Main content
Lewis Benson papers addition
Notifications
Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Lewis Benson (August 15, 1906 - August 23, 1986) was born to Clara (Clarette) and John Benson. He was born into and raised in Manasquan Friends Meeting and New York Yearly Meeting. He rejoined the meeting in his retirement, and is buried in its graveyard. In his youth, Lewis also attended a Scotch Presbyterian Church with his mother, and in the summers he spent time at Sea Girt-Manasquan with his cousins. Benson attended Executive Meeting and Half Yearly Meeting, where he was able to socialize with Quakers his own age, and learn Quaker business practices. He did not graduate from high school, which prevented him from permanent positions at Quaker organizations later in life. He became interested in the metaphysical system of Gurdjieff, which left him in self-described despair. At age 25, he was drawn to George Fox's journal, wherein reading about Fox's struggle with despair, he found kinship and support. He became a life-long student of George Fox's message, studying his work for over 50 years. He worked with Quakers in Britain. He participated in dialogues with Anabaptists and Quakers, including publishing much of his writings in "The Call," which was published in Britain and the United States. He was a prolific writer and lecturer. The New Foundation Fellowship started in the 1970s, with Benson as as founding member. He was also part of the Young Friends movement in Philadelphia, which was concerned with reunification of the two yearly meetings. He met his wife, Sarah, at Pendle Hill the winter of 1933-1934; they were married in 1937 in Germantown. He later became the first librarian at Pendle Hill. Their son, John, was born in 1940.
(The Friend, September 19, 1986; Sarah Benson biography of Lewis)
The Lewis Benson papers addition comprises many additions of materials to his original collection (HC.MC.1162). The collection is composed primarily of correspondence, Benson's writings, materials on fellowships Benson was involved with, and resources he may have used in his writings.
The collection has six series, predominatly arranged by date: Correspondence, Writing, Fellowships (sub-series: New Foundation Fellowship, Publishers of Truth, Young Friends Movement, Baring Street), Resources, Multimedia, Personal history
The Lewis Benson papers addition was donated to Special Collections, Haverford College by the Benson family.
Processed by Mary A. Crauderueff; completed May, 2018.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- Mary A. Crauderueff
- Finding Aid Date
- May, 2018
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
-
Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).
Collection Inventory
Carl Patterson
Samuel Borton
Lewis and Sarah Benson
George Chapman
Wilmer Cooper, Earlham School of Religion
Publication Committee, Book Services Committee letter, Lewis Benson
To Sarah Benson
Sarah Benson?
Thomas Potts and Sarah Benson
Weldon Reynolds
Edwin Hinshaw
from Lewis Benson ?
The Testimony of the Publishers of Truth
proposed book
Includes Japan, Ireland, England, American South, Ohio, and more
Comments by Lewis Benson on Howard Brinton's "Quakerism and Other Religions"
A Personal View Written as a Corollary to Lewis Benson's book "Catholic Quakerism"
A New Foundation to Build On: A Study Retreat at Camp Neekaunis, Waubashene, Ontario
A New Foundation to Build On: A Study Retreat at Camp Neekaunis, Waubashene, Ontario
A New Foundation to Build On: A Study Retreat at Camp Neekaunis, Waubashene, Ontario
Lisa Bieberman
letter asking for her removal of membership from Acton meeting
Larry Kuenning
includes correspondence
Statement concerning Benson's membership in both Religious Society of Friends and Publishers of Truth, as well as correspondence regarding the statement. Includes draft of statement
by Larry Keunning
2 folders
includes materials about several Young Friends Movement gatherings, along with writings by Benson
Benson was the first clerk of Young Friends of North America
detailed list in folder; gift from John Benson 2015
Mennonite
photos, including from various places in Japan such as Kyoto and Toyko, from Friends High School, Young Friends gathering
photos from trip to Japan
photos from trip to Japan
detailed list in folder; gift from John Benson 2015
detailed list in folder; gift from John Benson 2015
includes correspondence and sample form 47 filled out, and articles
handwritten by Sarah R P Benson; includes photocopy of statement by Publishers of Truth 1976 against his membership in the organization
gift from John Benson 2015
gift from John Benson 2015
includes family correspondence and religious connections to Manasquan and New York Yearly Meeting