Call Number:

DG.027

Repository:

Swarthmore College Peace Collection

Extent:

1.5 linear ft. (1.5 linear ft.)

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], in the Peace Association of Friends in America Papers (DG 027), Swarthmore College Peace Collection.

Date:

1868-1944 (inclusive)

Creator:

Cary, John R., Foxworthy, Theodore, Hadley, W. Spencer, Hobbs, Mary Mendenhall, 1852-1930, Hole, Allen David, 1866-1940, Jones, Rufus M. (Rufus Matthew), 1863-1948, Newton, Ray, Pennington, Levi Talbott, 1875 -, and Woodward, Walter Carleton, 1878-1942

Abstract:

The Peace Association of Friends in America was organized in 1867 by Orthodox Friends in the New York, Baltimore, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Western and Iowa Yearly Meetings in reaction to the Civil War, with its mission being to convince Friends and others that war was unchristian, inhumane and unnecessary.

The Peace Association of Friends in America was organized in 1867 by Orthodox Friends in the New York, Baltimore, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Western and Iowa Yearly Meetings in reaction to the Civil War, with its mission being to convince Friends and others that war was unchristian, inhumane and unnecessary. The Association was incorporated in 1894 and was based in Richmond, Indiana. From that time, the Association was managed by its Board of Directors, consisting of seven members, which were to be chosen by the 13 representatives appointed by the Five Years' Meeting, one from each Yearly Meeting. Subsequently, all the Yearly Meetings of the Five Years' Meeting united in it, and in 1940 it became the Board of the Five Years' Meeting on Peace and Arbitration, or the Peace Board of the Five Years' Meeting. The Association became affiliated with the American Peace Society in 1914.

Daniel Hill was an early president of the Association, when it was headquartered in New Vienna (Ohio), a position he held until his death in 1899. Allen D. Hole was president from 1899 (1900?) to 1927. He was followed by Thomas R. Kelley (October 1927 - December 15, 1928) and William T. Berry (1929-?). Murray S. Kenworthy was chosen as chairman of the Association in 1938.

The Association's major project through the years was the publication of Messenger of Peace. Originating in 1870, it ran as a continuous series through 1889; it was called The Christian Arbitrator and Messenger of Peace from 1891-1894. It was revived again under its original title in 1900 and ran through 1943 (it appeared as a supplement to the American Friend from 1933-1943). Also published was The Messenger from 1889-1899.

Other projects of the Association included publication of tracts and pamphlets, organization of public meetings and lectures, efforts to avert a war with Mexico in 1914, the awarding of prizes for peace essays in contests among high school and college groups, and aiding the Emergency Committee organized by English Friends for the assistance of Germans, Austrians and Hungarians who were in distress from the war.

This collection contains correspondence from 1914 through 1935, consisting mostly of carbon copies of outgoing letters sent by Allen D. Hole; scattered meeting minutes and financial reports; and miscellaneous other material that documents various programmatic efforts of the Association. Correspondents include John R. Cary, Theodore Foxworthy, W. Spencer Hadley, Mary Mendenhall Hobbs, Rufus M. Jones, Ray Newton, Levi T. Pennington, and Walter C. Woodward. See on-line library catalog (tripod) for location of periodicals and other publications.

This collection is organized with correspondence, administrative records, and lastly publications.