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Kite-Bassett Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-080

Scope and Contents

The collection contains correspondence and other papers of the Kite and Bassett families, mainly describing family life but also relating to Quaker activities, especially events at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Orthodox) and the New England Yearly Meeting and including discussions of the Wilbur-Gurney controversy. Several of the Kite children attended the Westtown School, and some of the letters are between them and their parents. Correspondents include Ruth Bassett, William Bassett, Elizabeth B. Boyce, Eunice B. Boyce, Hannah Bassett, Anna B. Newhall, Lydia B. Kite, James Kite, Ruth K. Smedley, Jacob Smedley, James R. Kite, Rebecca Kite, Abbie Kite, and Ruth MacCollin Hoffman, granddaughter of Lydia B. Kite. Of particular note is the correspondence of the latter, 1918-19, describing Quaker reconstruction work in France while she was a participant in the American Friends Service Committee relief efforts.

Dates

  • Creation: 1837-1930

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some of the items in this collection may be protected by copyright. The user is solely responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns to reuse, publish, or reproduce relevant items beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to the law. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/.

Biographical / Historical

The Kite and Bassett families were Orthodox Quakers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Lynn, Massachusetts, respectively. James Kite was born in 1808, the son of Benjamin and Rebecca Kite of Philadelphia. In 1837 he was granted a certificate to Salem Monthly Meeting in Massachusetts to marry Lydia B. Rodman, widow of Caleb Rodman and daughter of Isaac and Ruth Bassett of Lynn. James and Lydia had eight children, viz. Ruth, James Rodman, Eliza B., Rebecca, Isaac C. Bassett, Hannah B., Lydia and Abby; Eliza and Isaac died young. James died in 1856 at the age of 48. Lydia B., a minister in Philadelphia Monthly Meeting for the Northern District, died in 1872 at the age of 60 years. Ruth Kite married Jacob Smedley Jr. in 1865. Ruth MacCollin, a granddaughter of Lydia B. Kite, was active in Quaker reconstruction work in France. She married Wray Hoffman in France in 1919 while they were participants in the American Friends Service Committee relief efforts.

Extent

3 linear ft. (6 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Kite and Bassett families were Orthodox Quakers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Lynn, Massachusetts, respectively. James Kite was born in 1808, the son of Benjamin and Rebecca Kite of Philadelphia. In 1837 he was granted a certificate to Salem Monthly Meeting in Massachusetts to marry Lydia B. Rodman, widow of Caleb Rodman and daughter of Isaac and Ruth Bassett of Lynn. James and Lydia had eight children, viz. Ruth, James Rodman, Eliza B., Rebecca, Isaac C. Bassett, Hannah B., Lydia and Abby; Eliza and Isaac died young. James died in 1856 at the age of 48. Lydia B., a minister in Philadelphia Monthly Meeting for the Northern District, died in 1872 at the age of 60 years. Ruth Kite married Jacob Smedley Jr. in 1865. The collection contains correspondence and other papers of the Kite and Bassett families, mainly describing family life but also relating to Quaker activities, especially events at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Orthodox) and the New England Yearly Meeting and including discussions of the Wilbur-Gurney controversy. Several of the Kite children attended the Westtown School, and some of the letters are between them and their parents. Correspondents include Ruth Bassett, William Bassett, Elizabeth B. Boyce, Eunice B. Boyce, Hannah Bassett, Anna B. Newhall, Lydia B. Kite, James Kite, Ruth K. Smedley, Jacob Smedley, James R. Kite, Rebecca Kite, Abbie Kite, and Ruth MacCollin Hoffman, granddaughter of Lydia B. Kite. Of particular note is the correspondence of the latter, 1918-19, describing Quaker reconstruction work in France while she was a participant in the American Friends Service Committee relief efforts.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into four series:

  1. Bassett family correspondence
  2. Kite family correspondence
  3. Other correspondence
  4. Miscellaneous

Physical Location

For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donor: Gift of Donald and Ruth MacCollin Hoffman

Date: 1974

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was given by Donald and Ruth Hoffman; Ruth MacCollin Hoffman is a granddaughter of Lydia Bassett Rodman Kite.

Processing Information

Letters and papers of Kite and Bassett families received unprocessed. Papers sorted and filed in documents boxes and placed in Record Group 5.

Title
An Inventory of the Kite-Bassett Family Papers, 1837-1930
Author
FHL staff
Date
1974
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries

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 Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College Library

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