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Swarthmore Historical Society General Reference Files

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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 Borough of Swarthmore, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was incorporated in 1893. Previous to establishment of the Borough, the area was part of Springfield Township. It was settled by Quaker farmers and is the traditional birthplace of Benjamin West, early American artist. The community, first known as Westdale, developed after Swarthmore College was founded by Hicksite Quakers in 1864 and the rail line was improved in the 1880s. The Swarthmore Historical Society (SHS) was established in 1988 to document, preserve and protect the historic resources of Swarthmore Borough, Delaware Co., Pa. One of its mission is to serve as the archives for the Borough of Swarthmore and as an information resource on the history of the community.

This collection combines related reference resources of Friends Historical Library and Swarthmore Historical Society and is administered by Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. It includes information on Borough government, business, organizations, schools, buildings and structures, writings and miscellaneous topics. Of particular interest are the field forms for the Historic Resources Survey published in 2001 by the Delaware County Planning Department; these file are updated when additional information is provided.

The reference files are organized in series: 1: Borough Government 2: Businesses 3: Organizations 4: Schools 5: Buildings and Structures, by street 6: Writings and reminiscences 7: Miscellaneoous subject files 8: Oral histories

In 1996 the collection of the Swarthmore Historical Society was deposited in Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. The material was sorted, described and combined with the reference files on Swarthmore Borough (Pamphlet Group 6) in the collection of Friends Historical Library. Because the histories of the Borough and Swarthmore College are intertwined, the two reference collections were consolidated to make the local history resources more easily accessible. In 2004, the reference collection was assigned a new catalog number RG 7/004 as part of the Swarthmore Historical Society Archives. Records of organizations and family papers are cataloged separately and assigned their own Record Group call numbers. The reference files contain both secondary and original papers which are not part of a larger collection.

The reference files are stored in the Workroom of Friends Historical Library, file cabinets.

For photographs of Swarthmore, see the FHL Picture Collection PA 64. To search the collection of local maps stored in Chart Case, see Swarthmore (Pa)

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Date
2009
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for 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

Archival Resource Key. Borough Ordinances, 1893,1976.
Scope and Contents

Includes: Rules from public newspaper notices, 1893. Ordinances and Regulations, 3/1/1976.

Archival Resource Key. Rules, 1910.
Scope and Contents

Rules, adopted 1910.

Archival Resource Key. Record Books of Attendance, Council votes, 3/1893-1/1935.
Scope and Contents

Includes correspondence, standing committees, and a listing of Petitioners for the establishment of the Borough, copied by Mary Ann Jeavons.

Archival Resource Key. Borough Tree Committee.
Archival Resource Key. Borough Street Committee.
Archival Resource Key. Borough Hall.
Archival Resource Key. Centennial Park.
Archival Resource Key. Little Crum Creek Park.
Archival Resource Key. Umoja Park.
Archival Resource Key. Thatcher Park.
Archival Resource Key. Report of Borough Council, 1958-60.
Scope and Contents

Published, with articles and photographs.

Archival Resource Key. Inventory of Swarthmore Borough Archives, 1996.
Scope and Contents

Inventory of Swarthmore Borough Archives stored in Borough Hall, including building permits and plans. Mary Ann Jeavons, compiler.

Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous clippings, etc.
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of items retained at Borough Hall.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Borough, Planning Study, 1964.
Archival Resource Key. Comprehensive Plan, 1965.
2
Archival Resource Key. Police Department.
Archival Resource Key. Town Center Revitalization, 1999.

Archival Resource Key. Apartments.
Archival Resource Key. "College Inn" (proposed).
Archival Resource Key. Eastlawn Cemetery.
Archival Resource Key. Harris and Company.
Archival Resource Key. Ingleneuk Tea House.
Archival Resource Key. Michael's College Pharmacy.
Archival Resource Key. Movie Theater (proposed).
Archival Resource Key. Newspapers.
Archival Resource Key. Paulson's.
Archival Resource Key. Post Office.
Archival Resource Key. Railroad.
Archival Resource Key. West Hill.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Improvement.
Archival Resource Key. College Tract.
Archival Resource Key. Baird and Bird.
Archival Resource Key. Clarke and Harvey.
Archival Resource Key. Emmons, Louis Cole.
Archival Resource Key. Fischer, Charles E.
Archival Resource Key. Gillespie, George.
Archival Resource Key. Thayer, Carroll.
Archival Resource Key. Walton (Kent).
Archival Resource Key. Witham, William E.
Archival Resource Key. Development: Rutgers Ave. condos.
Archival Resource Key. Sidetracks.
Archival Resource Key. Strath Haven Inn.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore National Bank.
Related Materials

See also RG 7/009 for its records.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Co-op.
Archival Resource Key. Trolley.
Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous Swarthmore Businesses.
Scope and Contents

Includes lists of stores in 1909 and 1989.

Archival Resource Key. American Legion Post.
Archival Resource Key. Christian Science Church.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Methodist Episcopal Church.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends).
Related Materials

See also RG 2, Records of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Presbyterian.
Related Materials

Maintains its own archives.

Archival Resource Key. Trinity Episcopal Church.
Archival Resource Key. Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Archival Resource Key. Company H.
Archival Resource Key. Friendly Open House.
Related Materials

See RG 7/007.

Archival Resource Key. Girl Scout Troop #16.
Related Materials

See RG7/010

Archival Resource Key. Players Club of Swarthmore.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Camp and Hospital Committee.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Chautauqua.
Related Materials

See also RG7/006.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Fire and Protective Association.
Related Materials

Fire Company maintains its own archives.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Garden Club.
Related Materials

See RG7/002 for records.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Historical Society.
Scope and Contents

The Historical Society has sponsored Centennial projects, Historic House Tours, Historic Resources Survey and the Historic Walking Tour brochure. See RG7/016 for records.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Horticultural Society.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore League of Women Voters.
Related Materials

See also RG7/008 for records.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Public Library.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Lions.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Nativity.
RG7/012
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Recreation Association.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Red Cross.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Rotary.
RG7/003
Related Materials

See RG7/003 for records.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Village Business and Professional Association.
RG7/011
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Woman's Club.
Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous, 1984 & n.d.
Scope and Contents

Includes Caucus Notice, 1894, The Swarthmore Social Temperence Conference, n.d.

Scope and Contents

In 2015 a record group Swarthmore Schools, RG7022, was processed removing the bulk of the original material and merging with subsequent accessions. Clippings and topical reference remain in General Reference.

Archival Resource Key. Public Schools.
Archival Resource Key. "Union Room" for African American children and teacher Nona Royster Bragg controversy.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore School District teachers' strike, 1978.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore High School.
Scope and Contents

Includes history, articles, programs, etc. Of related interest is a collection of Swarthmore High School oversized class photographs, 1937, 1939, 1941-47, 1949, 1950-64, and 1968-69, stored with RG7 (basement). See RG 7/022

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore High School Sports.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore High School football programs.
Scope and Contents

Stored RG7/004/B

Archival Resource Key. Salute to Swarthmore High School, 1983.
Scope and Contents

Includes other materials of its final year.

Archival Resource Key. Commencement Programs.
Archival Resource Key. The Garnet Record: Swarthmore High School Yearbooks, 1928-1967, with gaps.
Scope and Contents

See RG 7/022

Archival Resource Key. Class pictures, 1924-1967, with gaps.
Othertype Oversize
Archival Resource Key. "Swarthmore as a Place to Live - Now and in the Future", 1998.
Scope and Contents

Proposal for re-use of District properties for seniors. Revised 1998.

Archival Resource Key. Mary Lyons.
Scope and Contents

Includes yearbooks (with many gaps). See RG 7/022

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Academy.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore College.
Related Materials

See Swarthmore College Archives, RG6.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Preparative School.
Related Materials

See RG7/022 and Swarthmore College Archives, RG6 for Preparative Department, Swarthmore College.

Scope and Contents

Includes original field forms of site surveys. Organized by street address. Additional information and survey photographs compiled on individual addresses are filed with the surveys. Published survey with updated entries cataloged and available on reference, FHL Reading Room.

Archival Resource Key. *Draft of "Delaware County Historic Resources Survey: Swarthmore Borough", 2001.
Related Materials

Final "Report of the findings of the Delaware County Historic Resources Survey for Swarthmore Borough" is stored in the FHL book collection (REF).

Archival Resource Key. Architects active in Swarthmore.
Archival Resource Key. Academy.
Archival Resource Key. Amherst.
Archival Resource Key. Benjamin West.
Archival Resource Key. Bowdoin.
Archival Resource Key. Bryn Mawr.
Archival Resource Key. Business District.
Related Materials

See also Park, Dartmouth, and S. Chester.

Archival Resource Key. Cedar.
Archival Resource Key. Chester Road - North.
Archival Resource Key. Chester Road - South.
Archival Resource Key. Chestnut.
Archival Resource Key. Churches.
Archival Resource Key. College Avenue.
Archival Resource Key. College Buildings, campus.
Related Materials

See also street addresses.

Archival Resource Key. Cornell.
Archival Resource Key. Columbia.
Archival Resource Key. Cresson Lane.
Archival Resource Key. Crest Lane.
Archival Resource Key. Dartmouth.
Archival Resource Key. Dartmouth Circle.
Archival Resource Key. Dickinson.
Archival Resource Key. Dogwood.
Archival Resource Key. Drew.
Archival Resource Key. Drexel.
Archival Resource Key. Elm.
Archival Resource Key. Fairview.
Archival Resource Key. Field House Lane.
Archival Resource Key. Forest.
Archival Resource Key. Garrett.
Archival Resource Key. Gilpin Tract.
Archival Resource Key. Guernsey.
Archival Resource Key. Harvard.
Archival Resource Key. Haverford Ave.
Archival Resource Key. Haverford Place.
Archival Resource Key. Hillborn.
Archival Resource Key. Juniata.
Archival Resource Key. Kenyon.
Archival Resource Key. Lafayette.
Archival Resource Key. Magill.
Archival Resource Key. Marietta.
Archival Resource Key. Maple.
Archival Resource Key. Michigan.
Archival Resource Key. Morganwood.
Archival Resource Key. Oberlin.
Archival Resource Key. Ogden.
Archival Resource Key. Park.
Scope and Contents

Includes Deed, 1 Park Avenue, 1892.

Archival Resource Key. Parrish.
Archival Resource Key. Princeton - North.
Archival Resource Key. Princeton - South.
Archival Resource Key. Riverview.
Archival Resource Key. Rutgers.
Archival Resource Key. Strath Haven.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Avenue.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Place.
Archival Resource Key. Thayer.
Archival Resource Key. Union.
Archival Resource Key. University.
Archival Resource Key. Walnut.
Archival Resource Key. Wellesley.
Archival Resource Key. Westdale.
Archival Resource Key. Westminster.
Archival Resource Key. Whittier.
Archival Resource Key. Woodbrook.
Archival Resource Key. Yale.
Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous.

Archival Resource Key. Illustrated Swarthmore, circa 1895.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore, 1896.
Archival Resource Key. The Swarthmore [newspaper], 1/1/1893.
Scope and Contents

Lists residents of borough. Also photocopies of listings in 1897 and 1902 directories.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Directories, 1924, 1925-26, 1936.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Directory, 1949-1950.
Archival Resource Key. Anecdotes and Reminiscences: General.
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence, Lyn Jones on the attribute of the Borough, 1984.
Archival Resource Key. Delaware County Historical Society file on Swarthmore.
Archival Resource Key. Poetry.
Archival Resource Key. "Historical Sketch of Early Swarthmore by One of the Pioneers" by Susanna Gaskill-Mahan, 1980.
Scope and Contents

Originally published in 1924, Swarthmore Directory

Archival Resource Key. "A History of Swarthmore - circa 1880" by Richard Griffin, 1981.
Scope and Contents

Originally a student paper for Swarthmore High School

Archival Resource Key. "The True Age" by Margaret Detweiler, 1993.
Archival Resource Key. "Vignettes of Early Swarthmore" by May Brown Lloyd, 1996.
Archival Resource Key. "A Reminiscence" by Eurdora Sproat Gerner, 1994.
Archival Resource Key. "The Swarthmore Area Before the College," by Regen Foster Bresnahan, 1979.
Scope and Contents

Student paper for American Civics course, University of Pennsylvania, 1979.

Archival Resource Key. "An American Landscape: Swarthmore, Pennsylvania", 1979.
Scope and Contents

Thesis written for M.A. in Urban Studies.

Archival Resource Key. "A Brief History of Swarthmore from about 1680 to 1930.", 1975, 1992.
Scope and Contents

Revised text of David Narbeth's 1975 slide show. Video tape catalogued in Library AV collection. 1992.

Archival Resource Key. "The Borough of Swarthmore.", 1999.
Scope and Contents

Paper written for a course on historical landscape, 1999.

Archival Resource Key. Extracts from the Swarthmore News., 1977.
Scope and Contents

Brief extracts from the Swarthmore News. Abstracted by Nancy Spears.

Archival Resource Key. Chester Times feature on Swarthmore College, 1905.
Archival Resource Key. "The Town I Like, Swarthmore, PA.", March/April, 1951.
Scope and Contents

Article by Jay J. Dugan in Lincoln-Mercury Times.

Archival Resource Key. "Quaker Quandary," Greater Philadelphia Magazine, Feb. 1964.
Archival Resource Key. Come Home to Swarthmore: A Town for All Seasons, n.d.
Archival Resource Key. Directory of Organizations in the Swarthmore Area., September, 1968.
Archival Resource Key. Living in Swarthmore. League of Women Voters., 1962, 1974, 1985, 1993.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Illustrated: A Centennial History, 1993.
Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore College Calendars, 1992, 1994.
Scope and Contents

Issues with illustrations relating to the Borough and its history.

Archival Resource Key. Swarthmore Historic Walking Tour, [2006].

Archival Resource Key. African American Community.
Archival Resource Key. Avondale Bridge.
Archival Resource Key. Bassett, Elizabeth: Family Memorabilia.
Archival Resource Key. Bird Family.
Archival Resource Key. Blacksmith shop on Baltimore Pike and Cedar Lane.
Archival Resource Key. Correspondence (Miscellaneous).
Archival Resource Key. Country Week Picnic.
Related Materials

See also SC 177.

Archival Resource Key. Cresson family and Hedgleigh.
Archival Resource Key. Crum Creek.
Related Materials

See RG6/V/College Reference files

Archival Resource Key. Delaware County Historical Society file on Swarthmore.
Archival Resource Key. Delaware Indians.
Scope and Contents

"History of Delaware Indians" by Lee Sultzman, website www.tolatsga.org/dela.
Archival Resource Key. Emmons Pool.
Archival Resource Key. Emmons, Louis Cole.
Scope and Contents

See File: Real Estate Companies: Emmons. See also photographs scanned in 2017 from family's collection, stored in FHL DAMS.

Archival Resource Key. Gardens.
Scope and Contents

See also Cresson family and Swarthmore Horticultural Society files

Archival Resource Key. Garrett Family.
Archival Resource Key. Gillespie, George.
Scope and Contents

See Development Companies, Gillespie

Archival Resource Key. Hill, Grace Livingston.
Box FHL-0347 (offsite)
Archival Resource Key. Maddock Family.
Archival Resource Key. Menke & Menke "In Our Backyard: Swarthmore collected slides".
Scope and Contents

"In Our Backyard: Swarthmore slides in the Menke & Menke collection." Images collected by William Menke from various sources including Irma Zimmer, Cresson family, and John and Dorothy Lawrence. Menke copy slides stored in PA 64.

Archival Resource Key. Nether Providence.
Archival Resource Key. Residents.
Scope and Contents

Clippings concerning residents.

Archival Resource Key. Ridley Township.
Archival Resource Key. Simons family.
Archival Resource Key. Springfield Township.
Archival Resource Key. Streets, roads, highways.
Archival Resource Key. Thayer, Carroll.
Scope and Contents

See Real estate, Thayer

Archival Resource Key. Wartime.
Archival Resource Key. Water Company.
Related Materials

See also 540 Ogden Avenue survey

Archival Resource Key. Willetts, Alice Putnam, February 6, 1926 – June 6, 2020. Willets, Alice Putnam. Putnam family pictures and papers.
Existence and Location of Copies

Scans are stored in FHL image server [?]

Scope and Contents

Alice "Putty" Putnam Willitts married George Willitts in 1952, and they purchased what had been the pool property on the Emmons estate in Swarthmore, 124 Guernsey Road. The Putnams were from Western Pennsylvania. Putty's grandfather, Leon Elmer Putnan, and wife Harriett Allen came to Swarthmore circa 1890. He operated a dental office in his home at 310 Lafayette Avenue, and daughter and Aunt Iona Grace lived with them. Their son was Allen Putnam, married Gladys Ciani, lived on Maple Avenue. Alice "Putty" Willets was a coach and physical education teacher. She was inducted to the United States Field Hockey Association's Hall of Fame in 1988.

Related Materials

RG7/027 Alice Putnam Willetts Swarthmore Papers

Archival Resource Key. Yale Avenue Bridge.
Archival Resource Key. Zimmer, Irma E. .
Related Materials

Irma E. Zimmer Papers, RG7/014

Archival Resource Key. Scrapbooks: Rosalie Peirsol.
Othertype Oversized box
Scope and Contents

Two scrapbooks compiled by Rosalie Peirsol on career and the death of her husband, Henry A. Peirsol (1912-1974)

Archival Resource Key. Scrapbooks: Edward Brattan, 1922.
Othertype Oversized box
Scope and Contents

Edward Brattan was a student at Swarthmore Preparative School.

Archival Resource Key. Memorabilia: Swarthmore HS letter sweater, Centennial T-shirt, and music, varsity, and Boy Scout letter.
Othertype Relics
Archival Resource Key. Memorabilia: Hand drawn "Monopoly" board and cards, Joy A. Cline for Mrs. Sue Naughton's class in SRS, n.d.
Othertype Relics
Archival Resource Key. Memorabilia: Centennial "Monopoly" game.
Othertype Relics

Archival Resource Key. A-G, 1988.
Archival Resource Key. H-Z, 1988.

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