Fox and Backhouse family papers, 1673-1930s

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Summary

Creator:
Backhouse family and Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
Abstract:
Jonathan and Hannah Chapman Backhouse were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in England in the mid-1800s. Their son, Edmund Backhouse, married Juliet Fox in 1848. This collection contains personal correspondence between members of the different connected Quaker families based in England, as well as some diaries, genealogical notes, and other printed ephemera from the family. Forms part of the Lisa Unger Baskin Collection in the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.
Extent:
1 Linear Foot
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.11957

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of correspondence, writings, and other ephemeral materials relating to the Fox and Backhouse families, along with materials relating to nineteenth century Quaker communities and families in England. The bulk of the collection is correspondence between different members of the Backhouse family, including Jonathan and Hannah Chapman Backhouse, their son Edmund Backhouse and his wife Juliet Fox, and their grandson Jonathan Edmund (Jed) Backhouse. Caroline Fox is also a routine correspondant. The letters discuss family news, personal activities and travel, religious sentiments.

There are two excerpts of diaries which appear to be by different authors and may relate to Hannah Chapman Backhouse's travels to the United States in the 1830s, or to another family member's travels in Europe or the Middle East. The handwriting of these pages is challenging and the excerpts are unattributed and appear to be undated, so more research would be helpful.

Also present in the collection are some writings, including essays and poetry, typically spiritual or relating to prayer, as well as some honorifics for Edmund Backhouse and a copy of his obituary. There are some manuscript riddles, some watercolors, and some sketches of scenes and still lifes. The collection also includes some ceremonial documents, including a letter from the Society of Friends declaring support for Hannah and Jonathan Backhouse's travels to the United States.

Biographical / historical:

The Backhouse and Fox families were influential and prosperous Quaker families from England. Edmund Backhouse (1824-1906) was the youngest son of Jonathan Backhouse (1779-1842) and Hannah Chapman Backhouse (1757-1841). In 1848 Edmund married Juliet Mary Fox (1826-1898), daughter of Charles Fox and Sarah Hustler. Edmund and Juliet had several children, including Jonathan Edmund (Jed) Backhouse, Sarah Juliet Backhouse Pym, Charles Hubert Backhouse, and Millicent Backhouse Rogers. They lived in Trebah, Cornwall, England.

Acquisition information:
The Fox and Backhouse Family Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase from Lisa Unger Baskin in 2015.
Processing information:

Processed by Meghan Lyon, December 2021.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2015-0050

Arrangement:

This collection is loosely arranged by format. Correspondence is sorted chronologically by decade, with undated correspondence filed separately.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Fox and Backhouse Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1jx6t