Friends Historical Library collection of art

This collection consists of fine art pieces associated with the Society of Friends. Most of the works are paintings, drawings, or engravings, but there are also some sculptures. It includes portraits of notable Quakers, depictions of Quaker meeting houses or historic sites, and scenes including Quakers. There are also some pieces that do not have a Quaker subject, but the artist was a member of the Society of Friends.

The largest portion of this collection is prints, followed by paintings and drawings on canvas or paper. This encompasses a wide range of media: charcoal, colored pencil, gouache, graphite, pen and ink, oil, pastel, and watercolor, as well as appliques of cut paper and fabric. There are also a few busts and sculptures made of bronze, plaster, or stone.

Many notable Quakers are pictured in this collection, including George Fox, William Penn, Lucretia Mott, Elias Hicks, Isaac T. Hopper, and John Greenleaf Whittier. There are also portraits of less well-known Quakers including Elizabeth Powell Bond, Benjamin Hallowell, and Miers Fisher. There are depictions of Quaker meetings for worship, meeting house exteriors, and historic Quaker sites like Swarthmoor Hall.

Highlights of the collection include the following paintings: Lucretia Mott by William H. Furness, Jr., ca. 1850; Peaceable Kingdom with Quakers Bearing Banners, also known as The Kingdom of Conflict, ca. 1827-1835; Elias Hicks by Jefferson Gauntt, ca. 1828.

One sculpture of note is The Fugitive's Story: John G. Whittier, H.W. Beecher, W. Lloyd Garrison by John Rogers, 1869. Notable modern art acquisitions include Study for Shield by Mequitta Ahuja, 2023, and multiple works by Boyce Benge, 1997-2013.

The majority of items in this collection were donated to the Friends Historical Library, individually or attached to an archival collection. A few items were purchased by FHL.

An internal database cataloging each item is accessible to staff only.

Decorative art is considered part of the Friends Historical Library collection of three-dimensional objects (SFHL-RELICS).

Use

Some of the items in this collection may be protected by copyright. The user is solely responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns to reuse, publish, or reproduce relevant items beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to the law. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/.

Publisher

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Finding aids author

Celia Caust-Ellenbogen

Date

2026

Creator

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Subject

Art

Language

English