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Frank Ball Journals
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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 Ball (1855-1929), sometimes known as Franklin Ball, was the son of Aaron and Rebecca (Strawn) Ball. Raised as Methodist, he joined the Society of Friends at the age of twenty, becoming a member of Richland Monthly Meeting, Quakertown, Pennsylvania. He married Emma Weldy in 1882 and worked as a furniture maker and undertaker, conducting the latter until near the end of his life. Ball was a leading figure in the local business community and civic affairs. He was a founder of the Quakertown Chautauqua, served as a school director and president of the Building and Loan Association and the Bucks County Natural Science Association among other activities. An active Quaker, he was acknowledged as a minister. He also was an avid student of nature, forming a comprehensive library and collection of specimens of flowers, leaves and grasses.
The collection includes six diaries kept by Frank Ball of Richland Preparative Meeting of Bucks County together with an account book, commonplace book, and a volume of detailed meteorological data, 1855-1856. The journals contain daily entries about his thoughts and activities as well as contemporary events.
Gift of Richard Phillips, FHL 2024-051
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- S. Morikawa
- Finding Aid Date
- March 2025
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Friends Historical Library believes all of the items in this collection to be in the Public Domain in the United States, and is not aware of any restrictions on their use. However, the user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status before reproducing. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/.
Collection Inventory
Frank Ball began the journal Jan. 1, 1876, at age 20. Frank faithfully attended church services at the Mission School, many churches, and revival meetings, sometimes multiple services a day. He was a devout Methodist but increasingly questioned some of the teachings and requested membership at Richland Preparative Meeting. He visited the new Philadelphia Zoological Garden and Centennial Exhibition and started school. He commented on increase of racial tension in the South and mentioned local, national and international news. Transcribed.
Ball completed school and began to teach. He was received in membership at Richland Monthly Meeting on 3 month 1877. He commented on the Indian wars, visits of Mormon missionaries among other topics of the times. Transcribed.
Ink is faded. Ball was teaching, and his interest in botany grew. Indian wars continued, and he commented on national politics. A radical Quaker liberal preached at meeting. The solar eclipse was hidden by clouds. Transcribed.
Fire at the oil refinery at Point Breeze. He recorded temperatures and barometer readings. Transcribed.
Fire at oil refinery, Point Breeze. He recorded temperatures and barometer readings. Transcribed.
Frank Ball served on the Refreshment Committee for the Swarthmore Conference in August 1896. Excessive heat followed by cool temperatures during the meeting. About 1400 people were lodged across campus buildings. He slept in the boys gymnasium. Prominent speakers including Jesse Holmes, a controversial song service in the tent. He mentioned the murder of Mr. Sharples in Chester about five years before. On September 17 there was a violent hail and wind storm, caused much damage.
Quotes, biographical notes followed by a descriptive listing of plants, "plants in my garden, 1890" and address book. Some pages removed.