%eadnotat; ]> 5067hoki An Inventory of the Howland-Kirby Family Papers, circa 1790-circa 1973 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. 1993 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, December 2000. ENG Howland-Kirby Family Papers, circa 1790-circa 1973 FHL staff Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 1993 Descriptive Summary Howland-Kirby Family Papers, circa 1790-circa 1973 RG 5/067 3 boxes; 1.5 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. Howland and Kirby families were Quakers of Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and New Bedford, Mass. The collection contains primarily transcripts and photocopies of their papers. Of particular interest are dairies of Weston Howland, Jr., with notes on the arrival of whaling ships in New Bedford and details of a controversy over the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge; those of Abby S., and Rachel, which describe a trip taken by Abby to New York, N.Y., and Washington, D.C. (1888) and women preaching at Friends meetings; and papers of George Kirby including town records (1827-1849) of Dartmouth, Mass., particularly relating to his duties as town treasurer; and genealogical materials.

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

Weston Howland (1815-ca. 1901) was a birthright Quaker and a prominent businessman involved in the whale oil industry. The Howland Family lived in and around New Bedford, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, MA. The collection includes his will, correspondence, as well as papers related to his business. Weston married Rebecca Kirby (1825-1895), the daughter of George and Abigail Kirby. George Kirby (1794-1882) was both treasurer and tax collector for the town of Dartmouth. His financial and personal papers are included in the collection. Weston Howland, Jr. (1852-1878), son of Weston and Rebecca Howland, joined the family whale oil business. His correspondence with his parents as well as his journals are included in the papers. The journals of his sister, Rachel (1853-1934), are also included in the collection. One of his other sisters, Alice (b. 1867) was the mother of the donor of the collection, Elizabeth Howland Jordan.

SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS

The collection contains primarily transcripts and photocopies of the papers of George Kirby (1794-1882), farmer and local official, of Dartmouth, Mass.; his wife, Abigail H. (Smith) Kirby (1825-1895); their daughter, Rebecca (Kibry) Howland (1825-1895); her husband, Weston Howland (1815-ca. 1901), businessman and merchant, of Fairhaven and New Bedford, Mass.; and their children, Weston, Jr. (1852-1878), Rachel (1853-1934), and Abby S. (1861-1950) Howland, and Alice H. (Howland) Garrett (b. 1867). Chiefly includes personal diaries (1820-1891) of Howland family members and Abigail H. (Smith) Kirby, containing observations on the weather, trips taken, social activities, and daily and family affairs. Diaries of Weston Howland, Jr., include notes on the arrival of whaling ships in New Bedford and details of a controversy over the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge; those of Abby S., and Rachel describe a trip taken by Abby to New York, N.Y., and Washington, D.C. (1888) and women preaching at Friends meetings; and diaries of Abigail H. (Smith) Kirby reflect her philosophical and religious life as well as involvement in the Dartmouth Friends meeting. Also contains correspondence, diaries, poems, property records, and other papers of Weston Howland, his wife, daughter, Alice H. (Howland) Garrett, and his mother, Abigail (Hathaway) Howland (1774-1867); papers of George Kirby including town records (1827-1849) of Dartmouth, Mass., particularly relating to his duties as town treasurer; and genealogical materials.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into six series:

Biographical and genealogical Weston Howland Howland family Hathaway family Kirby family Miscellaneous ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Accession information

Donor: Elizabeth Howland Jordan, 1990, 1993

Donor is a descendent of Weston and Rebecca (Kirby) Howland.

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], Howland-Kirby Family Papers, RG5/067, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Related Material

See also:

Substantial overlap of materials with Howland Family Papers, 1798-ca. 1973, held in Old Dartmouth Historical Society Whaling Museum Library, New Bedford, Mass. SELECTED SEARCH TERMS

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:

Local finance -- Massachusetts Local government -- Massachusetts Whaling -- Massachusetts Quakers -- Massachusetts Quakers -- Social life and customs Women, Quaker -- Massachusetts Whaling ships -- Massachusetts Lay ministry -- Society of Friends Weather Bridges -- Massachusetts Voyages and travels Real property -- Massachusetts New York (N.Y.) -- Description and travel Washington (D.C.) -- Description and travel Massachusetts -- Politics and government Massachusetts -- Climate Massachusetts -- Quakers Howland, Weston, 1852-1878 Howland, Abigail Hathaway, 1774-1867 Howland, Rebecca Kirby, 1825-1895 Howland, Weston, 1815-ca. 1901 Kirby, Abigail H. Smith, 1798-1861 Howland, Rachel, 1853-1934 Garrett, Alice H. Howland, b. 1867 Kirby, George, 1794-1882 Howland family Kirby family 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 Genealogy of John Sedgewick Howland and his wife, Alice Hart Ellis 1 [427 p.] in four folders Howland Family Genealogy 1 Howland Family Heraldry and English Genealogies 1 Hathaway Family Genealogy 1 Smith Family Genealogy 1 Kirby Family Genealogy 1 Ser. 2. Weston Howland, 1770-1905 Whaling Industry and Related Papers 1770-1900 1 Personal Finances and Correspondence 1 1837-1895 Petroleum and Coal Oil Co. 1860-1882 Real Estate 1848-1905 1 Business Papers 1865-1899 1 Wills and Related Papers 1884-1899, n.d. 1 Accounts 1829-1840 1 Ser. 3. Howland Family, 1695-1934 Weston Howland Jr., Correspondence 1873-1878 2 Weston Howland Jr., Diaries 1868, 1870 2 Abigail Howland, Diaries 1877-1890 2 Abigail Howland, Correspondence and Finances 1838, 1845-1863 2 Abraham Howland, Will 1866 2 Mary Howland, Will 1825 2 Benjamin Howland, Deed 1695 2 Rachel Howland, Diaries 1844-1890 2 Rebecca (Kirby) Howland, Misc. Papers, Correspondence, Will 1861-1894 2 Rebecca (Kirby) Howland, Letters to Son Weston Jr. 2 Thomas Howland, Correspondence 2 1809-1822, n.d. William P.[enn] Howland, Papers 1762-1892 2 Family Documents and Papers 1821-1934, 1726-1833 2 Receipted Bills, Tax Bills 1860-1870, 1865 2 Miscellaneous Papers: Map of Dartmouth, MA 2 Ser. 4. Hathaway Family, 1706-1935 Records, Wills, and Marriage Certificates. 1706-1835 2 Ser. 5. Kirby Family, 1809-1882 George Kirby, Miscellaneous Papers 1881-1882 3 George Kirby, Papers from Treasurership and Collector of Taxes for Dartmouth 1829-1849 3 George Kirby, Deeds and Letters 1837-1861 2 Kirby Family Documents and Papers 1809-1852 2 Abigail (Smith) Kirby, Diaries 1820-1849 2 Abigail (Smith) Kirby, Diaries 1850 2 Abigail (Smith) Kirby, Diaries 1855-1860 2 Ser. 6. Miscellaneous Pictures, including silhouette of Thos. H. Howland and silhouettes of Delono family 2 copies Postcards of Howland family homes and objects of Quaker interest. 2 Special subject photographs; women's rights organizations 2