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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
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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
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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
Compiled by William I. Hull and John Woolman Wharton. Typed Manuscripts Signed
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.
Available on microfilm: MS-W13.
Earliest draft of the first portion of the Journal, covering the years 1720-47, apparently written between 1747 and 1756. 48 pp.
Available on microfilm: MS-W13.
Final draft of Woolman's account of his sea voyage to England, plus the only manuscript in Woolman's hand of his English journey.
Available on microfilm: MS-W13.
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.
"Considerations..." published in 1770; 44pp. "Epistle...", 1772; 26pp. Bound together.
Written on back of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Epistle, 1759.
Autograph Letter Signed
Autograph Document Signed
Autograph Letter Signed
Autograph Document
Samuel Comfort's autographed copy of the printed "Works". Has manuscript notes by Comfort.
Two Autograph Letters Signed