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"Just Among Friends: The Quaker Way of Life"

 Collection
Identifier: HC.MC-975-07-024

Scope and Contents

This collection is comprised of the three drafts of William Wistar Comfort's manuscripts of his book, "Just Among Friends: The Quaker Way of Life" and promotional materials related to its publication. The book describes the Quaker way of life, and the influence Quakers have had on issues of tolerance, peace, and economic and social justice. The manuscript includes Wistar's notes and edits.

Dates

  • Creation: 1940

Creator

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

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

Biographical Note

William Wistar Comfort (1874-1955) was born May 27, 1874, in Germantown, Pennsylvania, the son of Howard Comfort and Susan Foulke Wistar Comfort. Comfort was raised a Quaker, attending Meeting as a youth at the Meeting at Coulter and Greene Streets in Germantown. He graduated from Haverford College in 1894, and received a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1902. That same year, he married Mary Lawton Fales and the couple had four children: Margaret Connolly (b. 1890), Howard (b. 1905), Mary Lawton (b. 1906), and Susan Wistar (b. 1909). Comfort returned to Haverford College to teach from 1897 to 1898, and 1902 to 1909. He took many trips abroad and taught Romance Languages at Cornell University from 1909 to 1917. In 1917, he returned to Haverford to serve as its president until 1940. He often lectured on Quaker topics at the College. Comfort was an elder, later minister, in the Society of Friends. He was Clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting from 1934 to 1953, president of Friends Historical Association from 1941 to 1953, and a member of the Board at Lingnan University, China. In 1937, he traveled to France at the request of the American Friends Service Committee to lecture on Quaker topics. William Wistar Comfort died December 23, 1955.

Extent

0.2 linear ft. (4 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

William Wistar Comfort's draft manuscripts of his book, "Just Among Friends: The Quaker Way of Life" describe the Quaker way of life, and the influence Quakers have had on issues of tolerance, peace, and economic and social justice. The manuscript includes Wistar's notes and edits, and the collection includes promotional materials related to the book's publication.

Acquisition

Unknown.

Related Materials

  • HC.MC.811 Haverford College History Department papers
  • HC.MC.975.10.002 Comfort family papers
  • HC.MC.1191 Morris-Shinn-Maier collection
  • HC.MC.1195 William Wistar Comfort papers

Processing Information

Processed by Kara Flynn; completed September, 2015.

Title
"Just Among Friends: The Quaker Way of Life," 1940
Author
Kara Flynn
Date
September, 2015
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 repoductions from Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections Library

Contact:
370 Lancaster Ave
Haverford PA 19041 USA US