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Don Yoder research 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

Donald M. Yoder was a prominent scholar, folklorist, and author specializing in Pennsylvania folklife, recognized for establishing the term "folklife" in American academics. Yoder was born to a Pennsylvania Dutch family in Altoona, Pennsylvania on August 27, 1921, and childhood exposure to Pennsylvania Dutch culture greatly inspired his life and career. Yoder earned a B.A. in History from Franklin and Marshall College in 1942 and a B.D. in 1945 from the University of Chicago, followed by a Ph.D. Religious Studies in 1947. He was employed at the Union Theological Seminary in New York (1946-1948), Muhlenberg College (1948-1949), Franklin and Marshall College (1949-1956), and most notably the University of Pennsylvania (1956-1996). In his position at Franklin and Marshall, Yoder co-founded the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center (later Pennsylvania Folklife Society) and associated journal The Pennsylvania Dutchman (later Pennsylvania Folklife) in 1949. One of the Folklife Society's most enduring legacies was Yoder's 1950 co-founding of the Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Festival (now Kutztown Folk Festival), which influenced the development of subsequent folk festivals across America. During his 41 year tenure at the University of Pennsylvania, Yoder was a critical element in the establishment of the Department of Folklore and Folklife. Throughout his career, Yoder authored hundreds of publications, including some about Quaker history and material culture. There were Quakers in his personal and family network, notably the Wickersham family (Yoder's Grandfather, Wharton M. Cronister, was the first cousin of Edward W. Wickersham). Yoder was recognized for his scholarship with an honorary doctoral degree from Kutztown University in 2011 shortly before he died in 2015 at the age of 93.

This collection contains personal, professional, and genealogical research papers of Don Yoder, especially those relating to Quaker matters.

Series 1. Personal and research papers includes correspondence, Yoder's writings and research relating to Quaker social life and customs, research into Quaker families (besides the Wickersham family), syllabi of classes taught by Yoder and miscellaneous event flyers and newsletters.

Series 2. Wickersham family genealogy materials consists of research into a Quaker family to whom Yoder was related. There are Wickersham genealogical charts, diary and letter transcripts, family reunion pamphlets, and some photographs of family members and properties. Additional materials include information relating to the Harry, Garretson, and Pyle family.

Files are organized alphabetically within two series.

Gift of William Woys Weaver. Accession number FHL-2021-034.

Non-Quaker materials donated with this collection were not accessioned. Manuscripts and copies by Don Yoder were deaccessioned during processing. Course work by Yoder's students was deaccessioned due to privacy concerns. Manuscripts purchased by Don Yoder were moved to FHL manuscripts.

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
Chloe Lucchesi-Malone
Finding Aid Date
2023
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 Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College which holds the copyright. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/.

Oral histories don't have release forms. Researchers may access but not publish.

Collection Inventory

"Brintons and Darlingtons" talk by Esther Darlington Rosenberg, 1979.
Box 1
Correspondence (personal, professional, and genealogical), 1940-1949.
Box 1
Correspondence (personal, professional, and genealogical), 1950-1959.
Box 1
Correspondence (personal, professional, and genealogical), 1960-1969.
Box 1
Correspondence (personal, professional, and genealogical), 1970-1979.
Box 1
Correspondence (personal, professional, and genealogical), 1980-1989.
Box 1
Correspondence (personal, professional, and genealogical), 1990-1999.
Box 1
Correspondence (personal, professional, and genealogical), 2000-2010.
Box 1
Correspondence (personal, professional, and genealogical), undated.
Box 1
Correspondence with Esther Darlington Rosenberg regarding tercentenary, 1979.
Box 1
Correspondence with Margaretta Way, 1943-1980.
Box 1
Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (FLGC) newsletters and flyers, 1980.
Box 1
Genealogy - Eachus.
Box 1
Genealogy - Eachus-Brinton.
Box 1
Genealogy - Etchells-Eachus.
Box 1
Genealogy - Iddings.
Box 1
George L. Moore autobiography, 1965.
Reel MS-Y2
Scope and Contents

A microfilm containing four volumes of the handwritten memoirs of the George L. Moore from Richland, Pennsylvania. Don Yoder published excerpts in the journal Pennsylvania Folklife in the 1960s, focusing on Moore's recollections of traditional Pennsylvania Dutch childhood in the 1910s.

Halfmoon Valley grave transcripts (Centre County, Pa.).
Box 1
Howard Haines Brinton (1884-1973) unpublished autobiography.
Box 1
Interpretation plan for Pennsbury Manor by Nancy D. Kolb and report, 1977-1979.
Box 1
John Curtis talk (audiocassette), 1977.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

At Marlborough Meeting

Marlborough Monthly Meeting event flyers and records, 1985.
Box 1
Scope and Contents

William Woys Weaver was clerk of the meeting

Miscellaneous event flyers, invitations, etc.
Box 1
Oral history interviews conducted by James Biddle Moran (8 audiocassettes), 1987.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

For the class "Quaker History in the Delaware Valley" taught by Don Yoder. Interviewees: Phyllis Jenkins Morrison Biddle, Charles and Anna Knight, Charles Miller Biddle III, Henry Scattergood, Joseph Stoker, Joe Taylor, Eric Johnson, Joseph Lippincott

Pacific Yearly Meeting working paper on homosexuality, 1975.
Box 1
Pennsbury Society correspondence about Quaker costumes grant, 1979.
Box 1
Personal papers, 1942-1972.
Box 2
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Records and Tercentenary committees, 1979-1986.
Box 2
Photographs.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Mostly photographs of Quaker meetinghouses and reference images of plain dress (including a few original 19th century photographs of unidentified women). Also includes a cartoon and a copy of an historic document on photo paper.

"Quaker Sketches Historical and Biographical" by Donald M. Yoder, 1942.
Reel MS-Y1
Scope and Contents

Microfilm

Syllabi for classes taught by Don Yoder, 1973-1990.
Box 2
Tract Association of Friends meeting minutes, 1979.
Box 2
"William Penn and the Quaker Migration" talk by Don Yoder (audiocassette), 1990.
Box 5
Scope and Contents

For the Welcome Society Annual Meeting and Luncheon

Writings and research - "The Schwenkfelder-Quaker Connection: Two Centuries of Interdenominational Friendship" by Don Yoder, 1984-1987.
Box 2
Writings and research - History of Western Quarter, 1979.
Box 2
Writings and research - Miscellaneous.
Box 2
Writings and research - Quaker dolls, toys, amusements, and samplers, 1986-1989.
Box 2
Writings and research - Quaker education.
Box 2
Writings and research - Quaker meetinghouses, 1980-2002.
Box 2
Writings and research - Quakerism in Delaware, 1980.
Box 2

Caleb T. Wickersham diary transcripts, 1855-1862.
Box 2
Correspondence about genealogical research, 1939-1972.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Includes letter from Judge Frank B. Wickersham

Descendants of Hannah Wickersham Kirk, 1930-1945.
Box 2
Harry family, 1984-1990.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Includes photocopy of Hugh Harry, Jr. will (1760)

Joseph Wickersham (1809-1894) diary excerpt transcripts, 1832.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

Typed copy excerpt is about his 1832 journey through the Juniata and Susquehanna river valleys. Also includes modern notes and correspondence by/with Don Yoder.

List of some Wickersham family letters written between, 1860-1920.
Box 2
Miscellaneous Wickersham family research, 2001-2006.
Box 3
Newton P. Garretson diary excerpt from 1901, 1941.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Transcription by Lenore Garretson Smith

Pamphlet: "The Wickersham Letters".
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Letters written to or by Wickershams or their descendents between 1849-1997. Compiled by Robert L. Robinson, 1984.

Pauline Evans Wickersham family, 1995.
Box 3
Phebe G. Wickersham diary, 1856-1861.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Phebe G. Wickersham was the wife of Enoch Wickersham. Photocopy and transcript. Original in State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Archives Division, SC 186.

Photographs (copies) of family members.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

From Don Yoder collection. High-quality (color) copies. Original photographs date from the mid-late 19th century.

Photographs of George Wickersham house in Marlborough, 1982-1984.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Photographs by Theodore Brinton Hetzel with note. Mostly building exterior, plus a photograph of a painting.

Pyle family, 1961.
Box 3
Thomas Wickersham (1801-1882) family descendants, 1944-1945.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Based on interviews with Thomas' grandson, Perle Otis Wickersham of Gainesville, Missouri (1944)

Thomas Wickersham diaries, 1862-1864.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Two volumes: 1862-1863 and 1863-1864. The diaries appear to be early 20th century handwritten copies. The diaries were in the possession of Perle Otis Wickersham and were given to Don Yoder. Also includes undated photographs (mid 20th century) of a semi-collapsed structure.

Wickersham data by Edward W. Wickersham, 1905.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Edward W. Wickersham was the first cousin of Wharton M. Cronister, the grandfather of Don Yoder

Wickersham family genealogy beginning with Edward Jones Wickersham.
Box 3
Wickersham family genealogy sent from Mrs. Garland Sheldon.
Box 3
Wickersham family reunion pamphlets, 1921-1935.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

First (one copy printed in 1921 and one copy printed in 1928), second, third, and fourth reunions. Also includes some handwritten notes

Wickersham family trees, 1992.
Box 3
Wickersham genealogy binder.
Box 3
Scope and Contents

Genealogy dates back to 1600s. Includes two pencil sketch portraits.

Wickersham letter transcripts, 1946.
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Letters date from 1853-1873. They were in the possession of Perle Otis Wickersham and were transcribed by Don Yoder in 1946

Wickersham letter transcript (unsigned).
Box 4
Scope and Contents

Letter is from 1851

Wickersham post office receipts, 1873.
Box 4

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