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SFHL/FHL/MSS. Assembled Collections

 Record Group Term
Identifier: SFHL/FHL/MSS
Included in this record group are manuscript collections that were assembled by the Friends Historical Library or assembled by other collectors (not the creator of the material). Major genre collections include: Account Books (MSS 001), Albums (MSS 002), Journals (MSS 003), and Miscellaneous Manuscripts (MSS 004). In this section you will also find topical collections assembled over time to document prominent Quakers like Lucretia Mott.

Found in 38 Collections and/or Records:

Friends Historical Library collection of miscellaneous queries

 Collection — Othertype MSS-057
Identifier: SFHL-MSS-057
Overview

Early in their history, Quakers developed "queries," a series of questions, to assess the state of the religious society and guide personal and communal self-reflection. Queries are formulated by the Yearly Meetings for their constituent meetings, who in turn give reports to Yearly Meeting. This collection consists of miscellaneous loose queries and answers, from various Yearly Meetings, accumulated by the Friends Historical Library over time.

Dates: 1749 - 1902

Friends Historical Library collection of certificates of removal

 Collection — Othertype MSS-054
Identifier: SFHL-MSS-054
Overview

A certificate of removal is a document given to persons who are transferring their membership from one monthly meeting to another. Their removal testifies that they are members in good standing with the meeting they are leaving. This collection consists of miscellaneous certificates of removal, from various meetings and regarding various Friends, collected by the Friends Historical Library over time. It contains a mix of original documents and copies.

Dates: 1685 - 1850

Robert Barclay Manuscripts Collection

 Collection — Othertype MSS-050
Identifier: SFHL-MSS-050
Overview

Robert Barclay (1648-1690) was a Scottish Quaker and arguably the most influential theologian in the history of the Religious Society of Friends. This small collection consists of manuscript documents by or about Robert Barclay and his works, written during his lifetime.

Dates: 1678 - 1704

Rogerenes of New England Collection

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-MSS-053
Overview

The Rogerenes of New England collection contains research materials and some original manuscript and published works by the Rogerenes which were collected by Ellen Starr Brinton during her tenure as Curator of the Swarthmore College Peace Collection, 1935-1951. She wrote several articles on the sect and compiled an extensive bibliography of sources.

Dates: 1817 - 1991

Friends Historical Library Collection of Sermons

 Collection — Othertype MSS-047
Identifier: SFHL-MSS-047
Overview

Collected sermons received from miscellaneous sources.

Dates: 1737 - 1870

Sharpless Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-MSS-040
Overview The collection represents two branches of the Sharpless family of Pennsylvania descended from Joseph and Lydia (Lewis) Sharpless). It contains correspondence between extended Sharpless family relations including Sharpless, Hunn, Jones, Drinker families and journals of Joshua Sharpless, a Quaker minister who worked with Native Americans and visited Quaker meetings in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Canada. Correspondence covers various topics including the travels of women ministers, yellow...
Dates: 1792-1892

Smedley Family Scrapbook

 Collection — Othertype MSS-066
Identifier: SFHL-MSS-066
Overview These manuscripts of the Smedley family, Quakers of Chester County, Pennsylvania, were collected by Mary (Green) Smedley in the early 20th century. The scrapbook contains primarily 18th century legal and property documents concerning Thomas Smedley (1688?-1758) of Willistown, Chester County, a member of Goshen Monthly Meeting, and his descendants, particularly George Smedley (d. 1783) and family. The scrapbook includes records relating to a property dispute between George Smedley and George...
Dates: 1700 - 1833

John Woolman Manuscripts Collection

 Collection — Othertype MSS-068
Identifier: SFHL-MSS-068
Overview John Woolman (1720-1772) was one of the most influential ministers in the history of the Religious Society of Friends. He was particularly active in opposing slavery and encouraging Quakers to disavow the practice. His journal, published posthumously, is still considered an important document in the fields of religion, history, and literature. The Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College holds several versions of Woolman's manuscript journal, letters written by Woolman, and other...
Dates: 1720 - 1939