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Anna Bassett Griscom Papers

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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:
RG5.053
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
2 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Anna Bassett Griscom Papers, RG5/053, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
ca. 1914-1962 (inclusive)
Creator:
Griscom, Anna Bassett, 1889-1974 and Elkinton, J. Passmore (Joseph Passmore), 1887-1971
Abstract:
Anna Bassett Griscom (Elkinton) (1889-1974) was a prominent American Quaker active in the peace movement. She served as Executive Secretary of the Friends General Conference, chairman of a committee to organize the Friends World Conference held at Swarthmore College in 1937, chairman of the Friends Peace Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and was a founder of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. She married J. Passmore Elkinton in 1931. The collection includes correspondence, speeches and writings, and miscellaneous manuscripts of Anna B. Griscom. Of particular interest is material relating to Woodbrooke, a Quaker study center in England where she worked in 1914, and of the Friends World Conference in 1937.

Anna Bassett Griscom (Elkinton) (1889-1974) was a prominent American Quaker, active in the peace movement. She graduated from Friends Central School, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania. She served as Executive Secretary of the Friends General Conference, chairman of a committee to organize the Friends World Conference held at Swarthmore College in 1937, chairman of the Friends Peace Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and was a founder of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. She married J. Passmore Elkinton in 1931.

The collection includes correspondence, speeches and writings, and miscellaneous manuscripts of Anna B. Griscom. Of particular interest is material relating to Woodbrooke, a Quaker study center in England where she worked in 1914, and of the Friends World Conference in 1937.

The collection is divided into five series:

  1. Genealogical
  2. Correspondence
  3. Speeches and writings
  4. Friends World Conference
  5. Miscellaneous

Donor: Anna Bassett Griscom Elkinton, 1962

David C. Elkinton, 1974, 1977

Collection was received as a gift from Anna Griscom Elkinton and her step-son, David C. Elkinton

Collection was received partially processed by donor. Later gifts were added to collection.

See also:

  1. Elkinton Family Papers, RG 5/037; Friends World Conference, RG 1; Fellowship of Reconciliation, Swarthmore College Peace Collection.

People
Organization
Subject

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
ca. 1963
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

Genealogical charts of Griscom Bassett families.
Scope and Contents

Includes one binder of Griscom-Bassett genealogical data, and one binder of Bassett genealogical data.

Physical Description

2 binders

Photographic copy of Tree of Norwegian Clans, prepared by Dagney Tischendorf.
Box 1
Biographical papers relating to Mary Williams Shoemaker estate, 1938-1953.
Box 1

Scope and Contents

Written during her stay at Woodbrooke and while travelling in England and on the Continent, 1914. Among letters of special interest:

to Mrs. Cornelia B. Wistar, aunt, 5-25-14.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Letter comments on London Y.M.; mentions of Joseph Elkinton and family.

to Mrs. Cornelia B. Wistar, 6-2-14.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Contains further comments on London Y.M. and attitude toward Phila. Y.M. (Race St.). Costs of travel.

to John Milton Griscom (brother), 6-11-14.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Describes Cadbury factory, particularly measures for welfare of employees.

to Mrs. Mary M. Griscom (mother), 8-5-14.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Comments on the beginning of the First World War.

Anna B. Griscom to Margaret Broomell, during her stay at Woodbrooke, 1914.
Box 2
General correspondence, 1915-1931.
Box 2
Letters by Anna Griscom (Elkinton) for Round Robin of Swarthmore College friends, 1923-1964 with gaps, 1963-1967.
Box 2
Letter by Anna Griscom (Elkinton) to Winterthur Museum, 1961.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

re: gift of chairs.

Scope and Contents

By Anna B. Griscom, ms. and printed.

"The Christian Basis of a Peace Conviction," by Anna B. Griscom., n.d.
Box 2
Physical Description

ms. notes.

"The Do's and Don'ts For Peace," to Dr. Ueda, by Anna Griscom Elkinton and J. Passmore Elkinton, n.d.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten

"The 75th Birthday of J. Passmore Elkinton, January 18, 1962," by Anna Griscom Elkinton.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten

"Fellowship of Reconciliation," by Anna B. Griscom., n.d.
Box 2
Physical Description

ms. notes

Correspondence, A.B.G. to Thos. H. Shoemaker, 1917.
Box 2
Secretary's Report, by Anna B. Griscom., 1916-1917.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten, 2 copies

"Explanation," by Anna B. Griscom., 1917?.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten, 2 copies

"Is the Spiritual Force of Love Stronger than the Physical Force of Might?" by Anna B. Griscom, n.d.
Box 2
Physical Description

printed, 3 copies

Jamaica, "A New Yearly Meeting Is Born," by Anna Griscom Elkinton., 5-8-1941.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

2 clippings from The American Friend.

"Elizabeth Lloyd - A Memorial," by Elizabeth Powell Bond, 6-23-1917.
Scope and Contents

Clipping from Friends Intelligencer with quotation from Anna B. Griscom.

"Lucretia Mott," by Anna B. Griscom, 1928.
Box 2
"My Philosophy," verse, by Anna B. Griscom., 1928.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten

"New Life," A Symbolic Morality Play by Anna B. Griscom.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten

"Our Canadian Venture," clipping from Friends Intelligencer, by Anna Griscom Elkinton, 7-20-1940.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Attached: typewritten copy of devotional talks on "The Way," given by Anna Griscom Elkinton at Canadian and Genesee Y.M.'s, 1940; and program of the Meetings, held at Pickering College, Newmarket, Ont.

Letter on pacifism to editor of American Friend, by Anna Griscom Elkinton, 8-6-1941.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

In reply to two articles by Brand Blanshard on the subject. Also letter by Brand Blanshard to A. G. E., 8-15-1941, regarding her reply.

Peace Crusaders, correspondence regarding,, 1928, 1931.
Box 2
Phila. Y.M. program,, 1955.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Anna Griscom Elkinton was chairman of Committee which formulated the program.

"The Quaker Peace Testimony and the Scientific Interpretation of Human Progress. Cooperation vs. Competition," by Anna B. Griscom., n.d.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten

"The relative importance and effect of the peace and war theories in some of the ancient civilizations," by Anna B. Griscom., n.d.
Box 2
"Studies of the Separation of 1827, made by a group of 12 Young Friends" (including Anna Griscom), 1912-1913.
Box 2
Report for Annual Meeting, 1923.
Box 2
Physical Description

ms.

Pamphlet, The Working Children of Philadelphia, by Anna B. Griscom, 1924.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

The White-Williams Foundation, Phila., 1924, Bulletin Series No. 30.

Physical Description

2 copies

"The Working Children of Philadelphia. A Study of the Work of 3,312 Continuation School Children," by Anna B. Griscom., n.d.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten

"Social Service; Our Quaker Inheritance, and Its Modern Application," by Anna B. Griscom?, n.d.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten

"Analysis and Follow-Up Study of the First Children Placed by the Children's Bureau," by Anna B. Griscom?.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten

"Altruistic Tendencies of Modern Life," by Anna B. Griscom?.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten, 2 copies

"The Strong Points of the Quaker Doctrine," by Anna B. Griscom.
Box 2
Physical Description

ms., 2 copies

"War and Social Idealism," by Anna B. Griscom., 1918.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Thesis for M.A. in Sociology.

Physical Description

typewritten, 2 copies

"What Should Be The Message of Friends Today?" by Anna B. Griscom, n.d.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Published by Friends General Conference, Phila.

Physical Description

typewritten copy, 7 printed copies

"The Whittier Guest House Conference," by Anna B. Griscom?, 1916?.
Box 2
Physical Description

ms.

"A Letter from Woodbrooke to Phila. Young Friends Association," by Anna B. Griscom, 7-25-1914.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Clipping from Friends Intelligencer for that date.

Physical Description

2 copies

The Woodbrooke International Journal, Special Reunion Number, Dec. 1946.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

No. 52, pub. by International Old Woodbrookers' Assoc. Contains article "Re-Union Through American Eyes", by Anna Griscom Elkinton. Also 2 typewritten copies.

"Woodbrooke's Contribution to the Development of Efficiency in Religion," by Anna B. Griscom, n.d.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

No. 52, pub. by International Old Woodbrookers' Assoc. Contains article "Re-Union Through American Eyes", by Anna Griscom Elkinton. Also 2 typewritten copies.

Review, "Woodbrooke, 1903-1905," by Anna Griscom Elkinton., 11-1-1953.
Box 2
Physical Description

typewritten

"The Spirit of the Young Friends' Movement", by Anna B. Griscom?.
Box 2
Physical Description

ms. typewritten copies

Program of the Young Friends Movement during Yearly Meeting, 1916.
Box 2

Friends World Conference Committee handbook of Anna Griscom Elkinton, 1934-1937.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Handbook for while serving as chairman of the Committee.

Letters of appreciation regarding Friends World Conference at Swarthmore, 1937, 1936-1943.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

With some related printed items. Addressed mainly to Anna Griscom Elkinton.

Scope and Contents

Arranged chronologically.

The Messenger of Phila. Y.M., re: FWC, 1935 6mo.
Box 3
Clipping from The Friend (London), 5-8-1936.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Article, p.407, re: FWC to be held 9/1 to 9/8/1937.

The Friend (London), "Preparing For The World Conference", 10-16-1936.
Box 3
The Friend (Phila.), 6-17-1937.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Containing article, p. 465, "The Story of the Conference", by Anna Griscom Elkinton, and other articles re: the Conference.

Friends Intelligencer, Friends World Conference Number, 6-19-1937.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

containing pictures of Conference leaders and some of the foreign delegates.

The Friend (Phila.), Conference pictures and summary of program., 7-1-1937.
Box 3
The Friend (Phila.), "The World Conference.", 9-23-1937.
Box 3
The Friend (Phila.), "The World Conference.", 10-7-1937.
Box 3
Article by Anna Griscom Elkinton written for The American Friend, Nov. 1951.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Article gives background and leading up to Friends World Conference at Oxford, 1952. Also, The American Friend, 11-22-1951, containing the article, p. 378, under the title "The Growth of Quaker World Fellowship, How it Came to Be."

Physical Description

typewritten copy

Friends Journal, article, "A Concern and a Plea," by J. Passmore and Anna G. Elkinton, 8-18-1956.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Includes typewritten copy, 8/2/1956.

Physical Description

p. 522

"Memorandum," events leading up to FWC of 1937.
Box 3
Physical Description

typewritten

The Wayfarer, clipping of article "The Friends World Conference of 1937," by Anna Griscom Elkinton., n.d.
Box 3
Clipping, picture of Ethel Rhodes, and Anna Griscom Elkinton (chairman of FWC Committee)., n.d.
Box 3
"Visiting American Yearly Meetings in Preparation for the Friends World Conferences of 1937," by Anna Griscom Elkinton.
Box 3

Memorabilia.
Box 3
Reference Material.
Box 3
Photograph Albums.
Box 3,4
Physical Description

4 albums

Print, Suggest