Call Number:

DG.032

Repository:

Swarthmore College Peace Collection

Extent:

1 linear ft. (1 linear ft.)

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item], in the Hugh Richardson Papers (DG 032), Swarthmore College Peace Collection.

Date:

1905-1934 (inclusive)

Creator:

Richardson, Hugh, 1864-1936 and Alexander, Horace Gundry, 1889-1989

Abstract:

Hugh Richardson was born in England in 1864. He was a science instructor, lecturer, editor and author. During World War I, he visited prisoner-of-war camps in Scotland on behalf of the Emergency Committee of the Society of Friends and sent the prisoners seeds, linoleum, a sheet of rubber for printing, a stereoscope, a kaleidescope, writing tablets, and books. He lobbied for the non-payment of taxes until the end of the war, proposed disarmament by general agreement, and was against supporting scientific research that promoted military science.

Hugh Richardson was born at Newcastle on Tyne in England in 1864. He attended Cambridge King's College from 1884-1887, and later earned an M.A. (from Cantebury?). He was a science instructor, lecturer, editor and author. As a member of the Society of Friends he was vitally interested in the cause of peace and internationalism. During World War I, he visited prisoner-of-war camps in Scotland on behalf of the Emergency Committee of the Society of Friends and sent the prisoners seeds, linoleum, a sheet of rubber for printing, a stereoscope, a kaleidescope, writing tablets, and books. He lobbied for the non-payment of taxes until the end of the war, proposed disarmament by general agreement, was against supporting scientific research that promoted military science, tried to work out a mathematical formula for weighting votes in a universal government, thought there was a relation between the weather and political events, and was interested in how ornithology was related to military invasions.

Richardson was married to Mabel Spence-Watson. Their children were Mary Foster, Colin Spence, and Esther Watson. Richardson died in 1936.

The Hugh Richardson collection consists of letters written to Richardson by peace leaders -- such as Horace Alexander of the Peace Committee of the Society of Friends and Carl Heath of the National Peace Council -- and others, as well as letters regarding Richardson's visits to prisoners-of-war (mostly from internees in the camps, thanking Richardson for his letters, visits and gifts). It also contains Richardson's manuscript articles and play, his travel journals, periodicals in German from prisoner-of-war camps in Scotland and the Isle of Man, and miscellaneous material.