Skip to main content

SFHL/FHL/RG5. Family and Personal Papers

 Record Group Term
Identifier: SFHL/FHL/RG5
The largest category of collections in Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College is that of Personal and Family Papers. These materials include correspondence, journals and diaries, and property records of Quaker individuals and family groups they date from the mid 17th century to the present.

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Ash-Schofield Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-004
Overview Samuel Shinn Ash and his wife, Sarah Jane Schofield Ash, were prominent Quakers, active in a variety of philanthropic activities, including anti-slavery, peace, temperance, women's rights, and education. Samuel Shinn Ash was apprenticed as an engineer and machinist and worked in manufacturing. This collection consists of family papers, manuscript letters and memorabilia, largely of a domestic nature. Includes some descriptions of Meetings and religious journeys, of the early struggles of...
Dates: 1796 - 1933; Majority of material found within 1833 - 1912

Biddle family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-177
Overview This collection contains the papers of Philadelphia Quaker Owen Biddle (1737-1799), his son, Clement Biddle (1778-1856), and numerous descendants. Owen Biddle, a scientist and merchant, was a member of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting and helped in the establishment of Westtown School (1799). Owen Biddle's papers, 1772-1793, (Series 1) include correspondence, and journals, some of which relate to his Revolutionary War activities. Three of his letterbooks, 1778-1779, have been microfilmed. The...
Dates: 1793-1951

J & J Darlington Brothers Papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-333
Content Description Business records of the historic Delaware County, Pennsylvania, dairy farm and creamery of J and J Darlington, as well as the business records of the Darlington/Darling Post Office, about 1879-1922. The rural branch of Postal Service was established about 1879 and officially closed in 1976. The name was changed to Darling Post Office in 1896 to avoid confusion with a Darlington in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The collection also contains some family papers - specifically, designs by...
Dates: Majority of material found within about 1875-1922

Francis A. Harvey Diaries

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-246
Overview

This collection contains 18 diaries/daybooks kept by Francis A. Harvey, a birthright Quaker. Harvey lived in many parts of the United States as part of his work for the S.S. Kresge Company. The diaries detail the lives and travels of Francis Harvey and his Mennonite wife, Elsie Harvey.

Dates: 1928-1942, 1962-2001

Jenkins Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-211
Overview The Jenkins family papers include journals, a letterbook, other miscellaneous correspondence and a variety of other material. Of particular note are the journals and copybook kept by Jabez Jenkins, a Quaker merchant. The documents from Canton were apparently assembled for his children after the death of their mother and contain parental advice on a variety of subjects. Another letter, written in 1741 from Sophia Hume to Madam Shettele, provides information about her attitude towards...
Dates: 1741-1877

Alfred Parrish family papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-342
Overview

Business letter books, estate papers, and personal correspondence of Alfred Parrish (1848-1921). He and his brother Dillwyn Parrish were involved with tramway (trolley) development internationally. A birthright Quaker from Philadelphia, Alfred Parrish left the United States in 1879 and spent the remainder of his life in Europe, mostly England and Italy. His daughter, Gladys Parrish Huntington, was a well-known novelist.

Dates: 1851 - 1957

Caleb Peirce letterbook

 Collection — Othertype RG5-340
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-340
Overview

Letter book of Philadelphia Quaker merchant Caleb Peirce (1763-1853). 270 complete business letters, 43 partial with alternating pages removed. Peirce operated a hardware store that offered all types of metalwork as well as related household and some fine goods. He corresponded with shippers, suppliers, fellow merchants, and customers, and the letters document the challenges of domestic and international commerce.

Dates: 1805 - 1812