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S. Francis Nicholson Family 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
Samuel Francis Nicholson was born May 29, 1900, in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents were S. Edgar and Rhoda Elma Nicholson, both of whom had strong Indiana Quaker roots. During his teen years, the family lived in Richmond, Indiana, where Francis attended school until his senior year. He graduated from Westtown School in Pennsylvania in 1917 and returned to Richmond, Indiana, to attend Earlham College. During the summer of his junior year, he served in the Quaker reconstruction effort in France and subsequently was a delegate to the First Friends World Conference in London in 1920. The family was long active in Quaker concerns; his father was one of the founders of the National Anti-Saloon League and an ardent pacifist, heading the Friends Relief Mission to Russia in 1923-1924. He also edited The American Friend and was an acknowledged minister. Francis's sister, Caroline, spent 1920-1921 in an A.F.S.C. child-feeding program in Germany and was a long-time teacher and vice-principal of the Westtown School. His brother, Vincent, was a C.O. during WWI and the first Executive secretary of A.F.S.C.
Francis graduated from Earlham in 1921 and then earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. In 1923 he was hired by Provident Trust Company in Philadelphia, which later became Provident National Bank. He worked at Provident for over forty years and retired in 1965 as Vice-President in charge of the Investment Department. He was a prominent and influential financier, developing an investment strategy which came to be known as the Value Approach. A member of the Financial Analysts of Philadelphia, he contributed a number of articles to financial publications.
In 1925, he married Evelyn Hope Haworth under the care of Lansdowne Monthly Meeting. She was the daughter of James and Martha Day Haworth, born July 29, 1903. Evelyn was raised in Primos, Delaware County, and attended the public schools in Lansdowne and Swarthmore, but graduated from Westtown School. She became a convinced Friend at Lansdowne Monthly Meeting in 1919. She attended Swarthmore College in 1924-1925, leaving to marry Francis and raise their family.
Francis and Evelyn met through mutual friends, and both were actively involved with the Rose Valley Chorus. Evelyn sang with the Chorus through the 1950s, and Francis was the piano accompanist. The couple settled in Rose Valley, a borough in Delaware County, Pa., founded by noted Quaker Arts and Crafts architect, William Lightfoot Price. They had three children: James V. ("Tim"), Frances, and Joan H. Nicholson. The Nicholsons were active in the community, particularly the Rose Valley Chorus and the community swimming pool. In 1940, the family moved to a large home in Westtown, Chester County, with room for foster children and refugees of WWII.
In 1955, they built a house in Wallingford, Pa., where they resided until their move to the retirement community, Kendal-at-Longwood, in 1977. After Francis retired from Provident in 1965. Evelyn became more active in AFSC and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting projects, particularly the PYM Committee on Aging. Evelyn died January 8, 1994, and S. Francis died January 10, 2005, at the age of 104.
The Nicholsons were committed Quakers and dedicated members of Media Monthly Meeting. Francis generously donated his financial expertise to a number of Quaker organizations, especially Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Westtown School, American Friends Service Committee, and Friends Fiduciary Corporation.
The collection contains correspondence, financial records, memorabilia, and other papers of Samuel Francis Nicholson reflecting his career and life with his wife, Evelyn Haworth Nicholson.
Organized in nine series.
- Ser.1. S.. Francis Nicholson
- Ser.2. Evelyn Haworth Nicholson
- Ser.3. Nicholson Family papers
- Ser.4. S. Francis Nicholson Writings
- Ser.5. Provident Trust Company
- Ser.6. S. Francis Nicholson Miscellaneous Volunteer Financial Activities
- Ser.7. Friends Fiduciary Corporation
- Ser.8.American Friends Service Committee
- Ser.9. South African Divestiture Papers
- Times to Remember, S. Francis Nicholson and Evelyn H. Nicholson, 1984.
- Family Correspondence of Samuel Edgar Nicholson and Rhoda Elma Parker Nicholson, Frances Nicholson Beer, 2007
Donors: Frances N. Beer and James V. Nicholson, 2010 (Accession number: 2010.010)
The papers were sorted and inventoried by Frances N. Beer. They were received in nine cartons. The order has been retained with some consolidation of related items (i.e. student papers). The family gave additional material to Westtown School and retains some personal papers noted on the original inventory, stored with the accession file.
Items that are bracketed were included in the donor's inventory but have not been deposited at Friends Historical Library. Location is provided as "Family." The family donated most of the Westtown-related materials to the Westtown Archives, including S. Francis Nicholson's alumni activities:
- Retained by family: Some personal papers have been retained by the family, in particular diaries kept by Francis and Evelyn. S. Francis Nicholson Diaries: 1913, 1915, 1916-17 (until Earlham), 1917-18, 1919 (France), 1920 (All-Friends Conference), 1920-21, 1921-22, 1922-23, 1923-24 12. Evelyn Haworth Nicholson diaries, 1924-1993.
- Westtown Archives: S. Francis Nicholson student papers concerning his activities as Westtown Music chair, Alumni Association, President Alumni Association, Friends of Westtown dinners, Reunions
Organization
- Provident National Bank
- American Friends Service Committee
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends (Orthodox : 1827-1955)
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends Library
- Earlham College
- Westtown Boarding School
- Harvard Business School
- Swarthmore College
Place
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- FHL staff
- Finding Aid Date
- 2011
- 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
Note: Items that are bracketed were included in the donor's inventory but have not been deposited at Friends Historical Library. Location is provided as "Family." The family donated most of the Westtown-related materials to the Westtown Archives, including S. Francis Nicholson's alumni activities.
Maryland Sunday School Union, Epistle from Baltimore Yearly Meeting to children, and copybook
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School books and memorabilia, report cards
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Report cards
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Essay and poetry
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Symphony Orchestra, Earlham Music Department
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Young Friends activities, correspondence
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Miscellaneous, including draft registration
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College years, misc, including report cards and college newspaper
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Correspondence
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Harvard and Univ. of Pa.
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Manuscript essays and notes
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Manuscript essays and notes
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Manuscript essays and notes
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Manuscript essays and notes
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Typed essays, "America's Duty Toward Militarism" and "Bolshevism and Russian Foreign Relations"
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Ms notes
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Mimeographed class instruction
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Notes, tests
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Notes
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Typed essay on "Control of Inflation and Deflation by the Federal Reserve Bank"
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Notes, essays
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Notes, essays on banking issues
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Notes, essays on banking issues
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Reports, memorabilia, miscellaneous
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Hired by Provident Bank, started work summer of 1923
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Elected to Board of Directors of The Whittier Centre, 1928
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Paying off student loans, Harvard?
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Friends war reconstruction, with letter of thanks for American Red Cross, copy of Rand McNally War Map of the French Front, northern section
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Letters in German (1 translated) from a co-worker in France, Franz Acker, which describe the inflation in post war Germany.
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Mostly postcards, travel memorabilia
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Invited to apply to be a commissioned officer in 1943 which he declined. Ms notes on his beliefs concerning war.
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Philadelphia Racquet Club membership material
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Various study committees and concerns
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Birthday celebrations and other anniversaries
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Birthday book
Fiduciary, AFSC, Pendle Hill, Westtown, Pool Life Funds
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Condolence letters
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Transcriptions published in Family Correspondence of Samuel Edgar Nicholson and Rhoda Elma Parker Nicholson, their Parents and Children (2007)
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Copies of letters to grandchildren and others
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Lists of friends, made in later years
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Variety of subjects from a parking ticket to letters to the Philadelphia Inquirer and Friends Journal
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Early teens to early marriage, stock records
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1913, 1915, 1916-17 (until Earlham), 1917-18, 1919 (France), 1920 (All-Friends Conference), 1920-21, 1921-22, 1922-23, 1923-24 12.
Note from family: Papers reflecting Evelyn Nicholson's volunteer activities (Harned Home, Media Friends School, Media Meeting, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Education Committee, AFSC Prsonnel Department, Book Club) and other activities have not survived.
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Attended elementary school in Lansdowne, Pa., then high school in Swarthmore, Pa., and finally finished at Westtown. Westtown material donated to Westtown School.
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Essays
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Notes taken, various subjects
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Served on Committees for 23 years
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Includes passports, an ALS from Joan Mondale, 1984, and a TLS from State Department in reply to her letter (1938) expressing disapproval for increased military spending
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Photocopy of typed reminiscences by Francis and Evelyn, written separately, spiral-bound together. From their births to their present life in retirement at Kendal. Handwritten versions and Francis's 1969 memoir retained by family.
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Mostly correspondence concerning the children received by Evelyn
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Papers and programs concerning programs in which the Nicholsons took part
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Evelyn was in most productions beginning in 1921; Frances is all from 1923-1957 as accompanist.
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S. Francis Nicholson served as Secretary/Treasurer until 1946
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Clippings, etc.
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Miscellaneous receipts, etc.
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Receipts, garden, etc.
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Daily schedule of the family on two week vacation
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Ms descriptions and memorabilia
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Handwritten journal by Francis of a five month trip to Europe that he and Evelyn made a month after his retirement from banking. Also typed carbon copy.
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Memorabilia and handwritten accounts of each trip
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Miscellaneous
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She was a young Quaker from Canada who intended to join the family as live-in help but was injured before the paperwork was completed. Another woman, Mary Taber, lived with the family 1935-1946.
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Jane was a classmate of Evelyn at Westtown and wanted her daughter to enter Westtown in 8th grade. She could not board there until 9th grade, so lived with the Nicholsons.
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The parents were Swiss musicians in NYC who arranged for their 9 year old to spend the summer in the country.
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Marcia lived with the Nicholsons for 3 years and attended Westtown School.
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Carolyn Beer (1957-1962) died suddenly of complications after a brief illness.
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Draft of a letter, n.d., speaking as a retired banker, notes that Medicare and its entitlement issues were bad finance
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Interview by Tom Hamm, Earlham
Deeds and other records
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Deeds and other records
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Evelyn H. Nicholson
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Price and Dickey, architects; Paul Restall, builder
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Investment, tax records
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Trust, gift records
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Note: Most correspondence received by S. Francis Nicholson, especially up to his marriage
With some advice on entering the field of banking. Parker was president of the R. Kirshbaum Co., Union City, Indiana
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Ira died in 1980
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He was a step-brother of REN (?). Frances gave them financial advice.
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From Earlham, sent to Francis in France
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School friend
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School friend
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School friend
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President of Ohio University, friend from Harvard
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Westtown roommate, attending Haverford College, son of an English lord
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Congratulations on his high grades at Earlham and offers possible financial help at Harvard
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Herb was an Earlham friend
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Westtown student who then worked in Washington, D.C.
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Friend from Earlham and Harvard. July 1918 letter is written from France where he is working with the reconstruction effort.
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Earlham friend. Sick with the flu in early 1919. She married Hurford Crosman
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Harvard friend
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Richmond, Indiana
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Richmond, Indiana
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Richmond, Earlham
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Earlham
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Richmond
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Earlham faculty
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Richmond, Earlham. Lillian graduated in 1922. Francis told his children that he had dated her.
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Wedding invitation and thanks for the gift. Friend from Westtown
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Richmond
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The son of Elbert Russell and a friend from Richmond, Westtown, and Earlham
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Josiah's sister, Walter Yarnall's date, when Frances was introduced to Evelyn
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Mention in 1918 and 1919 of the flu epidemic and Earlham's quarantine. Letters from the University of Wisconsin
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Westtown, Earlham
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In 1922, she married Cyril H. Harvey. Unless otherwise, the letters were addressed to Francis at Richmond, IN. Ruth graduated from Westtown in 1918. Her letters in 1917 mention her brothers and the draft. In 1918, brother James went to France with the Friends relief unit. She taught at Friends School in Lansdowne and hoped to attend Earlham, but felt obligated to stay close to home for her mother. In early 1918, she describes the widespread flu epidemic. In 1919, she started at Earlham.
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Friend from Harvard years. They dated.
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Earlham faculty
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Westtown, Earlham. Postcards from Russia, 1923
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Mount Holyoke student. Attended Philadelphia Yearly Meeting enthusiastically for the opportunity to see friends and family.
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Wellesley student
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Walter Yarnall's sister and a student at Mount Holyoke
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Introduced Evelyn and Francis.
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The Germonds were their landlords in Switzerland for a few months in 1965. File includes a photocopy of a 1996 letter written by Francis.
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Towl was hired by Francis Nicholson in the 1930's and became a close friend. He and his wife Merille were convinced Friends and active in Pendle Hill.
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Ivan Kazine was S. Edgar Nicholson's translator in Russia in 1923. He subsequently emigrated to the U.S. and became a citizen. His earlier correspondence is in the Earlham Library.
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The Szilajews were a displaced Ukrainian family who came to the U.S. about 1950 and lived with the Nicholson for about 2 years until they were able to settle in Philadelphia. They adopted the surname Shiller.
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Life long best friends of Francis and Evelyn. They were classmates at Westtown and Earlham, and Cyril and Ruth married in 1922. Ruth died in 1962, and Cyril married Irene Bown the same year.
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Postcards from the children and to the Nicholson children. Most of the correspondence is from Dorothy Harvey Leonard. The Nicholson were known as aunt and uncle to the Harvey children and continued to be supportive of them.
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From friends and associates, including an invitation to be part of a proposed intentional community near Media in 1926
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Sister of Francis Nicholson
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Filed by decade by the donor. See Series 3 for the typed and distributed version of Francis Nicholson's memoirs, Times to Remember (1984)
1960: Analytic Thinking questions; 1964: Price Performance of Common Stocks; 1969: Meaning of Life, ms and typed copies of his thoughts on meaning of life
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1970, March: Comment about Economic Outlook and Investment Policy; 1970, March: To Paul Turner, concerning Yearly Meeting diversity and unity; 1970?: Unity Among Friends; 1970?: To Richard Nixon, (approximate copy), after bombing of Cambodia; 1971: Concerning Pendle Hill Pamphlet #1; 1971: When Friends Differ; 1972: A New Society; 1972: Do Quakers have a social message?; Dec. 24, 1972: Letter to Richard Nixon (approximate copy); 1976: Observations on Economics; July 1979: Family solidarity and mutual interest, informal notes; Nov-Dec. 1979: Observations Over 50 Years, a panel presentation to Financial Analysts; 1979: Investment Perspectives — 150 years; by Nicholson, Morton Smith and Richard Willis; reprint from Financial Analysts Journal, also Wall St. transcript; similar to above ; Early 1970's: "It is a paradox of modem civilization... "; Late 1970's: Social Changes, How Accomplished
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Apr. 10, 1980: Visual Picture of Money in Motion; a circular diagram for Kendal Current Events; Ca. 1980: A proposed message by a presidential candidate — To the American People; Aug. 1981: What is Economics and why does it seem so confusing and out of control?; 1983: Response to Kingdon Swayne's project on stewardship; Nov. 1984: Economics for Concerned Persons; 1984?: Response to Samuel Caldwell's statement about Quaker education; Aug. 30, 1985: Response to Sam Sparhawk who sent a Wall Street Journal article on "Restoring Banking Confidence"; Nov. 1985: South Africa Divestment - Economic Coercion: The Moral Implications; PYM News article (along with other views); June 1988: Response to a request from a British Friend about ethical nature of investments; Sept. 1988: Fiduciary Corporation of Friends pamphlet ; Oct. 1988: Response to Richard Wood, Thoughts about Conscience; March 4, 1989: Transcript of his 1989 oral history interview done by the AFSC which he talks about his activities during the WWI era and in the investment committee in the 1950s-1977; Probably in 1980's Untitled essay concerning fiduciary responsibilities; Ronald Reagan has made economics a household word...; Capital Gifts; concerning Quaker investments; Money and Other Possessions; The Economy and Inflation
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June/July 1991: Value Investment, plus follow-up letter to Jay Hill; Apr. 1992: Letter to PNC about incentive compensation; plus response 1993: Letter to President Clinton (not sent); Feb. 15 1993: Letter to Edwin Staudt (PYM General Secretary) about PYM quota system; Feb. 25 1993: Letter to Bert Mason, urging grant for FGC hymnal from the Tyson Fund; Mar. 19, 1993: Follow up letter as above (last Tyson sister had died in interim); July 1993: Risk Management; Dec 1993: After Thought (added to Westtown Investment Co. report); Undated: Problems: Pessimism; Aug 1994: Quaker Investment Management; Dec 1994: Thoughts in the Nineties
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Essays:Quaker objective and emphasis; Quaker Philosophy about Investment (about total return); Thoughts about Quaker Investing; What questions are pertinent to the ethical handling of money and investments; Thoughts in the nineties about Competition;" Are You a Contrarian?
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Jan. 15: Letter to Church World Service about their fundraising practices with enclosed memo; March: Thoughts about Investment Management; typed, submitted to Finance Analysts competition — won 2" prize!; July: More Thoughts in the Mid-nineties; Aug. 8: Letter to Oliver Rodgers, "Random Comments" Aug. 16: Letter to Scott Kuensell of Brandywine Asset Management, Inc. ; Sept. 3: Letter to Tony Hitchler; Sept. 23: Letter to Robert L. Friedman; Oct: Good Government, followed Kendal discussion; Dec: Thoughts about profit and non-profit organizations; Thoughts about Investment Risks; History of Value Investing; Insightful Thoughts — Investing Thoughts about Investment Management; Thoughts about Security Prices and Inflation ; Thoughts about Money Random Comments — Investment Prices; Annuities and Pooled Life Income funds of Charitable Organizations; Investment Markets Thoughts about Value Investments What has been significant in my own lifetime; Body-Mind-Spirit-Activity; Page of philosophical jottings
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Jan. 10: Letter to Dr. Gann, Chairman of AFSC Board, with thoughts about AFSC, copy to Tom Farquhar (Head of Westtown School); Feb: Approach to a New Century — Proposal for a high level commission to review achievements, goals, problems; March: Random Thoughts — Proper Balance; Spring: Thoughts about Inflation; May: What Causes things to Happen; Aug. 25: Letter to Barry Lynn, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, against name-calling; Aug. 19: Letter to Tony Hitschler; Aug. 25: Cover letter to Vinton Deming, Friends Journal with paper on Thoughts about Speculation, Gambling and Investments; Aug: Thoughts in Upper Nineties; Oct: Contributions for Non-Profit Organizations — Sundry Thoughts; Nov: Response to letter from Andrew Young (Webster Company) with clipping about stocks; Dec: Some Comments on Buying and Selling Stocks; 1997: The Anatomy of Security Markets — Overview; Inflation; Calculating Odds; Thoughts about what we know and do not know; Thoughts about Breadth of Perspectives and Values; Stewardship of Wealth; untitled -Survival; Business purposes; What is Life all about ; Thoughts about Friends General Conference Endowment
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Jan: Fiduciary Corporation of PYM; Jan: Meaning of Money; Mar: Investment Comment — Especially Growth; Mar.-Apr: Respond to Chuck Fager's "Fleecing the Faithful"; Apr: Thoughts about Quaker Contributions; Apr: Thoughts about Wealth and Stewardship; May: Letter to Jack Malinowski (AFSC fundraiser); July: Looking Ahead to the Next Century; July: Stewardship among Quakers; July: Postscript to above; Aug: Thoughts about High Quality of Life; Aug. 7: Letter to Thomas Jeavons (PYM General Secretary) enclosing Stewardship paper; Aug: Thoughts about Matching Gifts and about techniques that should not be used; Dec: Annuities; Feb. to Nov: For Panel at Westtown: Business Ethics, Thoughts about Ethics — with additional comment, Ten Specific Goals as a basis for High Quality of Life; Supplemental Comments 1998: Ethical Investment by Quakers; Westtown School Investments; Thoughts about Stewardship; Thoughts about Property; Common Sense; As I have grown older...; After my age reached into the nineties...; As old age develops...; Supply and demand; Equity Investment and Trading
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Jan. 5: Letter to Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility about fundraising methods (sent?); Jan. 12: Comments to Crosslands Investor Club; March: "A few questions about practices that could be questioned...;" March: "Common sense as a basis for discussing many subjects;" April 18: "Thoughts for Media-Providence Friends School discussion;" April 15: Letter to Jack Malinowski (AFSC fundraiser) about kinds of gifts; April: "Thoughts about Investing Quaker Funds;" "Thoughts about Stewardship;" "Thoughts about possible Quaker reasoning:" "Thoughts about the broader aspects of investment;""Thoughts about 'value investing;'" Sept: "Thoughts about Gifts to Charities and other Non-Profit Organizations;" Oct. "Upward Stock Price Influence - Buying;" Oct. "Downward Price Influence - Selling" Oct: "Freedom of Choice and continued revelation;" Oct. to Jan: Group of letters to John Hunt about Fiduciary Corporation; Nov: Response to Kendal lecture by Swarthmore admissions representative
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Stewardship; Thoughts about Contributions to Quaker Groups; Thoughts about; Stock Buy Backs; Investment advisor Policies; FC (Fiduciary) Concerns; Letter to Phila. Yearly Meeting Finance Dep't; Thoughts about Quaker Endowment Funds; PYM Pension Fund Postscript (to an investment paper) ; Several brief notes on above topics; Personal Goals Leading to High Quality of Life; Notes, musings on variety of topics; Meaning of Life; 3 versions Thought in the Upper Nineties; As I have grown older in the Nineties; Pathway to the Next Century; Thoughts about Life in the Next Century; Outlook for the 21st Century; Life and Problems in the Next Century.
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Includes a student essay, 1993, with Francis Nicholson as the research topic
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S. Francis Nicholson was employed by Provident Trust Company (later Provident National Bank) from 1923-1965.
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Francis Nicholson retired in 1965 as Vice-President and head of the Investment Department
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Restricted
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Letter removing his name from Advisory Committee since no longer involved
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W. Anthony Hitschler (protégé of Nicholson)
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Finances and other papers
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Broad survey of the Meeting
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Served as chair of the Committee on Trust Information and Education
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Francis was active organizing panels on understanding economics and investment
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Nicholson was elected president of the Financial Analysts of Philadelphia in 1958 and was active in the organization from 1957-1963.
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Thoughts on investment management
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Gift and advice
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Elected to Board
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Investment advice
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Crisis about funding and administration
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Financial advice
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Special projects
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With a note, 2000, that he drafted the report as Chairman of the Coordinating Committee
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Draft of his comments to revise how funds are solicited and other related papers
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Liquidation of Development Associates
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Published
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Correspondence, articles, clippings
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Real estate development company
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Pendle Hill pamphlet. Correspondence, etc., concerning
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Construction of the Hospital
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Grant to Westtown Quakerism Fund
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Friends Fiduciary Corporation was created in 1975 as the consolidation of two previous fiduciary organizations of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Inc., founded in 1898 to manage funds of the Hicksite Yearly Meeting, and Friends Fiduciary Corporation which was incorporated in 1921 to manage the funds of Orthodox Yearly Meeting. S. Francis Nicholson served as chairman during the merger process and as Treasurer of the new Board from 1975 and Chair of the Investment Committee.
Includes published Charter and By-Laws
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Ms and typed drafts of the manual
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Ms
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Minutes of the first Board meeting, 5/13/1975 and other papers
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Reports concerning divestiture, etc.
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Notes on the Corporation, reports, etc.
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The American Friends Service Committee was a life-long concern for S. Francis Nicholson. He spent seven months working on post-War Reconstruction in France in 1919. His brother, Vincent, was a conscientious objector and also went to France for the Reconstruction effort. Their sister, Caroline, a teacher at Westtown, spent 1920-21 in an AFSC child-feeding program in Germany, and their parents supervised the AFSC famine relief program in Russia in 1923. S. Francis Nicholson became a member of the Finance Committee in 1934 and served as the Chairman of the Investment Committee for more than thirty years, resigning at the end of 1974. Evelyn Nicholson also volunteered for the AFSC for many years, working in the Personnel Department.
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Ms. Also mimeographed reports to the AFSC about visits to Russia, n.d.
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Thoughts on his relationship with the AFSC and its relationship to Quaker meetings. Ms. and typed
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Minutes and related papers
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Minutes and related papers
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Minutes and related papers
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Minutes and related papers. ms and typed. Expresses concern over financial structure and proposes a new system to deal with complexity of investments.
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Minutes and related papers. Submitted a proposal for a comprehensive system of record-keeping which was declined and AFSC moved its accounts to Fidelity. Nicholson resigned from the Finance Committee and as chairman of the Investment Committee in December
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His resignation from the Finance Committee accepted in May 1975. Correspondence and related papers, reflecting this concern that AFSC focus on reconciliation.
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Resigned from the AFSC to make room for younger members and unhappy with the lack of Quaker perspective towards reconciliation and volunteer service.
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Collected papers concerning divestiture of investments in South Africa. Includes correspondence, minutes, reports and queries to companies concerning their involvement in South Africa. The issue of divestiture raised concern within the Quaker community since some felt it better to encourage companies with investments who were working and pressuring to end apartheid. The papers are organized chronologically and concern Friends Fiduciary, Trustees of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and AFSC.
Handwritten essays, ca. 1980 and 1990, concerning investment policies of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Friends Fiduciary, and A.F.S.C.
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Friends Fiduciary published a statement of investment policies in Dec. 1967. Interest in corporate investment policies increased after 1970, culminating with a survey of companies completed by Dan Hewitt in December 1971.
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Philadelphia Yearly Meeting appointed a committee to study its investment policies, and the Friends Co-coordinating Committee on Peace sponsored a national Quaker Conference on Investments, with a report published in November.
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It was decided to concentrate on investments in South Africa, and the Fiduciary contacted companies to ascertain their economic investments.
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Philadelphia Yearly Meeting appointed a Task Force on South African Investments.
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Increased pressure to end all South African investments
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