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Francis A. Harvey Diaries

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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

Francis A. Harvey was born March 10, 1905 in Wichita, Kansas. A birthright Quaker, he was the son of Adolphus E. and Lydia Rachel (also known as Lyra) Tregelles. His mother died when he was sixteen days old, and his father later married Eva Barnard. The family moved to Texas.

Francis attended Westtown School and then Pennsylvania State College where he earned a degree in agricultural economics. While a student at Westtown, he met Elsie Brackbill, a Mennonite, while working at a farm that her brother managed. After their marriage on June 20, 1928, Francis was employed by the S.S. Kresge Co. (now K-mart) for 41 years, a job which required many moves for the family. Francis and Elsie had three children, Doris, Ann and Bruce, and raised the twin sons, Ken and Ray Milhous, of Francis's half-sister, Alice, who died in 1943.

After retirement in 1969, they moved to Malvern, PA. Francis served three four-year terms on the Malvern Borough Council and ten years as a Republican committeeman. In 1980, the Harveys moved to the Landis Homes Retirement Community in Lititz, PA. There they organized the Resident Assistance Program to help residents at the Landis Home with the costs of assisted living and health care services. The fund was created in the in the memory of Francis' brother-in-law, Milton Brackbill. In 2005, Francis celebrated his 100th birthday; his wife Elsie turned 100 the previous October. In later years, they became American Baptists. Francis died on December 5, 2005.

Contains an autobiographical essay by Francis and Elsie Harvey and the diaries of Francis A. Harvey which detail his everyday life beginning in 1928 at the age of 23. Of interest are the travel diaries, particularly the trip to Japan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and Africa the winter of 1970-1971 which included visits to missionary friends.

Organized in two series:

  1. Biographical
  2. Diaries: Eighteen diaries, arranged chronologically

Donor: Ann H. Bigelow, 2/18/2004 (Acc. 2004-009)

Processed as an RG5, 2005.

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
2007
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce items in this collection beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/.

Collection Inventory

Archival Resource Key. Autobiographical essay, Francis and Elsie Harvey, ca. 1985.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folder

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life, working in store as salesman, 1/1/29-12/31/32.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Brown, broken clasp

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life taking place in Mass., Conn., NY, and MI, 1/1/34-12/31/37.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Mile Stones, 5-year diary, green/brown

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life in Bay City, MI, occasional and general mention of WWII, 1/1/39-12/31/41.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Five Year Diary, dark green with gold lettering

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life, 9/13/59-12/31/66.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Five Year Diary, red and black

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life in PA, 1/62-12/30/62.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Covered Bridges Date Book

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life in PA, 1/1/68-12/31/71.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Five Year Diary, gold with black text

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Diary of trip to Japan, Hong Kong S.E. Asia, Nairobi E. Africa, 11/2/70-1/25/71.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Travels Abroad; much talk about church activities. lists several denominational contacts.

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Every day life in Lititz, PA, 10/1985-?/1986.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Note Book, brown gold leaf w/teal trim

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Every day life in Lititz, PA, 1/1/72-12/31/76.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Five Year Diary, brown and black marble/ gold leaf

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Trip to London/ surrounding area, 9/6/73-9/20/73.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

Travel Diary, blue and silver

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life in Malvern PA, 1/1/77-12/31/82.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Five Year Diary, blue w/gold leaf

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Cruise from Rhode island to Palm Beach, FL, 12/6/77-12/31/77.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Inland Waterway Trip.

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life, 1/1/82-12/31/84.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Picture of green girl.

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life in Lititz, PA, Oct. 85-Oct. 86.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

One Year Diary, green & gold leaf.

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life, 1987-1991.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Five Year Diary, red and gold leaf.

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Everyday life, 1/1/92-12/31/95.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Five Year Diary, maroon w/gold.

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Harveys at the Landis Home in Lititz, PA, 1/1/97-12/29/2000.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Five Year Diary, maroon w/gold.

Physical Description

1 volume

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous entries, 9/26/02-6/4/03.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Travel Diary, fake wood w/gold leaf.

Physical Description

1 volume

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