Historical News

HISTORICAL NEWS The Spring Meeting ofFriends Historical Association was held at Wilmington Meetinghouse at Fourth and West Streets in Wilmington, Delaware, on Fifth Month 11, 1963. The day was John Dickinson's, in the main. That great but too-little-appreciated writer and statesman of the later eighteenth century—was he a Quaker or a quasi-Quaker?—attended Wilmington meeting in his later years, and his body lies buried in the meeting's burying ground. A historical marker pointing this out was dedicated in the meetinghouse yard on this day. President Howard Brinton opened the meeting by calling for a period of silent worship. Then he introduced Anna Rupert Biggs of Wilmington, who read a delightful and knowledgeable paper on the history of the meeting and of the meetinghouse. Leon de Valinger, Archivist of the State of Delaware, followed with a most interesting talk on John Dickinson, as he revealed himself in his correspondence . Mr. de Valinger is now engaged in preparing a scholarly edition of Dickinson's letters. The meeting was well attended. Invitations had been sent to members of the Friends Social Union and to Friends of the John Dickinson Mansion. James R. Frorer and Allan Kruse were very helpful in providing liaison with Wilmington Friends in preparing for this meeting. The Index to Volumes 46-50 (1957-1961) of the Bulletin of Friends Historical Association, prepared by Lyman W. Riley, is now ready. Any Association member may have a copy, free of charge, by writing to Friends Historical Association, Haverford College Library, Haverford, Pennsylvania. 106 ...