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Hicks 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
The Hicks family of Long Island, N.Y., is descended from ancestors who arrived in Massachusetts in the 17th century. Thomas Hicks (b. 1640) removed to Long Island where he married Mary Washburn. Their grandchildren became members of the Society of Friends in the mid 18th century. A descendant, Elias Hicks (1748-1830), was an important New York Quaker minister whose preaching precipitated a separation in the Society of Friends in 1827/1828.
A cousin of Elias Hicks, Isaac Hicks (1767-1820) was a successful New York Quaker merchant and traveled extensively with Elias in his ministry. Isaac Hicks married Sarah Doughty in 1790, and they had six children. A daughter, Elizabeth (1805-1865) married William T. Cock in 1831. Their eldest child, John D. Hicks (1791-1829) married Mary Rushmore. They had seven children: Lydia, Isaac, Phebe, Samuel, Stephen, Valentine, and John D. Hicks. John D. Hicks (1829-1907) was on the founding committee of Swarthmore College and served on the Board of Managers.
Another son, Isaac Hicks (1815-1900) was a Quaker horticulturalist of Long Island, NY, who founded Hicks Nursery in 1853. He married Mary F. Willis in 1836. Isaac Hicks was active in Westbury Monthly Meeting and Quaker organizations. His grandson, Henry Hicks, married Caroline V. Jackson, Swarthmore College Class of 1892, and his granddaughter, Marietta, was in the Class of 1897. Marietta Hicks was long-time Clerk of Westbury Monthly Meeting and active in Quaker organizations and concerns. A distant cousin, Benjamin D. Hicks (1836-1906) pursued family genealogy.
The collection contains correspondence mostly relating to Quaker concerns, received by Isaac Hicks (1815-1900) and others; genealogical research of Benjamin D. Hicks, and miscellaneous collected papers concerning the Society of Friends and Swarthmore College. Correspondents include Samuel M. Janney, Job Scott, William Willets, and William I. Hull.
Organized in five series:
- Correspondence
- Writings
- Benjamin D. Hicks genealogical research
- Miscellaneous papers
- Photographs
Gift of Graham Johnson, 2012 (Acc. 2012-010)
His wife is a Hicks descendant.
Individual photographs of Marietta Hicks, Isaac Hicks, and John D. Hicks removed to PA100/Individual Portraits. Oversized photographs of the Isaac Hicks family and 15th St. Meeting/Friends Seminary removed to Groups and Meeting House photographs.
Friends' Seminary New York booklets were removed to reference, PG2/Schools:
- Friends' Seminary New York, 1901, 1903
- Two brochures describing the School. Emily Hicks, younger sister of Marietta Hicks, is listed as Kindergarten teacher.
Swarthmore College memorabilia removed to RG6/College Archives:
- Invitation to the Annual Shakespeare Evening, 12th Month 19th 1896
- Performed by the Class of 1897. Marietta Hicks participated in several theatrics. See also Series 6 Photographs
- New York Swarthmore Association, 1901, 1902
- Menu/programs for the third and fourth annual banquets of the Alumni Association.
- 1898 Swarthmore Class Day program, 2nd day, 6th mo. 1898
- Has a card inside for Miss Mary S. Howell, a member of the graduating class and close friend of Marietta Hicks.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- FHL staff
- Finding Aid Date
- 2012
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to 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
The correspondence of Isaac Hicks (1815-1900) is grouped together and sorted chronologically.
Reminiscences, discussion of literature, from Shakespeare to stories in Harper's, and meditations on city life/religion. Disaster on New Haven railroad [Norwalk, Ct., first U.S. major railroad bridge disaster]
Physical Description1 folder
Concerning a book order, the establishment of a Friends Boarding School, and the degree to which trials of faith should be shared.
Physical Description1 folder
Reminiscences, theological musings, discussion of Hicks' library association, and thoughts on the contradiction between Genesis and the evidence of geology (which Hicks endorses) and the degree to which Friends especially should be open to liberal Biblical interpretation. Also a discussion of the controversial visit of Rachel Hicks in light of her involvement with the "offensive paper by A and C." Discusses liberal defense vs. Orthodox aggressiveness "wrangling," and reported accusations of apostasy and trickery.
Physical Description1 folder
3 AlsS, including information in preparation for Hicks's visit to meetings in the area; a speech by Clarkson Taylor on First Day Schools, which apparently sparked an interest establishing a school; Quarterly Meeting Eyre attended, especially the discussion of schools. In March letter, he declines to come along with Hicks on a tour of the Western Quarter meetings, and cautions him that some members in the area are looking disparage him.
Physical Description1 folder
Thanks for his visit and for spiritual support, discussion of Hicks' trip to East London, reports a request for an indulged meeting in Bureau County.
Physical Description1 folder
Expresses agreement with Hicks' views and his preference to maintain the old traditions
Physical Description1 folder
Contains discussion of a lawsuit at Doylestown, a libel lawsuit against Isaac Eyre and his wife, and a report of the Quarterly Meeting
Physical Description1 folder
Contains mentions of various meetings visited, request for a report on the Yearly Meeting.
Physical Description1 folder
Concerning the Index and the value of reading things with which one does not agree, and more generally the necessity of being careful and critical about one's beliefs, especially as they are passed to the next generation.
Physical Description1 folder
Visiting meetings in New York State
Physical Description1 folder
Health and business talk, theological discussion of service—and praise for Hicks' service.
Physical Description1 folder
Writes that he last wrote from David Sands' and plans to visit meetings in the north.
Physical Description1 folder
"My dear cousin," discussion of family, especially Thurston's brother, and notice of getting home safely from recent visit to Powell.
Physical Description1 folder
"My dear cousin," thanks for parcels and for selected articles, otherwise mostly discussion of family.
Physical Description1 folder
Mentions that Lucretia Mott was on the Island and "lengthy on the occasion that . . . Orthodox were at the meeting," and talk of Willet's replacement in an unspecified position. Is traveling with group including Rachel.
Physical Description1 folder
To "Beloved Cousin" with updates on the community, including a number of deaths. Especially notable are one preceded by a bleeding cure and another after a sled incident. Brochure/booklet on the contemporary offerings of the school. Emily Hicks is listed as the Kindergarten teacher.
Physical Description1 folder
Expresses sadness at long absence and desire to be home with his wife, discusses his travels and the logistics thereof, the purchase of furniture, and his travels. Letter is written over several days, is traveling with Quaker minister, Rachel (Seaman) Hicks
Physical Description1 folder
Tells of visits and planned visits to meetings in Upstate NY. Notes that William Hicks advised Rachel Hicks to not hold evening meetings, but Willets would like to not extend the travels more than necessary. He writes that he believes men are both redeemable and sometimes conscious of their errors, however far they are gone in them and the necessity of individuals "working out their own soul's salvation "
Physical Description1 folder
Difficult travel and desires to get home. Group includes Rachel Hicks
Physical Description1 folder
Notes from Daniel Underhill, Edwin Cornell, and William M. Jackson.
Physical Description1 folder
William says he speaks on behalf of all his siblings, and admonishes Clark for not respecting/taking good care of their parents, and for wasting his life. William and Clark were sons of Samuel (d. 1855) and Elizabeth Cock (d. 1859) of Westbury Monthly Meeting.
Physical Description1 folder
Fragment? Discusses Greenwich and Alloways Creek meetings as well as mentioning the Quarterly meeting, Mary Bradway and Rachel Hicks. Criticizes Methodist Conference at Salem, paid ministry, and accuses Orthodox Friends of being too tolerant of Methodist showmanship and prominence.
Physical Description1 folder
ALS explaining that he has been asked to serve as Librarian of Friends Historical Library and requests that she donate her grandfather's 1865 essay on the College. Notes that with the Jane Addams Peace Collection, Friends Historical Library intends to build its collections relating to Quakers and their concerns and asks her to be the Long Island contact.
Physical Description1 folder
From Westbury Monthly Meeting for her 25 years of service as Clerk
Physical Description1 folder
Copy of a certificate of transfer for Leticia Penn from Philadelphia Monthly Meeting to London, 1701; an account of remarks made by Job Scott at the London Yearly Meeting with an extensive allusion to the Whore of Babylon; "Expressions of Jane Ellis" to her son, 1771;
Physical Description1 folder
Copy dated 1776, lengthy metaphorical vision.
Physical Description1 folder
Poem by H. Barnard on the death of Mary Alsop copied by E. Powell; "A father's advice to his child, or a maiden's best adorning"; Poem to the memory of Dan Stanton; "The Grace" copied by Elizabeth P. Titus; "Resolution"; "To Anna" [Whitson] signed William Willets; Benjamin Baits on the death of his wife, copied by C.M. for her brother William Willets.
Physical Description1 folder
Labeled "Waste Book," inventory of property, accounts, a student copy book?
Physical Description1 folder
MS account of his life. Grew up in Westbury, N.Y., where his father's side affiliated with Elias Hicks and his maternal side, with the Orthodox.
Physical Description1 folder
Composition book of drafts of letters and essays. Contains the draft of an essay on his visit to the grounds of Swarthmore College 6 mo 17, 1865, later published in Friends Intelligencer.
Physical Description1 folder
Typed account of the making of the Elias Hicks death mask. From E. Weeks address
Physical Description1 folder
MS sketches on the English and American branches of the family (by Benjamin Hicks) Pencil note on first page that indicates much of early information disputed.
Physical Description1 folder
Letters sent and received
Physical Description1 folder
Notebook containing record of letters sent and to whom
Physical Description1 folder
Front half is a household inventory including accounting of books, the second half is genealogical notes on the Horton, Bennett, Treasure, and Hicks families.
Physical Description1 folder
Most likely collected by Marietta Hicks, includes meeting minutes, letters, articles, and lecture notes. Includes material concerning Woolman House, Whittier Fellowship, Swarthmore Summer School, and pacifism during WWI
Physical Description1 folder
1851 bill for payments to Joseph Townsend, Isaac Hicks (1815-1900) and Edward Seaman Willets (1803-1869) for interest on Westbury School Fund, from William T. Cock (1803-1885), Westbury Meeting receipts, 1900
Physical Description1 folder
"Taken Principally from the Writings of Robert Barclay, William Penn, and Isaac Pennington." (published in Philadelphia)
Physical Description1 folder
"To the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings of Friends in Great Britain, Ireland, and elsewhere."
Physical Description1 folder
"By a member of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting" printed by Wm. Woody.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Published poem addressed to Elizabeth Powell, Westbury
Physical Description1 folder
Oversize photograph: Isaac Hicks (1815-1900) seated with his mother, Sarah Rushmore Hicks (1790-1893); his daughter Marianna Hicks Hawxhurst; Mary Hawxhurst Tyson and Muriel Tyson
Physical Description1 item
Oversize phograph by George H. Steljes. Penciled on reverse "Where Emily Hicks taught 5 years."
Physical Description1 item
Snapshots of children playing outside in envelope addressed to Miss Emily Hicks
Physical Description1 item
Pageant photographs
Physical Description1 item
Penciled on reverse: Marietta Hicks. '97/ Swarthmore Representatives
Physical Description1 item
Snapshot of meeting house and snapshot of Young Friends, including Helen Underhill and Marietta Hicks
Physical Description1 item
"M.H. Room mate" Presumably Mary Howell, with baby
Physical Description1 item
On the back of the cardboard frame: "Swarthmore: Mary Howell; '98 Lucretia Gaskell, '98; Marietta Hicks, '97; Emily Hicks '98." Second picture: Marietta and Lucretia Gaskell reading under tree
Physical Description1 item
Elizabeth Powell Bond "a lasting ideal and influence in my life"
Physical Description1 item
College theater productions, Marietta Hicks, and her dining table
Physical Description1 item
Cynatypes of Emily Hicks, 1894; Pi Beta Phi, drama, cherry tree
Physical Description1 item
Sarah M. Nowell
Physical Description1 item
Noted on back that "Marietta and Emily took drawing lessons"
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Note on reverse: "m. Samuel Willets of Purchase - Saratoga 1914. A great friend of M.H. [Marietta Hicks] 20 years older." In plain dress.
Physical Description1 item