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Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting 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

Call Number:
SA
Repository:
Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
  • 13 linear ft.
  • 0.2 gb
Language:
English
Date:
1943-2023 (inclusive)
Creator:
Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association of the Religious Society of Friends
Abstract:
Records of the Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association and many of its constituent members. Includes minutes, membership records, newsletters, committee records, and miscellaneous. Some born-digital records. The Charleston WV and Swannanoa Valley Meetings, which disaffiliated with SAYMA in 2022 and 2023, are described separately.

Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association opened 1970/05/02 as an outgrowth of Southern Appalachian Association of Friends, itself formally organized 1959/05/17 at its fourth annual gathering. It joined Friends General Conference in 1977.

(Thomas C. Hill, Monthly Meetings in North America, 1998)

Records of current and laid down meetings of Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association include the following:

  1. Atlanta Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Atlanta, Ga.)
  2. Berea Friends Meeting (Berea, Ky.)
  3. Birmingham Friends Meeting (Birmingham, Ala.)
  4. Boone Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Boone, N.C.)
  5. Boone Worship Group (Society of Friends : Boone, N.C.)
  6. Brevard Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Brevard, N.C.)
  7. Celo Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Burnsville, N.C.)
  8. Chattanooga Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Chattanooga, Tenn.)
  9. Columbia Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Columbia, S.C.)
  10. Crossville Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Crossville, Tenn.)
  11. Foxfire Friends Meeting of the Holston Valley (Abingdon, Va.)
  12. Huntsville Area Friends Meeting (Huntsville, Ala.)
  13. Memphis Friends Meeting (Memphis, Tenn.)
  14. Nashville Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Nashville, Tenn.)
  15. Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association of the Religious Society of Friends
  16. Tri Cities Friends Meeting (Bristol, Tenn.)
  17. West Knoxville Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends : Knoxville, Tenn.)

Deposit, 1994-present

For early correspondence of Friends groups in the Southern Appalachian region, see: RG4/004 American Friends Fellowship Council. Records, 1933-1954. For the records of Charleston WV and Swannanoa Valley Monthly Meetings (including those from when they were affiliated with SAYMA), please find them described separately as independent meetings.

Guilford College is the co-depository for SAYMA. Some records are duplicated across both repositories, and some records are only present at Swarthmore or Guilford.

Organization
Subject

Publisher
Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
Inventory Prepared by FHL Staff
Finding Aid Date
2002
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to the Friends Historical Library. 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

Membership, 1974-1984.
Box 1
Office Files, 1970-1972.
Box 1
Office Files, 1973-1975.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1959-1964.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1965-1969.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1970-1971.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1972-1973.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1974-1975.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1976-1977.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1978-1979.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1980.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1981.
Box 1
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1982.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1983.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1984.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1985.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1986.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1987.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1988.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1989.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1990.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1991.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1992.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1993.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1994.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1995.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1996.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1997.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 1998.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 2000.
Box 2
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 2001-2010.
Box 3
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 2011.
Box 3
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 2012.
Box 3
Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 2013-2014.
Box 3
RG2/SAy. Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 2015.
Box 3
RG2/SAy. Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 2016.
Box 3
RG2/SA/S9. Annual Meeting minutes, 2017 6mo.
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

United

RG2/SA/S9. Representative Meeting minutes, 2017.
Physical Description

1 folder

Material Specific Details

United

RG2/SAy. Minutes (inc. Representative Meeting), 2018.
RG2/SA. Minutes of Annual and Representative Meetings (digital), 2019-2022.
Scope and Contents

Representative Sessions (142nd 2019-03 through 149th 2022-10) and Annual Sessions (2019-2022) including reports and minutes.

These records cover a period of change in SAYMA, as several constituent meetings disaffiliated over disagreements around meeting authority and Quaker meeting procedure around SAYMA's Uplifting Racial Justice committee.

Physical Description

16 PDF files

Southern Appalachian Friend, 1959-1992.
Southern Appalachian Friend, 1993-2015.
RG2/SA. "Early History of SAYMA," by Nelson Fusan (digital), 2020.
Physical Description

1 PDF file

Yearly and Representative Meetings minutes, programs, and related documents, 1983-2004.
Scope and Contents

A small number of programs, agendae, and related documents related to Yearly and Representative Meetings received by Friends Historical Library. Minutes of Yearly Meeting are not present.

Scope and Contents

Previously known as Atlanta Friends Group. In correspondence with the American Friends Fellowship Council from 1943. Established as a monthly meeting in 9/1951.

Biographical Information Sheets, 1950-1951.
Box 10
A-L, 1972-1991.
Box 10
M-Z, 1972-1991.
Box 10
Directories, 1955-1978.
Box 10
Directories, 1979-1993.
Box 10
Directory, 1995.
Box 10
Directories, 1996-1999.
Box 10
Lists, 1991-1994.
Box 10
Lists, n.d.
Box 10
List of Officers, 1951-1994.
Box 10
Lists of Members Joining Atlanta Friends Meeting, 1950s-1990s.
Box 10
Letters Requesting Membership, 1951-1979.
Box 11
Letters Requesting Membership, 1980-1994.
Box 11
Letters of Transfer and Removal, 1955-1991.
Box 11
Minutes and Other Entries, January - September, 1951.
Box 1
Minutes, 1951-1953.
Box 1
Minutes, 1956-1959.
Box 1
Minutes, 1960-1965.
Box 1
Minutes, 1966-1970.
Box 1
Minutes, 1971-1976.
Box 1
Minutes, 1977-1981.
Box 1
Minutes, 1978-1985.
Box 1
Minutes, 1982-1988.
Box 2
Minutes, 1989-1992.
Box 2
Minutes, 1993.
Box 2
Minutes, 1994.
Box 2
Minutes, 1995.
Box 2
Minutes, 1996.
Box 2
Minutes, 1997.
Box 2
Minutes, 1998.
Box 2
Minutes, 1999.
Box 2
Business Meeting Minutes, 2000-2003.
Box 18
Business Meeting Minutes, 2004-2005.
Box 18
Business Meeting Minutes, 2006-2008.
Box 19
Minutes Book, 1975-1977.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1981.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1982.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1983.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1984.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1985.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1986.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1987.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1988.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1989.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1990.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1991.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1992.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1993.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 199.
Box 6
Minutes and Correspondence, 1995.
Box 7
Minutes and Correspondence, 1996.
Box 7
Minutes and Corresondence, 1997.
Box 7
Minutes and Correspondence, 1998.
Box 7
Minutes and Correspondence, 1999.
Box 7
Ministry and Worship Committee Minutes, 2000-2001.
Box 21
Ministry and Worship Committee Minutes, 2002-2003.
Box 21
Ministry and Worship Committee Minutes, 2004-2005.
Box 21
Ministry and Worship Committee Minutes, 2006-2007.
Box 21
Earlham Vital Meetings Study,, 2001.
Box 21
Miscellaneous, 1990s.
Box 7
Annual Reports, 1989, 1990, 1992.
Box 7
Death, Memorial Services, 1982-1986.
Box 7
Marriage, including "Guidelines of,", 1976, 1984, 1988, 1993.
Box 7
Divorce, 1983, 1985.
Box 7
Abortion Queries, 1980s.
Box 7
Orientation Booklet, 1980s and 1990s.
Box 7
Worship Guidelines, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1993, n.d.
Box 7
Membership Guidelines, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1994.
Box 7
Miscellaneous Papers,Comments from Members and Attenders, Mid 1970s.
Box 7
Financials, 2000.
Box 20
Financials, 2001.
Box 20
Financials, 2002.
Box 20
Financials, 2003.
Box 20
Financials, 2004.
Box 20
Financials, 2005.
Box 20
Financials, 2006.
Box 20
Finance Committee Minutes, 2006-2008.
Box 20
Budgets, Reports, 1989-1990.
Box 4
Minutes, Reports, 1952-1994.
Box 4
Minutes and Correspondence, 1974-1990.
Box 4
Minutes, 1980's & 1990's.
Box 4
Cabin Committee Minutes, 1990-1995.
Box 19
Minutes and correspondence, 1980's-1992.
Box 4
Minutes, 1994.
Box 4
Minutes and Purpose, 1997-1999.
Box 4
Care and Counsel Committee Minutes, 1999-2008.
Box 19
Minutes and Correspondence, 1960-1961.
Box 4
Report, 1976.
Box 4
New Meetinghouse Workbook, 1987-1991.
Box 8
Architectural Program for the New Meetinghouse, Sept. 17, 1989.
Box 8
Architectural Correspondence, 1989-1991.
Box 8
New Meetinghouse Contractor Correspondence, 1990-1991.
Box 8
Contractor Negotiations, 1990-1991.
Box 8
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1989-1991.
Box 8
Invoices, 1990-1991.
Box 8
Finances, 1987-1991.
Box 8
Chronologies, 1989-1991.
Box 9
Codes, 1987-1990.
Box 9
Community, 1990-1991.
Box 9
Contracts, 1987-1990.
Box 9
New Meetinghouse Dedication, 1990-1991.
Box 9
New Meetinghouse Fund, 1990-1991.
Box 9
Furnishings, 1991.
Box 9
Landscaping, 1991.
Box 9
Photos, 1989.
Box 9
Plans and Drawings, 1987-1990.
Box 9
Reports, 1988-1992.
Box 9
New Meetinghouse Sign, 1991.
Box 9
Southface Review, 1990.
Box 9
Nominations Lists and Minutes, 1985-1997.
Box 4
Miscellaneous, 1990s.
Box 4
Oversight/Administration Committee Minutes, 1997-2000.
Box 20
Oversight/Administration Committee Minutes, 2001-2003.
Box 20
Administration Committee Minutes, 2004-2008.
Box 20
Friends School of Atlanta, 1990.
Box 4
Miscellaneous, 1974.
Box 4
Miscellaneous, 1975-1989.
Box 4
Social Concerns Committee Minutes, 1993-1997.
Box 20
Social Concerns Committee Minutes, 1998-2004.
Box 20
Minutes, 1958-1967.
Box 5
Minutes, 1968-1972.
Box 5
Annual Reports, 1961-1967.
Box 5
Proposal for Atlanta Friends Center, 1958, 1960.
Box 5
Reports on Atlanta Friends Center, 1969-1971.
Box 5
Newsletter, 1960-1973.
Box 3
Newsletter, 1985.
Box 3
Newsletter, 1986-1987.
Box 3
Newsletter, 1992.
Box 3
Newsletter, 1993.
Box 3
Newsletter, 1994-1995.
Box 3
Newsletter, 1996-1997.
Box 3
Newsletter, 1998-1999.
Box 3
Newsletter, 2000.
Box 3
Newsletters, 2001-2002.
Box 19
Newsletters, 2003-2004.
Box 19
Newsletters, 2005-2006.
Box 19
Newsletters, 2007-2008.
Box 19
Correspondence, 1950-1954.
Box 12
Correspondence, 1955-1959.
Box 12
Correspondence, 1959, Jan.-Jun.
Box 12
Correspondence, 1959, July-Dec.
Box 12
Correspondence, 1960-1967.
Box 12
Correspondence, 1968-1969.
Box 12
Correspondence, 1970-1971.
Box 13
Correspondence, 1972-1978.
Box 13
Correspondence, 1981-1992.
Box 13
Correspondence, 1990s.
Box 13
Clerk's Correspondence, 2004, 2005-2007.
Box 19
Publicity, 1947-1951.
Box 4
Publicity, 1951-1994.1.
Box 4
Publicity, 1995-1.
Box 4
Statement of Faith and Practice, 1951.
Box 15
State of the Meeting Reports, 1959-1992.
Box 15
State of the Meeting Reports, 1995-1999.
Box 15
State of the Meeting Reports, 1993-1994.
Box 19
State of the Meeting Reports, 2000-2008.
Box 19
Documents, "About Our Members,", 1958.
Box 15
Documents, "Our Members and Friends,", 1963.
Box 15
Documents, "ASFC Survey of Atlanta Quakers,", 1967.
Box 15
Survey, mid-1980s.
Box 15
Document, "The Staughton Lynd Case,", 1967.
Box 15
Documents, "Proposed Four Lane,", n.d.
Box 15
Documents, "Vine City,", n.d.
Box 15
Documents, "Ferguson Appreciation Dinner,", 1982.
Box 15
Document, "Some Celebration in the AFM,", 1982-1993.
Box 15
Travelling Minutes, 1998.
Box 15
Speech by Elizabeth W. Hendricks, 1990.
Box 15
Atlanta Listening Project, 1990s?.
Box 15
Ferguson Cabin Legal Papers, 1954-1991& n.d.
Box 16
Incorporation Papers, By-laws, 1958.
Box 16
Tax Status Papers, 1959-1988.
Box 16
New Meeting House Papers and Correspondence, 1989-1990.
Box 16
Meeting of Corporation Officers, 1989-1992.
Box 16
Land Purchase from MARTA, 1990.
Box 16
Property Tax Exemption, 1991.
Box 16
Insurance Papers, 1992.
Box 16
Purchase Papers, 1994.
Box 16
Calendars, 1960-1972.
Box 17
Calendars (includes announcements and news), 1973-1978.
Box 17
Calendars (includes announcements and news), 1979-1983.
Box 17
Calendars (includes announcements and news), 1984-1987.
Box 17
Calendars (includes minutes), 1988.
Box 17
Calendars (includes announcements), 1989.
Box 17
Calendars (includes newsletter), 1990-1991.
Box 17
Weekly Bulletins, 1973.
Box 17
Announcements of Activities, 1970s.
Box 17
Historical Material, Excerpts from Diary of G. Hayes, 1943-1945.
Box 18
Historical Material, Transcripts of Reminiscences, 1975, 1981, 1985, 1988.
Box 18
Historical Material, Interviews with Bender, Treadwell, and Hendricks, 1993.
Box 18
Historical Material, Letter, A.H. Berry to E.W. Hendricks, 1994.
Box 18
As Way Opened, a history of Atlanta Friends Meeting, 1943-1997.
Box 18

Scope and Contents

Established in 1970 out of Friends World Committee (FWCC).

Membership, 1979.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1978-1982.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1983-1985.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1985-1987.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1993-1994.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1996-1997.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1998-1999.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 2000-2010.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Some gaps.

Scope and Contents

Established in 1977, out of Atlanta; meeting for worship, 1972 and preparative meeting from 1973-1977.

Minutes and newsletter, 1978-1980.
Box 1
Minutes and newsletter, 1980-1985.
Box 1
Chronology, 1976.
Box 1

Scope and Contents

Established 1992

Minutes, 1992-1994.
Box 1

Minutes, 1992.
Box 1

Minutes, 1986-1987.
Box 1
Minutes, 9/1993-12/1993.
Box 1
Minutes, 9/1995-12/1999.
Box 1
Minutes, 2000-3/2004.
Box 1
Minutes, 6/2006-9/2008.
Box 1
Minutes, 11/2008-11/2009.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Includes newsletters.

Minutes, 1/2010-11/2010.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Includes newsletters.

Minutes, 2011-2012 11mo.
Box 1
Minutes, 2013-2014 3mo.
Box 1
Membership, 2011-2012.
Box 1

Scope and Contents

Affiliated with American Friends Fellowship Council, 1949-50; FWCC to 1970.

Membership, 1978-1979.
Box 1
Minutes, 1981-1985.
Box 1
Minutes, 1985-1987.
Box 1
Minutes, 1/1994, 3/1994-4/1994.
Box 1

Scope and Contents

Established 1977; meeting for worship, 1955, preparative meeting in 1976 under West Knoxville

Membership, 1982.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1978-1985.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1985-1988.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1996-1997.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 1998-1999.
Box 1
Newsletter [Minutes], 2000-2004.
Box 1

Scope and Contents

Established 1976; meeting for worship, 1967, 1975; preparative meeting 1975 under Asheville

Membership, 1979, 1981-1985.
Box 1
Newsletter, 1979-1980.
Box 1
Minutes, 1978-1987.
Box 1
Minutes, 1981.
Box 1
Minutes, 1982-1985.
Box 1
Minutes, 1985-1987.
Box 1
Minutes, 1996-1997.
Box 1
Minutes, 1998-1999.
Box 1
Minutes, 2000-2018.
Box 1
RG2/SA/C6. Newsletter, 2019-2023.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Newsletters include calendar, the prior month's approved minutes, committee reports, queries, and treasurer's reports.

Scope and Contents

Meeting for Worship, 1980; Monthly Meeting granted by West Knoxville in 1981

Membership, 1985.
Minutes, 1983-1985.
Minutes, 1985-1987.

Minutes, 1998.

Scope and Contents

Formerly known as Friends Meeting at Serendipity (Harvest, Al.); preparative meeting 1982 under Chattanooga; established 1987

Minutes, 1985-1987.
Quaker News & Views [newsletter], 1987.
Box 1

Scope and Contents

Established 1987; preparative meeting in 1978 under Nashville. Records of an earlier meeting in Memphis transferred from AFFC.

Membership, 1957-1964.
Scope and Contents

Some gaps in minutes.

Minutes, 1956-1967.
Scope and Contents

Some gaps.

Minutes, 1985-1987.
Minutes, 12/1993-7/1994.
Guest Book, 1958-1962, 1966.
Treasurer's Correspondence, 1964-1967.
Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors Correspondence, 1966.
General Correspondence, 1966.
General Correspondence, 1957-1963.
Financial Accounts, 1956-1967.
History, "Quakers in Memphis", 1960.
Memphis Friends News, 2000.

Scope and Contents

Affiliated with AFFC from 1943-47, FWCC from 1962-70.

Nashville membership materials are primarily lists of member and attendee names and addresses. Minutes include the occasional committee report and more regularly treasurer's reports. From 1985-1988 the minutes sources are a mix of mailed newsletters and deposited minutes. Most early deposited material is mimeographed copies, not originals.

Digital files deposited 2017-ongoing.

Physical Description

0.25 linear ft.

Membership, 1979-1982, 1984.
RG2/SA/N2. Membership and Memorial Minutes (digital), 2018-2023.
Scope and Contents

Includes memorial minutes and obituaries, and membership and committee lists, and membership transfers.

Physical Description

Filed chronologically with other miscellaneous records.

Minutes, 1967-1972.
Minutes, 1978-1981.
Minutes, 1982-1985.
Minutes, 1985-1987.
Minutes, 1996-2000.
Minutes, 2001-2016.
Physical Description

4 folders

RG2/SA/N2. Minutes (digital), 2017-2023.
Scope and Contents

Includes monthly business and called meeting minutes as well as special minutes related to Reparative Justice, conflict related to SAYMA and URJ (Uplifting Racial Justice), and Israel and Palestine.

Physical Description

78 PDF files

RG2/SA/N2. Financial records (digital), 2018-2023.
Physical Description

19 files

RG2/SA/N2. State of the Meeting Reports (digital), 2018-2022.
Physical Description

Filed chronologically with other miscellaneous records.

RG2/SA/N2. Miscellaneous letters and reports (digital), 2018-2022.
Scope and Contents

Arranged chronologically within a 2024 records deposit, these files include a Public Minute in support of Black Lives Matter, a 2022 report from SAYMA Annual Sessions during a time of conflict within the YM, a public notice related to land acknowledgement and return that NFM paid for in the Mvskoke News, and a letter of appreciate to two Black members of Atlanta Meeting for their witness during SAYMA Representative Sessions related to URJ (Uplifting Racial Justice).

Scope and Contents

Established before 1993; meeting for worship in 1978. Became a monthly meeting and changed its name sometime between 1997-2001 to Foxfire.

Report, 1978.
Minutes (includes minutes of Preparatory Meeting and Worship Group), 1993.

Scope and Contents

FWCC unprogrammed meeting in 1954; established in 1959

Membership, 1981-1985.
Minutes, 1978-1981.
Minutes, 1981-1983.
Minutes, 1984-1985.
Minutes, 1985-1987.
Minutes, 1996-1999.
Minutes, 2000-2004.

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