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Swarthmore Refugee Resource House

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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

Call Number:
RG4.088
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Swarthmore Refugee Resource House, Records, RG 4/088, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1979-1994 (inclusive)
Creator:
Swarthmore Refugee Resource House and Swarthmore Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends). Refugee Committee
Abstract:
The Swarthmore Refugee Resource House, Swarthmore, Pa., was founded in 1979 by members of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting as a place of temporary assistance and shelter for legal refugees in gaining independence by providing them with shelter, counseling and tutoring in English. The Swarthmore Refugee House was incorporated in 1988 as a non-profit corporation. However, the House was laid down in 1994 when Swarthmore College reclaimed its building and the Board was unable to find either sufficient funding or a new space in which to continue to function.

The Swarthmore Refugee Resource House, Swarthmore, Pa., was founded in 1979 by members of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting as a place of temporary assistance and shelter for legal refugees in gaining independence by providing them with shelter, counseling and tutoring in English. On average, there were between 10 and 16 residents. The Refugee House was located on the campus of Swarthmore College in a leased building, and the directors relied heavily on funding from corporations and individuals and in volunteer help.

In 1984, the Board of Directors were joined by members from outside Swarthmore Monthly Meeting. In 1985, the Board began to wok towards incorporation. The Swarthmore Refugee House was incorporated in 1988 as a non-profit corporation.

However, the House was laid down in 1994 when Swarthmore College reclaimed its building and the Board was unable to find either sufficient funding or a new space in which to continue to function. The buildiing was torn down by the College circa 2021 after years of neglect.

These papers contain the records of Swarthmore Refugee Resource House, Swarthmore, Pa., primarily from 1985, when the effort to incorporate began, to 1994 when it ceased operation. They include Board minutes, financial records, correspondence and miscellaneous papers.

The collection is divided into three series:

  1. Board of Directors
  2. Financial Papers
  3. Miscellaneous Papers

Donor: Swarthmore Refugee Resource House, 1995. Accession number: 95-012

Donor: Helen Brink, 2008 Accession number: 2008-015

See also:

  1. RG 2, Swarthmore Monthly Meeting, Minutes of the Refugee Committee, 1980-1994.

Subject

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
SKM, assisted by EL
Finding Aid Date
1999
Sponsor
Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce items in this collection beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/.

Collection Inventory

Correspondence, Board meeting minutes, registration as a non-profit organization, 1985.
Box 1
Board meeting minutes, annual budget, financial reports, housing needs of inhabitants, house agendas, correspondence, living agreements, 1986.
Box 1
Board meeting minutes, financial reports, correspondence, by-laws, 1987.
Box 1
Board meeting minutes, correspondence, income statements, balance sheets, house agenda, house newsletters, 1988.
Box 1
Board meeting minutes, annual meeting minutes, list of residents, balance sheets, income statements, meetings and correspondence about the fire, 1989.
Box 1
Board meeting minutes, annual meeting minutes, correspondence, annual budget and related papers, 1990.
Box 1
Board meeting minutes, report of nominating committee, living agreements, correspondence, financial reports, 1991.
Box 1
Board meeting minutes, annual meeting minutes, correspondence, financial reports and fundraising, 1992.
Box 1
Board meeting minutes, correspondence, lease agreement, donor letter, mission statement, annual meeting minutes, financial statements, insurance, 1993.
Box 1
Board meeting minutes, correspondence, financial reports, resettlement plan, living agreement, annual meeting minutes, donor letter, insurance policy, 1994.
Box 1

Miscellaneous, 1979, 1985-1989.
Box 1
Miscellaneous, 1989-1992.
Box 1
Miscellaneous, 1993-1994, n.d.
Box 2
Monthly bank statements, 1991-1994.
Box 2
Oil bills and receipts, 1989-1994.
Box 2
Checks and deposit slips, 1985-1994.
Box 2
Monthly balance sheets, 1991-1994.
Box 2
Gas and water bills, 1991-1994.
Box 2

By laws, correspondence, officers, clippings, guidelines, etc., 1988-1994.
Box 2
Board member folder, miscellaneous, 1988-1994.
Box 2
Photographs, n.d.
Box FHL PA
Scope and Contents

Exterior and 2 interiors with unidentified persons (residents?). Removed to picture collection

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