Thomas B. and Francis R. Taylor papers 1992.002 Finding aid prepared by staff of the Historical Society of 's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories

using data provided by the Old York Road Historical Society..

Last updated on September 27, 2016.

Old York Road Historical Society Thomas B. and Francis R. Taylor papers

Table of Contents

Summary Information...... 3 Biography/History...... 4 Scope and Contents...... 4 Administrative Information...... 6 Related Materials...... 7 Controlled Access Headings...... 7

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Summary Information

Repository Old York Road Historical Society

Creator Taylor, Francis Richards, 1884-1947

Creator Taylor, Thomas B., 1852-1911

Title Thomas B. and Francis R. Taylor papers

Call number 1992.002

Date [inclusive] 1880-1945

Extent 5 linear feet

Language English

Abstract Francis R. Taylor (1884-1947) was a prominent lawyer and banker with an interest in history who was active in the Religious Society of Friends (). Francis' father, Thomas B. Taylor (1852-1911), was a Philadelphia attorney and conveyancer. The Thomas B. and Francis R. Taylor papers, 1880-1945, include records created by each of the men. Thomas' papers include letterbooks and records of his work as a lawyer. Francis' papers include correspondence, materials relating to Quaker educational institutions, and a biography of William Savery (Philadelphia tanner and Quaker minister, lived 1750-1804). There are also materials relating to the purchase and maintenance of the property "Brooklawn."

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Biography/History

Francis R. Taylor (1884-1947) was a prominent Philadelphia lawyer and banker with an interest in history who was active in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). A member of Abington Monthly Meeting and founding member of Cheltenham Monthly Meeting (Pennsylvania), he was a minister and clerk within the Religious Society of Friends. Francis was also involved with several Quaker educational institutions and researched Quaker historical figures including William Savery (Philadelphia tanner and Quaker minister, lived 1750-1804). He founded the Cheltenham National Bank and was treasurer of Savery Realty Corporation. Francis married Elizabeth Richie in 1911 and soon after, around 1916, purchased the property nicknamed "Brooklawn" in Cheltenham, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Francis' father, Thomas B. Taylor (1852-1911), was a Philadelphia attorney and conveyancer.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of files retrieved from the attic of Francis R. Taylor's home, “Brooklawn,” many years after the family left it. The series appear incomplete. Also included are records of Thomas B. Taylor (1852-1911), father of Francis, and a Philadelphia attorney and conveyancer. Thomas B. Taylor’s "Scratchers," 1880-1914 (22 volumes, broken series) record work done at his office. These and his letterpress volumes, 1882-1909 (8 volumes, broken series) document his work as the lawyer representing various estates, managing various properties and as a member of several land associations in Philadelphia and Kansas. Frequently recorded work includes: Pocono Manor Association, George Abbott and Abbott Aldernay Dairies, Grange Farm, John B. Mayer, Johnson Trust, Emily E. Pettit, Benjamin R. Smith, Vaux Estate. Francis Taylor’s correspondence files, 1922-1944 (broken series), consist primarily of carbon copies of letters sent, with some incoming letters, concerning his speaking at Quaker Meeting and other activities with the Friends, his interest in various Quaker educational institutions which he or his children attended (among which were Westtown Friends School and Haverford College), his biography of William Savery, household matters, investments and other personal business. Among the other files, there is material relating to: "Brooklawn," purchase and improvements, 1916-1918, to property at Ryers Ave. and Old Soldiers Rd.; Fire Insurance, 1918-1925, documenting his efforts to open an insurance company for Friends; United Security Life Insurance and Trust Company, 1920-1923, while Taylor served as a trustee; Prohibition Constitutionality, 1933-1934, with correspondence with Rev. William Shaefe Chase and legal papers relating to a case challenging the constitutionality of the Pennsylvania Act to elect delegates to a convention to act on the 21st Amendment; Cheltenham Police Pension Fund, 1934-1939, of which he was a director; Restaurant Wage Board of the Department of Labor and Industry for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1938-1939, appointed to

- Page 4 - Thomas B. and Francis R. Taylor papers recommend a minimum wage for women and minors but dismissed with a change of administration in Harrisburg; and Elizabeth S. Taylor insurance, real estate, and other investments, 1911-1927. There are also receipted bills, 1926-1945 (broken series), and other personal and professional financial papers, including operating statements for Taylor’s law practice. The files are organized according to file numbers as they appeared on the original folders. Box 1 • Correspondence, 1922-1923, 1926-1927, 1930-1935 Box 2 • Correspondence, 1937-1939, 1943-1944 • Receipted bills, 1926-1927, 1931-1935 Box 3 • Receipted bills, 1937-1939, 1943-1945 • Bank statements and cancelled checks, 1922, 1932, 1936 • Old York Road & Tabor tax receipts, 1888-1920 • Miscellaneous bank and other organizations financial statements • Personal/professional miscellany • Financial miscellany Box 4 • Brooklawn, 1917-1925 • Cheltenham Lease, 215 Ryers Ave., 1911-1917 • United Security Life and Trust Company, 1920-1923 • Income Tax, 1917-1924 • Personal Statements, 1909-1929 (file read “1927-1929” and includes operating statements for law office) • Operating Statements, 1929-1931 • Philadelphia Suburban Gas & Electric Co., 1926-1927, regarding Walnut Tree damage • Political, 1926, 1931-1936 (sparse) • Juniata Park Lots, 1922-1946 (primarily real estate tax receipts) • Tax Appeal, 1929 • Tax Appeal, 1932 Box 5 • Cheltenham Police Pension Fund, 1934-1941 • Fire Insurance Company and other fire insurance, 1918-1944 • Parrish Farm/Taylor & Harrar, 1939-1941 • Arlington Ave./Taylor & Harrar, 1935-1941 • Roosevelt Court Program, 1937 • Metropolitan Edison Company, 1938, 1944 (2 items) • Wage Board, 1938-39 • Lafayette College Conference, 1940 • Boy Scouts, 1940 • Elizabeth S. Taylor 1911-1919, 1923-1927

- Page 5 - Thomas B. and Francis R. Taylor papers • following folder are not numbered • Elizabeth S. Taylor insurance receipts, 1948-1955 Box 6 • Prohibition Constitutionality • Blueprints, 1937-1940, for houses with loans from Cheltenham National Bank (Taylor as President), and for Arther Klein/Burholme Terrace development Box 7 • Title Insurance Statements, 1919-1926 (Taylor as Solicitor) Thomas B. Taylor Scratchers (stored off-site): 1880-1892, 1894-1914 Thomas B. Taylor Letterpress Books (stored off-site): 1882-1884, 1892-1904, 1906-1909

Administrative Information

Old York Road Historical Society Finding aid prepared by staff of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories using data provided by the Old York Road Historical Society..

Sponsor This preliminary finding aid was created by staff of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories (HCI-PSAR) using data provided by the Old York Road Historical Society. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Access Restrictions Contact Old York Road Historical Society for information about accessing this collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note Gift of Roy Hollinger, circa 1992.

Processing Information note Summary descriptive information on this collection was compiled in 2011-2012 as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories (HCI-PSAR), using data provided by the Old York Road Historical Society. The HCI-PSAR project was funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

- Page 6 - Thomas B. and Francis R. Taylor papers This is a preliminary finding aid. No physical processing, rehousing, reorganizing, or folder listing was done in the HCI-PSAR project.

Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections: Taylor family papers, 1737-1999, Coll. No. 1233. Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections: Taylor Family Papers, 1846-1929, Coll. No. 1179.

Controlled Access Headings

Geographic Name(s)

• Cheltenham (Pa. : Township) • Montgomery County (Pa.)

Personal Name(s)

• Savery, William, 1750-1804

Subject(s)

• Conveyancing • Genealogy • Lawyers • Quakers • Quakers--Education

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