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John Woolman Manuscripts Collection

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Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the 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

John Woolman (1720-1772) was born to Quaker parents in New Jersey and spent his life travelling and preaching against slavery and war. In 1754 he wrote "Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes," an anti-slavery tract which was published by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and distributed to every yearly meeting in America. Woolman kept a journal for over a decade, published in 1774, soon after his death. Woolman's journal is still considered an important document in the fields of religion, history, and literature.

John Woolman (1720-1772) was one of the most influential ministers in the history of the Religious Society of Friends. He was particularly active in opposing slavery and encouraging Quakers to disavow the practice. His journal, published posthumously, is still considered an important document in the fields of religion, history, and literature. The Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College holds several versions of Woolman's manuscript journal, letters written by Woolman, and other assorted documents.

This collection consists of materials donated by Elizabeth Comfort Lawrence Dudley. Friends Historical Library holds a few additional Woolman documents, which are cataloged in MSS 004 Miscellaneous Manuscripts.

In a letter to the President of Swarthmore College, the donor stated her wishes that the Woolman Journals already loaned to the College be made a permanent gift. She mentioned that a cousin, Samuel Comfort, had deposited a copy of the journals at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, but she preferred that the originals be the property of a Hicksite organization. A descendant of John and Sarah Ellis Woolman, she was a granddaughter of Samuel and Rebecca Moon Comfort and daughter of James and Rebecca Comfort Lawrence. Two of her sons attended Swarthmore College.

Some documents have been photocopied or microfilm. Access is through surrogates where available, to preserve the longevity of the original material.

Gift of Elizabeth Comfort Lawrence Dudley, 1913.

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Access Restrictions

This collection is available for research use. Due to the age, fragility, and rarity of these materials, access is through microfilm or photocopy where available, and special staff supervision or assistance may be required to view the original materials.

Use Restrictions

Friends Historical Library believes all of the items in this collection to be in the Public Domain in the United States, and is not aware of any restrictions on their use. However, the user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status before reproducing. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/.

Collection Inventory

SAFE 46. List of Woolman Manuscripts at Friends Historical Library, 1939 5mo 5.
Scope and Contents

Compiled by William I. Hull and John Woolman Wharton. Typed Manuscripts Signed

SAFE 47. John Woolman Journal (Ms. B), 1720-1770.
Scope and Contents

Draft of John Woolman's Journal for the printer, prepared between 1770 and 1772, but covering the years 1720-1770. 348 pp. This manuscript is called Ms. B by Woolman scholars. A parallel holograph by Woolman is at the Historical Society of PA and is known as Ms. A.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm: MS-W13.

SAFE 48. John Woolman Journal (Ms. C), 1720-1747.
Scope and Contents

Earliest draft of the first portion of the Journal, covering the years 1720-47, apparently written between 1747 and 1756. 48 pp.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm: MS-W13.

SAFE 49. John Woolman Journal (Ms. S), 1772.
Scope and Contents

Final draft of Woolman's account of his sea voyage to England, plus the only manuscript in Woolman's hand of his English journey.

Existence and Location of Copies

Available on microfilm: MS-W13.

SAFE 50. John Woolman Journal and chapter 15 of "A Plea for the Poor" (Ms. M and Ms. P), 1769.
Scope and Contents

Ms. M is a copy of Chapter 15 of "A Plea for the Poor" 8pp. Ms. P is from his Journal, 1769, and parallels material found in Cahpter 9. 8pp. Ms. M and Ms. P are bound together and came from the Department of Records, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, in 1975.

SAFE 51. John Woolman "Considerations on the True Harmony of Mankind; and How It Is to Be Maintained" and "A Epistle to the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings...", 1772 and undated.
Scope and Contents

"Considerations..." published in 1770; 44pp. "Epistle...", 1772; 26pp. Bound together.

SAFE 39. John Woolman Account of visits to families who had Negroes, 1759 11mo 28.
Scope and Contents

Written on back of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Epistle, 1759.

SAFE 40. John Woolman letter to Rebecca Jones, 1762 4mo 20.
Scope and Contents

Autograph Letter Signed

SAFE 41. John Woolman statement on the use of silver vessels, 1770 1mo 20.
Scope and Contents

Autograph Document Signed

SAFE 42. John Woolman letter to Sarah Woolman, 1772 11mo 9.
Scope and Contents

Autograph Letter Signed

SAFE 43. John Woolman fragment of manuscript ("To Israel Pemberton"), undated.
Scope and Contents

Autograph Document

SAFE 45. John Woolman envelope addressed to Elizabeth Comfort, undated.
SAFE 53. "The Works of John Woolman" (3rd ed.), with notes by Samuel Comfort, 1800.
Scope and Contents

Samuel Comfort's autographed copy of the printed "Works". Has manuscript notes by Comfort.

SAFE 44. Samuel Comfort letters to Rebecca Comfort Lawrence, 1856 1mo 13 and 1856 9mo 20.
Scope and Contents

Two Autograph Letters Signed

Print, Suggest