Overview
The Kite and Bassett families were Orthodox Quakers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Lynn, Massachusetts, respectively. James Kite was born in 1808, the son of Benjamin and Rebecca Kite of Philadelphia. In 1837 he was granted a certificate to Salem Monthly Meeting in Massachusetts to marry Lydia B. Rodman, widow of Caleb Rodman and daughter of Isaac and Ruth Bassett of Lynn. James and Lydia had eight children, viz. Ruth, James Rodman, Eliza B., Rebecca, Isaac C. Bassett, Hannah B., Lydia and Abby; Eliza and Isaac died young. James died in 1856 at the age of 48. Lydia B., a minister in Philadelphia Monthly Meeting for the Northern District, died in 1872 at the age of 60 years. Ruth Kite married Jacob Smedley Jr. in 1865. The collection contains correspondence and other papers of the Kite and Bassett families, mainly describing family life but also relating to Quaker activities, especially events at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Orthodox) and the New England Yearly Meeting and including discussions of the Wilbur-Gurney controversy. Several of the Kite children attended the Westtown School, and some of the letters are between them and their parents. Correspondents include Ruth Bassett, William Bassett, Elizabeth B. Boyce, Eunice B. Boyce, Hannah Bassett, Anna B. Newhall, Lydia B. Kite, James Kite, Ruth K. Smedley, Jacob Smedley, James R. Kite, Rebecca Kite, Abbie Kite, and Ruth MacCollin Hoffman, granddaughter of Lydia B. Kite. Of particular note is the correspondence of the latter, 1918-19, describing Quaker reconstruction work in France while she was a participant in the American Friends Service Committee relief efforts.
