Special Collections Research Center
spcoll@wm.eduFinding Aid Authors: Maria Booth.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Mary and Hannah Gibbons Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase
Biographical Information:
Information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
Papers, 1793-1890, of sisters and Quaker educators, Mary and Hannah Gibbons. A small number of papers are directly related to their brother, Joseph Gibbons. Correspondence predominantly discusses relatives, friends, travels, and religious sentiments. The second series of items is family and personal papers, consisting of poems, copied scripture, drug prescriptions, and family records. The papers relating to the Infant School established by Mary and Hannah Gibbons make up the third series and include student work, account books, and promotional pieces.
Arrangement of Materials:
This collection is arranged into three series, each housed in their own folder. Within the folder, items are arranged in chronological order with non-dated items at the end.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Account books
- Correspondence
- Invitations
- Legal documents
- Notebooks
- Quaker women--History--19th century
- Quaker women--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--Correspondence
- Quakers--Education--Pennsylvania--History
- Quakers--United States--History--19th century
- Receipts (financial records)
- Women--Pennsylvania--History
Container List
Predominantly contains correspondence to either Mary or Hannah Gibbons. However, four letters are to their brother Joseph Gibbons, one of which written by Mary and Hannah. The subject of correspondence ranged over various topics, though most concern updates on family and friends, illnesses, books read, weather, farming, land division, rents, work, charity work, and discussions of travels. Religious discussion is also present, as well as business letters. Mentions steamboat accident on Lake Erie and the publishing of J. Gibbons mountain travels in the Inquirer. One letter from Granite Hill mentions a book on slavery, teaching theories and "civilized" American Indians. These letters give much insight into the everyday lives of a group of Quakers during the nineteenth century, and in particular the lives of Quaker women.
This series contains various family material including recipes, prescriptions, poems, and business documents. Specific items include recipes for rheumatism and food; a possible gift list with names; loan documents between Joshua Robinson and Ruth Jays; plan for a "drained meadow" belonging to Clement Plumstead; Baldwin Family notes beginning with John and Hannah Baldwin of Chester, Pennsylvania; and more.
Series contains papers, notebooks, flyers, student work, and various other materials relating to the Infant School started by Mary and Hannah Gibbons. This series illustrates several aspects of running of a grammar school, and the subjects studied by the students. Some specific items include a $20 check for one quarter's tuition; flyers for the school; account with "Kimber & Sharples" a Bible publishing company; and school papers and notes on math, history and other subjects.