John Russell Hayes Papers

John Russell Hayes (1866-1945) was a Quaker educator, poet, and Librarian of Swarthmore College, 1906-1927, and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College, 1927-1935. He was born in 1866, the son of William M. and Rachel (Russell) Hayes, and was descended from a long-time Chester County, Pa., Quaker family. He spent much of his childhood on the Hayes family farm on the Brandywine River. He married Emma Gawthrop of Wilmington, Delaware, in 1892. Both were graduates of Swarthmore College, Class of 1888.

J. Russell Hayes graduated from the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania, but he only practiced law for a year before returning to Swarthmore College to teach literature and composition. He also attended Harvard, Oxford, the University of Strassburg, Germany.

In 1906 he became College Librarian, a position he held until 1927. From 1927 to 1935, he served as Librarian of Friends Historical Library, and after his retirement, he was made Librarian Emeritus. Hayes supported the war effort in 1918, a position that was controversial among Quakers. J. Russell Hayes and his wife were both members of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting. They had three daughter, Esther, Katharine, and Eleanor, all of whom were also Swarthmore College graduates. Emma Hayes died in 1939, and J. Russell Hayes died Dec. 29, 1945. He was the author of a number of books, primarily of verse. Most of his poetry reflected the local landscape and his Quaker roots.