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Elkanah Beard Papers

 Collection
Identifier: FMS-19

Scope and Contents

The Elkanah Beard Papers consist of two diaries kept by Elkanah Beard, a prominent Gurneyite Quaker minister of Winchester, Indiana, from 1868 to 1875 and 1877 to 1878. They reflect his participation in the missionary and revival movement that swept Gurneyite meetings in the Midwest in the 1870s.

Dates

  • 1868-1878
  • Other: Date acquired: 01/01/1980

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to the public with no restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Some materials may be protected by copyright. Permission to reproduce and to publish for commercial purposes must be requested from the Archivist.

Biographical or Historical Information

Elkanah Beard was born near Lynn in Randolph County, Indiana, Oct. 28, 1833, the son of William and Lydia (Cox) Beard. In 1852 he married Irena Johnson (1835-1920), a fellow Lynn Quaker. He was recorded a Friends minister in 1863, and Irena soon afterwards. That same year, the Beards went to Mississippi to work among the freed people, remaining there until 1869. They then went by way of England to India as missionaries, where they remained until 1872. Returning to the United States, they worked as Quaker evangelists on the east and west coasts. In 1877 and 1878, he was a traveling inspector for Quaker mission stations among oklahoma Indians. After 1879, the Beards lived in Winchester, and Lynn, Indiana, traveling as Quaker evangelists. Elkanah beard died in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he had gone for his health, February 8, 1905.

Note written by

Extent

1 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Source of Acquisition

Helen Alexander

Method of Acquisition

Donation.

Related Materials

An earlier diary of work in Mississippi and Arkansas is at Guilford College

Other Descriptive Information

The collection includes a typescript of the diaries and biographical information from a Randolph County history.

Title
Archon Finding Aid Title
Description rules
Other Unmapped
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
und

Repository Details

Part of the Friends Collection and Earlham College Archives Repository

Contact:
US