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Edith R. Solenberger Papers

Notifications

Held at: Swarthmore College Peace Collection [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore 19081-1399

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Swarthmore College Peace Collection. 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

Edith Gertrude Reeves was born in 1886 in South Dakota. She attended the University of South Dakota and graduated from Radcliffe College, earning an AB in 1907 and an AM in 1910, with an interest in "crippled children." Reeves married Edwin Solenberger of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania and moved to that community in August of 1913.

Within the Philadelphia community, Edith Solenberger had a notable impact on the treatment of children with physical disabilities. This crusade began as early as 1910 with her work with the International Society for Crippled Children in Elyria, Ohio, and lasted until1968.As Edith Reeves, she authored the semiunal volume of its day on this topic in 1911 entitled Care and Education of Crippled Children in the United States.. The Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults issued a Letter of Introduction describing Edith Solenberger as a Charter Member of the Society's Board of Directors. She was a pioneer in work on behalf of disabled children. In 1949, she visited post-war Europe inspecting hospitals institutional homes, schools and agencies for persons with orthopaedic handicaps.

Edith Solenberger was Co-Clerk of the Lansdowne Monthly Meeting, a founder of the Lansdowne-Upper Darby branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), and an officer of the Delaware County WILPF Council. Her career included social work, writing, and public speaking. She was WILPF's referent on Native Americans in the 1950s.

Together with her husband, Edwin, Edith traveled to the 1955 Pacific Yearly Meeting as a representative of the Lansdowne Monthly Meeting. Other Quaker sponsored trips included those to Canada to learn about the Doukhobors, a Russian immigrant-based pacifist Christian group. Warm friendships developed as a result of her visits in 1951, 1955 and 1956.

In addition to her great interest in the Doukhobors, Edith Solenberger also paid much attention to Native American issues, especially concerning the Kinzua Dam Project from 1957 to 1964. Edith Solenberger sponsored a young Native American student with whom she corresponded from 1963 to1969.

Edith Reeves Solenberger's life journey ranged from a frontier childhood in the South Dakota Territory to international scholarly travel, and included family commitments, rearing four children, and spiritual and intellectual dedication to many diverse causes. She died at the age of 90 in 1976.

The Edith Reeves Solenberger papers includes biographical information about her and her family, correspondence, her writings (published and unpublished), information about her efforts and involvements (including trips), and reference material. It should be noted that in the 2017 reprocessing of this collection, some of the secondary material on Native Americans and Doukhobors was discarded as being readily available elsewhere. Folders that include correspondence are noted as such.

Accession 08B-061 was acquired through purchase in 2008. This accession includes a school copy book of Edith Reeves, dated 1897-1899; a diary, dated 1900; an herbarium (n.d., but perhaps from 1913); wedding announcements and correspondence, 1913; telegram from Edith Reeves on women's rights, 1912; University of South Dakota [?] graduation program for Althea Margaret Reeves [Edith's sister?], 1914; three family photographs-two of Emerson G. Reeves [Edith's father], one of Emma Sprague Reeves [Edith's mother]. Edith Reeves, and Harrison Sprague Reeves [Edith's brother], circa 1892; one lock of hair [unidentified].

The arrangement of this collection is simple: biographical information, correspondence, writings, efforts and involvements, and reference material.

Gift of Robert Solenberger, 1994, 1995, [acc. 94A-082, acc. 95A-036]; purchase [acc. 08B-061]

Processed by Kate Myer in October,1993; reprocessed by Anne M. Yoder in October,2017.

Photos were moved to the Photograph Collection. Lock of hair and herbarium were moved to the Memorabilia Collection.

Publisher
Swarthmore College Peace Collection
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

All or part of this collection is stored off-site. Contact Swarthmore College Peace Collection staff at peacecollection@swarthmore.edu at least two weeks in advance of visit to request boxes.

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Use Restrictions

None.

Collection Inventory

Archival Resource Key. Biographical information.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Biographical information: composition book, 1897-1899.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Scope and Contents

Acc. 08B-061

Archival Resource Key. Biographical information: diary, 1900.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Scope and Contents

Acc. 08B-061

Archival Resource Key. Biographical information: wedding – announcements, correspondence, visiting cards, 1913-1914.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Scope and Contents

Acc. 08B-061

Archival Resource Key. Biographical information: family tree.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Biographical information: newsclippings re: extended family.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1909-1919.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1920-1929.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1930-1939.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1940-1941, 1943-1945.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence with Nanette Betrand (France), 1945.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1946.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence with Nanette Betrand (France), 1946-1947.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1947.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence with Karl Franke and family (Germany), 1947-1950.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1948-1949.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1950.
Box 1 [offsite SCPC-2397]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1951-1959.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1960-1970, undated.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Writings: published, 1915-.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Writings: unpublished.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Writings re: the care of crippled children.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Writings: pamphlet "British Maternity Nursing on an American Frontier", 1930.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Scope and Contents

reprinted from "The Cripple," April 1930 [acc. 2017-__]

Archival Resource Key. Writings: preparations for pamphlet on conscientious objection.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: speaking engagements.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: miscellaneous.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- correspondence, etc., 1910-1924.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- correspondence, etc., 1925.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- correspondence, etc., 1926.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- correspondence, etc., 1927.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- correspondence, etc., 1928.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- correspondence, etc., 1929.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- correspondence, etc., 1930.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- correspondence, etc., 1931-1945.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- trip to England [includes report], 1949.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: related to the care of crippled children -- correspondence, etc., 1951-1968.
Box 2 [offsite SCPC-2398]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: as chair of the Citizens Committee: notes, report, etc.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: with Committee on Conscientious Objectors.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: re: Doukhobors – correspondence about visit, etc., 1955.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: re: Doukhobors – correspondence about visit(?), etc., 1956.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: re: Doukhobors – correspondence about visit(?), etc., 1957, 1959.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: re: Doukhobors – notes taken during visit/s, etc., 1950s.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: re: Doukhobors – notes, approximately 1950s.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: with Friends War Problem Committee, 1942.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: with Lansdowne (PA) and Delaware County Branches of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom -- correspondence, reports, meeting minutes.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: with Lansdowne (PA) Monthly Meeting -- correspondence, etc.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: re: Native Americans.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: re: Native Americans -- correspondence with Cheryl Johnson, 1963.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: re: Native Americans -- correspondence with Cheryl Johnson, 1964-1969.
Box 3 [offsite SCPC-2399]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: with Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Indian Committee and Kinzua Dam project -- correspondence, etc.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: with Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Indian Committee and Kinzua Dam project -- correspondence of Walter Taylor (representative to Seneca Nation), 1961.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: with Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Indian Committee and Kinzua Dam project -- correspondence of Walter Taylor (representative to Seneca Nation), 1962-1963.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: re: the United Nations -- correspondence, etc., 1950-1965.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: trip to Europe – letters of introduction and thanks, 1949.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: trip to Europe – letters of affirmation by Monthly Meetings, 1951.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: trip to attend Pacific Yearly Meeting and to visit western Quaker Meetings – affirmation from Lansdowne (PA) Monthly Meeting, etc.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: trip to England and Scotland – affirmation by Monthly Meetings, 1968.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at events of the Emergency Peace Campaign, – notes taken, 1936-1937.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at Conference on World Economic Cooperation – notes taken, etc., 1938.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at Friends Conference on the Conscientious Objector, Earlham College – notes taken, etc., 1940.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at Pendle Hill Peace Service Training Seminar – notes taken, etc., 1940.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at Pendle Hill Pacifist Seminar – notes taken, etc., 1940.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at All American Friends Conference – notes taken, mss. article, etc., 1942.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at Japanese Peace [Treaty] Conference – correspondence, report, 1951.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at World Council of Churches 2nd Assembly – notes taken, etc., 1954.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at AAUW National Convention – notes taken, etc., 1957.
Box 4 [offsite SCPC-2400]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at Church Peace Union Seminar: correspondence, notes, etc., 1958.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance(?) at White House Conference on Children and Youth, 1960.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: attendance at Citizen Participation with Officials and Professionals Meeting, Philadelphia (PA) [re: incarceration of women and girls], 24079.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in the causes of war – notes, etc.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in chemical and biological warfare – correspondence, etc.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in conscription and conscientious objection – notes; reports about interviews.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in conscription of women – notes; directory created.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in disarmament – notes, etc.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in Doukhobors – correspondence, etc., 1964-1976.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in fallout/bomb shelters -- notes.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in Japan and Asia – notes, etc.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in postwar challenges to peacemaking – notes, etc.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: interest in red-baiting and prejudice – notes, etc.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Efforts and involvements: miscellaneous notes.
Box 5 [offsite SCPC-2401]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: miscellaneous.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: antiwar sentiment, 1939-1940.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: collegial attitudes re: war.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: conscription.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: Doukhobors.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Indian Committee and Kinzua Dam Project.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: Native Americans.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: Native Americans and effect of Kinzua Dam.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: Native Americans – Menominee Indians.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: refugees.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]
Archival Resource Key. Reference material: religion and war.
Box 6 [offsite SCPC-2402]

Archival Resource Key. Biographical information: Easter Seal gift in memory of Edith Solenberger.
Box 7
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1926-1950.
Box 7
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1951.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

[2 folders]

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, (1952-1975, undated).
Box 7
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence with son Robert, 1929-1935.
Box 7
Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous notes, etc. .
Box 7
Archival Resource Key. Robert Solenberger (son): personal correspondence, 1929-1976.
Box 7

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous material.
Box Re-File

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