there can be race prejudice, and the answer is that not all believe in that of God in every person
TE. 9/7. Getting settled as a Smith College freshman and her courses
TW to TE. 9/17. Attracted to psychiatry as a career
TE. 9/20. Course she is taking at Smith
TW to TE. 9/20. Decision to go to California and apply for work in a psychiatric hospital
TW to TE. 9/28. On his way to California and to discover whether psychiatric hospital work is what he wants to do
TW to TE. 10/2. Forest service for COs in CA include putting in post holes for a corral fence and a 10-mile fire lane
Hays, Sam. 10/8. Circular letter, accompanied by Project News from CPS Camp #59 in Elkton, Oregon
Waring?, Davarit. 10/31. Philosophizes about method for rearing children and other behaviors
TW to TE. 10/11. Discussion of his thinking on religion; his CPS unit goes to Ruby Valley
Ned --. The local Legion got a Senator to investigate them and they had a visit from a member of the Meade Committee
Kruse, Cornelia. Middletown, CT, 10/19. Has just returned from a cultural mission to Haiti (she was Tom's professor at Wesleyan)
TW to TE. Wells, NV, 10/23. Describes a working day at CPS camp Reynolds, Paul. 10/25. "One cannot love Plato well unless he loves the truth more
TW to TE. 10/28. Ideas on how to run CPS camps
TW to TE. 11/4? Responses to printed statement adopted by American Friends at Richmond; also, response to military conscription
Elkington, Peter. Concord NH, 11/4. Elkington's description of working in a CPS mental hospital
TE. 11/4. Ideas that she lives by
Waring, Grace. 11/9. Nearly went to India as a missionary to make use of their religion & interpreting the best of Western ideas; if she were running CPS, she would have workers clearing slums rather than forestry service
Waring, Bernard. 11/12. Future of Selective Service or Quaker-run CPS camps or post-war conscription
Elkinton, Katharine. 11/18. Why she voted for Norman Thomas, the socialist candidate; thoughts on the Committee on Race Relations
TW to TE. 11/24. If the post-war conscription bill is passed, he would no longer go along with conscription
TW to TE. 12/8. Based on his belief that he cannot have anything to do with the system that will be part of post-war conscription, he will have to decide whether to go to jail in opposition or go to medical school
Beginning in 1944, when Thomas Waring wrote almost daily letters to Theodora Elkinton while he was in CPS camp, the entire correspondence between them has been placed under his name.
ca. 355 items through December Letters from Tom Waring (TW) to Theodora Elkinton (TE) explaining his thoughts and activities. He is still in CPS camp in Coleville, CA and writes nearly daily. In order to maintain the "conversation." He later moves to work, still as a CO, in a psychiatric hospital in Williamsburg, VA and some of his letters provide details of that work, as well as his decision to become a doctor. Announcement of their engagement on Nov. 8, 1945, though they both planned to finish college before marriage. There is a lot of discussion about what marriage should be like. Letters from relatives aftern the announcement of their engagement.TE's letters to TW are filed here as well, rather than with Elkinton family. They both offer extraordinary description of their days and thoughts and the growing relationship between them
Other correspondents include: Katharine Elkinton (KE), Howard Elkinton (HE), - Jameson, Robert Holmes, C.J. Harriman, Grace Waring, Bernard Waring, Eva Ladd, Walter Johnson, Tom Richie, Cornelius Kruse, Martha Sharpless, Peter Elkington and Francke Elkington, Stephen Clarke, Frank Tarbox, Thomas Richie
TW to TE. 1/1. Fire season, so would not be able to come visit her.
TE to TW. 1/1. 950 people attended the Emlen/Cooke wedding
TW to TE. 1.5 Has put in a request to work in an east-coast psychiatric hospital
HE to TW. 1/6. Question regarding the status of administering CPS camps -- does this make Friends agents of the government and responsible for conscription into the army
Waring, Grace. 1/16. Reasons she believes contribute to the situation of C.O.s vis a vis the government
TW to TE. 1/18. Thoughts on religion and relationships
TW to TE. 1/25. Re experiment on college-age students to see if they are able to resist temptations, in this case, those who could / would be considered fit for college
Waring, Grace. 2/21. For men in the military, a number of them committed suicide rather than go back to the front. Committee on race relations of PYM is working hard over race relations...and hope to ward off the threatened violence in the post-war world
Elkinton, Howard. 2/2. What Quaker attitudes and examples can offer to the world
TW to TE. 2/21. Expresses the mutual understanding he and Howard Elkinton have about Civilian Public Service
Waring, Bernard. 2/2. Relationship of the military to conscientious objectors
Ladd, Eva. 2/5. A German woman's perspective (i.e. Eva Ladd) on what the war is doing to Germans
TE to TW. 2/11. There is no college vacation because of the war
War Department. 2/1. (TW had written Roosevelt against post-war conscription). Pre-printed answer.
TW to TE. 2/17. Can't decide whether to go into medicine when it may be better to help people in need in other ways
Richie, Tom. 2/25. Refers to TW's willingness to help finance his medical training with a loan
TW to TE. 2/28. The transfer he hoped would happen taking him from Coleville CA to Williamsburg VA will not happen
TW to TE. 3/2. If he is to pursue medicine, and she wants to do reconstruction work in Europe, then maybe she should go there herself. And being a homemaker is something you pick up along the way, while a career needs to be built. His mother had wanted to go to work in India but raised a family instead. She felt regrets, he thought her value as a homemaker was greater than what she could have done in India
TW to TE. 3/30. Describes his orientation to life and duties as an orderly at Williamsburg State Hospital
TE. 4/10. Theological ideas and a poem by TE
Sharpless, Martha. 4/16. Her experiences as a nurse
Waring, Bernard. Philadelphia, PA, 4/27. Information about Weekend work camps
Waring, Bernard. 4/26. Legal status of land belonging to Bernard Waring in New Lisbon
TW to TE. 4/17. A day in his work at the psychiatric hospital
TW to TE. 4/23. Thoughts about Germans who did not vote for Hitler
Reynolds, Paul. 4/27. Rumor that CPS headquarters are moving unit #81 from Middletown, CT, possibly because some had voted against Friends' administration and regular employees of the hospital have voiced a gripe against having COs there
Don ? Camp Antelope, Colesville, CA, 4-28. Many acquaintances discussed
TW to TE. 5/1. If one opposes military action, giving soldiers books to read is the same as giving them guns
TE. 5/1. Proud of Smith's perceived lack of racial prejudice in students and faculty and progressing toward having an active and powerful honor system; response to world events
TW to TE. 5/6. Ruminations about Aristotle
TW to TE. 5/8. Tom continues to learn about caring for patients and witnesses his first autopsy and was given an anatomy lesson
TW to TE.5/13. Thought expressed about war against the Russians coming next
TW to TE. 5/16. The hospital director uses COs as cheap labor and underrates them; discussion on the medical profession and socialized medicine
Ladd, Eva to TW et al. Bennington, VT, 5/30. References to the San Francisco Conference, politics, and the seeming military preparation for war with Russia
TE. 7/3. Believes TW should stay at the hospital in Williamsburg, even if it is not run by Friends
TW to TE. 7/11. Reports on some of the methods used at the hospital where he is working; thinks he might like to go into psychiatric work
TW to TE. 7/14. Discusses his behavior with a patient and that the institution does no more than keep people locked up
TW to TE. 7/24. How state mental institutions work
Tom ---. 6/25. Explains how the medical aptitude test works
TW to TE. 7/26. Doesn't trust women doctors.
TW to TE. 7/27. Using Tolstoy's War and Peace to state his own beliefs in what husbands and wives should do in a good marriage
Harriman, C.J. Saipan, 7/27. (U.S military base) with a good description of their location. "All the Saipan population is confined in camps and allowed to go out to their fields in the day-time There is a basic population of Chamorras, with slave-imported Koreans and Okinawans, and an upper crust of Japanese."
TW to TE. 8/8. Ruminations about the use of the atomic bomb
HE. 8/11. Advises Tom to vote the straight Republican ticket.
HE. 8/16. Concern for Europe in the aftermath of war and what deprivation will look like
Elkington, Peter. 8/18. Thoughts on CPS and AFSC participation in future alternatives to military training or service
TW to TE. 8/30. Had determined to return to Wesleyan to finish his degree
Harriman, C.J. 9/4. Even though Japanese have surrendered, the war will not be over until they get home, for things go on there as before.
Waring, Bernard. 9/11. Reports all his responsibilities: Yarnall-Waring Co., Social-Industrial Section of the AFSC, as Secretary for Branches for the Service Committee, Chairman of the Social Order Committee, and family member
Kruse, Cornelius. 9/27. Even if the nature of man cannot be changed, behavior can (the answer to the argument that wars cannot be avoided)
Waring, Bernard. 10/23. Concern regarding Pres. Truman's message about universal military training, leading surely to another war
Richie, Thomas. 11/1. Attached to letter re his activities is an IOU for TW's financial assistance toward his medical education
TW to TE. 11/10. Heard Reinhold Niebuhr once speak at Wesleyan about change
Waring, Grace. 11/16. One cannot generalize about humans, but marriages while young have a greater rate of failure
TW to TE. 11/21/ Reasons why they are suited for one another
Kruse, Cornelius. 12/4. Not surprised that TW resigned from fraternity at Wesleyan, as "the exclusive feature of fraternities can not be justified."
ca. 160 items through May
Primarily, letters are between Tom Waring (TW) and Theodora Elkinton TE), full of affection and thoughts about marriage and married life, as well as potential colleges which they could both attend.
Other writers include:
Katharine Arnett, Bernard Waring, Dorothy Waring Smith, Cornelius Kruse, William Myers, Asa --
Waring, Bernard. 1/1. Suggestions for companies to invest in that are not connected with the war; "most of our people feel labor unions are wholly or largely bad"
TW to TE. 1/5. Believes that she should be able to continue her studies at Wesleyan when he returns to complete his degree there.
TW to TE. 1/9. What would she think if they were both to attend a co-ed college, e.g. Swarthmore or Cornell
TE. 1/14. Suggests they might go to Haverford College after marriage and live in Language House, where it is no longer a requirement to speak a language, as it is now the quarters for married couples attending Haverford, and it has a good pre-med course, and it is sympathetic to COs, and there are no fraternities, and she could participate in the Relief and Reconstruction program
TW to TE. 2/14. TE's home, Honey Run, is being fixed up for their wedding.
Wesleyan University (Victor Butterfield) to TW. 2/19. Women can take courses for credit at Wesleyan, but they cannot get a degree
TW to TE. 2/21. Birth control and other personal issues.
TW to TE. 3/3: Has had visit from clearness committee of Germantown Monthly Meeting and tells about the issues that were brought up
Waring, Grace. 4/16. Chestnut Hill Meeting has requested Germantown Meeting for Tom & Dody's wedding.
TW to TE. 4/20. Has sent in his application to Earlham College and mentions that TE should be sending hers as well.
TE. 4/22. Reported to Smith dean that she would not be returning the following year.
TW to TE. 4/24. Discussion of various college possibilities for them
TW to TE. 3/13. Has been moved to the CPS camp at Big Flats. "The government is a lot more nonchalant about things now that the Friends are gone."
TW to TE. 4/3. Refers to Howard Elkinton and his desire to go to Germany where he could visit with German Friends, but that there is resistance to this idea
TW to Thomas Evan. 5/11. Has been elected to the corporation of Friends Hospital
TW to Grace Waring. 5/17. Both he and TE have been admitted to Earlham
TW to TE. 5/25. Truman determines to draft all men into the army who strike against the government
ca. 120 items through December
Primarily to Howard (HE) and Katharine Elkinton (KE), but meant for the whole family, the letters are from Wesleyan University until Tom and Dody leave for AFSC work camp in Finland at the end of May, and speak of domestic life and people with whom they associate. The letters from Finland are very detailed descriptions of people, work, and their own activities. They returned home via Sweden, Holland and England, again with good description. Later, they received some letters from those whom they met in Finland, often thanking them for care packages (some are in Finnish). These latter letters sometimes extend into the early 1950s.
Letters are from TW and/or TEW, unless otherwise indicated, thus only recipient is noted below in highlights. Other letter writers include: Marjatta Miettinen and others from Finland
to KE. 1/23. on courses they are taking at Wesleyan and Professor Neumann
to KE and HE. 2/2. Initial thoughts about a summer workcamp in Europe
Travelling certificate for TW and TEW from Middletown Friends Meeting. 5/18
to KE & HE. 6/2. En route to Finland has a conversation with Mennonites, and when asked to explain Quaker religious beliefs, informed by someone in the Relief and Reconstruction M.A. program at Haverford College that Pres. William Wistar Comfort said Orthodox Friends believed in both the trinity and Christ's divinity. Beginning lessons in Finnish
to KE & HE. 6/17. Description of the area in Finland where they are located, Finnish people, politics, etiquette in the camps
to KE & HE. Muurasjarvi, Finland, 6/24. Detailed description of life in Finland and the work they are doing
to KE & HE. Muurasjarvi, Finland, 8/8. Group dynamics in the camp
to "People." Muurasjarvi, Finland, 8/14. Have completed a sauna house for one family and other construction
to KE & HE. Saija, Finland. 8/21. In Lapland where some of the bitterest fighting of the war took place -- there are mines about; they will spend 2 weeks there; at the border with Russia
to KE & HE. Helsinki, Finland, 9/4. Political discussions about results of the war.
to KE & HE. Sweden, 9/8. Contrast of Finland to Sweden
to KE & HE. Ommen, Holland, 9/13. All of Europe experiencing drought. Faculty at her school in Eerde welcomed them.
to KE & HE. Ommen, Holland, 9/14. Conveys the picture of children, homeless and hungry, whom they see particularly at train stops
Mieltinen, Marjatta to TEW. Helsinki, 8/26. Mentions meeting with high-level Communist leader Hertta Kuusinen and working as an interpreter
ca. items
Letters give a picture of daily life of Thomas (TW) and Theodora (TEW) Elkinton Waring. He gets a job teaching at the Shady Hill School in Nahant, MA and they entertain
Highlights include:
to KE & HE. 3/10. TEW is giving a talk on their experiences in Finland
TEW to parents. 4/13. Would like to get her degree at Smith by 1949
TW to KE & HE. 5/28. Traveling up to interview at Shady Hill School
TEW to KE & HE. 10/18. Heard Emil Fuchs speak about Friends' help to Germans
TEW to KE & HE. 10/11. Pleased that HE & KE will be going to Germany to work for AFSC; letting people know she is pregnant
HE to "dearest." Berlin, 12/25. Activities, including delivering loaves of bread to the Tiergarten Prison; also visit to orphans' home
KE to TW & TEW. Berlin, 12/25. Description of post war hardships and value of human contact.
KE to TEW. Berlin, 12/27. Concerned about post-war future of Eerde as a Quaker school
ca. 60 items
Here are letters primarily of Thomas (TW) and Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW) describing her pregnancy, the birth of their baby, Christopher, in June, leaving Nahant (via Germantown) so that Tom could teach in Denver and starting an unprogrammed Quaker Meeting with some others there. Primarily on domestic life.
Other letter writers include: Howard Elkinton, Katharine Elkinton, Enno Vocke
Highlights include:
HE to TEW. 1/12. Impressions of Berlin and what has changed, the ongoing airlift
ca. 60 items
Letters primarily of Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW) to her parents showing great affection and closeness; some few are from Tom Waring (TW); also Howard Elkinton
Letters give a picture of life of the Waring family in Denver, but an increasing desire to return to the east coast. Letters also inform of their social life/
TEW to parents. 1/9. On the realism of pacifism
TEW to parents. 1/22. Mulls over father's thoughts on pacifism and that AFSC may or may not serve for her generation
TEW to mother. 3/20. Refers to the fact that father is in Germany again
TEW to mother. 3/27. No opening for Tom to teach at Shady Hill, so he will return to teach another year at Graland School in Denver
Elkinton, Howard to dear Friends (copy). 5/15. Discusses the situation of the Doukhobors in Canada and makes suggestions on how they can improve (e.g. the wearing of clothing and not practicing polygamy)
TEW to parents. ca. August. Mentioning the meeting group that she & Tom started, now meeting at Graland School where he teaches; still unsettled in her thinking on pacifism vs. communism, though still believes in non-violence. Wonders if there will be some form of alternative service should there be a Korean war.
ca. 50 items
Letters are primarily from Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW), some from Tom Waring (TW) reporting on activities of their growing family, their social life and participating in the Quaker meeting in Denver, while Tom continues to teach at the Graland School
TEW to parents. 5/1. Mentions some challenges Tom faces as clerk of their Quaker meeting
TW to both sets of parents. 5/6n. Mentions that TEW's name has been put up by their meeting to be its delegate at the Friends World Conference in 1952
TEW to parents.7/10. Has been accepted as a delegate to Friends World Committee in Oxford, England, as a representative of new meetings in America and Denver in particular
TEW to parents. 12/10. Their Denver Quaker meeting keeps attracting people from very different backgrounds
ca. items
Primary writer is Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW) to her parents giving details of her family life and a trip to Los Alamos. Also, Thomas Waring (TW) to TEW while she is at Pocono Lake Preserve, PA. The planned trip to England for Friends World Conference did not happen because of an injury to Tom's back
Letter writers include: Lynn Warren, Peggy Church, Jack Arnett, Harriet Elkington, Katharine Wistar Elkinton
TEW to parents. 10/6. Questions whether U.S. should have recognized Red China as the only way to allaying China's fears of U.S. intentions. Tom is representative of Phila. Yearly Meeting at the National Council of Churches convention to be held in Denver
ca.70 items
Primary letter writer is Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW) to her parents on various domestic topics and as they leave Denver to move East in the Spring.
Other letter writers include: Howard Elkinton, Mary Duguid, Harriet Elkington, Katharine Elkinton, Grace Waring, Phyllis Taylor, Sam Mason
Elkinton, Howard to TEW. 1/10. Referring to a trip he will take to Berlin
TEW to mother. 1/15. Detailed discussion of stocks
TEW to parents. 3/2. On the issue of guns for children
Elkinton, Howard to TEW. 4/11. Interpretation of the meaning of Easter
Elkinton, Howard to TEW. 5/9. Their home in Germantown hosts many Germans
Elkinton, Howard to TEW. 5/31. Detailed description of Westtown alumni day
Elkinton, Howard to TEW. 11/9. Tells of many Friends who passed away and reports on traveling west
ca. 20 items
Primary letter writer is Howard Elkinton (HE) who travels to Switzerland, Austria, France and Germany.
Other letter writers include: Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW), Alix Feist, Virginia Wirts
HE to TEW. 1/23. Philosophy of travel: one needs to have patience
HE to TEW. Munich, 2/18. Visited with Cathy and John Cary who will be going to Haverford the following year; Austria and post-war reparations
HE to TEW. The Hague, 3/8. Uncertain future of the Quaker school at Eerde
50th annual celebration of Pocono Lake Preserve. 1954. Printed
HE to TEW. Germantown, 4/6. Describes the many duties he has with various organizations
HE to TEW. Germantown, 12/19. Financial support of Kotoko Nitobe; financial advice
ca. 40 items
Primary letter writer is Howard Elkinton (HE) to Theodora Waring (TEW). He travels to Florida, offers financial advice. Elkinton dies in 1955 and many of the letters are sympathy letters. Katharine Elkinton takes a trip with her sister to England and Ireland after Howard's death.
Other writers include: Herman Osborne, Daniel Bell, TEW, Margaret Richie, Katherine Lamont, Din Githens, Larry Miller. Ruth Miller, William Carey, Grace Waring, Bernard Waring, Esther Leeds, Ruth Stokes, Helen Williams, Will Marchant, Peter Elkinton, Katharine Elkinton,
Highlights include:
?, Mary. 8/20. Extensive description of life at Rangely (CO)
ca. 55 items
Primary letter writers are Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW) relating to family life of Tom and Dody, first in Bucks County, PA, then in Waban, MA so that Tom can teach at Shady Hill School; and her mother, Katharine Wistar Elkinton
Other writers include: Thomas Richie, Katharine Elkinton, Grace Waring, Bernard Waring, Barbara Nun-Swiss, Simone Tangre, Sam Mason, Tom Waring
ca. 100 items
Principal writers are Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW) and her mother Katharine Elkinton (KE) discussing their daily lives and family, including the birth of Lydia Waring, move to Cambridge, MA where they attend Cambridge Friends Meeting and recollections of Howard Elkinton
Other letter writers include: Tom Waring, Grace Waring
Waring, Grace to TEW and Tom Waring. 4/3. Some of Grace Waring's activities include being recording secretary for Worship & Ministry in Phila. Yearly Meeting; pastoral care of certain members of the meeting; member of family relations comm.; member of Women's Problems Group; member of Poets group; participation in Fellowship House and more
KE to TEW. 4/? Attended yearly meeting where both Orthodox and Hicksite Friends were present and well-spoken.
TEW to KE. 4/23. Howard Elkinton and the subject of death
KE to TEW. 6/10. Howard Elkinton buried at Southwestern Burial Ground
KE to TEW. 9/4. Includes photos of several family members mentioned in the letter
Physical Description2 folders
ca. 50 items
Primary letter writers are Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW) and her mother, Katharine Elkinton (KE). They discuss various family issues and activities. During the year, the latter traveled to Italy and Greece and her letters provide description
Other letter writers include: Helen W.W., Isobel Duguid, Elisabeth Dodds
Highlights include:
KE to TEW. 1/9. Has just been asked to be chair of the Arch St. Center board and is also secretary of the Ffoulke & Long home for delinquent girls
KE to TEW. ca. 3/18. Thoughts on ministry in Quaker meeting
W.W., Helen to TEW. 10/12. Reference to the fact that the Warings have become members of Wellesley Monthly Meeting having transferred from Doylestown.
KE to TEW. ca. 11/1. Attending the Quaker Peace Conference (at Lake Mohonk, NY) where they worked on various problems of church and state. Bill Huntington and George Willoughby and the Smiley brothers are in attendance.
ca. 25 items
Primary letter writer is Katharine Elkinton writing to the Warings relating daily events, love for family and a trip to Greece and Italy with Isobel Duguid
ca. 25 items
Letters are from Katharine Elkinton to the Warings, and reveal daily events and concerns.
ca. 50 items
Primary letter writers are Katharine Elkinton (KE) to Theodora Elkinton Waring (TEW) giving family and health news. After she died in October 1961, many of the letters are sympathy letters to TEW
Other letter writers are Frances Stokes, Simone Tangre, Grace Waring, Marian Warner Taylor, Thomas Waring (not including sympathy letter writers)
Highlights include:
Stokes, Frances to TEW. Harriet Francke, who was married to TEW's brother, Peter, remarries
KE to TEW. 3/18. Arch St. Center on Philadelphia Yearly Meeting property to close
Williams, Henry Justice to TEW and Peter Elkinton. 10/31/61. Minute from board of management of Friends Arch Street Center re Katharine Elkinton
Waring, Thomas to Grace Waring. 1961. Re integration at Cambridge Friends School
Waring, Thomas to TEW. 12/20/61. Appreciation for work she is doing as librarian at Cambridge Friends School
ca. 35 items
Letter writers are: Harriet Elkinton, Tom Waring, J. Passmore Elkinton, Hans Kussinn, Grace Waring, Nagako Hommura, Katharine Waring, Frances Stokes, Nathan Waring, Peter Cook, Peter Elkinton, Manning Smith, Theodora Waring, Thomas Waring
Highlights include:
Waring, Thomas to Grace Waring. 1962. Essay by Waring: "Comments on Friends Education."
Kussinn, Hans to Tom and Dody. Wittenau, Germany, 2/26. Thanks them for Care package
Registrar of Susquehanna University to Dody. 3/14. Regarding sale of parents' properties in Germantown, PA and Pocono Lake Preserve, PA
Smith, Manning to Peter Elkinton. 8/11/63. Detailed information on the Christopher Mason house in Germantown.
ca. 30 items
Principal letter writers include: Frances Stokes
Correspondence is primarily family news and feelings
Other letter writers include: Theodora Waring, Thomas Waring, Waring children, Deborah Allen, Joseph Stokes
Highlights include:
Waring, Thomas to Grace Waring. 6/21/64. Refers to upcoming dedication of new Cambridge Friends School and that he is the headmaster.
ca. 20 items
Letter writers include: J. Passmore Elkinton, John Silver, Grace Waring, Frances Stokes, Seal Thompson, Dorothy Waring Smith, Stephen Clarke, Thomas Waring, Waring family children
On family affairs and some issues at Cambridge Friends School
ca. 70 items
Letters are on personal and family matters, including concerns about health and a trip by the Warings to England and Ireland; biographical sketch of Lillian Putnam.
Letter writers include: Thomas Waring, Theodora Waring, Passmore Elkinton, Frances Stokes, Grace Waring, Peter Elkinton, Waring children, Lucy Wells, Helen Bettman
Waring, Thomas to Grace Waring. 3/25/67. Reports on events at Cambridge Friends School where he is principal
Elkinton, Peter to Passmore Elkinton. Orange, CA., 1/11/68. Going to Yukon Territory to teach with wife, Mary
Elkinton, Peter to Thomas Waring. 4/9/68. Is teaching and will be principal of the high school in Canada the following year
Waring, Theodora to Grace Waring. 7/8/68. Increasingly happy marriage with Tom
ca. 40 items
Letter writers include: Thomas Waring, Grace Waring, Peter Elkinton, Waring children (including Kitty from Paris), Nancy Buell, Susan Jackson, Frances Stokes
Providing news of family
Highlights include:
Waring, Thomas to Peter Elkinton 9/22. Son, Chris, is a C.O. helping to organize weekend work camps. Dody (Theodora Waring) is going back to school with goal of library science
ca. 20 items
Letter writers include: Virginia Wieberson, Christopher Waring, Helen Atkinson, Nat Waring, Thomas Waring
Letters primarily talk about what Waring family members are doing
ca.30 items
Letter writers include: Grace Waring, Christopher Waring, Thomas Waring, Theodora Elkinton Waring, Helen Atkinson, Abigail Waring, Nathaniel Waring
Highlights include:
Atkinson, Helen to Tom Waring. 5/23. Hopes that Tom would take over as Headmaster of Buckingham Friends School in Pennsylvania.
Waring, Tom to Helen Atkinson. 6/2. Explains why he will not take job as headmaster of Buckingham Friends School
Waring, Tom to Trustees of Cambridge Friends School. 6/? Thinks the school is in a good place and will be back in a year. (Following this letter is text entitled: "The First Decade.")
Waring, Tom to Trustees of Cmabridge Friends School. 12/11. Decision to retire as headmaster of Cambridge Friends School
ca. 45 items
Letter writers include: Thomas Waring, Grace Waring, Theodora Elkinton Waring, Abigail Waring
On a trip to Europe in June, according to Theodora Waring, Tom Waring abruptly left, returning to the U.S., Farm & Wilderness, VT. Letters are primarily on family and family activities
Highlights include:
Waring, Thomas to Grace Waring. 2/14. Working at the Craftsman Center and doing some consulting and working at Wellesley Meeting. Dody training to be a teacher and has applied to Shady Hill to be an apprentice, much as he was 25 years earlier. She received her undergraduate degree from Simmons in 1971. They "have a wonderful marriage."
"Comments on Friends Education" and "Further Comments on Friends Education" / by Thomas Waring. [1972]
Waring, Grace to Theodora Waring. 3/1. Support of her Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Waring, Theodora to Kit and AJ. 9/14. Telling of her experience as a new teacher at Shady Hill School.
Waring, Theodora to Nat and Toph. 11/4. Studying for mid-terms (toward M.A. in Education) at Lesley College
ca. 40 items
Letter writers include: Thomas Waring, Theodora Waring, Waring children
Letters offer family news, including Thomas Waring's Craftsmanship Center and religious ideas, their children's activities, including daughter in Norway
Highlights include:
Waring, Theodora to children. 3/18. Considering enrolling in Harvard Divinity School (and was admitted in May)
ca. 70 items.
Letters written home from school giving a picture of Katharine (Kit) Waring's personality and daily life
ca. 80 items
Letter writers include: Marie, Jeff, Abigail Waring, Theodora Waring, Thomas Waring, Elizabeth Yarnall, Grace Waring, Chris Falek, Timothy Wirth, Peter Elkinton, Ellie, Robert Yarnall, Frank, Katharine Waring
This folder is preceded by Theodora Elkinton's description of the break-up of her marriage to Thomas Waring, dated 1977. These are letters among Waring family members, including from Theodora Waring to her children, and include references to the relationship between Tom Waring and Shirley Norton as well as to her own studies at Harvard
Waring, Theodora Elkinton to children. n.d., but 1970s. Reference to husband's relationship with Shirley. Also, deepening spirituality
ca. 20 items
Much of the content of the letters relates to the break-up of Tom and Dody Waring's marriage and Tom's relationship to Shirley
Letter writers include:
Marie Waring, Thomas Waring, Lydia Waring, Mrs. Eastburn Thompson, Bob Hillegaas, Christopher Waring, Allan Eister, Tim Wirth
Highlights include:
Hillegaas, Bob to Thomas Waring. 1/21. Wellesley Meeting asks Tom Waring to step down as clerk
ca. 20 items
Letter writers include:
Lydia Waring, Christopher Waring, Marie Waring, Peter Elkinton, Thomas Waring, Mrs. Eastburn Thompson
Waring, Christopher to Theodora Waring. 5/11. Refers to Theodora Waring's first officiating at a wedding
ca. items
On family topics; also, lengthy piece about Hannah Whitall Smith
Letter writers include:
Marie Waring, Mrs. Eastburn Thompson, Tim Meyer, Cynthia, Lydia Waring
ca 30 items
Relating to family matters and continued tensions between Tom and Dody (Theodora) Waring
Letter writers include:
Barbara Cummings, Marie Waring, Lydia Waring, Cynthia Waring, Nannie Waring, Tom Waring, Katharine Waring Block, Martha Sharpless, Ruth Stokes, Tom Richie
Waring, Nannie to Tom Waring. 1/18/84. In doing research, finds information about Jabez Jenkins who was Grace Waring's great grandfather and superintendent of cargo on clipper ships to China whose captain, James Whitall, was their great great grandfather. He married Ann Newling (sister of Martha who married their great great grandfather Joshua Cowgill).
ca. 30 items
Letters primarily about family affairs, lives of Waring children and their children, almost all to Dody Waring. References to trips by Dody (Theodora) Waring to trip to France in 1986 & 1987
Letter writers include:
Lydia Waring Meyer, Martha Sharpless, Nanny Waring, Thomas Waring, Katharine Waring
ca. 35 items
Letters primarily on family affairs; essay by Lydia Waring Meyer; section of autobiography by Nannie Waring Thompson.
Letter writers include:
Lydia Waring Meyer, Thomas Waring, John Martin, Nannie Waring Thompson
Highlights include:
Martin, John to Thomas Waring. 1/11/90. Questions why Waring left out mention of his wife (Dody Waring) in his book
ca 30 items
Letters are on family matters; also copies of drawings by Katharine Waring Block; death of Thomas Waring's second wife, Shirley
Letter writers include:
Lydia Waring Meyer, Katharine Block, Thomas Waring, Ruth Stokes, Dave (McClelland?), Lawrence Stager, Jim Newell
Highlights include:
Block, Katharine to her mother, Dody Waring. 10/93. Thanks for money which allowed her to go to Russia on a Christian mission trip
Block, Katharine to her mother, Dody Waring. 9/4/94. Depiction of their home life; also, difficulties when she & husband, Frank, get together with the rest of her family
Stager, Lawrence to Rev. Theodora Waring. 2/17/95. Waring accepted as a member of the volunteer staff for the 1995 summer session of excavations at Ashkelon, Israel
ca. 20 items
Letters relate to family news. Included is the Block family newsletter (1998) outlining what all of them were doing; also memorial minute for Thomas Waring who died in 2001 and other items relating to his life; Tom Waring's review of the first 10 years of Cambridge Friends School
Letter writers include:
Peter Elkinton, Brian Whitall, Frank Tarbox, Hugh MacArthur, Theodora Waring
Highlights include:
Elkinton, Peter to Dody Waring. 7/7/96. Announcement of his wife's death
Meyer, Lydia Waring to family. 4/26/2000. A description of her work as pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Grand Haven, MI
19 items.
Diaries include:
Waring, Grace. Trip to Europe, 1949
Waring, Thomas. Trip to England, Scotland and Ireland, 1967
Waring, Thomas. Trip to Philadelphia, 1969
Waring, Thomas. Trip to Greece, 1972
Waring, Theodora Elkinton. Diary while at Smith College, 1946; Pocket diaries/calendars for 1979-80, 1983-84, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1990-91, 1994-1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000-2001, 2003, 2004-5, 2005 and 2006
Included here are Elkinton-Waring's recollections of her elder hostel trip to Japan to study Inazo Nitobe in October 2001:
"Things and Facts of the Nitobes" / by Takeko Nitobe Katoh (grandaughter of Nitobe Inazo);
biographical information about Nitobe Inazo and his family;
"Impact of Samurai tradition on the life of Inazo Nitobe / by Theodora Elkinton Waring;
greeting cards from Takeko and Yukiko Katoh;
"The Foundations of Dr. Inazo Nitobe's Character" / by Gilbert Bowles (typescript; two versions);
Nitobe Memorandum / by J. Passmore Elkinton, revised by Theodora Elkinton Waring, 2002;
"Impact of Samurai Tradition on the life of Inzao & Mary's granddaughter, Takeko Nitobe Katoh as of 1/22/2003" / by Theodora Elkinton Waring;
"Takeko Nitobe Katoh" / by Theodora Elkinton Waring;
"Thoughts on difficulties of a bi-cultural family : Nitobe family from 1891-2002" / by Theodora Elkinton Waring;
Bibliography for Nitobe/Elkinton essays by Theodora Elkinton Waring, April 2003";
correspondence relating to the Japan trip
2 items
Including diploma from Germantown Friends School, 1940
Booklet about the Philadelphia Quartz Co. that includes a biographical sketch of Joseph Elkinton and hand-written notes on his descendants
Biographical information on Joseph Elkinton (1859-1920) and Sarah West Passmore Elkinton, his wife (1854-1936); Alfred Cope Elkinton (1863-); David C. Elkinton on the Doukhobors
Waring Family
Waring Ancestry chart since 1690;
Descendants of Joseph Waring (1669-1783);
Map of Joseph Waring's land
Waring family births and deaths, 19th century
Information on Samuel Mason
Includes:
Descendants of Gideon Gilpin;
Gilpin line to Waring and Stokes
Gilpin genealogy
Miscellaneous information
Includes:
Nathaniel Newlin and his descendants;
Physical Description1 folders
Including:
Stokes and Mason families;
Cope family
Caspar Wistar;
Whitall and Bacon families;
Augustine Jones
Photographs are generally organized by family and generation, where possible. Many of the photographs are pasted down on scrapbook paper and cannot be separated by family or generation. Not all photographs for each individual/family/generation are described, but rather an overview of photographs in the collection is provided.
Photographs are all identified by Theodora Elkinton Waring or other family members
Elkinton family
Box 24:
Elkinton family gatherings (including Nitobe Inazo);
Stokes-Emlen-Cope-Smith family album of cartes-de-visite;
Stokes, John (1800-1868): Photo of drawing;
Smith, Esther Newlin Stokes (1772-): Photo of drawing;
Children of John & Charlotte Newbold Wistar (married 1781): Silhouettes;
Box 25:
Elkinton family photo album, 1938-42;
Katharine E. Mason; Samuel Mason; scenes from childhood of Katharine W. Mason, 1892-1902 (in album)
Photographs primarily of Theodora Elkinton Waring and her children photo album;
Unidentified albumen prints;
Box 26:
Elkinton-Waring family photos;
Photos of Theodora Elkinton Waring;
Photos of Howard and Katharine Elkinton and children;
Photos of Katharine Mason Elkinton;
Photos of Howard Elkinton;
Waring family photos (including Bernard and Thomas Waring);
Evans family photos: Hannah Bacon Evans and family;
Mason family photos;
Elkinton (not Howard) family photos), including wedding of William and Mary Elkington Duguid, 1915 (includes Henry J. Cadbury, Yoshio Nitobe and others); Joseph and Sarah West Elkinton and family; William and Passmore Elkinton; Elkinton family in various locations, including Pocono Lake Preserve (Joseph & Sarah Elkinton were among 3 original families)
Stokes family photos
Note: There are notations on the backs of most of the snapshot photos, but no indication by whom they are taken
Snapshots of West Indies, ca. 1940s;
Snapshots of Japan, including Ume Tsuda, Anna and Henry Hartshorne, Edith Sharpless, Ume Tsuda, ca. 1940s;
Snapshots of China, including Isaac Mason, Henry Silcock's home, ca. 1940s;
Snapshots of Korea and Hawaii, ca. 1940s;
Snapshots of Washington, D.C., Richmond, IN, Pocono Lake Preserve and unknown;
Photos of houses: Germantown, Jamestown, Flushing, Kentmere, England;
Postcards: France during World War II, including Society of Friends' work;
Photos and postcards of places: Copenhagen and Germany during World War II;
Photographs taken in Jerusalem;
Photographs taken during Theodora Elkinton Waring's trip to Japan in 2001, including photographs of Mary and Inazo Nitobe