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Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Records: Committee on Racial Concerns (1978-1996)

 Collection — othertype: SW/Phy/801
Identifier: QM-Phy-801

Scope and Contents

The records of the Committee on Racial Concerns include minutes of the committee from 1978 through 1991, as well as financial papers, publications, correspondence -- both personal and committee-wide -- and personnel recruitment and hiring information. Also included are miscellaneous documents, letters, and flyers from various events attended or sponsored by the committee, or its members; and other committee and personal memorabilia.

Organization:

  1. Series 1. Minutes
  2. Series 2. Correspondence
  3. Series 3. Finances & Personnel
  4. Series 4. Relations with Other Groups
  5. Series 5. Public Education & Other Projects
  6. Series 6. Miscellaneous

Dates

  • Creation: 1977-91

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Access may be provided via digital or microfilm copy, per repository policy.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright has not been assigned to the Repositories. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the individual Meeting or its successor. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Repositories as the holder(s) of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.

Conditions Governing Use

The Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Records Committee restricts access to certain materials with implications for personal privacy. Details available in repository.

Biographical / Historical

Attention to the issue of Racial Concerns is long standing in the Society of Friends, as shown by the existence of committees in both Hicksite and Orthodox Branches dating from 1921. When the branches combined in 1955, the Race Relations Committee was formed and continued to operate until 1970, when its scope was broadened to include other community issues and its name was changed to the Friends Community Involvement Program. In 1972, it became the Committee on Community Involvement to reflect changes in structure and mission, and continued under that name when the Meeting for Social Concerns was laid down and its committees placed under the Coordinating Committee for Testimonies and Concerns (CC-2). At the end of 1978, the committee was almost completely re-staffed, reflecting frustrations with inaction within the Committee, the Meeting, and the community. With those changes came the new name of Racial Concerns. The committee continued to operate, interacting with the Yearly and Representative Meetings as well as outside groups and other PYM committees with the objective of understanding and working to reduce racial tensions and injustice in society and individuals.

Extent

4 linear ft. (8 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Committee on Racial Concerns took up the activities and experience of the Committee on Community Involvement when the latter was laid down at the end of 1978. It operated under the Coordinating Committee for Testimonies and Concerns (CC-2) until it was laid down in 1996.

Physical Location

This collection is stored at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Deposit, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.

Related Materials

Researchers interested in the issue of Racial Concerns withing the Society of Friends in Philadelphia should also see the records of the Race Relations Committee, RG2/Phy/800, and the Friends Community Involvement Program & Committee on Community Involvement, under the Meeting for Social Concerns, RG2/Phy/758. Other related materials may be found in the Peace Committee records (RG2/Phy/770) and Southern Africa Committee (RG2/Phy/810).

Title
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Records: Committee on Racial Concerns (1978-1996)
Date
2004
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 Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College Library