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Maris-Pickering 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
Frank Maris (1858-1939) and Anna Pickering (1876-1931) were married under the care of Middletown Monthly Meeting, thus uniting two families with roots in the Philadelphia area that went back to the 17th century. Frank (also known as Franklin) was the son of Jesse Emlen Maris and Mary Carr Gaskill Maris who were members of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite). Jesse and Mary had four children, all represented in the collection: Caroline (1857-1886), Charles E. (1860-1940, Mary Hannah (1876-1904) and Frank Maris. Both daughters died unmarried and before the age of thirty. Charles and Frank Maris were partners in a crane company in Philadelphia, Maris Bros., where cranes were designed and built. The brothers became members of Lansdowne Monthly Meeting and resided on Owen Avenue, Lansdowne.
Frank and Anna were active members of Lansdowne Monthly Meeting. Anna Pickering was the daughter of Edward Pickering (1835-1919) and Rebecca Rowlett (1841-1913) who married under the care of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting in 1864. Edward was the son of Dr. Samuel W. Pickering, a consulting physician at Friends Asylum, and Elizabeth Walton Pickering. Edward had two surviving siblings: Lewis W. Pickering (1833-1903) who removed to Elkton, Indiana, and Emily (1827-1905) who married William L. Paxson in 1838. Rebecca Rowlett Pickering was the daughter of John and Drucilla Phipps Rowlett. Rebecca and Edward Pickering had four children: Anna Rowlett Maris, Edward, Jr. (1873-1956) who married Georgia Michaels, Emily (1867-1941) married Edgar Shepard in 1911, and John R. Pickering (1865-1913) who married Hannah Comly in 1894. Frank and Anna Maris had two daughters who grew up in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, and attended the George School: Mary Hannah Maris (1914-1995) who earned a B.A. from Swarthmore College and married Roscoe Lynd Warren in 1947, and Emily P. Maris (1912-1962) who married David C. Walden in 1944. The sisters moved to California after their marriages.
The papers contain an extensive collection of correspondence received by Frank and Anna Pickering Maris, Quakers of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, and related family members. There is a small amount of writings and also financial records of the Maris Brothers Crane Company of Philadelphia.
The Maris-Pickering Family Papers were donated to Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College in 2020 and 2024 by Rebecca Maris Warren Searl.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- P.C. O'Donnell, SK Morikawa
- Finding Aid Date
- March 2020
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Standard Federal Copyright Law applies (U.S. Title 17) and is the responsibility of the researcher.
Collection Inventory
Handwritten letter with mention of many prominent Quakers, E. Churchman, Ben Hallowell, etc. Frank was 12 and his sister a year older.
He wasn't impressed with the singing and preaching at the Methodist-founded camp resort.
Younger sisterd Mary Hannah (1876-1904) was away at school in Philadelphia, 5106 Elm Street. Bob was her cat.
Mary a student at Abington Friends School. Their mother was ill and required a trained nurse. Mary Gaskill Maris died in 1892.
Frank always wrote with encouragement that she could master subjects, consoled her that Marises developed slowly and were not a brilliant family,
Mary at Atlantic City, New Jersey
Letter of May 1894 mentioned that Mary (at Abington Friends School) was 18 and making progress in school; he always addedv words of encouragement.
Frank adviseed her on course work at George School and not to work too hard. He suggested she make an appt with he Head Master to discuss that a certain teacher might be treating her unfairly. In Letter of 3/11/1894 he urged her to try to make friends and join activities, a hint that fellow students were being unkind to her. Frank moved to Lansdowne where the family owned homes on Owen Avenue.
Frank wrote that aunt Mary died suddenly. He was elected to the Young Friends Association
Mary was in Denver.
Letters indicate Frank's involvement with First Day School, etc.
Approval from Lansdowne Monthly Meeting for Frank Maris marriage under care of Middletown Monthly Meeting. Also a list of persons to receive marriage announcements and a note from C. Carroll Lippincott on behalf of Lansdowne MM with appreciation for his remarks at First Day meetings.
Emily married Edgar Shepard and Anna married Frank Maris in a joint service in Woodbourne
Pickering Farm/ Sunnylea Farm, Woodbourne, Bucks County. Henry Comly Pickering (1895-1968) was the son of Anna's brother, John Rowlett and Hannah Comly Pickering. Addressed to Auntie Nan. Also a letter from Hannah Pickering to Esther.
A friend writing from Florence, Italy, which was "swarming with soldiers."
Interesting letter from a friend describing the development of Glendale outside of Los Angeles.
Includes Hannah Pickering, widow of Anna's brother John, Woodbourne
Charles (1866-1940) was the younger brother and partner of Frank Maris and also a member of Lansdowme Monthly Meeting. He and his wife were touring California.
Loving letters
Trip across the United States
Largely family letters from daughters and family. Interesting letters from Frank's brother Charlie from pristine La Jolla, California
Anna was vacationing in Upstate New York and Poconos
From California with detailed descriptions of La Jolla and Pasadena
Emily and husband Edgar lived in Merchantville, New Jersey
Hannah married John R. Pickering in 1894. They lived at Sunnylea Farm, Woodbourne, Pennsylvania. Hannah was active in the community and a long-time member of local school board. Also a letter dated 11-28-1916 that described a Quaker tableau. John Pickering died in 1913.
Family letters including Hannah Pickering, Woodbourne, Pennsylvania, with her nieces visiting. Hannah addressed Anna as "Nan." Alice Shepherd, daughter of Emily and Edgar Shepherd.
To Anna's sister Emily P. Shepard. Auto trip to Upstate New York, New England, and Quebec. With collected postcards.
Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, etc.
Annotated published by-laws of The Novelty, membership directories of Lansdowne Monthly Meeting 1906, 1913, 1919. The Marises were active in Quaker and community groups.
Concord Quarterly Meeting of Ministry and Counsel. Anna died at her home in Lansdowne, member of Lansdowne Monthly Meeting for 20 years and member of Committee for many years.
Upon his resignation as Clerk of Committee of Ministry and Counsel
Frank was a member of the Meeting's Committee of Ministry and Counsel and he offered counsel often
Includes cartes de visite of young men, labeled, unknown connection. Correspondence 1938-1939 concerning proposed Maris genealogy.
Anna Stewart, Grand Junction, CO; Bertha Broomall, George School; Margaret Riggs with appreciation for Mary's gift to the Canton Christian College in China.
Handwritten letters on the stationary of Maris Bros, Inc., Inter-Office Memo, 56th and Grays Ave., Philadelphia, with thanks for all they did while parents were away and family news
Emily was a student at the Geoge School.
Student at George School.
Student at George School
Mary was a a junior at George school with summers and vacations at the farm, Sunnylea, in Woodbourne, Pennsylvania, Bucks County, near Trenton. Her mother died in April.
Mary was a senior at the George School, planning college applications.
Mary was accepted by Swarthmore College
Including Elsie Pitman, Vassar Ave., Swarthmore. Also Molly, Woodbourne, Pennsylvania, with a handwritten "The Sunnylea Newspaper of Pickering Villa" with family news. Notes the recent birth of Richard Pickering, son of Henry C. and Esther Pickering. John R. Pickering, Jr., working for Philco Radio Company, and his mother, Hannah Pickering was a long-time school board director and president.
Some are in French.
Elsie was a classmate of Mary at Swarthmore College, Class of 1936. She married Carlos Alberto Avila in Mexico City on May 16, 1936, and they lived in Mexico City. Her letters mention mutual friend Yuri and other classmates. In 1938 she wrote that business was bad in Mexico City due to tourists' fear of the revolution in the North
Mary Maris and Yuri Sakami were classmates at Swarthmore College, Class of 1936. Yuri married Fukuseichi Uyemura in 1938[?] Yuri was born in Philadelphia and died November 20, 1964. Her husband was born in Manchuria and worked for the South Manchuria Railway Company and later the South Manchuria Railway Company in the 1940s. He studied in Japan and earned a Masters in Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. During the Occupation, the couple was repatriated to Japan with others of Japanese ancestry. In 1948 they established school to teach English in Takamatsu City, Japan. Uyemura became a professor a Kagawa University.
Japanese notecards, calendar
Including letters from Emily to sister Mary
Mary lived in Boca Raton, Florida, and Emily lived at the family house at 39 Owen Avenue, Lansdowne. She was hired to work for Upper Darby, Colonial Life Insurance Co, with summers off. A March 15, 1940, typed letter from Emily enclosed a note from their mutual friend Yuri who was living in Peking, with condolences on death of their father. General correspondence between sisters as father's estate is settled. Maris and Company bankruptcy. Photographs printed for Mary, Boca Raton
Mary Hannah Maris announced the marriage of sister Emily to David Walden in Pasadena, California.
Visiting cards, unidentified photographs, a miscellaneous letter.
Letters to his grandfather, Jesse Walton (1771-1850). Lewis was a student. 1852 letter from Jesse S. Walton, Philadelphia, mentioned Lewis.
In 1851 Lewis wrote to his brother Edward who was newly arrived at Smedley Darlington's boarding school in Ercildoun.. He offered brotherly words of advice. Also a letter from cousin J Alton, Philadelphia
Lewis's letters mentioned a painting that he did as a gift and that he was trying to get funds due from Uncle George. The letters were addressed care of Smedley Darlington, Ercildoun PO. Edward was at school
During the summer, Lewis was in Indiana. He liked Chicago and the prairie. Letters to his siblings, Edward and Emily.
Lewis wrote in June that he had been in Elkhart for about a month, awaiting money from Uncle George. He tried to coax his brother to buy a farm. In September he said there was much illness, babies dying. In November he planning to travel west to Chicago and mentioned that Aaron and Sallie Paxson had moved to Chicago. `
Lewis wrote from Indiana and described a fire which burned his art supplies and hands. He struggled financially.
In a letter dated Oct, 29, 1856, on stationary designed with picture of John C. Fremont, Lewis wrote to his brother that he was seeking a wife. Under Fremont's image, he wrote Hurrah for Fremont! In another letter he urged Edward to invest in property in Michigan. In November he was courting Maria, but he needed money to establish a business, asked his siblings for a loan. Dec. 1856, he gave his blessing to Emily choice of husband, if she was sure. He and Maria had to wait until he was financially secure.
In January, Edward wrote that he was planning a marriage but would delay until better established. [He married Maria Davis in 1858.]
Lewis Pickering, Elkhart
Financial concerns, and wrote about his wife Maria's illness. Referenced that Edward visited in late spring
Lewis and Edward maintained a business arrangement. In March 1861 Lewis was selling machinery in Chicago.
Lewis's letter to Edward includes some war news.
Lewis was farming and reported that he had a good crop. He wrote of the election and draft. He doted on his young son William.
In April, Lewis was again self-employed. In June he was grief stricken by the sudden death of son William. According to his July 1, 1864, letter, Lewis worked as a house sign and carriage painter when living in Elkhart. He hoped to get out of the business but it was hard to do while "this confounded War lasts." He mentioned the Confederate raid into Indiana, but Elkhart was not impacted except for inflation and that thousands of men were in service.
Lewis and Maria had a son named Samuel in 1865. In 1870 his wife suffered from breast cancer, and her health declined.
Maria died November 1871.
Two signed letters. Lewis Pickering remarried in 1876, to Frances L., and brother Edward visited in 1881. Lewis wrote that 1883 was a terrible year in Indiana with storms, earthquakes, accidents, crop failure, a local suicide. Also letter from son Samuel to his cousin John R. Pickering. [In 1883, Lewis's acknowledgement to marrying out was accepted by Green Street Monthly Meeting. His death was recorded as a member of Green Street Monthly Meeting. Obituary for his son, Samuel E. Pickering, Chicago theater manager (1865-1938).
Ercildoun Boarding School. Penmanship workbook, copy poem, report card
To cousin, discussed corn harvest
Emily wrote to her brother who was attending Darlington boarding school, Ercildoun. The letters were addressed care of Smedley Darlington. Includes a letter from Cousin Mary, 1851
Emily wrote in a letter dated Nov. 23, 1855, that their uncles George and Jonathan had visited brother Lewis Pickering who was struggling in Indiana and had been injured in the fire that destroyed his supplies.
Edward's sister Emily Pickering married William L. Paxson in 1858
Emily Pickering Paxson to brother and sister-in-law, Oakley Farm. In 1875, Emily was visiting Friends and relatives in Philadelphia.
References to the War. One from "Jim" describing his situation at a military camp
To Rebecca and Edward from their daughter Emily (1867-1941) and others
Letter from William C. Lloyd mentioned that Edward had taken over his farm.
In her letter, Hannah wrote that she was trying to place a woman in a job rather than send her to the almshouse. Also mentioned a fire in Philadelphia which displaced people, and the result was that charities were overwhelmed, in addition to those who suffered in the war in Tennessee.
Edward was visiting his brother in Elkhart, Indiana
Letters from son John R. Pickering (1865-1913), cousin C. W. Pickering, etc.
Edward's correspondence includes invoices and notes about farm products, especially dairy. Family correspondence from siblings and daughter Emily.
From Cousin Mary Ann Paxson, Pinecroft, and others
Dear sister
"Dear sister"
Letters to Edward Pickering, Jr. (1873-1956) from sister Emily, Aunt Emily, etc.
Son John R. Pickering (1865-1913 )married Hannah Comly in 1894
Also letter from aunt Annie Pickering, Elmira, New York, to Hannah
Most letters are from son John and wife Hannah Pickering. Also son Edward, Jr., and to his sisters, Rebecca and Martha with health issues
Includes clipping of death of William C. Pickering, age 42. Includes letters to Henry C. Pickering, son of John R. and Hannah Pickering.
Elizabeth was a student at Westtown Boarding School
Update on son Lewis's health
Jesse Walton, Bethlehem, Pa., to "My dearest Doctor," relating the sorrowful news that Samuel, son of Dr. Samuel W. Pickering and Elizabeth Walton, had died after a short illness. Jesse Walton was Samuel Pickering's father-in-law, and signed the letter "thy Affectionate Father." Letter addressed to Lewis Walton, Hardware Merchant, Philadelphia, to deliver. The baby died at 4 months, 3 weeks.
Livestock and household property
Incomplete autograph letter signed discussing Skyrin's order of books to sell. Also papers relating to Rowlett's Tables of Discount and Interest, including a lawsuit. John Rowlett (1772-1846) was born in England and died in Philadelphia. He was the author of Rowlett's Tables of Discount and Interest (Philadelphia, 1802 and later). He was a great grandfather of Anna Pickering Maris.
Mary's letter proposing household arrangements and expenses. She proposed that they and daughters move in with their son John and wife Drucilla. She noted that there was no society in Jenkintown appropriate for their daughters to enjoy and that they would be closer to their Quaker meeting.
John Rowlett (1802-1889), son of John Rowlett 1772-1846), was a member of Byberry Monthly Meeting. His granddaughter Anna Pickering married Frank S. Maris
From George and Hannah Pickering
Pocket book with household expenses, some family notes, etc. Jesse Emlen Maris (1825-1883), wholesale druggist and the father of Frank S. Maris.
Emily Pickering (1837-1905) younger sister of Edward Pickering. She married William L. Paxson in 1858. Commercial, hard-bound volume.
Verses copied by friends at the Bellevue Institute. Martha Rowlett (1848-1909), younger sister of Rebecca Rowlett Pickering.
Carrie J. Maris (1857-1886). School composition book with short essays, etc., and 1877 diary entries latter part of book. Occasional entries, going to meeting, visiting Centennial Exhibition, working with children
The group was organized on Nov. 20 1877, with brother Frank and 5 others.
2 volumes. Carrie wrote about her daily activities, teaching, attending meetings, Reading Circle, House of Refuge. Sept. 26, 1881, she mentioned that Swarthmore College had burned overnight. She was active with Quaker friends and family members
Mary Hannah Maris (1876-1904) younger sister of Frank and Charles. Poetry written about friends and faculty while at George School in two volumes.
Memorial from Unilyte Club. Mary was a founding member in 1899 of this small literary and social club. Funeral expenses and doctor's invoice, Nov. and Dec. 1904
Anna married Frank S. Maris in 1911. Small day book with detailed entries of activities.
Drafts, unsigned. Anna?
Brief published memoir of Jesse J. Maris, Jr. (1850-1871. Jesse J. Maris, son of Samuel West Maris and Sarah Maris, members of Chester Monthly Meeting (Orthodox)
John Rowlett, Jr. (?), Drucilla Phipps Rowlett, Rebecca Rowlett (ca. 1880), May Rowlett (died 1897), Anna Pickering (circa 1910). Mounted photo of "FifthAve House" resort hotel?
Anna Maris [?]
Frank Maris was the guardian of his two minor daughters
Charles Maris resigned from the management of the company in 1924 and urged that it be sold. Agreements in 1935 about assets due to the brothers and C. Emlen Maris, son of Charles. Charles Emlen Maris, Jr., 1900-1971.
Includes notice from First National Bank of Darby that withdrawals are frozen, 1933.
Stock shares, etc. George School tuition paid by Frank Maris for daughter Mary. Deed property on Owen Avenue from Frank Maris to brother Charles, house and lot, 1924. German coins and bill 1927.
Cranes. Band Bridge; Electric; Hand; Power Bridge. Hoists. Electric; "Teal" Portable hoist. Established by brothers Frank Maris and Charles Maris. Located 2300 Callowhill Street.