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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

Call Number:
RG5.157
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
7.5 linear ft. (15 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], RG5/157, George A. Walton Papers, 1842-1969, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Date:
1842-1969 (inclusive) and 1904-1969 (bulk)
Creator:
Walton, George A. (George Arthur), 1883-, George School (Bucks County, Pa.), and Walton, J. Barnard (Joseph Barnard), 1885-1963
Abstract:
George A. Walton (1883-1969) was the long-time headmaster of the George School, a Quaker boarding school in Newtown, Pennsylvania. He 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

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. Donor: George School, 2017, Acc. 2017 049

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.

6/14/24- Added three files of notes donated from the George School to box 10, primarily correspondence.

See also:

  1. RG 5/072, Janney, O. Edward (Oliver Edward), Papers, 1874-1945.
  2. RG 5/158, Joseph S. Walton Papers
  3. RG 5/159, Margaretta Walton Family Papers
  4. Bust of George Walton by Ruth Lowe Bookman (1938), FHL Reading Rooom

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

Organization
Subject

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

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

Letters received on appointment as Principal of George School, 1912.
Box 3
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.

Religious and controversial subjects, 1927-1938.
Box 3
Letters from Europe, 1929.
Box 3
General correspondence, 1931-1969.
Box 3
Letters re: A Man and His School, by Walter H. Mohr, 1935-1969.
Box 3
Bucks County Contributionship, 1937-1956.
Box 3
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.

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

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

3 folders

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

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

Scope and Contents

Notes may be memory joggers.

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

Small box of notes

George School, 1928.
Box 9
Physical Description

small black leather notebook

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

6 notebooks

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

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

"George School Experience".
Box 10
Scope and Contents

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

Writings and addresses, 1929, 1946, 1948, n.d.
Box 10
Teaching Notes & Records, 1934-1937.
Box 10
Ser. 6. School Affiliation Service, 1950-1960.
Box 11
Ser. 7. Photographs, n.d.
Box 12

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

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