%eadnotat; ]> 5029coff An Inventory of the Coffin Family Papers, 1797-1932 Finding Aid Prepared by FHL staff Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Before 1967 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, December 2000. ENG Coffin Family Papers, 1797-1932 FHL staff Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Before 1967 Descriptive Summary Coffin Family Papers, 1797-1932 RG 5/029 Coffin Family 6 boxes; 3 linear ft. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399 U.S.A.

For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. The Coffin family were Quakers of Wayne County, Indiana. Elijah Coffin was born in 1793 in Guilford County, N.C., the son of Bethuel and Hannah Dicks Coffin. His son and daughter-in-law, Charles F. and Rhoda M. Coffin were active in the peace movement, prison reform, reform of the treatment of the insane, and the temperance movement. Father and son both served as Clerk of Indiana Yearly Meeting. The collection contains family correspondence, journals, business papers, and miscellaneous writings. Includes documents and letters pertaining to Charles F., Rhoda M., and Elijah Coffin's prison reform activities and articles concerning the treatment of the insane, Indian rights, and temperance. Also incldues manuscripts having to do with Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends and the Cincinnati Book Association of Friends.

Repository:

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081-1399

Phone: (610) 328-8496 FAX: (610) 690-5728

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE

Elijah Coffin was born in 1793 in Guilford County, N.C., the son of Bethuel and Hannah Dicks Coffin. He married Naomi Hiatt in 1820, and the family moved to Milton, Indiana, in 1824. Elijah worked as a banker, and the family moved for a short time to Cincinnati and then to Richmond, Indiana. Benjamin and Elizabeth Hiatt, Naomi's parents, also migrated to Indiana at the same time, together with Naomi's brother, Mordecai, and his family. Charles F. Coffin, the son of Elijah, was born in 1823 and married Rhoda Moorman Johnson in 1847; he was employed as a banker. Charles F. and Rhoda M. Coffin were active in the peace movement, prison reform, reform of the treatment of the insane, and the temperance movement. He succeeded his father as Clerk of Indiana Yearly Meeting from 1857 to 1884. Charles F. and Rhoda M. Coffin's youngest son, Percival Brooks Coffin, also a banker and active in Quaker and philanthropic causes, was born in 1865. He married Lucy V. Baxter and was one of the original members of the 57th Street Meeting in Chicago.

SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS

The collection contains family correspondence (1828-1913), journals of Elijah Coffin (1842), Benajah Coffin (1826), and Percival Brooks Coffin (1883-1920), business papers of Elijah Coffin and Charles F. Coffin, and miscellaneous writings. Includes documents and letters pertaining to Charles F., Rhoda M., and Elijah Coffin's prison reform activities and articles concerning the treatment of the insane, Indian rights, and temperance. Also manuscripts having to do with Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends and the Cincinnati Book Association of Friends. Correspondents include Elijah Coffin, Rhoda M. Coffin, Mordecai Hiatt, and Rufus Jones.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into nine series:

Biographical and genealogical Business papers Correspondence Prison reform work (Charles F., Rhoda M., and Elijah Coffin) Writings Printed material Pictures Memorabilia Reference material ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Accession information

Donor: Mrs. Bennett Cooper (Emily Fletcher Cooper), 1961-1964

Lucy Vincent Baxter (born 1868) was a daughter of William Baxter and his second wife, Mary Ellen. She married Percival Brooks Coffin. The donor, Mrs. Bennett Cooper (Emily Fletcher Cooper), was their niece.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Friends Historical Library as the owner 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

[Indicate the cited item or series here], Coffin Family Papers, RG5/029, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Processing information

Sorted and filed in Record Group 5. In 2007, the photographs were removed to PA 145 and stored in two boxes.

Elijah Coffin's spectacles and case were removed to Relic [#218], July 1974.

Photographs stored in PA 145, inventory in repository.

Related Material

See also:

RG 5/011, William Baxter Papers (formerly Collins-Baxter Papers). Both collections were given to Friends Historical Library by Mrs. Bennett Cooper (Emily Fletcher Cooper) whose aunt, Lucy V. Baxter (her mother's sister), was married to Percival Brooks Coffin. See also: Charles F. and Rhoda M. Coffin Collection, Quaker Archives, Earlham College. SELECTED SEARCH TERMS Materials catalogued separately

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Friends Historical Library (TRIPOD). Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings:

Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends Quakers -- Indiana Prison reformers Social reformers Temperance Mental illness -- Treatment -- History Indians of North America Quakers -- North Carolina Coffin family Wayne County (Ind.) Cincinnati Book Association of Friends Coffin, Elijah, 1798-1862 Coffin, Rhoda M., (Rhoda Moorman), 1826-1909 Hiatt, Mordecai, 1799-1873 Jones, Rufus Matthew, 1863-1948 Hiatt, Benajah, 1773-1847 Coffin, Charles F. (Charles Fisher), 1823-1916 Coffin, Percival Brooks, 1865-1935 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the location and box numbers shown below:

Ser. 1. Biographical and genealogical material, 1797-1920, n.d. Account of members of the immediate family of Rhoda M. and Charles F. Coffin, children, daughter-in law, grandchildren, written by Rhoda M. Coffin 1 “Brief History of the First Coffins,” and other material on the same subject. 1 “Chateau of Courtiton, Portledge...”, etc. 1

Early homes of Coffin (Coffyn) family in France and England, with some account of members of the family.

Coffin coats-of arms 1 Brief history of early New England Coffins (Coffyn) 1 Genealogical data on Rhoda M. Coffin's family-- Faulkner, Johnson, Arnett. 1 Hiatt genealogy. 1

Attached is “A Long Record of Personal Friendship,” between Hiatt and Coffin families.

“Narrative of the settlement of Thomas and Hannah Symons in Wayne County, Indiana in the year 1811,” by Hannah Symons. 10-31-1860 1

Written 10-31-1860 for her brother Elijah Coffin.

Correspondence regarding, and a list of, Elijah Coffin papers deposited with Henry County Historical Museum, New Castle, Indiana 1 Elijah Coffin's will and letters of administration 10-22-1860 1 copies Journals, 1826-1920: Elijah Coffin(?) "Mem. Book of Trip East" 1844 1 Percival Brooks Coffin, diaries 1883-1920 1 22 diaries

See boxes 1a, 1b, 1c.

Benajah Hiatt, Diary of a trip to Carolina 1826 1 Marriage certificates, 1797-1847:

Chronologically arranged. See also marriage certificates in chart case.

Benajah Hiatt and Elisabeth White 3-8-1797 1

Parents of Naomi, wife of Elijah Coffin.

John Johnson and Judith Faulkner 5-22-1816 1 also, negative copy

Parents of Rhoda M., wife of Chas. F. Coffin

Mordecai Hiatt and Rhoda Dicks 9-29-1819 1

Mordecai was closely associated with Elijah Coffin and brother of Naomi, Elijah's wife.

Elijah Coffin and Naomi Hiatt 2-20-1820. 1

Parents of Charles F. Coffin

Charles F. (Fisher) Coffin and Rhoda M. (Moorman) 1 Johnson 3-25-1847 1 negative copy Samuel Fletcher and Elizabeth D. Hiatt 4-3-1840 1 Memorials to Chas. F. Coffin 1916 9mo 21 1

In The American Friend, cover picture and pp. 730-732.

Memorial of Rhoda M. Coffin 11-17-1909. 1 Ser. 2. Business papers, 1848-1901

Chronologically arranged.

Elijah Coffin, 1959-1866: Notebook, income and expenditures 1 Statement of property owned, and income 1859-1862 1 Estate executors papers: C.F. and Wm. H. Coffin. 1862, 1866 1

Includes Inventory and Appraisal of personal property, 1862, and “List of Books presented by the heirs of the late Elijah Coffin, deceased, to the Library of Richmond Preparative Meeting of Friends, 6mo 20 1866.”

Charles F. Coffin, 1848-1901: Account book 1848-1851 1 Agreement and membership certificate in The Publishing Association of Friends 9-9-1901 1 List of articles received from the children of Chas. F. and Rhoda M. Coffin, to be retained by them as part of a Memorial Library to the same. 1 Ser. 3. Correspondence, 1828-1913, n.d. Correspondence by Elijah Coffin 1846-1862 copies, 2 bound volumes Vol. 1 1846-1851; 1 Vol. 2 1851-1862 1 Miscellaneous, by various authors 1

Authors include Elijah Coffin; Judith Johnson, mother of Rhoda M. Coffin; Rachel Arnett, aunt of Rhoda M. Coffin; Rhoda M. Coffin, Rufus Jones; Mordecai Hiatt, friend and brother-in-law of Elijah Coffin.

Ser. 4. Documents and letters pertaining to Chas. F., Rhoda M., and Elijah Coffin's prison reform work, 1860-1888 Rhoda M. Coffin's certificate of membership in American Female Guardian Society June 1860 1 Chas. F. Coffin's certificate of appointment as Commissioner of House of Refuge 7-16-1872 by Gov. Conrad Baker of Indiana. 1 Rhoda M. Coffin's 2 certificates of appointment as member of Board of Managers of the Indiana Reformatory Institute for Women and Girls, signed by Gov. James D. Williams 3-7-1877 1

Also signed by Gov. Albert G. Porter, 3-30-1881.

Letters of introduction and commendation for Chas. F. and Rhoda M. Coffin by Indiana Governors 1

Letters particularly for their use on their trips abroad, as in cases of prison visitations.

Permissions for Chas. F. and Rhoda M. Coffin to visit various English prisons 1 Prisons and Criminal Treatment 1894 1 ms.

Issued by the Howard Association, London.

Ser. 5. Writings by members of Coffin family, 1848-1919, n.d. 2

Arranged alphabetically by author, and alphabetically by subject under each author.

Charles F. Coffin, 1848-1853, n.d.: “Memoir of Elijah Coffin by his son" 2 “Reflections and Aspirations” 1848-1853 2 Percival Brooks Coffin: “Quaker Mantras” 1-31-1919 typewritten 2

Includes correspondence regarding the writing.

Rhoda M. Coffin:

Includes typewritten ms. of addresses and articles) Also includes 2 lists and portions of a letter, on letterhead of her son Percival Brooks Coffin, regarding publication of his mother's addresses

“Care and Treatment of the Insane" 2 “Children of the Street" 2 “Convict Labor Issue" 2 “General Grant's Indian Policy” 2 “Hospital for the Insane at Dunning" 2 “Journey Abroad" 2 “Nobody Cared for Me" 2 “The Organization of the Home Mission Association of Women Friends of Indiana Yearly Meeting" 2 “Prison Reform" 2 “Some Accounts of the origin and conduct of the Women's Prison and Girl's Reformatory at Indianapolis" 2 “Sufferings of the Friends of Virginia and North Carolina on account of their Peace Principles" 2 “Woman in Home for Friendless" 2 “The Women's Christian Temperance Union" 2 “Women's Prisons" 2 Printed writings by members of Coffin family: Chas. F. Coffin, 1859-1909: Address read at the Johnson Picnic near Richmond, Indiana 7-6-1859 2 British and American Prisons 10-14-1891 2

An address delivered before the National Prison Congress at Pittsburgh, Pa.

“Eastern Indiana Early Pioneers” 2-19-1909 2

Article in New Castle, Ind. paper.

Extract from letter regarding semi-centennial an-universally of Iowa Yearly Meeting 2 Our Prison 6-9-1880 2

An address delivered before the Indiana Social Science Association, at Indianapolis.

“When Clay Visited Richmond. And What He Said in 1842." 11-14-1907 2

Published in The Henry County Tribune.

Elijah Coffin, 1855-1859, n.d.: Concise Statement of the Christian Doctrines of the Society of Friends. ca. 1855 2

Prepared by Elijah Coffin, approved by the Meeting for Sufferings, in 1855. Published Richmond, Ind., by The Central Book and Tract Committee of Friends. No.32

Condensed extract from the Journal of Elijah Coffin 9-20-1858 2 "The Mother's Catechism of Christian Doctrine and Practice..." 1859 2

Published in Richmond, Ind., by Central Book and Tract Committee of Friends.

“Remarks by a Member of the Society of Friends on the Subject of War..." by E.C. [Elijah Coffin?] 2 Rhoda M. Coffin, 1885-1886, n.d.: 2 “Friends' Work Among the Indians” 7-26-1885

Read at a meeting on the Indian missionary work, held at Friends' Meeting House, Chicago. Printed in Worker and Expositor, 8-6-1885.

Rise of Foreign Missions Amongst Friends 2 “Visit to Chicago” 2 Woman's Ministry, John Morris Co., Cgo. 1886 2 “Women's Prisons” 10-19-1885 2

Published in The Daily Inter Ocean.

Ser. 6. Printed material about members of Coffin family, 1898-1932

Chronologically arranged as far as possible.

Clipping, 1898 "A Story of the Past” 2

Clipping about group of 27 persons who left N. Car. for Ind. 53 years earlier. Among those still living was Chas. F. Coffin.

Clipping 3-26-1907from The Chicago Daily Tribune, “Yoke Fellows 60 Years” 2

re: wedding anniversary of Chas. F. and Rhoda M. Coffin, including biographical information. “...President Grant appointed Mr. Coffin head of the Committee of Friends in America in charge of Indian affairs at the time when the care of Indian tribes was allotted to the different churches....”

Clipping 4-4-1907 from The American Friend, regarding 60th wedding anniversary of Chas. F. and Rhoda M. Coffin 2

Including biographical information. “...For six years a prayer meeting was held weekly in C.F. Coffin's house which resulted in establishing Richmond, Indiana Monthly Meeting of Friends....”

Several clippings of obituary notices and sketches of Rhoda M. Coffin's life and reform work 1909. 2 Notices and reviews of Rhoda M. Coffin, Her Reminiscence, Addresses, Papers and Ancestry, edited by Mary Coffin Johnson 1910-1911 4 notices 2

Published by Grafton Press, N.Y. 1910. Includes The American Friend, 2-23-1911.

“Women's Prisons” February 1931 2

Article by Helen Buckler in Good House-keeping referring to Rhoda M. Coffin's prison reform work

“Elijah and Naomi Coffin Scholarship Founded” April 1932 2

Article in The Earlhamite.

Ser. 7. Pictures, 1842-1908 Photographs of Chas. F. and Rhoda M. Coffin PA 145 Photographs of Elijah Coffin family PA 145 Snapshots of various members of the family PA 145

Includes snapshots of relatives, and of family residences in Richmond and vicinity, and in New Garden, N.C. area from which family migrated.

Copies of portraits of early ancestors PA 145

Copies begin with Elizabeth, widow of Richard Coffin, born 1571.

Miscellaneous photographs PA 145

Includes J.B. Braithwaite, Earl of Shaftesbury, Thos. Ellwood's residence, Jordan's Meeting House and graveyard, Joseph Sturge.

Album PA 145 Album of photos of Percival Brooks Coffin 1908 PA 145 Album of photos of Rhoda M. Coffin at age 81 1906 PA 145 Photograph of Chas. F. and Rhoda M. Coffin and family, on their 60th anniversary PA 145 Ser. 8. Memorabilia, 1842-1883, n.d. Rhoda M. Johnson's (later Coffin) cook book 5-4-1845 3 Winnowed Hymns 1873 3

N.Y. and Cgo., Biglow and Main. Name of Eli Johnson inside cover.

Notebook of Scripture passages selected by Chas. F. Coffin 1842 3 “Clan-Coffyn” (Richmond branch) Christmas folder 1883 containing chart of relationship of three living generations, and birth and marriage dates. 3 Scarf made of bark of pineapple tree 3

Belonged to Priscilla White, given to E.D. Fletcher.

Braided strands of hair of Elizabeth Dix Hiatt 3 Ser. 9. Reference material, 1820-1911, n.d Having to do with the Society of Friends, 1820-1911, n.d.:

Chronologically arranged as far as possible.

Chronology of Indiana Yearly Meeting, and White Water Monthly Meeting of Friends 1820-1855 3

Includes a list of deaths.

A Testimony of Miami Monthly Meeting of Friends, concerning Joseph Cloud1832 3

Richmond, Ind., Larsh, printer., 1832 Copy which belonged to Mordecai Hiatt.

“Book Concern” letter 10-7-1835. 3

Elijah Coffin was corespondent and agent of Committee of Book Agency.

A Catechism...Society of Friends, by John Kendall, N.Y., Cooledge 1837 3 Circular Address to the Members of Indian Yearly concerning the distress existing in Ireland. 3-6-1847. 3 Memorial of Benajah Hiatt, by Elijah Coffin 1849 10mo 3 Accounts and correspondence regarding Cincinnati Book Association of Friends 1859-1860. 3

Chas. F. Coffin was treasurer of Book Fund of Indiana Yearly Meeting during part of this period. Elijah Coffin's name is signed to several letters, and accounts appear to be in his handwriting.

Report of the Deputation to North Carolina in regard to the Boarding School Debt 11-9-1860 3

Signed by Elijah Coffin.

Rhoda M. Coffin's class book 1860, 1861 3 Members of Richmond Preparative Meeting 1868 3 List of Converts during the “Revival,” Fifth St. Friends Meeting 1869 3 “Important suggestions and Facts for Christian" 3 "Professors: An Address on Temperance”, by Wm. Baxter. 1876. 3

Published by Central Book and Tract Committee of Friends, Richmond, Ind.

3 minutes to the Meetings of Friends constituting London Yearly Meeting, on behalf of Chas. F. and Rhoda M. Coffin. copies 3 Program of Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends, Richmond, Ind. 1904 3

Contains picture of old Yearly Meeting House.

Annual Report of the Home Mission Committee for the Monthly and Local Meetings of Indiana Yearly Meeting 1911 3 Invitation to Friends' Meeting House, Urbridge, to hear Charles and Rhoda Coffin n.d. 3 Clippings containing mention of members of the Society of Friends 3 Non-Quaker, 1814-1873, n.d.

Chronologically arranged as far as possible.

A Solemn Review of the Custom of War...by Noah Worcester 1814 3 Notes on Marion St. Sabbath School (non-denominational) begun in 1864 3

Includes list of scholars in R.M. Coffin's Infant Class.

“Early History of Richmond, Indiana” 1860 ms. 3

Prepared by “our venerable friend Jeremiah Cox, at the request of an Old Settlers Meeting..."

"Extrait de la Notice sur l'Etablissement pour le Traitement des Alienations Mentales”, 1866 3 “The Indiana Temperance Law” 1873 3 “Speech Against Capital Punishment delivered in the Indiana Legislature...", 3-10-1873by Wm. Baxter (Quaker) 3 Routes to the West 3 ms. Books, 1805-1972, n.d.: An English Spelling Book by Lindley Murray 1816 3

N.Y. Collins and Co. Used by Elijah Coffin.

Introduction to the English Reader...by Lindley Murray 1833 3

Published in Cincinnati by Morgan and Sanxay. Used by Elijah Coffin.

Select Poems...by John Fry 1805, 1872

Published in Stanford, Hull, 1805. Also includes History of Wayne County, Indiana, by Andrew W. Young, published in Cincinnati, Clarke and Co., printers, 1872. This mentions Elijah Coffin, p. 394, and has a portrait opposite. Used by Elijah Coffin.