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Taylor Family papers

 Collection
Identifier: HC.MC-1233

Scope and Contents

This collection includes the papers of Anne Taylor Bronner, A.J. Edmunds (1857-1941), Edward Jacob, Emma Jacob, Edward Richie, Sarah A. Richie, Thomas Savery, Elizabeth Richie Taylor (1883-1970), Elizabeth Hooton Richie, Mary Ann Taylor, Thomas B. Taylor (1853-1911), Esther Hunt Taylor, Elizabeth Savery Taylor (1853-1936), Francis R. Taylor (1884-1947), George Washington Taylor (1803-1891), and Hubert Taylor (1917-1999).

The papers detail their lives, especially the Quaker communities in which they lived, as well as their business dealings, attendance and observation of Quaker Meetings, genealogy, family life, health issues, and friendships. The greatest representations in the collection are the papers of Francis R. Taylor and George Washington Taylor.

George Washington Taylor's correspondence reports on the Quaker schism of 1827-1828, which resulted in the Orthodox and Hicksite Quaker branches, and discusses his religious views, Elias Hicks, Joseph John Gurney, the school at which he worked in Flushing, New York, attending Meeting, Free Produce, and free labor. There are many letters from Nathan Thomas, a free labor agent traveling in the South. Taylor corresponded with Levi Coffin and Elihu Burritt, and in a draft of a letter he wrote to Abraham Lincoln, he explains his support of the president and the Emancipation Proclamation. Hamilton Fish wrote to George Washington Taylor in 1875 on the Cuban question.

Of note in Elizabeth H. Richie's papers is her account of her family, beginning in 1848.

Within Francis R. Taylor's papers are letters to his family written in 1920 as a member of the Friends Mexico Mission and a manuscript entitled Peace Progressive, which does not appear to have been published. Taylor's diaries of 1903-1905 were written while he was a student at Haverford College. There is a section of his papers entitled Topics which includes genealogical information on some 20 families who were likely related to the Taylors, as well as about local geographic areas, Quaker Meetings (Abington Monthly Meeting, Burlington Monthly Meeting, Cheltenham Monthly Meeting), Haverford College, Quaker novels, and prohibition. His correspondence reveals his interests, such as Quaker values, and friendships (as with Horace Tatnall). He corresponded with Henry Cadbury, Norman Penney, Elliston Morris, Levi Coffin, Roderick Scott, Isaac Sharpless, Elizabeth and Thomas Taylor, his parents, and others.

Within Hubert Taylor's papers are diaries from 1934-1937, while he was a student at Haverford College.

The photographs are of Taylor family members (including George Washington Taylor and Francis R. Taylor), their homes, and other buildings.

The deed written in 1737 to Anthony Morris is for 500 acres in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

A genealogical chart of the Taylor family is available.

Dates

  • 1737-1999

Creator

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

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

Biographical / Historical

Albert J. Edmunds (1857-1941) was a British-born archivist, member of the Society of Friends, mystic, pupil, and disciple of J. Rendel Harris. He spent many years at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Francis R. Taylor (1884-1947), the son of Elizabeth Savery and Thomas B. Taylor, graduated from Haverford College in 1906, and then the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1909. He became a practicing attorney in Philadelphia. He became a recorded minister of Abington Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in 1922, was a founding member of Cheltenham Meeting, and was clerk of his monthly, quarterly and yearly meetings. He founded the Cheltenham National Bank and was its president from 1924 until his death; he was also treasurer of Savery Realty Corporation. He married Elizabeth Richie in 1911. Information primarily from the Dictionary of Quaker Biography

Elizabeth Richie Taylor (1883-1970), wife of Francis R. Taylor, was a member of Cheltenham Monthly Meeting, which she and her husband founded in their home in 1915, as well as starting the Joint Committee of Montgomery and Bucks Country Friends in the late 1930s, to bring members of the two branches together. She was active in the Women's Christian Temperance union, the William Forster Home and committees of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Information from Friends Journal 16 1970, p. 636

George Washington Taylor (1803-1891) was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Richards Taylor. In his Recollections of My Life Time, he remarked that his parents "were not in communion with any religious society," but attended Friends Meeting at New Garden. When George Washington Taylor was 12, he was received into membership of the meeting. In boyhood, he became anti-slavery, having read John Woolman's Testimony. He was great-uncle to Francis Taylor and was "connected all his life with the evangelical group in Philadelphia, an early admirer of Joseph John Gurney, an ardent abolitionist and, for many years, proprietor of the Free Produce Store in Philadelphia. Much of his correspondence with Elihu Burritt on the Free Produce Movement is still extant. He suffered with Whittier in the burning of Pennsylvania Hall in Philadelphia in 1838, their desks being side by side." Taylor was the publisher of the journal The Non-Slaveholder and a peace paper The Citizen of the World. He was married three times, first to Ruth Leeds, then to Elizabeth Burton, and then to Elizabeth Sykes. Information primarily from the Dictionary of Quaker Biography

Hubert Richie Taylor (1916-1998) was the son of Francis Taylor and Elizabeth Richie Taylor. He attended Westtown School and graduated from Haverford College in 1938; he received a law degree from Temple University. He was a conscientious objector during World War II, spending three and a half years in Civilian Public Service as a road builder, attendant in a psychiatric hospital, and smokejumper in Montana. He served on several boards, including that of the William Penn Charter School, and supported many organizations. He was a member of Cheltenham (PA) Meeting and later Southampton (PA) Meeting. He was married to Dorothy Plaisted. Information from Friends Journal 45 1999 (March), p. 35

Thomas B. Taylor (1853 -1911) was a Philadelphia-based attorney and member of Birmingham Monthly Meeting. Information from The Friend 84 (1911), p. 368

Elizabeth Savery Taylor (1853-1936) was the wife of Thomas B. Taylor and mother of Francis R. Taylor. Information from The Friend 109 (1936), p. 361

Extent

4.75 Linear Feet (19 boxes)

Language

English

Overview

This collection traces several generations of the Quaker Taylor family, but centers on Francis R. Taylor (1884-1947) and George Washington Taylor (1803-1891). The former was an attorney and collector of information about his own and related families, as well as local historical information. The latter, who ran a free produce store in Philadelphia in the period before the American Civil War, was connected through his interests in free labor to many correspondents.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Taylor Family papers were donated to Special Collections, Haverford College in 1999 and 2002 by Anne Taylor Bronner.

Separated Materials

Taylor, Francis R. Membership in the Supreme Court of the U.S. as attorney and counselor, 1933 has been removed to 990B.

Taylor, Francis R. Diploma from Friends' Boarding School (now Westtown School), Westtown, PA, 1902 has been removed to 990B.

Materials Specific Details

The marriage certificate of George Washington Taylor and Elizabeth Sykes in 1831 is in the papers of Francis R. Taylor in this collection.

Physical Description

Quantities of items in a folder or other container are estimations.

Processing Information

Process by Diana Franzusoff Peterson.

Title
Taylor Family papers, 1737-1999
Status
Completed
Author
Diana Franzusoff Peterson
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

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