Lawrie-Tatum-Stanley Family Papers
Scope and Contents
The Lawrie-Tatum-Stanley Family Papers consist of diaries, correspondence, commonplace books, financial records, genealogical materials, and other documents of several generations of Quaker families in Scotland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. They are especially rich in materials on Orthodox Friends in the period of the Hicksite Separation of 1827-1828 and its immediate aftermath. Of particular interest, however, is one of the earliest documents in the collection, a proposal, probably ca. 1760, for the formation of the New Jersey Association for Helping the Indians. Most of these materials focus on the family of George Tatum (1785-1852), an Orthodox Friend and farmer of Woodbury, New Jersey, and his second wife Lydia (Lawrie) Tatum (1789-1856). The earliest items in the collection pertain to the Lawrie family, including copies of a 1674 marriage contract and a 1683 certificate of membership.
Dates
- 1674-2004
- Other: Date acquired: 01/01/2004
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open without restriction.
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
In 1830, George and Lydia Tatum and their children traveled via the Erie Canal to the Upper Springfield community of Friends in Mahoning and Columbiana counties in Ohio. George Tatum died while visiting some of his children in Cedar County, Iowa. Lydia Tatum died in Mahoning County, Ohio.
Three of the Tatum children became well known among Quakers. Rebecca (1819-1902) married Barnabas C. Hobbs, long-time clerk of Western Yearly Meeting of Friends and the first president of Earlham College in 1867-1868. Lawrie Tatum (1822-1900) was a federal Indian agent in the 1870s and the guardian of future president Herbert Hoover. David Tatum (1823-1912) was a recorded Friends minister and temperance crusader.
Note written by
Extent
2.00 Boxes
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
These documents descended through the youngest daughter, Sarah (Tatum) Stanley (1825-1884). Her daughter Henrietta Stanley (1870-1934), who married Thomas William White of Henry County, Indiana, inherited them. Henrietta White's children Mildred and Everett made notes identifying many of the writers of the letters and their relationship to the Tatum Family.
Method of Acquisition
Donation, Lois (Harned) Jordan, Earlham class of 1951. Jordan published a novel, Journey by Faith, based on the collection.
- Title
- Archon Finding Aid Title
- Author
- Thomas Hamm
- 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