Canadian Friends Historical Association

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  • New transcription: Whitchurch Preparative Meeting 1816-1841

    Our intrepid transcription volunteer Carman Foster has completed another meeting book – Whitchurch Preparative (O-8-9). This document can now be found on the Transcriptions page, as well as right here.

    This is the first Whitchurch document we have ever shared!

    “Whitchurch meeting was established in 1805as an indulged meeting and asked in 1810 to become a Preparative meeting under Yonge St Monthly meeting.This was finally authorized in 1816. Property was secured in 1814 for a meeting house and in 1827 and new one was planned. The new one ended up in the hands of the Hicksite Quakers and the original continued with the Orthodox Quakers. This minute book continued with the Orthodox Quakers.”

    Carman directs your attention to the following entry, from Image 100 and 101 of the original microfilm:

    Whitchurch preparitive meeting held 5th of 4th moth 1837

    “The Overseers produst to this A complaint stating that Aaron Tool has for A length of time neglected the attendence of our meetings boath for religious worship and disipline and make use of profane language and in A passon has made attenpts to inger A man with A knife which are directed to the monthly meeting”

  • New transcriptions: Pickering and Norwich

    We’ve just shared two new transcriptions! Pickering Prep Orthodox 1828-1852 minutes book (O-6-1) and Norwich Monthly Meeting Women’s 1819-49 (H-5-1) are now online. Thanks as always to our wonderful transcription team!

    Please note we’ve also made an update to the Pickering Orthodox Monthly Meeting 1842-1870.

    The committee to inspect into Phebe Dunkins Clearness in regard to marriage engagements report no obstructions Gilbert Stover and Phebe Dunkin appeared in this meeting in a public manner and renewed their intentions of marriage with each other they having consent of Parents and nothing appearing to obstruct they are left at liberty to proceed Anna Cornell and Sarah Haight are appointed to attend the marriage See that it be orderly conducted and report next meeting

    – Norwich MMW, 1820

  • The Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists

    The 2020 Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists will be held at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, June 12th to 14th.

    Proposals are now being accepted:

    The Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists (CQHA) will hold its 23rd biennial conference at Earlham College on June 12-14, 2020.

    CQHA is a community that brings together those who study the history of Quakers and Quakerism with practitioners from cultural institutions that make records of the Quaker past available for scholarship. The Conference takes place every two years at locations in North America and abroad, and welcomes both Quaker and non-Quaker participants from diverse backgrounds.

    We invite proposals for presentations on any aspect of Quaker history, across all time periods and locations. This year we encourage proposals on the following topics: Challenges of diversity, equity, or inclusion in Quakerism; Quakerism in Indiana and the US Midwest; (Re)assessments of Quakerism and Quaker historiography.

    In addition to individual paper presentations (20 minutes), we welcome proposals for panels of complete sessions (2-3 papers), roundtable discussions (60 or 90 minutes), workshops (up to a half day), or other collaborative formats. We also seek participants for a session of lightning talks (5-7 minutes each), a format especially well suited to works-in-progress, summaries of recent publications, or ongoing projects. All presenters are required to register for the conference.

    Funding is available from the FHA to attend the 2020 conference, up to $1,000USD. This scholarship funding is available to diverse and underrepresented scholars of Quaker history:

    The Friends Historical Association and the Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists aim to create diverse, inclusive environments, based in our commitments to scholarly excellence and social justice, as well as a recognition of the foundational Quaker ideal of human equality. FHA and CQHA welcome individuals of all faiths (or lack thereof), race or ethnicity, gender expression and sexual preference, and other facets of background and identity. To better support scholars who are traditionally underrepresented amongst CQHA conference presenters and attendees, FHA is launching a new scholarship program. Applications will be evaluated by an FHA Scholarship Committee on the basis on how the applicant’s identity and background, and/or their research areas, address absences or scarcities in the current landscape of Quaker scholarship. Up to three recipients will receive a stipend of $1,000 each to support conference attendance, as well as a year of membership in the Friends Historical Association. Scholarship recipients who present papers at CQHA will receive encouragement and support from the editor of Quaker History to prepare their paper for publication in that periodical.

    To apply, please email [email protected] by Wednesday, December 11 with a 250-1000 word response to the following prompt:  “The field of Quaker studies is rife with lacunae and blindspots due to a lack of diversity among Quaker scholars. What diversity do you bring to Quaker scholarship? What aspects of Quaker history do you see as understudied and deserving of increased attention?”

    This information is available at https://www.quakerhistory.org/broadeningscholarship.

    The deadline for conference proposals is December 6th, 2019; the deadline for scholarship application is December 11th.

     

  • In Memoriam: Kathleen Schmitz-Hertzberg (1916 – 2019)

    Kathleen Schmitz-Hertzberg (nee Brookhouse) was born on Fourth Day, the sixteenth of Second Month in 1916. Her birth commenced a life of almost 103 years and one which made a difference in the lives of countless people who knew Kathleen or benefitted from one or more of the many aspects of the energy she devoted to Quaker service and concerns.

    Kathleen has been a member of Toronto Monthly meeting for many years. The following is summarized from information and excerpts taken from the announcement of her passing:

    Kathleen became a convinced Friend at nineteen and joined Stafford Friends Meeting (now Stafford Quaker Meeting). She attended Woodbrooke College for two terms 1937-8. Kathleen travelled in Germany 1938-39 under the auspices of Friends. She attended Germany Yearly Meeting 1938 and visited German Quakers. She helped Jewish families escape from the Nazi regime. While in Germany she met a German medical student, Friedrich Schmitz-Hertzberg in Kassel. They became engaged to be married in 1939 and Fritz visited England. He had to return to Germany and WWII separated the two for ten years. Kathleen’s report of her time in Germany for Woodbrooke College has been printed in the Canadian Quaker History Journal: http://www.cfha.info/journal74ToC.pdf

    During the war Kathleen worked on the Quaker Germany Emergency Committee, in the Friends Ambulance Unit during the blitz of London, the Quaker Friends War Victims Relief Committee finding homes for London evacuees, and through the British Home Office working as a social worker settling refugees, mainly German Jews in North Wales 1943 – 45. After the War she worked again at the Germany Desk in London 1945-47 with Fred Tritton and Richard Ullmann.

    In May 1949 Fritz returned to Germany after nearly five years as a POW in Russia. The couple were reunited and married under the care of Stafford Friends’ Meeting. Fritz finished his medical studies in Germany. Their first child, Evelyn was born in 1950 in Kassel, Germany. The small family immigrated to Toronto, Canada in December 1951. Kathleen was offered a position working with Fred Haslam at Canadian Friends Service Committee, CFSC while Fritz got his Canadian medical qualifications. Fritz took up a position in Pickering, Ontario as a family physician. They had two more children, Andreas and Martin. They became active members of Toronto Monthly Meeting (TMM) and Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM).

    In the years following her migration Kathleen became familiar with the various elements of Quaker legacy passed down from the Orthodox, Hicksite and Conservative Yearly meetings which then existed in Canada. A particular concern that this legacy be preserved and appreciated arose in Kathleen when she learned of plans for the sale and dismantling of the historic Uxbridge Quaker meetinghouse. This event spurred Kathleen and fellow Toronto Monthly Meeting member Grace Pincoe to coalesce their concern and those of other like-minded Quakers and non-Quakers into the Canadian Friends Historical Association. Informal meetings were held, and in 1972 the first newsletter was circulated to a small but enthusiastic membership.

    Kathleen devoted great effort to the early years of CFHA serving as Chair, publishing The Newsletter, writing and contributing articles during its first decades of activity.  The effort to preserve the Uxbridge Quaker meetinghouse initiated by Kathleen was successful. Kathleen fostered awareness of the precarious state of many other aspects of Canadian Quaker heritage. Thanks to Kathleen’s efforts and those she inspired, greater awareness and appreciation of this legacy has been achieved. CFHA has carried forward her vision and objectives. Its work stands as a tribute and testimony to her full and longstanding dedication. We remember Kathleen with gratitude.

  • Randy Saylor to make Keynote Presentation: Quaker United Empire Loyalists: An Exploration

    “At our preparative Meeting of Pelham the 29th of the 5th Mo. 1811

                This Meeting was Inform,d that Benjamin Birdsall is Living in the Neglect of Attending meetings  Appears out of plainness both in Dress and Address and making use of the Vain Compliments of the World & that he is Concernd in the Distillation of Grain also that he has Reciev,d A tract of Land of land from Government under the Appelation of UE.  his Case is ordered up to Monthly Meeting.”

        Many members of CFHA will be familiar with Randy Saylor as the CFHA webmaster and coordinator of minute book and other document transcriptions for CFHA and more recently the CYM Archives. Fewer will be aware that Randy has served as coordinator for almost 15 years. As a result, he has become one of the most knowledgeable and well-informed individuals on the records of concerns and issues addressed in the early Quaker settlements in what would become Canada. We are delighted to have Randy provide the keynote presentation, and to invite you to an interesting and informative evening.

        Discussion about the existence of ‘Quaker loyalists’ among the historical community has at times been contentious. Some have suggested that it was not possible for individuals to conform to Quaker principles while also availing themselves of the benefits conveyed by an official United Empire (UE) designation.

        The details of many pages of minute book transcriptions have allowed Randy to bring forward some clarity on this apparently uniquely Canadian Quaker issue.  His research has so far identified 6 instances where early meetings recorded their efforts to discern a response. Since publishing a short account of his findings in Trailways, the newsletter of the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, other readers have identified two more ‘Quaker Loyalists’.

        Then, as now, Quaker individuals and communities were required to address the outcomes of competing interests, dangers and opportunities in a fast-changing North American political and social world. This will be an interesting evening with Randy, and an opportunity to explore with him an important element of the Canadian Quaker legacy. 

    Space and meal availability are limited. Please register as soon as possible. For additional information please contact June Pollard [email protected] .

  • Message from the Chair

        Dear members:

        It has been almost a year since the previous issue of The Meetinghouse has been published.  The usual activities of CFHA have continued during this interval.  In addition, much effort has gone into upgrafing member on-line capability. This issue will provide details of these activities, plus some familiar features such as Canada Tells and Transcription Tidbits. You will also find information on the upcoming Annual General Meeting. This year, n addition to, another great program and keynote presentation, the business meeting will deal with organization transition considerations. Please plan to attend our friendly and informative annual gathering.

    Earlier this year we marked with sadness the passing of Kathleen Schnitz-Hertzberg, the surviving co-founder of CFHA. It is remarkable to realize that it has been 47 years since Kathleen and Grace Pincoe, both members of Toronto Monthly Meeting, created the Association and supported it during the early years. Please see the tribute to Kathleen in this issue.

    We also note the recent passing of Life member Arnold Runners. Arnold contributed to CFHA in many ways. From time to time Arnold would mail in a simple hand written note expressing appreciation for the wok of CFHA. These were always gratefully received. 

    Last fall marked the passing of CFJA supporters Jo Vellacott. Jo used her considerable talents as a researcher and writer and her concern for feminism, and for justice issues to contribute three informative articles to the Canadian Quaker History Journal.

    We also note the passing over a year ago of long-time member Bert Ross. Bert was a frequent participant at our AGM sessions in recent years, and a very active member of Yonge Street Monthly Meeting.

        Communications technology, social norms and knowledge have all undergone immense change in the past 47 years. Tendencies to obscure, ignore or modify historical narratives are not new or unique to present day spokespersons. What is new and unique is the pervasive capability of current technology to alter and establish public understanding and perspective of the historical record. Present day social experience appears to strongly recommend that a solid working knowledge of historical information and an ability to critically discern embellishment, exaggeration and denial is a skill much needed by modern citizens. Development of an informed perspective is a shared social responsibility not to be relegated exclusively to the experts and specialists in the subject.

        Although under-appreciated, Canadian Quaker history is a no less important component of Canadian history. CFHA has sought to provide free public access to the contents of extensive original Quaker documents, and has promoted awareness and appreciation of little-known but significant Quaker contributions made to the collective Canadian experience. Arguably, the benefit of such work and the need to do more is greater now than at the start. We hope you agree, and that you will continue your interest in and support of CFHA activities.

    In closing let me add that this will be the last planned issue of The Meetinghouse as we transition to a new electronic blog format. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have generously contributed and supported this newsletter over the years. A special “Thank you” is due to the contributors to this issue. They include: David New lands, Joyce Harris, David Zavitz, Heather Ioannou, June Pollard, Carman Foster, Heather Somers, Evelyn Schmitz-Hertzberg and Randy Saylor. Special thanks are also due once again to Tim Chisholm for his masterful layout and formatting. 

    Summer is now fully upon us, and a very pleasant one in recent weeks. There is a lot of information in this issue. I hope you enjoy it and that we will see you  in person or in spirit when we gather next month.

        Cheers! And Best Wishes,

        Gordon Thompson

  • Two New Posters Added to the ‘Who are the Quakers?’ display set.

    The Canadian Friends Historical Association is pleased to announce the creation of two new posters. The new posters have been added to the existing ‘Who are the Quakers?’ display sets. This brings the number of posters in the complete set to 10.

        Beaver Harbour New Brunswick “No Slave Master Admitted” has been researched and compiled by members of New Brunswick Monthly Meeting. The poster incorporates images of original period documents, graphics and an historic photograph to illustrate the remarkable account of how a racially diverse population of black and white Loyalists and members of the Peskotomuhkati nation peacefully shared the environs of present-day Beaver Harbour, New Brunswick. The story is revealed through surviving records related to the small Quaker meeting established there in 1784 and later sources.

        To Make Known The Quaker Story paraphrases the mission statement of the Canadian Friends Historical Association: ‘” To preserve and communicate the history and faith of Friends (Quakers) and their contribution to the Canadian experience.”  The poster provides a synopsis of the various means by which this mission is accomplished through publications, meetings and other activities. The poster text and illustrations promote awareness of the organization and the benefits of membership. Not the least of these benefits is the opportunity to share, learn from, and exchange information among a welcoming community of descendants of early Quaker migrants, active Quakers and those who share an enthousiasm and interest in Quaker legacy and experience. Membership is open to all.

        As noted elsewhere in this issue, copies of the complete 1-0 poster sets are now being made available for purchase by Quaker organizations and meetings. Please see the advertisement in this issue.

  • Transcription Tidbits

    The “Tidbits” included in this issue of The Meetinghouse are all taken from transcriptions of meeting minutes recorded at various times and location in the meetings then established in Upper Canada. The excerpts broadly relate to items of business which came before and “claimed the aattention” of the Preparative (PM) or Monthly (MM) meeting. Quaker meetings then, as now, applied considerable attention towards aligning meeting discernment with established principles. As can be seen below, earlier meetings maintained, by common consent, a diligent oversight of all aspects of their members personal behavior. These excerpts provide a glimpse into the hopes and challenges experienced by individuals and meetings in these earlier times. 

    Concerning Care of Children (1)

    Yonge Street Preparative Meeting 1804- 1862 CYM Archives Designation O-11-1

    “The Committee appointed to take into consideration the accomadations on the meeting ground report their sense that it would be right to enclose a yard for each sex the length of the meeting house and 20 feet back with a board fence and a necessary convenience in each apartment, with which this meeting unites. “

    Concerning Care of Children (2)

    From Leeds MM 1838-55, 0-4-6 image 103 

    “Leeds Monthly meeting held at Farmersville 12th 2nd mo 1852

    The Comt appointed to collect the information required by the yearly meeting respecting schools report as follows viz  That the most of the schools within our limits at which most of the children of Friends are receiving their Education are Sectional Schools (commonly called District schools) in which no Teachers are Licensed to teach except those of good morrals, as for the religeous character of the schools we think it would be best explained by an extract from the 14th section of the School act which in substance is as follows, nor shall any perfect?

    in any such School be required to read or studdy in or from any religious book or join in any exercise of devotion or religion which shall be objected to by his or her parents or gardions and shall be allowed to receive such religious instruction as their parents or gardions may desire

              The number of children of an age suitable to attend school is 14 most of which are attending Sectional Schools 2 friends Boarding School,  We believe they are all in a way to acquire the necessary portion of school learning except one which is incapable of being taught in our schools being deaf and Dum whos care we believe should claim the particular attention of the monthly meeting, Which having been read friends have full unity there with, and in regard to the child alluded to in said report This meeting would taking into consideration the pecuniary state of its members and the lowness of its funds lay her case before the Quarterly meeting for and trust it will claim its particular attention  she is in the strict sence of the word an orphin left by her mother under the care of Friends, her father having been disowned by friends pays no regard to her education nor contributes in any way to wards her support”

     [ Editors note:the  identity of the special needs child has so far not been found. ]

    Concerning  Marriage (1)

    “At Pelham Monthly Meeting of women friends held at Black creek 4 of 7 mo 182Proposals of marriage were produced to this meeting between Daniel Birdsal and Gulielma Willson with consent of parents this meeting appoints Sarah Spencer and Mary M. Taylor to inquire into Gulielma’s clearness of preengagements and report next month where they are left to appear for an answer”

    “At a Monthly Meeting of women friends held at Pelham 1st of 8th Mo. 1827.

    The committee appointed to inquire into Gulielma Willsons clearness of preengagements report their is no obstruction on her side, but their is on his and she requests to have their proposals withdrawn with which this meeting concurs”

    Concerning Marriage (2)

    Pelham MMW 1810-42 H-7-5 reel 42

    “Pelham Monthly meeting of women friends held 5 day of 12 mo 1838

    The friends to prepare a testification against Mary Hairett forwarded one to this meeting which read approved and signed by the clerks – Hannah Page is appointed to hand her a copy and report

                Mary Hairett Having had a right in membership with friends has so far deviated as to neglect the attendance of meetings and to be dissatisfied with her husband which appears to be without a cause – for which she has been treated with without the desired effect – we therefore disown her her [sic] from being any longer a member amongst us –

                Signed in and by direction of Pelham monthly meeting held the 5 day of 12th mo 1838

                                               Isaac Willson clerk for the day

                                              Ann Morris – clk to the meeting this year”

    Concerning Attending Non-Quaker Marriage(3)

    Yonge St MM Bk 3 1828-51 H-16-3

    “Yonge Street Monthly Meeting of friends held at yonge Street the 15th of 10th mo 1840

    This meeting recieved the following communication (to wit)  We the undersigned having attended a marriage of a member who went out from us (the most of) from want of proper consideration and under the impression that from the late alteration and wording the Query in that particular that such attendance was not a breach of Discipline  We therefore request the Overseers to inform the monthly meeting the circumstances and that we are desirous to be found Supporting the Discipline in evry respect as the same is or may be established by the yearly meeting

    Signed by  Nathan Dennis, Thomas N Watson, James Armitage  Elizabeth Dennis, Clarissa Watson, Mary Armitage, Elizabeth Phillips, Dorcas Hughes, Edith Hughes  Elmira Armitage  after deleberating on the aforesaid communication the meeting concluded to accept the same as Satisfactory and appointed Peter Willson, Mordica Widdifield, and Samuel Hughes, to inform them of this conclution and report to next meeting”

    Concerning Marriage (4)

    “Pelham Monthly meeting of women friends held at Black Creek 6th of 1st month 1830

    Gulaelma Birdsall formerly Willson had had a right of membership amongst Friend but being so regardless of her right as to accomplish her marrige contrary to our Discipline for which this meeting disouns her and she is not to be considered a member of our society until she condemns the same to the satisfaction of Friends

                Signed in and by order of pelham Monthly Meeting held at black creek the 6th of the first mo 1830

                                                                Isaac Willson } Clerk

                                                                Rebecca L. Pound Clerk for the day”

  • Middlesex Centre Archives, Delaware, Ontario Quaker Record Holdings

    Contributed by David Zavitz

    Thanks to David Zavitz for compiling the following list of Quaker documents and family history records available at the Middlesex Centre Archives. David advises that at present none of these records are viewable online via the Archives.

    For additional information visit the archives website www.middlesexcentrearchives.ca or contact at [email protected]

    1. Marsh Collection:

    • Water Lilly Temperance Magazine 1891-93
    •  Scattered Seeds 1892
    • Friends Intelligener 1887
    • What Should I Do Now?  How to Work For Canada at Peace  1910
    • From War to Peace -Repatriation Plans

    2. Temperance literature:

    • Bond of Hope Jubilee
    • Young Friends review 1895
    • Canadian Architect Builder jul 1889
    • Canada Citizen 1886
    •  Messenger of wisdom
    •  Theosophical Quarterly 1918
    •  People’s Friend 189
    •  Northern Messenger 1893, 1894

    3. Bycraft-Zavitz Family History by Anna Bycraft Ward including:

    •  letters from Ethel Bycraft WW1 1916-17 Barnsley England
    •  letters from George Bycraft WW1 1918-  Friends Reconstruction Team in             France

    4. Family genealogy Binders

    • Sylvanus Brown Family
    • Benjamin Cutler Family
    • John D. Harris Family
    • Joseph Marsh Family
    • 7 Zavitz family collections

  • CFHA Presentation at the OGS York Branch

    September 10th, 6pm

    Richmond Hill Public Library

    Ontario Genealogical Society – York Branch

    Topic: Researching your Quaker ancestors

    Presented by: Gordon Thompson and Heather Ioannou