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Novelty Records
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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
The Novelty was a women's social club founded in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, in 1887. Most of its first members were Quakers and members of Lansdowne Monthly Meeting. The group was established for the promotion of sociability and good house and home-keeping, according to its by-laws. It remained a small group (limited to thirty until 1929 and subsequently, forty members) and met in members' homes.
Besides fellowship, the meetings for many years consisted of a time for reading and questions, usually on household matters. Although primarily social in mission, the group did address concerns in the community such as unwrapped bread and lack of trash cans, and in the twentieth century, it established a civic committee.
The Novelty's members were active in the establishment of other civic groups such as the Lansdowne Library, Needlework Guild, and the Associated Charities Association. The Club encouraged the founding in 1904 of a larger women's group, the Twentieth Century Club of Lansdowne, a federated women's club; the first president of Novelty, Lydia T. Hallowell, also served as the first president of the Twentieth Century Club.
By 1992, with changing times, membership had dwindled, and almost half of the active members were residing in homes for the aged in the Philadelphia area.
The records contain material preserved in a metal box labeled "The Novelty." It includes minutes, 1887-1938 and scattered, 1954, 1982-1984; by-laws and membership lists and attendance, writings by members, histories, and some miscellaneous material.
Organized into four series:
- By-laws and membership
- Minutes
- Writings
- Miscellaneous
Donor: Quaker Collection, Haverford College
Date: 2003
Accession number: 2003-014
The collection, received in a metal box, was transferred from the Quaker Collection Haverford College. Minutes post 1928 are largely missing. Most of the early members belonged to Lansdowne Monthly Meeting, and the Curator at Haverford thought the collection more appropriately deposited at Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College which holds the records for Lansdowne Monthly Meeting.
Subject
Place
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- FHL staff
- Finding Aid Date
- 2007
- Access Restrictions
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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
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