Philadelphia Area Archives

Start Over Subject Social service -- Religious aspects -- Society of Friends

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Records: Coordinating Committee for Testimonies & Concerns (1974-1998), 1971-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:: 20 linear ft.
Abstract:: In 1974, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting was restructured: three Coordinating Committees were each given oversight of the committees and programs under its care. The Coordinating Committee II, more frequently referred to as CC-2, had general responsibility for Testimonies and Concerns. In 1998, a system of standing committees replaced the three Coordinating Committees within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The Peace and Concerns Standing Committee assumed responsibility for many of the programs that were formerly under CC-2. Includes records of the Coordinating Committee for Testimonies and Concerns of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and its Coordinators, 1974-1998.

Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Hicksite) Records: Committee on Economic Problems (1937-1948), 1936-1948 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:: The Committee on Economic Problems was appointed in 1937 to cooperate with the Social Order Committee of the Arch Street Yearly Meeting. Clair Wilcox, a Quaker professor of Economics at Swarthmore College was the first Chair. The Committee was interested in a variety of related issues, including industrial relations, unemployment, and economic and social research.

Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Records: Social Order Committee and its predecessors (1917-1969), 1917-1969 (inclusive)

Extent:: 13.5 linear ft.
Abstract:: A Social Order Committee was established by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Orthodox) in 1917 to "consider the part which the Religious Society of Friends should take in the present day application of efforts to promote the Kingdom of God on Earth, particularly as it relates to social, political, and industrial conditions." In 1927 it began to more formally cooperate with a similar committee of the Hicksite Yearly Meeting in much of its work; the two shared a Secretary, David S. Richie, after 1939. In 1948 the two Philadelphia Yearly Meetings formed a joint Social Order Committee. It was absorbed into the Meeting for Social Concerns in 1969-70.

Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Records: Social Service Committee (1936-1964), 1936-1964 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1.5 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Abstract:: The Social Service Committee was appointed in 1936, continuing the work of the Committee on Philanthropic Labor of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Hicksite). Primarily educational in nature, its work included providing information to local Quaker meetings on social service issues. The Committee was renamed the Committee on Social Welfare in 1964.

Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Hadassah M. L. (Hadassah Moore Leeds) Holcombe Diaries, 1904-1937 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2 linear ft. (4 boxes)
Abstract:: Hadassah M.L. Holcombe (1891-1978) was a Quaker educator who was a co-founder of the Friends Council of Education and served as Secretary of the Friends General Conference and Chairman of the Committee on Education of the Friends World Conference. Hadassah Holcombe taught mathematics at the Germantown Friends School for ten years, and, in addition to her other activities, served on the Boards of Swarthmore College, Antioch, George School, Sidwell Friends, and Haverford College. The collection contains her diaries from 1904-1937.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Robert Hoopes Maris Papers, 1918-1920 (inclusive)

Extent:: 0.5 linear ft. (1 box)
Abstract:: Robert Hoopes Maris (1890-1975) was a Quaker dentist who served with the American Friends Service Committee in France after World War I.. The collection contains chiefly correspondence with his family written while Maris was serving as a dentist with American Friends Service Committee in France after World War I. Also a photograph album and other papers.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Karen A. Reixach Prison Reform Papers, 1974-1986 (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:: Contains correspondence, minutes, and other papers concerning Karen A. Reixach's work with Quaker meetings at Auburn Prison and Attica Prison in New York State, 1974-1986. A member of Rochester Monthly Meeting, she was active in prison reform and Quaker outreach to prisoners. She served on the Rochester Monthly Meeting and New York Yearly Meetings Prison Committees and as clerk of the Oversight Committee at Attica Prison.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Charles M. Tatum. American Friends Service Committee Coal Relief Papers, 1931-1941 (bulk 1931-1933) (inclusive)

Extent:: 1 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Abstract:: The collection documents the work of the American Friends Service Committee child relief team in the bituminous coal fields of West Virginia and Kentucky, 1931-1933. Of particular interest are (carbon) letters sent regularly to the American Friends Service Committee Coal Committee headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., recounting almost daily the activities of the team from February-May 1932 as well as the hardships and political unrest. The first year of the program concentrated on feeding and clothing; thereafter, the administration for relief was gradually transferred to local government and was focused on social and economic reconstruction.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

David S. and Mary W. Richie Papers, 1935-2005 (inclusive)

Extent:: 9.5 linear ft. (19 boxes)
Abstract:: David S. Richie (1908-2005) spent his life devoted to public service, particularly in the areas of work camps and cooperatives. A birthright Quaker, he served as Secretary of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Social Order Committee from 1939–1973 and was president of the Board of Friends Housing, Inc. He also was involved with the American Friends Service Committee and other organizations. These papers are divided into correspondence, writings, and topical files as assembled by Richie.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]

Margaret H. Collins Papers, 1932-2006 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2 linear ft. (5 boxes)
Abstract:: Margaret Hill Collins, a member of the Society of Friends, was an advocate for integrated housing in the Philadelphia suburbs. These papers include her writings and poetry, personal correspondence, and the records of the Community Support Corporation. The latter was a small nonprofit that remodeled and resold homes in low income communities in Delaware County, Pa. It was established in the mid 1970s and was headquartered on Jackson Street in Media.

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]