Call Number:

003.041

Repository:

Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections

Extent:

.2 linear ft. (2 volumes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Edward Morris Wistar songbooks (HCS.003.041), Quaker & Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.

Date:

1869-1871 (inclusive)

Creator:

Wistar, Edward Morris (1852-1941)

Form:

songbooks

Abstract:

These two volumes contain handwritten song lyrics compiled by Edward M. Wistar and his classmates during his time at Haverford in the early 1870s. Some are specific to Haverford, while many were other popular songs of the time.

Edward Morris Wistar was born a Quaker in Abington, Pennsylvania, in 1852, the son of Thomas and Priscilla Foulke Wistar. He entered Haverford College in 1869 and left in 1871. While at Haverford, Wistar was the librarian of Athenaeum, vice president of Loganian, and president of his class. He married Margaret Cooper Collins in 1876, and they had two children, Thomas and Caspar. Wister was engaged in banking and life insurance business for 17 years, and also in real estate and cotton yarn. He was interested in issues relating to North American indigenous peoples, African Americans, and persecuted Armenians. In 1896, Wistar travelled to Asia Minor as a special field agent, under the auspices of the American Red Cross, to administer relief to Armenians in Anatolia who were the victims of Turkish brutality. Later in life, he was involved with the 'Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs', 'Indian Rights Association', Pennsylvania Prison Society, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Academy of Natural Sciences, Asiatic Society, and Home Missions Council. He died in 1941. (Information from internal evidence, Biographical Catalog of the Matriculates of Haverford College 1833-1922 (1922), and the Dictionary of Quaker Biography)

These two volumes contain handwritten song lyrics compiled by Edward M. Wistar and his classmates during his time at Haverford in the early 1870s. Some are specific to Haverford, while many were other popular songs of the time. Some of the entries were made by classmates of Wistar and include signatures, the date, and the school of the person writing. In the back of the second volume there is an index of the classes of 1871 and listing of the names of the people who signed, the name of the song they included, and the page number.