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Sharpless Family papers

 Collection
Identifier: HC.MC-1111

Scope and Contents

Letters, diaries, journals, narratives, and notes, by, concerning, or attributed to members of the Sharpless and Kite families, including those of Joshua Sharpless, with letters to Ann Trimble Sharpless, his wife, and his children; notes on his physical condition; narratives of Edith Yarnall Sharpless, his first wife; correspondence among the children of Joshua Sharpless, including letters of Rachel Sharpless Cope, Edith (Sharpless) Kite, Isaac Sharpless, and other family members; letters of Benjamin Kite to his children, Thomas, John, Mary, and others; journals, diaries, and accounts of Mary Kite, daughter of Benjamin, and letters to family and friends describing religious travels, spiritual affairs, and conditions in the Society; correspondence among other members of the Kite family, including James, Joseph, Nathan, Abi, nieces, nephews, and others; accounts by Thomas Kite of Edith Sharpless Kite, his wife; letters from Susanna Kite Sharpless, daughter of Thomas, and an account of a trip through New York; and letters and accounts from Aaron Sharpless, husband of Susanna.

Included also are testimonies from Concord Monthly Meeting concerning Edith Sharpless Kite; a minute from Concord Quarterly Meeting; holograph and printed petitions from the young people to Philadelphia meeting, 1748; a diary and two letters from Mary Passmore concerning a religious trip made in Virginia and North Carolina with Mary Kite and Pennock Passmore; and letters to Edith Sharpless, later Kite, from school friends. Letters comprise the bulk of materials, with those of Mary Kite making up more than half of the total. Dates of letters are from about 1800 to 1875, with the bulk between 1800-1861. Includes the papers of Edward G. Smedley, ca. 1836-1908, dealing with his experiences as a conscientious objector during the Civil War, 1863-1866 are in box 3.

Dates

  • 1748-1875

Creator

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical / Historical

Joshua Sharpless (1747-1826), son of Benjamin Sharpless, was born in Middletown, Pennsylvania and died in East Bradford, Pennsylvania. A member of Chester Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends) and later New Garden Monthly Meeting, he and Edith Yarnall, his wife and a minister, were active Friends. With Ann Trimble, his second wife who was also a minister, Joshua Sharpless engaged in religious travels and visits in Pennsylvania, New York, New England, and Canada, maintaining an active concern for Native American affairs and the abolition of slavery.

Mary Kite (1792-1861) was a minister in the Society and traveled extensively. Edward Smedley (ca. 1836-1908) was a conscientious objector during the Civil War.

Extent

1.25 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Language

English

Overview

Letters, accounts, diaries, and journals of members of the interrelated Sharpless and Kite families, including the papers of Joshua Sharpless (1746/7-1826) and letters of Mary Kite (1792-1861) as well as the papers of Edward G. Smedley, ca. 1836-1908, dealing with his experiences as a conscientious objector during the Civil War, 1863-1866.

Acquisition

The Sharpless Family papers were donated to Special Collections, Haverford College in 1959 and 1972 by Susanna Smedley.

Related Materials

See also: Kite family papers, HC.MC.1111.5

Processing Information

Original processing information unknown.

Title
Sharpless Family papers, 1748-1875
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • May 2022: by Nathaniel Rehm-Daly, Harmful Language Revision Project

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 Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections Library

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Haverford PA 19041 USA US