Research in Progress

RESEARCH IN PROGRESS Compiled by Barbara L. Curtis Margaret D. Schnaar, 54 W Packer St., Woodbury, NJ 08096, is conducting a survey of activities of Quakers in West New Jersey, 1770-1783. Her work, being carried out under the aegis of the New Jersey Historical Commission, will include an examination of relevant monthly meeting minutes of the Society of Friends. * * * Two persons are doing research on meetinghouse architecture. Suzanne Daniel, 11322 Melrose, Livonia, MI 48150, is concerned with nineteenth century meetinghouses in New York. Marian K. Lynch, 21268 Woodhill Dr., Northville, MI 48167, is utilizing architecture as an aid to a current project to restore a meetinghouse in Livonia, Michigan. * * * The work of compiling historical accounts of Friends meetings is a research interest of several persons. Several Friends are involved in preparation for the 300th anniversary of Providence Monthly Meeting, Media, PA. They are Joseph M. Elliott, 4615 Woodland Ave., Drexel Hill, PA 19026, Ralph H. Pickett, 411 No. Middletown Rd., Apt. A-106, Lima, PA 19037, and Jane L. Carter, Box 227, Oak Lodge, Gradyville, PA 19039. In the last issue of Quaker History there was a notice of an historical study relating to Friends in Chichester, PA. Concord Monthly Meeting, on behalf of Chichester Friends Meeting at Boothwyn, PA, has commissioned Ruthellen P. and William Davis, 369 Echo Valley Lane, Newtown Square, PA 19073, to continue the project with emphasis on the early school and burying ground of Friends. Catherine A. Young, 516 Orkney Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212, a member of the faculty at the Baltimore campus of the University of Maryland, is working on a book on the Upper Eastern shore of Maryland in the 18th century. The history of land ownership in the area and the problems of manumission of slaves will play an important role. * * * Nancy V. Webster, 9 East Rose Valley Rd., Wallingford, PA 19086, has been doing research on Quaker botanists of southeastern Pennsylvania with a view to creating a documentary film for use on public television. * * * Priscilla M. Thompson, 418 N. Union St., Wilmington, DE 19805, under a grant from the Delaware Humanities Forum, is researching materials on Thomas Garrett, Harriet Tubman, and the Underground Railway in Delaware. * * * Quakers and agriculture in southeastern Pennsylvania is the theme of an annotated bibliography under preparation by Gregory Sharrow, 2003 N. 49th St., Philadelphia , PA 19031. A doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, Sharrow plans to include manuscript sources as well as printed works. Joan Schuman, 1023 Waverly St., Philadelphia, PA 19147, is examining the correspondence of Lucretia Mott with W. L. Garrison and her son-in-law, Edward M. Davis, for any references to the community of LaMott, in Cheltenham Township , Montgomery County, PA. * * * Nancy Rosenberg, 855 S. First St., Ann Arbor, MI 48103, is examining the relationship between law and society in 18th century Pennsylvania in a doctoral 60 Research In Progress61 dissertation for the University of Michigan. She is investigating records of church discipline, including those of the Society of Friends. Kofi Mensah of Ghana, Africa, is writing a book about the black response to Quakerism and the impact of Quakerism on black life. Mensah is at present living at Pendle Hill, Wallingford, PA 19086. The life histories of several Quakers are being prepared by a number of scholars. Margaret J. Gillespie, 198 University Manor, Hershey, PA 17033, is interested in Hannah Whitall Smith. David W. Maxey is continuing his study of Henry Drinker, a Philadelphia Quaker Merchant in the latter part of the 18th century, and is also gathering information about Samuel Preston and David Sands. * * * Charles F. Jenkins, Quaker agriculturalist and publisher, is the subject of a biography being prepared by Robert L. Fincham, 425 N. 5th St., Lehighton, PA 18235. This material is to appear in the American Conifer Society Bulletin, as part of the Profile ofa Plantsman Series.* * * William H. Armstrong, P.O. Box 496, Burton, OH 44021, is writing a book on Edward P. Smith, 1827-1876, who was at one time commissioner of Indian Affairs . * * * Rosemary Abend, 158 Via Monte d'Oro, Redondo Beach, CA 90277, is doing a doctoral thesis for the University of California at Los Angeles on philanthropy in Philadelphia in the...