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George A. (George Arthur) Walton 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

George A. (George Arthur) Walton (1883-1969) was the long-time headmaster of the George School, a Quaker boarding school in Newtown, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Joseph and Dora (Brosius) Walton and was raised near Coatesville, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and in 1906 married Emily Ingram. His father, Joseph, was the second headmaster of the George School, and after his early death, George Walton succeeded his father as headmaster in 1912 and served until 1948. After his retirement, he continued to be active in Quaker organizations and concerns, including the reunification of the Society of Friends in 1955. He was a member of Newtown Monthly Meeting.

The collection contains family and other correspondence, writings, and related papers. Correspondents include J. Barnard Walton, the brother of George A. Walton.

The collection is divided into eight series:

  1. Biographical and genealogical material
  2. Correspondence
  3. Writings
  4. Notes on various subjects
  5. George School
  6. School Affiliation Service
  7. Photographs
  8. Reference material

Donor: George School, 1971, 2009

The collection was given by the George School, from the home and office files of George A. Walton.

When received by the Library, most of the collection was arranged by George A. Walton by topic, with correspondence and related materials kept together. That order was retained as much as possible. Additional material, largely personnel files, was deposited by the George School in 2009 (Acc. 2009.012) and added to the collection in 2012.

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

  1. George A. Walton Diplomas (Filed in Diploma Chart Case), including:
  2. Friends Central School - 1900
  3. University of Pennsylvania, B.A. - 1904
  4. Philomethea Society - 1904
  5. University of Pennsylvania, M.A. - 1907
  6. Swarthmore College, Doctor of Laws - 1946
  7. Earlham College, Doctor of Laws - 1949
  8. Haverford College, Doctor of Laws -1964
  1. Emily Williams Ingram (Walton) Diplomas, including:
  2. Friends Central School - 1901
  3. State Normal School - 1903
  1. Marriage certificates (filed in chart case), George to Emily Williams Ingram - 9/20/1906

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
1971
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

Archival Resource Key. Biographical material.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence in the life of Margaret Barnard Walton, George A. Walton's maternal grandmother.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Walton family memorabilia.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence between J. Barnard Walton and his brother George, 1955-1963.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence about J. Barnard Walton, 1963-1964.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. "J. Barnard Walton" by Leon Stern, 8/26/1965.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence on "J. Barnard Walton" with and about Leon Stern, 1963-1968.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Log of camping trip to Lake George, 1903.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Log of voyage to Europe, 1904.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Notebook, England, 1929.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Log of trip to Pacific Coast, 1954-1955.
Box 1
Archival Resource Key. Diaries (engagement calendars), pocket size, 1910, 1913, 1920-1968.
Box 1

Archival Resource Key. Letters received on appointment as Principal of George School, 1912.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Peace Conference for Friends at Winona Lake, Indiana, 1915.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Conference initiated by Thomas E. Jones, L. Hollings-worth Wood, Henry J. Cadbury, and George Walton.

Archival Resource Key. Religious and controversial subjects, 1927-1938.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Letters from Europe, 1929.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. General correspondence, 1931-1969.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Letters re: A Man and His School, by Walter H. Mohr, 1935-1969.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. Bucks County Contributionship, 1937-1956.
Box 3
Archival Resource Key. The Quaker Mission to Germany, 12/1938.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Includes pocket notebook, file from office, file from home. Also handwritten essay by Rufus M. Jones on understanding Nazi Germany, possibly draft for speech or article.

Archival Resource Key. Personal correspondence, 1945-1948.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Matters of community and family interest, including retirement from George School (1948), 1945-1948.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Retirement, 1948.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Disposal of books, 1953, 1957, 1963.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Visit to Pacific Yearly Mtg. and Southwestern Friends, 1954-1966.
Box 4
Archival Resource Key. Council of Churches, Newtown, Bucks County area, 1958-1964.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Council of Churches, Newtown, Bucks County area, 1962-1969.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Letters concerning Peace, 1961.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. International Association for Religious Freedom, 1958-1960.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Letters in appreciation of Diaries and Correspondence of Margaretta Walton, 1829-1904, by George A. and J. Barnard Walton, 1962.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Letters concerning George Walton's book on his father, Joseph S. Walton, 1963-1968.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Comments on ms. of biography of Joseph S. Walton, 1964-1965.
Box 5
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence concerning gift copies of Joseph S. Walton, 1966-1967.
Box 5

Archival Resource Key. Articles and addresses, 1904-1962.
Box 6-7
Archival Resource Key. "Holy Spirit" and Christian Unity, 1937-1965.
Box 6-7
Physical Description

3 folders

Archival Resource Key. Joseph S. Walton, text of talk to George School Alumni, 5/16/1964.
Box 6-7
Archival Resource Key. Europe, articles published, and papers by young boys at Ackworth School, England on "What Mr. Walton said?", 1929-.
Box 6-7
Archival Resource Key. "Quakers Then and Now", and related material, 1940-1941.
Box 6-7
Archival Resource Key. Jesse Kersey, 1849-1954.
Box 6-7
Archival Resource Key. "Spirit in Man" by Rufus Jones, 4/1967.
Box 6-7
Scope and Contents

Used as an essay adaptation for a discussion group led by George Walton.

Archival Resource Key. Outlines of addresses, 1915-1916, 1926-1939, 1940-1957.
Box 8

Scope and Contents

Notes may be memory joggers.

Archival Resource Key. Notes on various phases of school life, 1923-1926.
Box 8
Physical Description

Small box of notes

Archival Resource Key. George School, 1928.
Box 9
Physical Description

small black leather notebook

Archival Resource Key. Notes taken during Meetings and Conferences, 1929-1957.
Box 9
Physical Description

6 notebooks

Archival Resource Key. Notes on Managing the Depression, 1932-1934.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Deep Insights into Religion, 1950-1956.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Personal Reactions to Religion, 1950-1956.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Constructive Thoughts Concerning Religion, 1950's.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Important Approaches to Religion.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Notes on Friends World Conference, Oxford, and visits to Meetings in California Yearly Meeting and the SW, 1954-1955.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Schools other than the George School.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. The Quaker Message and Method by AFSC.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Peace.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Notes, 1951, 1954-1957.
Box 9
Archival Resource Key. Undated pack of card with notes.
Box 9
Scope and Contents

Includes notes on Isaiah's literary style, spiritual religion, spiritual unity, etc.

Archival Resource Key. "George School Experience".
Box 10
Scope and Contents

Small file box of notes and anecdotes, probably for public speaking.

Archival Resource Key. Writings and addresses, 1929, 1946, 1948, n.d.
Box 10
Archival Resource Key. Ser. 6. School Affiliation Service, 1950-1960.
Box 11
Archival Resource Key. Ser. 7. Photographs, n.d.
Box 12

Archival Resource Key. Philosophy of Quaker Education, source material, 1914-1946.
Box 13
Archival Resource Key. Religion in Education, 1938-1956.
Box 13
Archival Resource Key. Religion in public schools, 1948-1952.
Box 13
Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous reference material, 1912-1967.
Box 13
Archival Resource Key. Clippings.
Box 13

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