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Kent-Barnard Family 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:
RG5.079
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
3 linear ft. (6 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Kent-Barnard Family Papers, RG5/079, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1785/1928 (inclusive)
Creator:
Barnard, Ella K. (Ella Kent), 1853-, Madison, Dolley 1768-1849, Kent, Daniel, 1765-1844, Tyson, Elisha, 1750-1824, Swarthmore College, Marlborough Friends School (Marlborough, Pa. : Township), Pennsgrove Soldiers Aid Society, Kent, William, fl. 1786-1806, Kent, Henry S. (Henry Simmons), 1833-1906, Kent, Patience W. (Patience Webster), d. 1924, Kent, Joseph, 1794-1863, Barnard, Mary A. (Mary Anna), 1828-1865, and Tyson, Isabella, 1823-1903
Form:
Diaries
Abstract:
Daniel Kent, emigrated to Chester County, Pa. from Ireland, in 1785. He joined the Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1790, and married Esther Hawley in 1791. Their great-grandson Henry Simmons Kent (1833-1906) was active in the establishment of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting and the Borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. The collection includes material used by Daniels' great-granddaughter Ella Kent Barnard in preparation for the writing of three books. Among these materials are genealogical charts and data, research correspondence, and original letters and documents. Notable among the latter is the correspondence between Daniel Kent and his parents, William and Ann Kent. Collection also includes diaries and journals. A manuscript entitled "The Rise of Swarthmore," by Isabella Tyson, describes the meeting of Friends in the home of her parents to discuss plans for the establishment of the College.

Daniel Kent, son of William and Ann Kent of Limerick, Ireland, emigrated to Chester County, Pa., in 1785. He joined the Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1790, and married Esther Hawley in 1791. They had 8 children, including Joseph, who married Maria Jane Cook, and Benjamin, who married Hannah Simmons. Daniel's granddaughter, Mary Anna Kent, daughter of Joseph and Maria Jane Kent, married John Barnard in 1849; their only daughter, Ella Kent Barnard, was born in 1853. Benjamin and Hannah Simmons Kent had eight children. Their oldest son, Henry Simmons Kent (1833-1906), married Patience Webster in 1859 and was active in the establishment of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting and the Borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

The collection includes material used by Ella Kent Barnard in preparation for the writing of three books, viz. Daniel Kent Emigrant, The Maulsby Genealogy, and Dorothy Payne Quakeress. Among these materials are genealogical charts and data, research correspondence, and original letters and documents. Notable among the latter is the correspondence between Daniel Kent and his parents, William and Ann Kent. Collection also includes the diaries and journals of Henry S. Kent (1905), Patience W. Kent 1905-12, 23-24), Joseph Kent (1847), and Ella Kent Barnard (1928). Correspondents include Mary Anna Barnard, Israel Graham, Cyrus Griest, Henry S. Kent, and Patience W. Kent. Other materials include the business papers of Daniel Kent (1814-18), Joseph Kent (1829-1835), Pennsgrove Meeting (1854-63), and Joseph Barnard (1855), as well as miscellaneous manuscripts by M. A. Barnard, Patience W. Kent, and others. Of particular interest are the "Childish Recollections" of Ella K. Barnard concerning schools in Chester County, a description of the woolen factory of Joseph Kent, the anti-slavery schism in Pennsgrove Meeting, and Christmas customs. A manuscript entitled "The Rise of Swarthmore," by Isabella Tyson, describes the meeting of Friends in the home of her parents to discuss plans for the establishment of the College, and another, "Reminiscences of Elisha Tyson," was penned by Henry M. Fitzhugh. Also included are (13) copy books of John Barnard from Marlborough Friends School (1834-39) and two notebooks from the Upper Oxford or Pennsgrove Soldiers Aid Society (1862-63).

The collection is divided into eight series:

  1. Biographical and genealogical material
  2. Diaries and journals
  3. Correspondence, 1799-1924
  4. Business papers
  5. Writings by various family members
  6. Memorabilia
  7. Miscellaneous reference material
  8. Pictures

Donor: Gift of Ella Kent Barnard, 1925, 1927

Gift of Annie Broomell Harlan, 1925-32.

Ella Kent Barnard was the great granddaughter of Daniel Kent. Annie Broomell Harlan, who in 1932 gave the papers relating to Ella K. Barnard's book, Daniel Kent, Emigrant, was the great-great-granddaughter of Daniel Kent.

Received unprocessed. Sorted and placed in document boxes prior to 1967 and stored in RG 5.

The following books by Ella Kent Barnard have been removed fro the collection and recatalogued:

  1. Daniel Kent, Emigrant, FHL BX7795,.K37A32.
  2. The Malsby Genealogy, F.H.L. BX7791,.M45B3
  3. Dorothy Payne, Quakeress, FHL BX7795,.M2B2.

People
Subject

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
Before 1967
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

Friends Historical Library believes all of the items in this collection to be in the Public Domain in the United States, and is not aware of any restrictions on their use. However, the user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status before reproducing. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

This material was gathered, for the most part, by Ella Kent Barnard in preparation for the writing of three books, as follows:

Scope and Contents

Ella Kent Barnard was the great granddaughter of Daniel Kent. FHL call number is BX7795.K37A32.

Archival Resource Key. Genealogical charts and data, and biographical material on Kent, Barnard, Hawley, Spackman, and related families.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence in connection with research on Kent and related families (chronologically arranged).
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Originals of 23 letters used in the book, 1785-1806.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Mainly letters of Daniel Kent, and Wm. and Ann Kent, his parents. They appear on p.15-61.

Archival Resource Key. Indenture between John Johnston and Daniel Kent, 5-21-1785.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

See p. 12 & p. 14 in book.

Archival Resource Key. Recommendation for Daniel Kent, 1-24-1786.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

See p. 24 in book.

Archival Resource Key. Several proof sheets of the book.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Ella Kent Barnard was related to the Malsby family. FHL call number is BX7791.M45B3

Physical Description

3 folders

Archival Resource Key. primarily Laugharn (Langharne) family.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. primarily Malsby family; also, Cook, Hicks, McConnell.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. primarily Wheeler family.
Box 1
Physical Description

3 folders

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1884-1899.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1902-03.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, 1904-12 & n.d.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

The story of Dolly Madison. FHL call number is BX7795.M2B2.

Archival Resource Key. Biographical and genealogical material on Madison, Payne, and Winston families.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence in connection with research on Payne, Winston, and related families.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. for "History of the Webster family".
Box 1
Scope and Contents

As read at first reunion held 7-21-1923; and as read at second reunion, 8-7-1926; includes invitation and clippings.

Physical Description

1 ms., 2 typewritten copies

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous biographical and genealogical material.
Box 1

Archival Resource Key. Henry S. Kent, 1905.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Patience Webster Kent, wife of Henry S. Kent, 1905-10, 1912, 1923, 1924.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Joseph Kent's "Memorandum of my Journey to the West", 1847.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

This may be a later edited copy of the journal.

Archival Resource Key. Fragment of rough draft of part of Joseph Kent's 1847 trip.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Covers 9 month visits.

Archival Resource Key. Spring Dale Boarding School, p. 1.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Walnut Green Academy, of Henry S. Kent, near Weat Grove, Pa., p. 7.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Reference to Benjamin Lundy, p. 7.
Archival Resource Key. School conducted by Smedley Darlington, Ercildoun, p. 11.
Archival Resource Key. Description of woolen factory of Joseph Kent; his home "Maple Grove", pp. 13-17.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Anti-Slavery schism in Pennsgrove Meeting, p. 23.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Christmas customs, p. 27.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Extract from Journal of J.K. (Jesse Kersey?).
Box 3

Archival Resource Key. General correspondence, 1799-1924.
Box 3-4
Scope and Contents

By various authors, including Mary Anna Kent Barnard (mother of Ella Kent Barnard), Israel Graham, Cyrus Griest, Henry S. Kent, Joseph Kent, Patience Webster Kent.

Archival Resource Key. Correspondence regarding silhouettes and pictures.
Box 3-4
Scope and Contents

Includes a "List of available Silhouettes", and clipping "Old Silhouettes Reappear", from N.Y. Sun, 6-20-1907.

Archival Resource Key. Daniel Kent, 1814-16180.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Joseph Kent, bound notebook containing receipts of payments, 1829-1835.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Pennsgrove Meeting, 1854-1863, n.d.
Box 4
Physical Description

8 papers

Archival Resource Key. John Barnard, 1955 & n.d.
Box 4
Physical Description

2 papers

Scope and Contents

Arranged alphabetically.

Archival Resource Key. "Aschenputtel, A Tale" incomplete.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. "Criticism," by A. Barnard.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. "The Echo", 12-1-1876.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Devoted to the improvement of The Worthington Literary Society. Editor, Gertrude W. Kent, daughter of Henry S. and Patience Webster Kent.

Archival Resource Key. "Educational plan toward World peace," by Patience W. Kent.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Examination of Friends' position and course of action with reference to national military requisition of 300 dollars payment in lieu of personal service.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. "Fashionable Dress!" by Patience W. Kent.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. "Godlike Humanity vs. Machine Humanity," author unknown.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Codicil of will of Henry S. Kent, 1853-1905.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

re: bequest of "The Proceedings of the Penna. Y.M. of Progressive Friends" to Swarthmore College.

Archival Resource Key. Manumission by Levi Cully, 1799-04-14.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. "Moore Literary Gazette." Editor, Gertrude W. Kent., 11/27/1880 and 4/2/1881.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. "Reminiscences of Elisha Tyson" by Henry M. Fitzhugh.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Notebook.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Rise of Pennsgrove Meeting; notes on Wm. Penn; biographical and genealogical notes; misc.

Archival Resource Key. "Rise of Swarthmore," by Isabella Tyson.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Describing the meeting of Friends in home of her parents, Nathan and Martha E. Tyson, for the first conference for making definite plans for the school.

Archival Resource Key. Springdale School papers.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Verse.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

Among authors are Daniel Kent, Alice Eliza Hambleton, E.H. (Esther Hawley?) Kent, Phebe Hadley.

Archival Resource Key. "The First Book according to John".
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. "The Proselytes," by I.G.W.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. "The Sunbeam".
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. "The Thoughts while sitting in the observatory.".
Box 5

Archival Resource Key. Autograph books.
Box 5-6
Physical Description

3 books

Archival Resource Key. Folder of letters received.
Box 5-6
Scope and Contents

Loose between pages of larger autograph book. Chronologically arranged.

Archival Resource Key. 4 copybooks, one belonging to Phebe Williams, mother of John Barnard.
Box 5-6
Archival Resource Key. Book of Psalms.
Box 5-6
Scope and Contents

Purchased by Mary M. Johnson in 1876 and given to Jos. C. Turnpenny, 7/11/1886, by Sarah Marshall.

Archival Resource Key. Valentines.
Box 5-6
Archival Resource Key. School papers.
Box 5-6
Scope and Contents

Includes: Report forms, Chestnut Hill & ErciIdoun Boarding Schools, 13 copy books of verse, arithmetic. work, etc., of John Barnard at Marlborough Friends' School, 1834-1839.

Archival Resource Key. Upper Oxford or Pennsgrove Soldiers' Aid Society, 1862, 1863.
Box 6
Physical Description

2 notebooks

Archival Resource Key. Papers on books lost from Baltimore Meeting Library, 1904.
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. Article regarding Friends' Meeting House and School, Baltimore; from Baltimore Sun, 10/30/1904.
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. Book lists: Blackburn, Tyson, 1908.
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. Names and addresses of genealogists.
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. Clippings.
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. "Sermon on the Mount".
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. Statement of purpose of The Loyal League of the Women of Chester County.
Box 6

Archival Resource Key. Friends' Meeting House, Little Falls of Gunpowder.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

Print after drawing by Benj. Ferris, 7/5/1843.

Archival Resource Key. Silhouettes, Jesse W. Cook, and wife, Elizabeth.
Box 6
Archival Resource Key. Drawings, effigies in Slebeck Church, and Cromlech at Pintre Ev-an.
Box 6

Print, Suggest