Main content
Reading and Exeter Monthly Meetings Records
Notifications
Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 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
Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting established Oley Monthly Meeting in 1737. In 1742, its name was changed to "Exeter". At this time, there were five or more meetings under the care of Exeter Monthly: Exeter Preparative, Maidencreek Preparative, Robeson Preparative, Pottsville Indulged, and Reading Preparative. In addition, Pottstown Indulged Meeting was set up in 1753; it was known as "Pottsgrove" Meeting until circa 1774. This meeting was discontinued in 1935, though its burial ground continued to exist.
Two monthly meetings emerged in 1829 after the Hicksite Separation. Exeter Monthly Meeting (Orthodox) was discontinued in 1899 and its members were transferred to the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia at Arch Street. The meeting for worship was discontinued in 1932. In 1949, a meeting for worship known as "Old Exeter Particular Meeting" was established under the care of Caln Quarterly Meeting (Orthodox). This meeting became Exeter Monthly Meeting in 1955.
Exeter Monthly Meeting (Hicksite) removed all its sessions to Reading around 1878. In 1950, this meeting became a united meeting by affiliation with the Hicksite and Orthodox Philadelphia Quarterly Meetings, and its name was changed to Reading-Exeter United Monthly Meeting of Friends. In 1955, the meeting's name was changed to Reading Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. This is currently an active monthly meeting.
Records of Reading Monthly Meeting and its predecessors since 1715. Included are: minutes of the men's meeting and later, of joint sessions with women; vital records (births and deaths, marriage and membership records, removals, etc.); women's minutes; minutes of the worship and ministry committee and of its predecessor, the meeting of ministry and counsel and ministry and worship; financial and property records; miscellaneous papers.
Deposit
Organization
- Oley Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : 1737-1742)
- Exeter Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : 1742-1829)
- Exeter Monthly Meeting of Friends (Hicksite : 1829-1950)
- Reading-Exeter United Monthly Meeting of Friends (1950-1955)
- Reading Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
- Exeter Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : 1737-1899 : Stonersville, Pa.)
Subject
Place
- Publisher
- Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- Reading Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends Reading-Exeter United Monthly Meeting of Friends (1950-1955)
- Finding Aid Date
- 2009
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research. Access may be provided via digital or microfilm copy, per repository policy.
- Use Restrictions
-
Copyright has not been assigned to the Repositories All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the individual Meeting or its successor. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Repositories as the holder(s) of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.
Collection Inventory
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: Microfilm 132A
1 volume (13 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 volume (84 p.) in folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 item [On search 1/2021]
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 volume (7 p.) in folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Ledger containing a list of persons buried at Friends' Burying Ground, North Sixth Street, Reading, Pennsylvania, 1861-1881. Also includes list of deeds, 1760-1864. Pertinent papers laid in.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. ; 20 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Membership register of Exeter Monthly Meeting held at Reading. Contains information on births, deaths, marriages, removals, etc. Membership list, 1876, and other pertinent papers laid in. Register was probably begun in 1897, with earlier records abstracted from minutes and other sources.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. ; 38 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Contains membership, births, deaths, marriages, and remarriages, 1750?-1899.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: Microfilm 132A
1 vol. (77 p.) [On search 1/2021]
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Loose membership records. Earliest date of admission is 1904; latest date of release is 1990.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder (ca. 130 items) ; 28 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite/United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Loose membership and transfer forms, with final updates 1989-2022, covering members from 1920s - 2020s.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on Microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore:No Film
- Haverford:No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsUnited
Meeting's copies of marriage certificates, 1743-1803, and births and deaths, 1715-1885. Includes index to marriages by J. Russell Hayes, 1933.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 165
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (ca. 300 p. in various pagings) ; 33 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Meeting's copies of marriage certificates, 1755-1873, and births and deaths, 1734-1889.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 165
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (ca. 150 p. in various pagings) ; 40 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: Microfilm 86AA
Also includes several manumissions.
Physical Description1 volume (258 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: Microfilm 86AA
1 volume (7 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Meeting's copies of certificates of removal issued to members moving to other meetings, 1830-1881.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 169
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (54 p.) ; 20 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Meeting's copies of certificates of removal received by Exeter Monthly Meeting and by its predecessor, Oley Monthly Meeting, 1739-1797.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 169
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (127 p.) ; 34 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minute books of the pre-Separation meeting as follows: Second Month 26, 1727-Fourth Month 25, 1765; Fifth Month 30, 1765-Seventh Month 27, 1785; Eighth Month 31, 1785-Sixth Month 29, 1808. Includes indexes.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 165/166
- Haverford: No Film
3 v. ; 33 cm. or smaller
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 volume (546 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 volume (430 p., 548 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
1 volume
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 vol. (434 p., 99 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
1 volume
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Seperation
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: Microfilm 86AA
1 volume (555 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Index to HC.PhM.R400.02.006 (1250/M4.11)
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Pre-Separation/ Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Minutes of the Hicksite men's meeting and later, of joint sessions as follows: 1829-1892 (with gaps for the period 1873-1892); 1892-1901; 1901-1929; 1930-1941. Includes indexes.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 167
- Haverford: No Film
4 v. ; 34 cm. or smaller
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Rough minutes of the Exeter Monthly Meeting of Friends, 1863-1873 and 1883-1892.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
2 v. ; 11 cm. or greater
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: Film 86AA
1 volume (313 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Minute book contains minutes of Exeter Monthly Meeting (Hicksite), Eleventh Month 25, 1941-First Month 27, 1950 and minutes of Reading-Exeter United Monthly Meeting of Friends, Second Month 12, 1950-Eleventh Month 20, 1953. Pertinent papers laid in.
In 1955, the meeting known as Reading-Exeter United Monthly Meeting of Friends changed name to Reading Monthly Meeting of Friends. Both meetings were united.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 168
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (299 p.) ; 27 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite/United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minutes of Reading Monthly Meeting since 1953: 1953-1957, 1957-1961, 1961-1965, 1965-1973, 1974-1980, 1980-1982, 1983-1984, 1985-1986, 1987-1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999-2003.
In 1955, the meeting known as Reading-Exeter United Monthly Meeting of Friends changed name to Reading Monthly Meeting of Friends. Both meetings were united.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 550/551/552/553/554
- Haverford: Microfilm 30* (1956-1975, 1979-1995)
6 v. + 11 folders (2 linear ft.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes index.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 169
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (436, [11] p.) ; 34 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 volume (445 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: Microfilm 86AA
1 volume (546 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: Microfilm 86AA
1 volume (96 p.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Minute book of the Hicksite women's meeting, 1829-1890. Volume also contains minutes of the pre-Separation women's meeting, 1827-1829, and minutes of the Hicksite joint sessions of men and women, 1890-1894. Includes index.
Men and women began meeting jointly in 1890. The women's meeting kept a separate minute book until December 30, 1894.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 169
- Haverford: No Film
1 v. (350 p.) ; 34 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Rough minutes of the Exeter Monthly Meeting of Women Friends, 1872-1876 and 1877-1880.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
2 v. ; 20.5 cm.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minutes of Ministers & Elders. Included are: 1751-1813; 1829-1837; 1851-1860
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 volume in folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Minute books of the Monthly Meeting of Worship and Ministry, 1918-1959, 1959-1969. Volume for 1918-1959 contains minutes of the Meeting of Ministry and Counsel, 1918-1954. Volume for 1918-1959 also available in microfilm.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: Microfilm MR-Ph 551
- Haverford: Microfilm 1
2 v. ; 29 cm. or smaller.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite/United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Receipts and other financial papers of Exeter Monthly Meeting (Hicksite), 1847-1902. Includes savings passbook, 1876-1883; check book, 1899-1900; correspondence; cancelled checks; treasurer's reports; etc.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 box (380 items) (1 linear ft.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 notebook in folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 volume in folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Photocopy of "An Alphabetical List of Burials with Row No. and Grave No. in Relocated Burial Ground of Exeter Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends."
From the enclosure letter: Locally this graveyard is known as Maiden Creek Burying Ground and is attached to the meeting house and school of the same name. It was relocated because of the construction of Ontelaunee Dam. Theburying ground was moved at the same time as the meetinghouse and school. These structures are located east of Leesport, PA on Kindt Corner Road about one mile east of the intersection of Ontelaunee Drive and Kindt Corner Road.
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence, deeds, minutes, financial records, maps, and other papers relating to the Pottsville meeting house and burial ground, 1831-1902. Also included are: list of members of Exeter Monthly Meeting, Eleventh Month 17, 1887, and correspondence of Samuel Griscom, trustee of the Pottsville property, on the subject of secret societies, Eighth Month 5-27, 1891.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 box (230 items) (1 linear ft.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Removed from volume of minutes, 1953-1957.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: deeds of trust for land in Berks County, 1894, 1902; declaration of trust re legal titles, 1900; authorization for survey of property, 1925.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Names on headstones: typed list prepared in 1959
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
For land in Pottstown, Exeter, Amity Township, Berks County and Maiden Creek, Berks County.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
For land in Pottstown
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation/Orthodox
Physical LocationHaverford College Quaker and Special Collections
Membership lists and other membership papers, [1829]-1898; papers relating to the determination of property titles with Orthodox Friends in Reading, Exeter and Maiden Creek, 1854-1865; inventories of Exeter Monthly Meeting records and papers regarding their location and disposition, 1880-1902, undated; correspondence and other papers concerning meeting's business, 1856-1901; papers relating to the building of Reading meeting house, 1863-1870; rough fragments of minutes, 1897-1902; as well as other papers.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 box (ca. 250 items) (1 linear ft.)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Papers concerning the involvement of Reading Monthly Meeting with The People's Bail Reform Project, Inc. Includes pledges of financial support, People's Bail Reform Project forms and brochures, and by-laws of the Berks County Prison Society, 1974.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder (7 items).
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extracts of Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting minutes concerning Exeter Monthly Meeting, 1763-1764.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder (1 item)
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Pre-Separation
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: No Film
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation:Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Description based on: Fifth Month 18, 1955 issue; title from caption.
Available on microfilm in the following location(s):
- Swarthmore: No Film
- Haverford: Microfilm 24Q
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College