GENERAL REFERENCE FILES OF THE SWARTHMORE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A Finding Aid for Records Deposited in Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

(17 boxes, plus photographs & maps)

©Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College 
 Seal of Swarthmore College
Table of contents
Abstract
The Borough of Swarthmore, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was incorporated in 1893. Previous to establishment of the Borough, the area was part of Springfield Township. It was settled by Quaker farmers and known as the traditional birthplace of early American artist, Benjamin West. The community, first known as Westdale, developed after Swarthmore College was founded by Hicksite Quakers in 1864 and the rail line was improved in the 1880s. The Swarthmore Historical Society was established in 1988 to document, preserve and protect the historic resources of Swarthmore. Its archives are stored in Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. The collection contains general reference files concerning the history, organizations, and activities of the Borough, combining materials collected by Swarthmore Historical Society with reference files compiled by Friends Historical Library.

Background note:
The Swarthmore Historical Society (SHS) was established in 1988 to document, preserve and protect the historic resources of Swarthmore Borough, Delaware Co., Pa. It serves as an archives for the Borough of Swarthmore and an information resource on the history of the community.

Scope and content
This collection combines related reference resources of Friends Historical Library and Swarthmore Historical Society and is administered by Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.

Administrative and Other Descriptive Information
Restrictions
Collection is open for research.

Copyright has not been assigned to the Repositories. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the individual Meeting or its successor. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Repositories as the holder(s) of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.

Preferred citation
Swarthmore Historical Society General Reference Files, RG 7/004, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Acquisition Information

In 1996 the collection of the Swarthmore Historical Society was deposited in Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. The material was sorted, described and combined with the reference files (Pamphlet Group 6) in the collection of Friends Historical Library. Because the histories of the Borough and Swarthmore College are intertwined, Friends Historical Library had compiled photographs and reference material on the Borough. The collections were consolidated to make the local history resources more easily accessible. In 2004, the reference collection was assigned a new catalogue number RG 7/004, as part of the Swarthmore Historical Society Archives. Records of organizations previously stored as part of the reference collection (Friendly Open House, Girl Scout Troop 16) were catalogued separately and assigned their own RG 7 call numbers.

Separated material
For photographs of Swarthmore, see the FHL Picture Collection PA 64. To search the collection of local maps, see manual card file in the Library.

Related material
See also related collections in Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College, including the Paul M. Pearson Papers, Swarthmore College Archives, and Swarthmore Country Week Picnic Association (SC 177).

Added entries
Subjects
  • Swarthmore (Pa.) -- History
  • Swarthmore Historical Society

    Contact information

    Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
    [http://www.swarthmore.edu/Library/friends]

    ©2004

     

    Collection inventory

    Note to Researchers: These records may only be consulted at Swarthmore, and are not available through inter-Library loan. To request materials on-site, please make sure to use the correct call numbers for the Library in which you wish to use the records:


    Series 1: Borough Government

    Borough Ordinances
    1893,1976
    Box 1

    		Includes Rules, from public newspaper notices: 1893. Summary. Ordinances and Regulations 3/1/1976.

    Rules
    1910
    Box 1

    		Rules, adopted 1910.

    Record Books of Attendance, Voting of Council
    3/1893-1/1935
    Box 1

    		Record Books of Attendance, Voting of Council, 3/1893-1/1935; Includes correspondence, standing committees, and a listing of Petitioners for the establishment of the Borough, copied by Mary Ann Jeavons.

    Borough Tree Committee
    Box 1

    Borough Street Committee
    Box 1

    Borough Hall
    Box 1

    Borough Parks
    Box 1

    Centennial Park

    Little Crum Park

    Umoja Park

    Thatcher Park

    Report of Borough Council
    1958-60
    Box 1

    		Published, with articles and photographs.

    Inventory of Swarthmore Borough Archives
    1996
    Box 1

    		Inventory of Swarthmore Borough Archives stored in Borough Hall, including building permits and plans, compiled by Mary Ann Jeavons.

    Miscellaneous clippings, etc.
    Box 1

    		Photocopies of items retained at Borough Hall.

    Swarthmore Borough, Planning Study
    1964
    Box 2

    Comprehensive Plan
    1965

    Town Center Revitalization
    1999

    Series 2: Businesses

    Apartments
    Box 3

    "College Inn" (proposed)
    Box 3

    Eastlawn Cemetery
    Box 3

    Ingleneuk Tea House
    Box 3

    Michael's College Pharmacy
    Box 3

    Movie Theater (proposed)
    Box 3

    Newspapers
    Box 3

    Railroad
    Box 3

    Real Estate Development Companies
    Box 3

    West Hill

    Swarthmore Improvement

    College Tract

    Emmons

    Gillespie

    Thayer

    Development: Rutgers Ave. condos

    Strath Haven Inn
    Box 3

    Swarthmore National Bank
    Box 3

    Swarthmore Co-op
    Box 3

    Miscellaneous Swarthmore Businesses
    1909-1989
    Box 3

    		Includes lists of stores in 1909 and 1989.

    Series 3: Organizations

    American Legion Post
    Box 4

    Churches
    Box 4

    Christian Science Church
    Box 4

    Swarthmore Methodist Episcopal Church
    Box 4

    Swarthmore Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends)

    Swarthmore Presbyterian
    Box 4

    Trinity Episcopal Church
    Box 4

    Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church
    Box 4

    Company H
    Box 4

    Friendly Open House
    Box 4

    Girl Scout Troop #16
    Box 4

    Players Club of Swarthmore
    Box 4

    Swarthmore Chautauqua.
    Box 4

    Swarthmore Fire and Protective Association.
    Box 4

    Swarthmore Garden Club.

    Swarthmore Historical Society
    Box 5

    Swarthmore League of Women Voters.
    Box 5

    Swarthmore Lions
    Box 5

    Swarthmore Nativity

    Swarthmore Recreation Association
    Box 5

    Swarthmore Red Cross
    Box 5

    Swarthmore Rotary

    Swarthmore Village Business and Professional Association

    Swarthmore Women's Club

    Miscellaneous
    1984 & n.d.
    Box 5

    		Includes Caucus Notice, 1894, The Swarthmore Social Temperence Conference, n.d.

    Series 4: Schools

    Public Schools
    Box 6

    "Union Room" for black children and Nona Royster Bragg controversy
    Box 6

    Swarthmore School District teachers' strike
    1978
    Box 6

    Swarthmore High School

    Swarthmore High School
    Box 6

    		Includes history, articles, programs, etc.

    Swarthmore High School Sports
    Box 6

    Swarthmore High School football programs
    Box 6

    Salute to Swarthmore High School
    1983
    Box 6

    		Also includes other materials of its final year.

    Commencement Programs
    Box 6

    The Garnet Record: Swarthmore High School Yearbooks
    1928-1967
    Box 6-7

    Class pictures
    1924-1967
    Box Oversize

    "Swarthmore as a Place to Live - Now and in the Future"
    1998
    Box 7

    		Proposal for re-use of District properties for seniors. Revised 1998.

    Private Schools
    Box 7-10

    Mary Lyons
    Box 7-8

    		Includes yearbooks (with many gaps), articles, etc.

    Swarthmore Academy
    Box 9

    Swarthmore College
    Box 9

    Swarthmore Preparative School
    Box 9-10

    Series 5: Buildings and Structures

    		Includes copies of site surveys. Organized by street address. Additional information compiled on individual addressed is filed with the surveys.

    Architects
    Box 11

    Academy
    Box 11

    Amherst
    Box 11

    Benjamin West
    Box 11

    Bowdoin
    Box 11

    Bryn Mawr
    Box 11

    Business District
    Box 11

    Cedar
    Box 11

    Chester Road - North
    Box 11

    Chester Road - South
    Box 11

    Chestnut
    Box 11

    Churches
    Box 11

    College Avenue
    Box 11

    College Buildings, campus
    Box 11

    Cornell
    Box 12

    Columbia
    Box 12

    Cresson Lane
    Box 12

    Crest Lane
    Box 12

    Dartmouth
    Box 12

    Dartmouth Circle
    Box 12

    Dickinson
    Box 12

    Dogwood
    Box 12

    Drew
    Box 12

    Drexel
    Box 12

    Elm
    Box 12

    Fairview
    Box 12

    Field House Lane
    Box 12

    Forest
    Box 12

    Garrett
    Box 12

    Gilpin Tract
    Box 12

    Guernsey
    Box 12

    Harvard
    Box 12

    Haverford Ave.
    Box 12

    Haverford Place
    Box 12

    Hillborn
    Box 12

    Juniata
    Box 12

    Kenyon
    Box 12

    Lafayette
    Box 12

    Magill
    Box 13

    Marietta
    Box 13

    Maple
    Box 13

    Michigan
    Box 13

    Morganwood
    Box 13

    Oberlin
    Box 13

    Ogden
    Box 13

    Park
    Box 13

    		Includes Deed, 1 Park Avenue, 1892.

    Parrish
    Box 13

    Princeton - North
    Box 13

    Princeton - South
    Box 13

    Riverview
    Box 13

    Rutgers
    Box 13

    Strath Haven
    Box 13

    Swarthmore Avenue
    Box 13