Historical News: Friends Historical Association

Historical News Friends Historical Association The Annual Meeting of Friends Historical Association was held on November 30, 1953 in the Arch Street Meetinghouse in Philadelphia. The Treasurer's report was heard and approved. A special minute of appreciation was recorded for the careful and conscientious work of our Treasurer, William Mintzer Wills. Four of the five Directors whose terms expired in 1953 were renominated. It was announced that Edward Woolman had asked to be released after many years on the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee. The Secretary was asked to express the Association's appreciation of his long and valuable services. Lyman W. Riley was nominated to fill Edward Woolman's place on the Board. The five nominees were elected for a term of three years. Deep appreciation was expressed for the devoted service of Lydia F. Gummere, who has been the Association's Curator for many years and who has now asked to be released. Katharine W. Elkinton will replace her. President Henry J. Cadbury briefly reviewed the year's activities of the Association and then introduced the speaker for the occasion, George A. Walton. His subject was "Jesse Kersey's Narrative, 1851." From the Narrative itself and from the letters of his great-grandfather, Joseph S. Walton, the speaker reconstructed some of the tribulations and vicissitudes in the life of a Quaker minister in the early part of the nineteenth century. After the address refreshments were served in the East Room, and members and their guests had an opportunity to see the Association's historical exhibits, formerly in the Old City Hall in Independence Square, but now appropriately housed in this historic meetinghouse . From Quaker Libraries A recent addition to the Quaker manuscripts in the Haverford College Library was a collection of the papers of William H. S. Wood (1840-1907). In 1881 this New York Friend announced his desire to collect material relating to Friends and 39 40Bulletin of Friends Historical Association the Civil War, and asked that information be sent to him in regard to the experiences of individuals or groups during the conflict. The collection is composed of various letters he received in response to this appeal; copies of extracts from the minutes of the Meetings for Sufferings of the northern Yearly Meetings; extracts from the letters and diary of John B. Crenshaw; miscellaneous printed and manuscript material. The collection came to Haverford as the gift of Arnold Wood, Jr., of Locust, New Jersey. Another valuable addition to the Haverford Quaker Collection was a five-page letter written by Elias Hicks to Edwin A. Atlee, dated Jericho, Ninth Month 27, 1824. In this letter Hicks describes an interview he has just had with Anna Braithwaite. *7t*Tt" A small collection of letters from Elias Hicks to John Comly, Hugh and Susanna Judge, and Rachel Hunt has recently been presented to the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Twelve manuscripts of Mary and William Howitt have been added to the small collection of their letters in the library. Addressed to her publishers, to Miss Acton, Mrs. Hall, and others, these letters relate to her work, to mesmerism, to the Ohio floods, and the death of her sister. In one of the letters she writes to Miss Acton, "My publishers dish is not worth sending you as it consists of stewed authors brains & marrow." A notable group of letters of Anna Braithwaite (1788-1859), English Quaker minister who visited America, is now deposited in the library on microfilm through the courtesy of a member of the Braithwaite family in England. REPORT OF THE TREASURER For the year Eleventh Month 14, 1952 to Eleventh Month 16, 1953 Receipts Dues received: Current ......................... $1,803.00 Arrears ......................... 93.00 Advance ........................ 27.00 Life Membership ................. 75.00 ------------$1,998.00 Bulletins and royalties ......................... 401.18 Income from investments ....................... 275.50 Gifts ....................................... 256.00 2,930.68 Cash balance from 1951-52 ...................... 2,285.67 Total receipts .................................... $5,216.35 Disbursements Annual Meeting, 1952 ................. 122.00 Annual Meeting, 1953 ................. 17.00 ------------ 139.00 Spring Meeting, 1953 ......................... 22.25 Bulletin (two issues) .......................... 1,271.70 Editor's fee for Bulletin ........................ 300.00 Five-year Index (printing) ..................... 425.00 Editor's fee...