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Charles Smith Ogden 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
Charles Smith Ogden (1822-1904) was a Philadelphia Quaker businessman, genealogist, and civic leader. He was born in Philadelphia, the son of John Melchior and Harriet (Middleton) Ogden, into a prominent family involved in philanthropic and reform activities. He was educated in Friends' schools and married Emma Corbit (1827-1874) in 1848 under the care of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite). She was the daughter of Henry Cowgill Corbit and Sarah Bolton Corbit. Her mother was an intimate friend of Lucretia Mott. They had two children, Henry Corbit Ogden and Middleton Ogden. Charles Ogden worked as a wholesale druggist before the Civil War, was active on the committee to elect Abraham Lincoln, and served as Consul to Quebec, Canada, 1860-1864. In 1886, he began a tour around the world, which is recounted in his travel diaries, 1886-1891, composed as letters to his son. The trip ended abruptly with the death of his son, H. Corbit Ogden, in July 1891.
This collection contains a collection of Quaker correspondence, family correspondence, genealogical research, and memorabilia compiled by Charles Smith Ogden, a Philadelphia Quaker businessman, genealogist, and civic leader.
The colleciton is divided into six series:
- Ogden Collection: Autographs, Photographs and Original Papers of the Society of Friends
- Historica Genealogica in five volumes
- Scrapbook #2, Charles S. Ogden memorabilia
- Scrapbook #3, Our United States Consulate: Quebec, Canada
- Charles S. Ogden correspondence
- Miscellaneous
Donor: Marie Ogden Francke, 1948
Donor: Estate of Charles S. Ogden, 1905
The donor of the Ogden Collection (of autographs), Marie Ogden Francke (1878-1955) was a granddaughter of Charles Smith Ogden and the daughter of his son, H. Corbitt Ogden. The bulk of the material was given to Swarthmore College in 1905 as a memorial to Ogden's son, Middleton, who attended Swarthmore College in 1869-1870. Marie Francke was a member of New York Yearly Meeting (Hicksite). The Quaker autographs collected by her grandfather were intended for Swarthmore College according to his Will.
Donor: Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Acc. 2012.032
Processed by FHL staff prior to 1967. The collection of Quaker autographs apparently was retained by Charles S. Smith's granddaughter, Marie Odgen Francke, until 1948, when it was designated "Scrapbook #4" by FHL staff. The donor had the items mounted in an oversized scrapbook according to the archival standards of the time. In 1984, this scrapbook was dismantled in order to better preserve the documents. Detailed inventories of the contents were created and the siginficant correspondence individually described on the MSS card catalogue. In 2009, the collection was refoldered and described in more detail for access. The Lucretia Mott correspondence was removed to MSS Mott Manuscripts and the Hicks letter to FHL Safe. The detailed inventories of the genealogical papers are filed in Box 1. In 2012, the Bureau of Archives and History, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, transferred over-sized certificates of membership to various philanthropic organizations. These were added to the collection as a separate series, Series 6 Miscellaneous. A photograph of the design of the US Treasury Building and a printed list of honorary members of the first troop of the Philadelphia City Cavalry were included in this gift and are stored with the certificates.
The following materials, originally part of the collection, have been removed and recatalogued:
- The Quaker Ogdens in America, by Chas. Burr Ogden, J.B. Lippincott Co., Phila., 1898. BX7791.03403
- PG 7 - "John Melchior Ogden", biographical data.
- In Memoriam John M. Ogden. J.B. Lippincott Co., Phila., 1882. BX7796 +.03513
- Germantown History, p.15-17, "How Grandmother Dorothy Meng (later married Hugh Ogden) Saw the Battle of Germantown. Published by The Site and Relic Society of Germantown, 1915. F159.G3S62
- Photographs removed to FHL Individual Pictures include: Isaac Norris, John Townsend, Middleton Ogden, Marie Ogden, Lizzie Bowman Ogden, John Melchior Ogden, Lucretia Mott, James Mott, Elias Hicks
- Lucretia and James Mott correspondence (originals) removed to Mott Mss, MSS 035
People
Subject
- Quakers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Quakers -- Social life and customs
- Quakers -- 19th century -- Diaries
- Voyages and travels -- 19th century
- Quakers -- Genealogy
Place
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- FHL staff
- Finding Aid Date
- 2009
- 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
-
Some of the items in this collection may be protected by copyright. The user is solely responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns to reuse, publish, or reproduce relevant items beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to the law. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/.
Collection Inventory
Note: The collection was mounted in an oversized bound volume presented to Swarthmore College. At that time, it was designated "Scrapbook Number 4" by staff at Friends Historical Library. In 1984, the items were placed in folders which are arranged in the order created by the donor.
Removed from a leather bound album in which the documents were mounted
Physical Description1 folder
In 1984 FHL staff removed the contents from the oversized volume in order to better preserve the documents. Each item was numbered in the order it was attached to the acidic album. Detailed inventories were created, organized alphabetically and according to type of document.
Physical Description1 folder
Images of George Fox and his homes. Includes a photograph purchased by Ogden in 1891 of Fox's birthplace before it was dismantled
Physical Description1 folder
ALS, with thanks for the bottles of wine and offer to mention to his father-in-law a painting that includes a flock of sheep and bull with an image of Joseph John Gurney. (Photocopy - original SAFE)
Physical Description1 folder
Send his regards to friends and their families in Philadelphia. (Photocopy - original SAFE)
Physical Description1 folder
Poem by Joseph Gill, copied by Henry C. Corbit
Physical Description1 folder
Carte de visite of Hicks, with an account of the Hicks death mask
Physical Description1 folder
Images of Thomas Penn, Penn home and grave, and a leaf and bark from Penn's Treaty Elm. Bark mounted on a watercolor painting of the elm by Charles S. Ogden. Bark presented by Thomas Cowperthwait, 1836
Physical Description1 folder
Inventories, receipts, etc. Removed to oversize
Physical Description1 folder
Receipts, accounts addressed to Thomas Penn and Thomas Penn, Jr.
Physical Description1 folder
Note refutes the allegation that William Penn was an enslaver at the time of his death. Carte de visite removed to FHL pictures
Physical Description1 folder
Letter reports that she had selected from her letters samples for the autograph collection that Sarah's son-in-law was compiling. "The time will come when the names of the ultra abolitionists, now 'cast out as evil' will be held in everlasting remembrance.'" Expresses sympathy for all the losses that Sarah has suffered. (Photocopy, original MSS 035)
Physical Description1 folder
Written from Philadelphia Prison. (Photocopy, original MSS 035)
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From Dublin. (Photocopy, original MSS 035)
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"Dear Cousin." Visited the mountains of Pennsylvania, with plans to travel to Burlington and New York - in his 87th year. (Photocopy, original MSS 035)
Physical Description1 folder
Letter notes the death of Dr. John Moore which reminds him of the recent death of his son-in-law William Almy, New England Yearly Meeting minister. An account on their conversation concerning Elias Hicks. (Photocopy, original MSS 035)
Physical Description1 folder
Introducing Francis Rattle who had recently visited
Physical Description1 folder
Articles on the life of Lucretia. Photographs of James and Lucretia removed to FHL pictures
Physical Description1 folder
Expresses the opinion that that Government should pick up the expenses for the Native Americans who have been removed to reservations.
Physical Description1 folder
Condolences on the death of her mother, Quaker minister Rachel (Gibbons) Hunt of Darby Monthly Meeting
Physical Description1 folder
Mentions recently attended Warrington Quarterly Meeting and therefore missed seeing Naomi's brother, John Passmore, at Concord Quarterly.
Physical Description1 folder
Written from Mobile, AL, and mentions cholera epidemic in New Orleans and elsewhere which has limited his travels in the ministry
Physical Description1 folder
Mentions visit to Moorestown Meeting where Naomi's brother John Hunt was also in attendance and the travels of other Quakers in the ministry. Images removed to FHL pictures
Physical Description1 folder
David Rittenhouse (1783), Isaac Hopper (1813, 1821), Samuel Morris (1765)
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Praises for Naomi's mother, Rachel Hunt
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Religious exhortations. Mentions attending Baltimore Yearly Meeting and the ministry of Naomi's brother, John Hunt
Physical Description1 folder
Encouragement in the Faith, mentions meetings and visitors
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Regret that was not able to visit
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ALS. Plans a visit
Physical Description1 folder
Gift to Marie Francke from Henry Haydock, together with typed transcript, booklet, and a letter from Henry Haydock, dated 1935
Physical Description1 folder
ALS. Writing from Poukeepsie where many are sick with cholera, dysentery, and typhus
Physical Description1 folder
Written by Elders of New York Yearly Meeting, disapproving of her visit. Clipping of her speech in Philadelphia wherein she expressed her opinion that the Bible was not meant to be taken literally and her support for equality for women. Photographs of her and her second husband, Dr. John Wilson Moore, of Philadelphia
Physical Description1 folder
ALS
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Silhouette taken at the Peale Museum, Philadelphia (Peale Museum stamp). Notice of her funeral and an invitation to John M. and Harriet Ogden to visit, 1844
Physical Description1 folder
ALS
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Article on Elizabeth Fry, engraving of her brother, booklet "Friends Disused Burial Grounds in Lancashire"
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Memorabilia
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ALS. Mary Pike, Quaker minister and wife of Henry Pike. Also a 1837 receipt signed by Henry Pike
Physical Description1 folder
Receipt signed by Abraham Lower, 1834. Donor's note indicates that he was a Quaker minister of Green Street Monthly Meeting and built a cabinet for Harriet Middleton. George Freeman photo removed to FHL pictures
Physical Description1 folder
ALS. An affectionate letter in which he quotes from a letter written by Samuel Fothergill concerning marriage. Note from donor that Townsend had married into the Ogden family and was the father of Edward Townsend, warden of Eastern Penitentiary.
Physical Description1 folder
ALS. Responding to Ogden's inquiry for information about John C. Ogden, referring him to Bonsalls living in Darby.
Physical Description1 folder
ALS. Asking Harriet's advice on bill due from Samuel Darlington for one of their charges, as well as his offer to continue the child's studies at half price
Physical Description1 folder
ALS referring to an accompanying letter which he is glad to provide, possibly from his father who died in 1840.
Physical Description1 folder
ALS offering financial advice regarding Ogden's creditors. Carte de visit glued to letter.
Physical Description1 folder
ALS expresses the awkwardness with some members in the Society of Friends, created by his staying at the Prices' home in Philadelphia
Physical Description1 folder
ALS. Remembers fondly the times they worshipped together at Green Street, but chides her for not visiting more often.
Physical Description1 folder
ALS, letter of sympathy. Clippings on her life.
Physical Description1 folder
Signed postcard committing $40 towards the brick meeting house at Fair Hill in hopes that there soon will be a meeting held there.
Physical Description1 folder
Thank you note when hospitalized for Francke's get well message from the worship meeting. Clippings regarding her death, note from Henry Haydock concerning the funeral service where Rufus Jones spoke
Physical Description1 folder
Including original certificates of transfer and testimonies, printed epistle from London Yearly Meeting (1824)
Physical Description1 folder
ALS concerning the estate and survivors of Elisha Kirk
Physical Description1 folder
ALS from members of Green Street Monthly Meeting advising against the preaching of Thomas William Stuckey (d. 1888). According to his obituary in Friends Intelligencer, he was a former English Baptist who requested membership in the Society of Friends, but was rejected.
Physical Description1 folder
Including typed "Extracts from the History of Dover," and published Quaker catechism
Physical Description1 folder
Includes ALS from Henry Haydock expressing thanks for the invitation to attend meeting at her apartment; Typed and signed "Sonnet of Spring (for Mrs. Francke" by Philip Blackburn; ALS from J. Russell Hayes of Friends Historical Library expressing pleasure at eventually receiving her scrapbook.
Physical Description1 folder
Receipts
Physical Description1 folder
Includes autographs from John Wilbur, receipt for John M. Ogden for Chesterfield Boarding School, 1840. Cartes de visite of Henry and Elizabeth Ridgway transferred to FHL pictures.
Physical Description1 folder
Letters received concerning the meetings held at her apartment in New York City and inspirational writings the group circulated. Published 1849 epistle from London Yearly Meeting removed to Oversize
Physical Description1 folder
Note: Genealogical research compiled by Charles S. Ogden, with the volumes partly de-constructed. When the collection was processed before 1967, an attempt was made to follow Ogden's table of contents and an inventory of the items drawn up.
Created by FHL staff before 1967
Physical Description1 folder
Contains: "Ogden: Name and Family prior to A.D. 1682; Thomas Ogden, clockmaker of Sunderland, England; Orthographic changes in family name, from 1150; Extracts from minutes of Brighouse Monthly Meeting, 1701-1740; Extracts from Bradford Parish Church records, 1558, 1562, 1563; Ogden hearth list, 1666; Parish church of Rochdale, County of Lancaster, Eng., concerning Ogden family.
Physical Description1 folder
Descendants of David Ogden in Pennsylvania
Physical Description1 folder
Notes on Ogden family taken from The Digested Copy of The Records of Births, of The Society of Friends, Quarterly Meeting of Yorkshire, Eng.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
8-14-1905 from Provident Life and Trust Company. regarding Chas. S. Ogden's bequest to Swarthmore College.
Physical Description1 folder
Oakdale Post Office, Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pa.
Physical Description1 folder
Copies of land purchase in Chester County from William Penn, Will, inventories, biographies
Physical Description1 folder
"Information for My Executors, Lizzie Ogden, Curtis A. Darling"
Physical Description1 folder
Genealogical scrapbook compiled by Charles S. Ogden, including some cartes de visite, clippings. Detailed list of contents in folder
Physical Description1 folder
Chart of descendants of John Christopher Meng, born 1697, to H. Corbit Ogden, b.1849.
Physical Description1 folder
"Descendants of Johann Christoph Meng in America"
Physical Description1 folder
Article from The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 6, No .4, 1882, on Germantown, and genealogical correspondence
Physical Description1 folder
With accompanying letter from Hannah Zell to Corbit Ogden, 6-4-1891
Physical Description1 folder
Chart starting with H. Corbit and Middleton Ogden and extending back six generations
Physical Description1 folder
Bound volume with manuscript entries on Ogden genealogy, early settlement of Pennsylvania, Quaker meetings. Pages 124-125 holds information on life and career of Charles S. and Emma Ogden. Notes that Lucretia Mott spoke at Emma's funeral in 1874
Physical Description1 folder
Townsend and Abbott family.
Physical Description1 folder
Charles S. Ogden's scrapbook of memorabilia. The contents removed from acidic covers and foldered in sections. Contains clippings of contemporary events and persons of interest including Abraham Lincoln, Charles Willson Peale's museum, and Pennsylvania Hall.
pp. 1-5, includes letter of thanks to Mrs. Charles S. Ogden, President of the Ladies Association from Tenth Ward Relief Association Resolution, 1858 (p. 4)
Physical Description1 folder
pp. 6-36, Tenth Ward People's Campaign Club ribbon, signed A. Lincoln (p. 9). Ogden was active in Lincoln's campaign and a delegate from the Tenth Ward at the Republican Convention in Philadelphia; also Clippings concerning Ogden's gift of a study of George Washington to the Historical which he purchased the Charles Willson Peale portrait at the sale of the Peale gallery in 1854
Physical Description1 folder
pp. 28-35, Letter from the Monthly Meeting accepting Ogden's explanation for his business failure; Notification of his election to the Union League of Philadelphia, 1864. He notes that he served in various capacities until his resignation in 1886 when he went abroad
Physical Description1 folder
pp. 36-55, Death of his brother-in-law, Charles Corbit, and clipping on Pennsylvania Hall with a note by Ogden that he was present at the opening of Pennsylvania hall and at its destruction
Physical Description1 folder
pp. 56-62. Married at Saint Stephen's Church, Wilkes Barre. Family photographs
Physical Description1 folder
pp. 104-116, Bowman, Low, Middleton families and visits to homes of George Fox, William Penn, and Benjamin West
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Pages 109-114
Physical Description1 folder
A bound volume contains primarily letters written by Emma Ogden, wife of Charles S. Ogden, to her sister Carrie, 3 month 14, 1862 to 3 month 20, 1864, written during period in which Charles was United States Consul in Quebec. These letters give a detailed picture of their life as members of the diplomatic circle, religious holiday observances, comments on persons of note, living conditions, fashions, social and political matters, weather. Scattered throughout are clippings and photographs of Canada and Canadians. Plan of the City of Quebec in 1845 and Wolfe military plans are included at the end.
Washington, D.C., to Florida
Physical Description1 folder
Clipping on espionage in Quebec during United States Civil War. Quebec had many Confederate sympathizers
Physical Description1 folder
Letters from William Seward, Secretary of State, with Ogden's synopsis of communications sent by Consulate to Seward
Physical Description1 folder
Series of four cartoons on John Bull and War
Physical Description1 folder
Diary notes of a five-year around-the-world trip taken by Charles S. Ogden, 1886-1891, written as letters to his son, H. Corbit Ogden. The trip was abruptly ended with news of Corbit's death and Charles S. Ogden's return from Scotland.
Washington, DC., to Florida
Physical Description1 folder
Havana, Cuba; then Mexico to California and Yosemite
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San Francisco and a steamer on the Pacific
Physical Description1 folder
Japan and China
Physical Description1 folder
Hong Kong, Singapore, British Burma
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India and Ceylon
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Egypt and Middle East, then Russia
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Sweden, Germany, Austria-Hungary
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Italy
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Switzerland, Germany
Physical Description1 folder
France
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Monte Carlo and Africa, including trip down the Nile
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Italy, Sicily, Corsica
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France, Switzerland, Germany
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Netherland and Belgium
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France
Physical Description1 folder
England
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Scotland. On July 29, Corbit Ogden died suddenly in New York
Physical Description1 folder
Final letter to Corbit and his letter to his father, telegrams, etc. concerning his death
Physical Description1 folder
Lists which appear to be a record of dates on which Corbit wrote to his father, and dates on which he, Corbit, received photographs, newspapers, cases of curios, etc., from his father. Also map of Scotland, clippings
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence from relatives and friends
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
These certificates were donated to the Pennsylvania State Archives, provenance unknown. They were offered to Friends Historical Library because it holds other Ogden family papers.
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