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Stephen Grellet 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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Stephen Grellet (1773-1855), the Quaker minister and missionary, was a native of France. Grellet came to the America in 1795 and joined Friends the following year. He traveled extensively in the ministry, visiting the southern U.S. in 1800 and Haiti in 1816. Grellet made four trips to Europe during the years 1807-1834.
Letters, diary fragments and other miscellaneous papers. Material is primarily related to Grellet's travels in Europe, Russia and Haiti as a Quaker missionary. Topics discussed include his spiritual life, meetings with leaders of various religious denominations in Europe and with Friends and other religious sects (Saints), visits to schools, prisons, poor houses and hospitals during his travels, visits with various members of European aristocracy, Russian nobility and Pope Pius VII (1819) and the social and religious situation in Haiti (1816).
Generally arranged chronologically in 17 folders. Most of this material is in the form of handwritten transcripts. There are two autograph letters of Grellet's in folder 10.
(following three items are not in folders) 1. Paper weight made from part of Stephen Grellet's hearthstone, with label "I wonder whether A.M. Taylor would value a paper weight made of a piece of Stephen Grellet's hearth stone. It is a piece of the front parlor hearth by which S.G. usually sat, where he received his frds." 2. Note "Diaries, letters and papers relating to Stephen Grellet some original and mostly copied. Gift of ..., July 1918" with note added "Class of 1901." 3. Envelope labeled "Relics of Stephen Grellet (not catalogued) (from the estate of ..." contains a small wooden [candle holder?] with label on bottom "From a tree in the garden of Stephen Grellet, Burlington, N.J. 1860."
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- Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
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The collection is open to research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Standard Federal Copyright Law apply (U.S. Title 17)
Collection Inventory
envelope labeled "Relics of Stephen Grellet (not catalogued) (from the estate of ..." contains a small wooden [candle holder?] with label on bottom "From a tree in the garden of Stephen Grellet, Burlington, N.J. 1860."
"1796" Diary fragment: 12 p. manuscript copy from 5 mo., 27, 1796 to 10 mo. 8, [1796] of extracts from his diary, primarily of a spiritual nature
"1804" Diary fragment: 2 p. manuscript copy [this sheet has "93" as p. number on one side and "94" on other side, also penciled note "Chapter VI"]
"1807" Diary fragment and extracts from letters: 12 p. manuscript copy titled "Extracts from letters 1807 also Diary during S. Grellet's voyage to France" Diary fragment, 6 mo. 11 11 mo. 19, [1807?]
"1813-1814" extracts and copies of letters: (5 items: manuscript copies of letters written while on European trip of 1811-1814) includes:
-extract from letter "Zurich 12 mo. 26th 1813"
-" " " "Nuremberg 1 mo. 22, 1814" [2 copies]
-manuscript copy of letter of SG to William Dilwyn, London from "Paris 7th month 31, 1813" [8] p. [incomplete?]
-manuscript copy "A circumstance related by Stephen Grellet after his first voyage to Europe of a man now residing in the South of France, his name forgotten." n.d.
-manuscript copy of above with slightly different title introducing it, inscribed "copied for E. + A. Guest 3d mo. 17th 1815"
topics:
-meetings with ministers of Reformed church in Zurich and Paris
-meetings with ministers of Lutheran church
-meetings with Lutherans in their church
-visit to Protestant schools
-religious and spiritual reflections
"1816" letters while visiting Haiti: (7 items: letters, some manuscript copies) includes letters of Stephen Grellet to:
-William Allen from Port au Prince 17th of 8 mo. 1816 inscribed "Copy" at top of page, inscribed on back that it's a copy made by Rebecca Grellet and mailed to William Allen
-manuscript copy of above letter without note by Rebecca Grellet but probably in her hand
-2 additional copies of above [not by RG] manuscript copy "Extract of a letter from Stephen Grellet to George Stacey dated New York, 29th of 10th month 1816"
-2 additional copies of above
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topics:
-Grellet's favorable reception in Haiti
-need for general education and school teachers, books, etc.
-Grellet speaks to a group of soldiers
-his illness while in Haiti
-the president of Haiti
"1818" Diary fragment and copies of letters: Diary fragment, 8 mo. 15, 1818 [8 mo.] 27, [1818?] (manuscript copy)
manuscript copies of 7 letters written while on European trip of 1818-1820 [Norway and Sweden] includes:
-SG to Robert Forster, from Tamangur[?] 9 mo. 2, 1818
-" " [?] dated Dram, 9 mo. 20, 1818
-" " [?] " " " " " " [slightly different text from above version]
-" " [?] " Petersburg, 11 mo. 13 [1818?]
-" " [?] " " 12 mo. 16, 1818
-" and Wm. Allen to the King of Sweden, dated 10 mo. 25, 1818
-extract of a letter of SG dated 12 mo. 18, 1818
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topics:
-meetings with priests
-visits with Friends at Christiana and Stavangar who endure much from their relatives, etc. because of their beliefs
-visits with Saints [a sect]
-visits with members of the aristocracy
-visits to prisons, schools, poorhouses
-toleration of other religions [in letter to the King of Sweden]
"Bonapianola, L.": letter addressed to "Mon tres cher ami" from "Naples 28th of December 1819" in French
"1819" extracts and copies of letters (8 items: manuscript copies of letters written while on European trip of 1818-1820) includes:
-"Continuation of a narrative of the religious labours visit of Stephen Grellet and William Allen on the continent of Europe." [18 p., tied together]
-"extract of a letter from Stephen Grellet, dated Moscow 8 of 4 mo. 1819"
-"extract of a letter from Stephen Grellet, dated Odessa, 1st of 7th month, 1819"
-[extract of letter] dated Constantinople 7 mo. 19, 1819 [2 p., tied together]
-"extracts of a letter from Stephen Grellet dated Rome 11th mo. 25, 1819" [14 p., tied together]
-"extracts of a letter from S. Grellet dated Rome 4th of 12th mo. 1819" [pages numbered 1422, tied together]
-"extract of a letter from Stephen Grellet dated Leghorn, 18th of 12th mo. 1819" [pages numbered 2325]
-"extracts of a letter from S. Grellet Venice 28th of 12th mo. 1819" [pages numbered 2733, tied together]
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topics:
-visits to prisons, hospitals, poorhouses
-visits to archbishops, Russian nobility, the Pope
-describes settlers in the Crimea
-describes different sects
"1820" copies of letters (6 items: manuscript copies of letters written while on European trip of 1818-1820) includes:
-letter of SG to Mary Allen and Josiah Forster, dated Munich, 8th of 1st mo., 1820 [pages numbered 3541, tied together]
-letter of SG to [Mary Allen and Josiah Forster?], dated Munich 12th of 1st mo., 1820 [pages numbered 4355, tied together]
-letter of SG to [?] dated Stuttgart, 24th of 1st mo., 1820 [pages numbered 5660, tied together]
-letter of SG to [?] dated Zurich, 30th of 1st mo. 1820 [p. numbered 62]
-letter of SG to [?] dated Geneva, 8th of 2nd mo. 1820 [pages numbered 6468, tied together]
-letter of SG to [?] dated Congenies, 19th of 2nd mo. [1820] [pages numbered 6974]
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topics:
-visits to hospitals
-visits to nobility
"1821" and "1830" autograph letters of Grellet (2 letters: both gifts ..., 1947)
Page 1 of letter of Stephen Grellet, New York, 5th mo. 21, 1821, addressed to "Dear Brother" [Daniel B. Smith]. Letter discusses use of book of scriptural lessons in Russia. Page 2 (each approx. 60k)
topics:
-use of book of scriptural lessons in Russia
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Letter addressed to "Dear Brother" [Daniel B. Smith], Burlington, 11th of 10th mo. 1830
topics:
-a new school
-references to the Wilberforce Colony [a colony established by Black Americans in Canada]
"The following testimony was borne by Stephen Grellet at Burlington Meeting, 5th mo. 8th, 1829" [with notation in pencil "copied by Mary Pike"]
"1832" extracts and copies of letters (4 items: manuscript copies of letters written on his European trip of 1832-1833) includes:
-letter of SG to "My dear Friends" dated "[Herhout] (Saxony) 9th mo. 15th 1832" [8 p.? two sheets don't seem to logically follow each other] -extract from letter of SG dated Yverdun, 4th of 11th mo. 1832 -letter of SG to [George Stacey?] dated 11 mo. 1832 [8 p.] -letter of SG to "My dear friend," dated Nismes, 28th of 12 mo. 1832 [5 p.]
"Account of European trip, 1832-1833" (manuscript draft) account of trip of Stephen Grellet and William Allen [written by ?, 12 p.]
"National Archives material" 5 typed pages and accompanying letter from H. van Etten, Oct. 19, 1955, all in French re: records at the National Archives at Paris pertaining to SG
"Schlatter, Helena" (3 items: letter and typed transcripts) letter from Helena Schlatter to SG, dated March 5, 1820 [in German?]; typed translation of above letter [2 copies]
topics:
-discusses her spiritual state of mind and her illness