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Ms. Coll. 852
ca. 60 items (24 folders in 1 box)
Table of contents
Biographical background
Prominent Friend, philanthropist and educator.
Anthony Benezet (1713-1784) was a native of France who became
a Quaker at age fourteen. In 1731 he came to Philadelphia and
in 1736 married Joyce Marriott. He was a teacher for most of his
life and was active in promoting an end to slavery and the slave
trade. He wrote and distributed many papers and tracts dealing
with slavery, American Indians and education.
(Source for biographical information: Dictionary of Quaker Biography)
Links to images
The following brings together all of the image links found within
this finding aid.
 Page 1 of ALS of Anthony Benezet, 7 mo. 1783, Philadelphia, to George Dillwyn
of Burlington, NJ. Benezet expresses his interest in the situation
of the Indians and his desire to do what he can to remove mistaken
prejudices against them. He encloses his "Observations on
Indians" which he is planning to publish. Page
2 | Page 3 | Page 4 (each 137k)
Summary of collection
Letters (ALS and AL), also typed and handwritten transcripts,
photocopies and other papers.
Many letters relate to Benezet's views on slavery and his work
to end the slave trade. Other topics discussed are: the use of
taxes to pay for war; the condition of American Indians; Benezet's
school and thoughts on teaching.
Includes references to various Quaker publications, including
Benezet's "The plain path to Christian perfection ...,"
"Some observations on the situation ... of the Indian natives"
and "The Pennsylvania spelling book: or Youth's friendly
instructor ...," publication of an Elizabeth Webb letter
and Samuel Smith's "History of New Jersey."
In addition to general news of other Friends, the letters contain
religious reflections on friendship, the importance of peace,
wealthy Quakers, intolerance and inconsistency among Christians.
The bulk of the letters are addressed to George Dillwyn (1738-1820)
of Burlington, N.J.; other recipients of letters are Samuel Allinson
(1739-1791), Moses Brown (1738-1836), Edward Cathrall, Queen Charlotte
of Great Britain (1744-1818), John Fothergill (1712-1780), Samuel
Fothergill (1715-1782), Selina Hastings (Countess of Huntingdon)
(1707-1791), Israel Pemberton (1715-1779), Joseph Phipps (1708-1787),
Robert Pleasants (1723-1801), John Smith (1722-1771), Samuel Smith
(1720-1776), Jonah Thompson (1702 or 3-1780) and Caspar Wistar
(1761-1818).
Also a few illustrations and receipts.
Related collections
Additional Anthony Benezet material may be found in: William
Penn Charter School Archives, 1666-1981 (Ms. Coll. 1115); George
Vaux Collection of correspondence and documents, 1659-1914 (Ms.
Coll. 1167); Allinson family papers, 1702-1949 (Ms. Coll. 968).
Arrangement and description of collection
All letters (with noted exceptions) are by Benezet and are arranged
alphabetically by recipient in 22 folders. There is also a folder
of graphics and another of receipts. A brief notation in included
as a guide to topics discussed in the material.
Note: for annotated transcripts of these letters, see "Friend
Anthony Benezet " by George S. Brookes (Philadelphia: U.
of Pennsylvania Press, 1937).
Contents of folders follows:
- Allinson, Samuel (1739-1791)
typed extracts from 1 letter dated Nov. 22, 1936
letter is from Henry J. Cadbury to Thomas E. Drake re: letter
of AB to Samuel Allinson; also 1 p. of Argosy Book store advertisement
with S. Allinson material listed
(Note: letter of AB referred to in above letter of Henry J.
Cadbury not in folder as of Sept. 1991)
- Benezet, Anthony - Graphics
(2 items)
Illustration of AB's house
photograph of "Benezet instructing colored children"
[from Historical poetical and pictorial American scenes / by
J.W. Barber, 1850.]
- Brown, Moses (1738-1836)
3 letters (ms. copies and photocopies) 1773-1780
- slavery
- taxes used for the military
- Cathrall, Edward
1 ALS dated 11 mo. 25, 1764
- AB sending EC waterlily seed as medicine
- Charlotte, Queen (1744-1818)
4 ms. copies of letter dated 8 mo. 25, 1783
Folders 6-13 are letters to George Dillwyn, arranged chronologically;
note: most letters to GD have typed transcripts and abstracts,
letters are labeled from "Evans collection"
- Dillwyn, George (1738-1820)
4 ALS dated 4 mo. 1767 to 11 mo. 1769
- slave trade
- AB's school and size of it
- Dillwyn, George (1738-1820)
4 ALS dated 5,6, or 7 mo. 1770 to 8 mo. 5, 1773
- AB asks for GD's help correcting book about to publish
- AB advises GD to go into printing business
- Isaac Collins to print 1000 copies of Sewel's History
for the Meeting for Sufferings
- value of friendship
- religious reflections on how to live
- "Murray the Preacher"
- Dillwyn, George (1738-1820)
1 ALS with enclosure dated 2 mo. 15, 1774
- religious discussion
- refers to publication of John Woolman's writings
- includes extract of letter by Nathaniel Gilbert of Antigua
- Dillwyn, George (1738-1820)
5 ALS dated 8 mo. 4, 1779 to 10 mo. 1779
- explains how AB teaches accounting and math
- Samuel Wetherill controversy
- importance of Friends peace testimony
- AB's essay on Friends
- Dillwyn, George (1738-1820)
4 ALS dated 4 mo. 1780 to 8 mo. 6, 1780
- religious discussion
- disapproval of wealthy Quakers
- mention of Conrad Weiser traveling with Indians
- sends pamphlets
- AB wants to publish Elizabeth Webb letter
- re-publication of AB's The plain path to Christian perfection
...
- AB's eye accident
- AB quotes Moses Brown's letter on taxes and war
- thoughts on grammar
- Dillwyn, George (1738-1820)
4 ALS dated 5 mo. 1781 to 2 mo. 1782
- Elizabeth Webb's letter published
- discusses intolerance and inconsistency of professing
Christians
- educational matters
- Dillwyn, George (1738-1820)
4 ALS dated 1783 to 9 mo. 14, 1783
- importance of bringing slave trade before Parliament
- education
- extracts from Abbe Reynal
- letter of Elizabeth Webb and difficulty of printing
- interest in the Indians and AB's desire to remove mistaken
prejudices against them, encloses his "Observations
on Indians" (see image below)
- concerning AB's "Observations on Indians" in
form of letter to GD (see image below)
- AB's proposed history of the Indians (see image below)
Page 1 of ALS of Anthony Benezet, 7 mo. 1783, Philadelphia, to George Dillwyn
of Burlington, NJ. Benezet expresses his interest in the situation
of the Indians and his desire to do what he can to remove
mistaken prejudices against them. He encloses his "Observations
on Indians" which he is planning to publish. Page
2 | Page 3 | Page 4 (each 137k)
- Dillwyn, George (1738-1820)
2 ALS (dated 1st day and undated)
- "little book" proposes to reprint
- approval of Christian education of youth and sends books
related to same
- Fothergill, John (1712-1780)
ms. copy dated 4 mo. 28, 1773
- AB's views on slavery and wants to keep it from spreading
- Fothergill, Samuel (1715-1772)
2 letters (ms. copy and typed transcript) 1757-1771 (folder
labeled Roberts Coll.)
- Huntingdon, Selina Hastings, Countess of (1707-1791)
2 letters (photocopy of ms. copy, photocopy of ALS) 1774-1775
- Pemberton, Israel (1715-1779)
typed transcript of letter dated 1 mo. 1778
letter addressed to Israel Pemberton and others
- Phipps, Joseph (1708-1787)
ms. copy of letter dated 5 mo. 28, 1763
- slavery and the slave trade
- Pleasants, Robert (1723-1801)
5 letters (ALS, typed transcripts) 1765-1781
- slavery and slave trade legislation in Pa.
- future danger of slaves revolting
- sending pamphlets on Friends and their principles
- comments on Patrick Henry and sends him books
- refers to his Pennsylvania spelling book
- financial difficulties of John Hunt
- discusses pro-slavery publication by a Carolina merchant
- education of blacks and his desire to head school for
same
- Receipts
2 typed transcripts of receipts for teaching 1750, 1780
- Smith, John (1722-1771)
4 letters (ALS, AL, typed transcript) 1758-1760
- publishing project with John Pemberton
- slave trade
- memorials of deceased ministers and elders (mention of
Michael Lightfoot)
- general news of acquaintances
- Smith, Samuel (1720-1776)
ALS dated 5 mo. 17, 1765
- publication of Smith's "History" [of New Jersey?],
AB wishes it to include testimony against war (Friends,
Mennonites, Schwenkfelders)
- Thompson, Jonah (1702 or 3-1780)
ALS dated 4 mo. 24, 1756
- present unrest and possibility of France declaring war
- visit of Samuel Fothergill, Mary Peisley and Catharine
Payton
- Wistar, Caspar (1761-1818)
ALS dated 4 mo. 25, 1784
- sends pamphlets
- AB's "Observations on Indians"
- importance of new immigrants to America knowing about
the Indians
- Wistar, Caspar (1801-1867)
ALS dated Nov. 22, 1839
letter from CW to Dr. Reynall Coates re: their friendship
Return to: Table of contents
Contact Diana Franzusoff Peterson (dfpeters@haverford.edu
or 610-896-1284) for more information about this collection. Please
include the manuscript collection number in your request.
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