Call Number:

RG5.224

Repository:

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Extent:

2 linear ft. (4 boxes)

Language:

English

Date:

1906-1981 (inclusive)

Creator:

Smith, Philip W., b. 1889

Abstract:

Philip W. Smith (1889-1981) was a Quaker dairyman from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who was active in Russian concerns and a prominent peace activist. In 1925-1926, he spent two years on a collective farm in Russia, and in later life he traveled extensively for peace causes. He was a member of Buckingham Monthly Meeting. This collection contains his correspondence, several journals and day books, photographs, writings on Russia, dairy farm records, and information on various groups he was involved with.

Philip W. Smith (1889-1981) was a Quaker dairyman from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who was a prominent peace activist and active in Russian concerns. He was born May 3, 1889, on the family farm in New Hope to Heston Jacob and Anna (Johnson) Smith and was associated closely with his older brother, James Iden Smith, also a prominent Bucks County Quaker farmer. He attended the George School and later spent a few years at Penn State University. He married Edna Wood in 1913, and the couple had four children, but they later divorced. He subsequently married Anna Waterman. In 1925-1926, he and his wife and children lived in the U.S.S.R. where he worked with Russian Reconstruction, Inc., to learn about collective farming and give witness to his Quaker testimony. In 1958-1960 he again visited the U.S.S.R., and in later life, traveled widely for peace causes.

Smith was a member of Buckingham Monthly Meeting and as an ardent pacifist, wrote voluminous letters to congressmen, presidents, and newspaper editors. He died in 1981.

The collection consists of Smith’s personal correspondence (to friends, family, editors, congressmen and business acquaintances), his writings, records of various associations, and dairy cattle records.

Organization: Organized in 6 series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Russia trips; 3. Journals; 4. Farm documents; 5. Writings and speeches; 6. Biographical and miscellaneous.