Main content

Anna Braithwaite Thomas Family Papers

Notifications

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:
RG5.148
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], RG5/148, Anna Braithwaite Family Papers, 1869-1943, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1869-1943 (inclusive)
Creator:
Thomas, Anna Braithwaite, Thomas, Richard Henry, 1854-1904, and Thomas, Henrietta Martha, 1879-1919
Abstract:
Anna Braithwaite Thomas (1854-1947) was a British American Quaker, of Baltimore, Maryland. The collection contains correspondence, drawings, notes, albums, poems, and photos, and eight volumes of diaries (1894-1896, 1936-1944). The earlier diaries describe a trip to England and Europe taken by Anna Thomas and her husband, Richard Henry Thomas (1854-1904), a Baltimore physician. Also included is a notebook (1869-1871) of Richard Henry Thomas while a student at Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, along with articles and related materials concerning the couple's daughter, Henrietta Martha Thomas (1879-1919). These articles relate to her World War I pacifist service in Germany and Austria. Material relating to the genealogy of the Braithwaite and Thomas families is also part of the collection.

Anna Braithwaite Thomas was the daughter of J. Bevan and Martha Gillet Braithwaite, born in Banbury, England, in 1854. She attended Bedford College and in 1878 was married to Dr. Richard H. Thomas of Baltimore, Maryland, and a graduate of Haverford College. The Braithwaite family was active in American Quaker activities, and Anna Thomas was a writer, peace activist, and involved in various Quaker concerns. She lived in England during the First World War where she served on the Alien's Committee and a relief mission to Vienna, Austria, after the War. Her daughter, Dr. Henrietta Thomas, died in 1919 after war service. Anna Braithwaite Thomas was recorded as a minister of Baltimore Monthly Meeting, and she represented Baltimore Yearly Meeting in various Quaker conferences. Anna Thomas died in 1947 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The collection contains correspondence, diaries (8 volumes, 1894-1896, 1936-1944), the earlier diaries describe a trip to England and Europe taken by Anna Thomas and her husband, Richard Henry Thomas (1854-1904), a Baltimore physician, and drawings, notes, albums, poems, and photos; together with notebook (1869-1871) of Richard Henry Thomas while a student at Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania, article and related materials concerning the couple's daughter, Henrietta Martha Thomas (1879-1919) and her World War I pacifist service in Germany and Austria, and material relating to the genealogy of the Braithwaite and Thomas families.

The collection is divided into four series:

  1. Biographical and genealogical material
  2. Writings
  3. Memorabilia
  4. Pictures

Accession information

Donor: Mrs. William Watkins, 1967

Mary Caroline Braithwaite, sister of Anna Braithwaite Thomas, married Willis Norton Whitney, brother of the mother of Mrs. William Watkins, the donor. (Her birth name is Kaji). Mrs. Watkins received the papers through her sister, Miss Mabel Kaji of Baltimore, a close friend of Anna Thomas, to whom they came after Anna Thomas's death.

Received partially sorted. Arranged and placed in documents boxes, in Record Group 5. Certain items removed to Miscellaneous manuscripts, and other FHL files (See materials catalogued separately.)

See also:

  1. PG7, Memorial for Anna Braithwaite Thomas (1854-1947)
  2. FHL catalogue of books by Anna B. Thomas
  3. J. Bevan Braithwaite, A Friend of the Nineteenth Century, by his children, FHL call no. BX7796, B82T4

The following materials, originally part of the collection, have been recatalogued:

  1. William Charles Braithwaite, Memoir and Papers; FHL call no. BX7796,.B832T4
  2. "Baltimore Yearly Meeting (Homewood) Directory, 2/1941" (paper-bound, mimeographed) See PG 1.
  3. "Homes and Haunts of the Poets," Original etchings (5) by W.B. Closson -Whittier, See picture file.
  4. "Illustrated lecture on Vienna" prepared by the Friends' relief Mission, 1920. See manuscript catalogue under "Vienna" or "Friends' Relief Mission."
  5. Facsimiles of "A Few Select Extracts from the Journal of Joseph John Gurney," 1851, 2 copies. See Miscellaneous manuscripts.
  6. Facsimiles of 8 ALsS and I D, in folio, Hanna and/or William Penn, to various recipients, 1674-1701. See Miscellaneous manuscripts.

People
Subject

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

"Table of the Descendants of Joseph Bevan and Martha Braithwaite", 1921.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Compiled by William C. Braithwaite.

Physical Description

printed leaflet; 2 copies

Journals of trip to England of Richard H. and Anna B. Thomas, written by Anna, 1894-1896.
Box 1
Physical Description

2 volumes

Diaries of Anna B. Thomas, 1936-1944.
Box 1
Physical Description

8 volumes

Notebook of miscellaneous notes, drafts of letters, etc., by Anna B. Thomas.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Includes biographical account of some members of the Braithwaite family and brothers and sisters of Anna B. Thomas

Obituaries.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Of William Chas. Braithwaite (2); Henrietta M. Thomas, daughter of Anna B. Thomas; and John Clapp Thomas.

Physical Description

printed

Typewritten draft of William C. Braithwaite, Memoir and Papers, by Anna Lloyd Braithwaite Thomas and Elizabeth B. Emmott.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Includes related papers.

Article by Henrietta M. Thomas, "A visit to Vienna and Berlin".
Box 2
Physical Description

printed

Poem, "Rhyme of the Kings".
Box 2

Water color sketches by Anna B. Thomas.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Includes some photographs and prints.

Physical Description

2 notebooks

Pen and ink drawing of a Quaker Meeting, signed A.B. Hand-painted motto.
Box 2
Autograph album, apparently of Anna Braithwaite Thomas, 1877-1927.
Box 2
Notebook of drawings and water-colors by Elizabeth Gillett and copied "pieces.", 1851.
Box 2
Notebook belonging to Richard H. Thomas while at Haverford, 1869-1871.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Contains "pieces" copied by various classmates.

"Moonlight", small homemade magazine, 1893.
Box 2
Physical Description

3 issues

"The Ephratense Chronicle or The Vampire on a Pilgrimage," by Richard H. Thomas, 1872.
Box 2
Verses by Richard H. Thomas.
Box 2
Henrietta M. Thomas' passport, 1914.
Box 2

Mainly photographs of members of the Braithwaite and Thomas families.
Box 2

Print, Suggest