Society of Friends (Quakers) in the United States

United States   Church Records   Society of Friends (Quaker) Church Records

History in the United States
Members of the Society of Friends (often referred to as Quakers) began immigrating from England, Wales, and Germany in the late 1600s. A large group of Quakers settled near Philadelphia. By 1700 the Society gained considerable influence in most of the New England and middle-Atlantic colonies. Quaker migration to the southern colonies, especially North Carolina, continued until the Revolutionary War when the strength of the Society began to decline. Many Quakers left the southern states and migrated primarily to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Canada.

Types of Church Records
Most Quaker records include births, marriages and deaths as well as certificates of removal when a member moved from one congregation (meeting) to another.


 * Berry, Ellen Thomas and David Allen. Our Quaker Ancestors : finding them in Quaker records. Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Pub. Co., c1987. Book 973 D27bq  Worldcat entry Free to view at books.google.com

Where they are Located

 * QuakerMeetings.com

Quakermeetings.comis a website devoted to recording information concerning all Quaker congregations (meetings)which have existed in America, including the date of the first and last meeting, where records are kept and subordinate congregations. A valuable resource!


 * Orthodox Records

Haverford College Library Haverford, PA 19041 Telephone: 610-896-1175 Fax: 610-896-1102 Internet: www.haverford.edu/library/special/

A few images showing the Quaker and Special Collections at Haverford College and a very small sampling of records available.


 * Hicksite Records

Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library 500 College Avenue Swarthmore, PA 19081 Telephone: 610-328-8496 Internet: www.swarthmore.edu/library/friends/

A few images showing the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College and a small sampling of records available.

A few images showing the Friends Historical Collection at Guilford College and a very small sampling of records available.

Cyndi's List - Quaker http://www.cyndislist.com/quaker/


 * Quaker Information Center: A Gateway to Quakerism: A service of Earlham School of Religion

Lists Major Collections and other resources

Guides to Records

 * Hinshaw, William Wade. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Six Volumes. www.erhs.info Ann Arbor, Michigan: Edwards Brothers, 1936-1950. Book 973 D2he];  Film 432597-606;  Fiche 6051371-79. Worldcat entry
 * Hill, Thomas C. Monthly Meetings in North America: An Index. Second Edition. Cincinnati, Ohio: N.p., 1993. Book 973 K22h 1998;  film 1698282 item 11. Alphabetical by monthly meeting. Gives address and sometimes location of records. worldcat entry

See also U.S. Quaker Research (Society of Friends).