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 10 Collections and/or Records:

Dora Anne Gilbert Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-050
Overview

Dora Ann Gilbert (1869-1964), was Quaker librarian and genealogist from Chester, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Swarthmore College in 1893. The collection contains chiefly biographical and genealogical materials relating to the Gilbert, Strickland, Trego, and allied families, together with memorabilia relating to Swarthmore College Class of 1893, of which Gilbert was a member.

Dates: 1893-1958

Jesse Herman Holmes Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-064
Overview Jesse Herman Holmes (1864-1942), was a Quaker philosophy professor at Swarthmore College, 1900-1937. Holmes was an active participant in AFSC relief after World War I, travelling to oversee work in reconstruction throughout Europe. Holmes was the president of the National Federation of Religious Liberals and an active member of the Socialist party. Collection contains correspondence, biographical data, writings, and sermons. Also audio cassettes of reminiscences of friends, former students,...
Dates: 1905-1973

William I. Hull Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-069
Overview William I. Hull, a Quaker pacifist, taught history at Swarthmore College from 1892 until his death in 1939. He was the Librarian of Friends Historical Library and also authored numerous books and articles, particularly on the subjects of Quakers in Holland, William Penn, peace, and international relations. The Papers contain correspondence (1900-1939), diaries (1892-1939), published and unpublished writings, papers relating to conferences and committees in which he participated, reference...
Dates: 1843-1939 (bulk 1900-1939)

Emily Cooper Johnson Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-078
Overview

Emily Cooper Johnson was a Quaker author and reformer, born 1885 and died 1966 The collection contains correspondence, articles, reviews, and other papers, relating to Johnson's books, Dean Bond of Swarthmore: A Quaker Humanist (1927), and Under Quaker Appointment: The Life of Jane P. Rushmore (1955); together with business and financial papers, family marriage certificates, reference materials, clippings, and photos.

Dates: 1884-1964

Charles Palmer Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-112
Overview Charles Palmer (1863-1966) was a Quaker teacher, lawyer, and real estate broker from Chester, Pennsylvania. The collection includes family correspondence, including that of Palmer as a student at Swarthmore College, diaries of Palmer's father, Lewis Palmer (1837-1917), mother, Hannah H. Palmer (1836-1917), and other family members in Chester and Delaware counties, Pa., account books, business and legal papers, essays, poetry, clippings, memorabilia, and other papers. Includes material...
Dates: 1829-1942

Samuel C. (Samuel Copeland) Palmer Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-114
Overview Samuel Copeland Palmer (1874-1961) was Professor of Botany at Swarthmore College, Pa., from 1909 to 1942 and a lifelong member of the Society of Friends. In 1929, he served as botanist in Bowdoin-Baffin Land expedition under the command of Donald B. MacMillan, and after his retirement from teaching, he worked on a project to illustrate all plant species in Delaware County, Pa. This collection contains biographical material, writings, correspondence, and Swarthmore College memorabilia. It is...
Dates: 1895-1957

Parrish Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-229
Overview Collection contains papers of the Parrish family, a prominent Philadelphia Quaker family. Includes correspondence, writings, and other papers of Edward Parrish, first president of Swarthmore College. Also of special interest is the correspondence of Dillwyn Parrish and his aunt and uncle, William and Deborah Parrish Wright; the letters of the Wrights in 1835 and 1836 give information about abolition and anti-slavery efforts in Lancaster County. A scrapbook assembled by Clemmons Parrish...
Dates: 1780-1966

David Hutchinson Scull Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-135
Overview David Hutchinson Scull (1914-1983) was a Quaker businessman and civil rights activist in Virginia. He graduated from Swarthmore College in 1936, joined the Society of Friends while a student, and served on the Swarthmore College Board of Managers from 1974-1977. He was president of Turnpike Press, a family publishing company, and an insurance executive. He also was clerk of Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and a founder of Partnership for Productivity, a Quaker...
Dates: 1931-1936

Benjamin Sharp Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-136
Overview Benjamin Sharp (1858-1915), a zoologist who was primarily affiliated with the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, attended Swarthmore College (1876) and earned a M.D. and Ph. D. from the University of Pennsylvania. A birthright member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), Dr. Sharp was the son of Benjamin and Hannah B. (Leedom) Sharp of the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pa. He was married to Virginia May of Ridley, Mass. The family moved to Massachusetts in the early 20th...
Dates: 1809-1915

Frederick Barnes Tolles Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-218
Overview

Frederick Barnes Tolles (1915-1975), Quaker librarian, teacher, and historian, was Director of Friends Historical Library from 1951-1970, and a member of the Department of History at Swarthmore College. This collection contains the papers of primarily relating to his books and articles on Quaker history and biography, along with other writings, including research notes on a proposed history of Swarthmore College.

Dates: 1871-1970