Skip to main content

Jesse Herman Holmes Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-064

Scope and Contents

Collection contains correspondence, biographical data, writings, and sermons. Also audio cassettes of reminiscences of friends, former students, and others, compiled by Albert J. Wahl, and relating to Holmes' life and career as an influential philosophy professor at Swarthmore College (1900-1937).

Dates

  • 1905-1973

Creator

Limitations on Accessing the Collection

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Rights Information

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/.

Biographical / Historical

Jesse Herman Holmes was born 1864 in Iowa, the son of Jesse and Sara Morgan Paxson Holmes. He attended Nebraska State University and John Hopkins University, where he received a Ph.D. in Chemistry. He married Rebecca S. Webb, daughter of William B. and Rebecca [Turner] Webb in 1892. Holmes taught at Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C. and then George School in Bucks County, PA until 1899, when he set sail for Oxford to prepare to teach philosophy at Swarthmore College. He became Professor of the History of Religion and Philosophy at Swarthmore College in 1899 and Professor of Philosophy in 1922. He continued to teach at the College until 1937. After his retirement, he became professor emeritus. Holmes was an active participant in AFSC relief after World War I, travelling to oversee work in reconstruction throughout Europe. Holmes was the president of the National Federation of Religious Liberals and an active member of the Socialist party.

Jesse and Rebecca had three children, Elizabeth Webb, Robert Sinclair, and Jesse Herman Holmes Jr. [III]. Elizabeth died at 16 of complications from diabetes. The family lived in Swarthmore, and Jesse attended Swarthmore Meeting. He died in 1942.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language

English

Overview

Jesse Herman Holmes (1864-1942), was a Quaker philosophy professor at Swarthmore College, 1900-1937. Holmes was an active participant in AFSC relief after World War I, travelling to oversee work in reconstruction throughout Europe. Holmes was the president of the National Federation of Religious Liberals and an active member of the Socialist party. Collection contains correspondence, biographical data, writings, and sermons. Also audio cassettes of reminiscences of friends, former students, and others, compiled by Albert J. Wahl, and relating to Holmes' life and career as an influential philosophy professor at Swarthmore College (1900-1937).

Arrangement

The collection is divided into four series:

  1. Biographical
  2. Correspondence
  3. Writing
  4. Tape records

Physical Location

For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donor: Gift of Franklin S. Wambold, 1965.

Gift of Eleanor Stabler Clarke, 1966.

Gift of unknown donor, 1970 and earlier.

Gift of William H. Cleveland, Jr., 1970.

Gift of George W. Stewart, 1975.

Gift of Albert J. Wahl, 1979.

This collection was compiled from various sources.

Related Materials

See also:

  1. Holmes-Webb Family Papers, RG 5/065

General

Bibliography

  1. Wahl, Albert. Jesse Herman Holmes, A Quaker's Affirmation for Man. BX7796 +.H765 W2

Processing Information

Materials received before 1970 originally catalogued as separate MSS. In 1970 papers from various sources, including PG 7 Biographical and genealogical files, were combined into an RG 5 collection. Later gifts added in 1975 and 1979.

Title
An Inventory of the Jesse Herman Holmes Papers, 1905-1973
Author
FHL staff
Date
1970
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries

Find It at the Library

Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting reproductions from Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College Library

Contact:
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore Pennsylvania 19081 USA