Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Summary Information

Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Source - dnr:
Norton, Janet (FHL donor)
Creator - aut:
Lippincott, Martha Shephard, 1867-1949
Title:
Martha Shepard Lippincott Writings
ID:
SFHL.RG5.307
Date [inclusive]:
1886-circa 1939
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language of the Material:
English
Abstract:
A Quaker poet and book reviewer, Martha Shepard Lippincott (1867-1949) was a birthright and life-long member of Moorestown Monthly Meeting, New Jersey. She graduated from Swarthmore College in 1889 and supported herself as a writer; many of her poems were published in women's, Christian, and local papers. The wide ranging themes include war and peace, temperance, nature, and love. The collection contains her manuscript poetry arranged chronologically and a small amount of her prose and miscellaneous papers.

Preferred Citation

[Indicate the cited item or series here], Martha Shephard Lippincott Writings, RG5/307, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.

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Biographical / Historical

A Quaker poet and book reviewer, Martha Sheppard Lippincott wss born March 31, 1867 and died August 10, 1949 in her 83rd year. She was the daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth H. Lippincott, a birthright and lifelong member of Moorestown Monthly Meeting, New Jersey. She graduated from Swarthmore College in 1889 and moved to Philadelphia, Pa., in the first decade of the 20th century. She supported herself as a writer; many of her poems with themes as varied as war and peace, temperance, nature, and love were published in women's, Christian, and local papers.

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Scope and Contents

Quaker poet and book reviewer, Martha Shepard Lippincott (1867-1949) was a birthright and life-long member of Moorestown Monthly Meeting, New Jersey. Her poems reflect her interests, including early twentieth century concerns of war, economic inequality, temperance, and politics as well as general themes of religion, nature, and Quakerism. The collection contains her manuscript poetry arranged chronologically and a small amount of her prose and miscellaneous papers.

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Arrangement

Arranged in two series: Series 1: Poetry, 1886-1939. Manuscript volumes are arranged chronologically. Series 2: Other writings and miscellaneous.

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Administrative Information

Publication Statement

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

500 College Avenue Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081 friends@swarthmore.edu URL: http://www.swarthmore.edu/friends-historical-library.xml

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Janet Norton, niece of the author. Acc. 2004.010.

Conditions Governing Use

The collection is open for research.

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Related Materials

Separated Materials

Two formal photographs of Martha Shepard Lippincott at about ages 50 and 65 transferred to PA 100, Individual Portraits.

Related Materials

Visions of life / by Martha Shepard Lippincott Publisher: New York : Abbey Press, c1901

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Controlled Access Headings

  • Quaker poets
  • American Poetry -- Quaker Authors
  • Temperance -- Pennsylvania
  • Pacifism -- United States
  • Norton, Janet (FHL donor)

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Collection Inventory

Series 1: Poetry, 1886-1939

Scope and Contents: Lippincott's copies of her poems beginning 1886. Some volumes are consolidations in addition to memo-books of poems, most dated. She generally noted if the poem was published and where.

Title/Description Instances
Poetry volume, first book, 1886-1898

Physical Description: 1 VolumesBound volume

Scope and Contents: Labeled #1. Index at front. The poems between June 10, 1886- Oct. 7, 1886, cut from volume. Poem about Johnstown Flood in 1889. Temperance, nature, loneliness, Quaker and religious themes.

box Box 1
Poetry volume, 2nd book, 1886-1903

Scope and Contents: Index at front. Love, religious meditations. Some edited and notes that set to music.

box Box 1
Poems, 1890-1893

Physical Description: 3 Volumes

Scope and Contents: Earlier poems copied 1900 into hard cover volume. Longer spencerian verse format in soft-cover memo books.

box Box 1
Poems, 1891-1893, 1891-1893

Physical Description: 2 Volumes

Scope and Contents: 2 bound volumes, verses copied. Dated when written and where published. Sonnets and longer verse.

box Box 1
Poems, 1896-1898

Physical Description: 2 Volumes

Scope and Contents: Most noted as published, including The Friend. Poem about Evesham Meeting.

box Box 2
Poems, 1900-1907

Physical Description: 4 VolumesSoft cover memo books

Scope and Contents: 4 memo books with verse, most inspirational.

box Box 2
Poems, 1911-1912

Physical Description: 1 VolumesSoft cover memo book
box Box 2
Poems, 1915-1917

Physical Description: 4 VolumesSoft cover memo books

Scope and Contents: Most short verse. War and illness as well as religious themes and sentimental verse. Local sites, questioning politics, especially war, as well as trying to make a living by verse.

box Box 2
Poems, 1917-1919

Physical Description: 5 VolumesSoft cover memo books

Scope and Contents: War and peace, temperance, religion.

box Box 2
Poems, 1920-1923

Physical Description: 4 VolumesSmall soft cover memo books

Scope and Contents: Short Christmas messages as well as poems on property, politics, and religion. Count of poems written each year.

box Box 2
Poems, 1925-1928

Physical Description: 4 Volumes4 memo books

Scope and Contents: Themes of war, greed, fair support of poetry, evils of tobacco, justice, index of poems, 1927.

box Box 2
8th book of poems by Martha Shepard Lippincott, 1927-1932

Physical Description: 1 VolumesBound volume

Scope and Contents: Index at front and back covers. Themes of greed, labor, war, poverty,socialism and religious. Many are short verse.

box Box 3
Poems, 1930-1935

Physical Description: 1 VolumesSmall memo book

Scope and Contents: Final verse numbered 4,480, topic "United Europe." Greed, war, poverty and economic fairness.

box Box 3
Martha Shepard Lippincott poems 9th book, 1932-1939

Physical Description: 1 Volumes

Scope and Contents: Volume is only one quarter filled. Themes of time, justice, peace, religion, support of poets.

box Box 3
Miscellaneous manuscript verse, Undated

Physical Description: 1 Volumes

Scope and Contents: Themes include "Paradise Valley" and "A Quaker Romance."

box Box 3
Clipping book of published verse and essays, Undated

Physical Description: 1 VolumesPasted in hard-bound Quaker Book of Discipline
box Box 3

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Series 2: Other writings and miscellaneous

Scope and Contents: Manuscript short stories, listing of book reviews, address books, etc. Miscellaneous clippings include temperance, especially against tobacco use.

Title/Description Instances
Short stories, 1897-1903

Physical Description: 1 Volumes

Scope and Contents: Edits and word count.

box Box 3
Book reviews, 1916-circa 1931

Physical Description: 1 Volumes

Scope and Contents: Memo book reports date, publication, and title of book reviewed.

box Box 3
Martha Shepard Lippincott's work, 1920

Physical Description: 1 VolumesSmall memo book, partly used

Scope and Contents: Short essays on various subjects

box Box 3
Address and memorandum booklets, Undated

Physical Description: 4 Volumes4 small booklets

Scope and Contents: Address, lists of poetry titles, recipes, a few loose clippings of her published poetry

box Box 3
Drawing book, 1881

Physical Description: 1 Volumes

Scope and Contents: Pencil and pen and ink drawings

box Box 3
Miscellaneous loose clippings, etc., 1898-1943

Physical Description: 1 folders

Scope and Contents: Items removed from acidic and tattered small scrapbook containing clippings about Charles Dickens and miscellaneous topics in the news. Temperance, especially regarding tobacco removed to PG 6 reference file. Also, a handmade souvenir book, San Antonio, TX, made for Lippincott in 1905

box Box 3
Photos, brief biography circa 1900

Scope and Contents: Brief biograph "Our Portrait Gallery" (photocopy). Photograph of Lippincott about age 50, photograph of George W. and Kathryn Bacon. 2 photographs of Lippincott removed to PA 100/Individual Portraits.

box Box 3

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