Call Number:

PA.011

Repository:

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Extent:

.3 cubic ft. (1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item or series here], Watson W. Dewees Meeting House Photographs, PA 011, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.

Date:

1905

Creator:

Dewees, Watson Wood, 1845-1929

Abstract:

This collection consists of Friends' meeting house photographs taken circa 1905 by Watson Wood Dewees. The meeting houses depicted are located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Southeastern Ohio, Maryland and Delaware.

Photographs taken circa 1905 by Watson Wood Dewees (1845-1929). Dewees was born in Goshen, Ohio, and became a teacher at the Westtown School from 1866-1904. He was an avid amateur photographer, and his principle hobby was photographing Friends' meeting houses. He often presented slide lectures with his photographs of meeting houses in Southeastern Pa., New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Southeastern Ohio. He was an Elder and Minister inat Haverford Monthly Meeting.

This collection of his photographs belonged to his daughter, Susan Janney Dewees, who grew up on the Westtown campus and was also a member of Haverford Monthly Meeting. She was one of the founders of the Woolman School in Swarthmore and its successor, Pendle Hill. She lived at "The Barclay," a Quaker Home in West Chester, Pa., and died in 1953.

This collection of photographs captures several Friends' meeting houses across Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Southeastern Ohio. The disbounded album's black and white prints are mounted on acidic, brittle black paper, and due to detrioration, have been stored in Mylar folders.

The photographs of Meeting Houses are generally arranged by state and county.