Call Number:

RG5.057

Repository:

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Extent:

3.5 linear ft. (7 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item or series here], Hallowell-Stabler Family Papers, RG5/057, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Date:

1811-1946 (inclusive)

Creator:

Hallowell, James, 1821-1886, Hallowell, Margaret S. (Margaret Stabler), 1824-1900, Hallowell, Alice, Hallowell, Caleb S. (Caleb Shreve), 1818-1870, Hallowell, Edward S., 1847-1866, Hallowell, James B. (James Bird), 1854-1906, Stabler, E. (Edward), 1794-1883, Hallowell, Benjamin, 1799-1877, and Bush, Annie Hallowell, 1849-1930

Abstract:

The Hallowell and Stabler families were Quakers mainly of Sandy Spring, Maryland. James S. Hallowell was a noted educator, and Edward Stabler was the postmaster of Sandy Spring. The collection illustrates the life of a 19th century Quaker family in Alexandria, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Sandy Spring, Maryland, and Philadelphia, where several relatives resided. While emphasizing family affairs and domestic life, these papers contain material of interest on education, farm life, observations of the Civil War and the Federal bureaucracy, travel and hunting.

The Hallowell-Stabler papers are mainly the correspondence of James S. Hallowell (1821-1886), his wife Margaret Stabler Hallowell (1824-1900), their six children, and various Hallowell and Stabler relatives. An educator much of his life, James taught during the 1840's at the Alexandria Boarding School, directed by his uncle, Benjamin Hallowell (1799-1877). When Benjamin went to Philadelphia in 1845 to help establish Friends' Central School, James and his brother Caleb were left in charge of Alexandria Boarding School. After Benjamin's return in 1846, James founded Alexandria Female Seminary, remaining as principal until the turmoil of the Civil War forced it to close. He then moved to Washington, where during most of the Civil War years he served as Clerk of the Post Office Department and Superintendent of the Post Office Building. After his resignation in 1865, James S. Hallowell spent the remaining years of his life near the Quaker community of Sandy Spring, Maryland, first as Principal of Fulford Female Seminary and after 1874 at Oak Grove Farm, near Brookeville, Maryland.

Some of the Stabler correspondence involves Edward Stabler 1794-1883, a noted engraver and postmaster of Sandy Spring, Maryland, for more than forty years. Founder of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Sandy Spring, Stabler was also an avid hunter, and much of his correspondence concerns hunting expeditions and the design of rifles.

This important collection describes the life of a Quaker family active in the 19th century in Alexandria, Virginia; Sandy Spring, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Philadelphia, Pa., where several relatives resided. The collection contains correspondence of James S. Hallowell, his wife, Margaret Stabler Hallowell, their children, and other family members. Also includes letters of Edward Stabler and his children, poems by Alice Hallowell, lesson books, financial papers, and pictures of Hallowell and Stabler family members. While emphasizing family affairs and domestic life, these papers contain material of interest on education, farm life, observations of the Civil War and the Federal bureaucracy, travel and hunting.

The collection is divided into ten series:

1. Genealogical
2. Correspondence of Margaret Stabler Hallowell, 1838-1900
3. Hallowell Family Correspondence, 1839-1945
4. Stabler Family Correspondence, 1837-1927
5. Poetry
6. Lesson books
7. Financial
8. Printed material
9. Pictures