Historical Dictionary of the Friends (Quakers)

by Margery Post Abbott, Mary Ellen Chijioke, Pink Dandelion, John William Oliver

Overview

The modern reputation of Friends in the United States and Europe is grounded in the relief work they have conducted in the presence and aftermath of war. Friends (also known as Quakers) have coordinated the feeding and evacuation of children from war zones around the world. They have helped displaced persons without regard to politics. They have engaged in the relief of suffering in places as far-flung as Ireland, France, Germany, Ethiopia, Egypt, China, and India. Their work was acknowledged with the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 to the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the Friends Service Council of Great Britain. More often, however, Quakers live, worship, and work quietly, without seeking public attention for themselves. Now, the Friends are a truly worldwide body and are recognized by their Christ-centered message of integrity and simplicity, as well as their nonviolent stance and affirmation of the belief that all people—women as well as men—may be called to the ministry.

The expanded second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Friends (Quakers) relates the history of the Friends through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 700 cross-referenced dictionary entries on concepts, significant figures, places, activities, and periods. This book is an excellent access point for scholars and students, who will find the overviews and sources for further research provided by this book to be enormously helpful.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810868571
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/01/2011
Series:	Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	598
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.43(h) x 1.59(d)

About the Author

Margery Post Abbott is a "Released Friend" who writes about Quakerism and travels in the ministry with the support of her Monthly Meeting.

Mary Ellen Chijioke is University Librarian at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Nigeria. She previously served as Curator of the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College and the Director of Hege Library, Guilford College.

Pink Dandelion is professor of Quaker Studies at the University of Birmingham where he directs the work of the Centre for Postgraduate Quaker Studies, Woodbrooke and the University of Birmingham.

John William Oliver Jr. is professor emeritus of the history department at Malone University in Ohio. He was clerk/convener of the Quaker Historians and Archivists biennial conferences and served on the executive committee of the Ohio Academy of History.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Editor's Foreword Chapter 2 Preface Chapter 3 Acronyms and Abbreviations Chapter 4 Chronology Chapter 5 Introduction Chapter 6 THE DICTIONARY Chapter 7 Appendix A: Friends Worldwide: Origins of Yearly Meetings Chapter 8 Appendix B: Friends Worldwide: Membership of Yearly meetings Chapter 9 Appendix C: Family Trees of North American and African Yearly Meetings Chapter 10 Bibliography Chapter 11 List of Contributors Chapter 12 Members of the Advisory Committee Chapter 13 About the Editors

Editorial Reviews

For all of its existence, Scarecrow’s Historical Dictionary series has provided a place for information on remarkably narrow and specific topics to find a home. Each of the volumes, with the standard features of a chronology, introductory essay, alphabetical entries, bibliography, and index, offers the individual authors the format and space to fully cover the topic while remaining within the template, which lets researchers know what they can expect. The three new additions to the Religions, Philosophies, and Movements subset cover Calvinism, new religious movements, and the Friends (Quakers). As reference books, the volumes on Calvinism and the Friends have a similar style and purpose. Each is intended to provide information on an established religion. The biographical entries cover church leaders and historical figures. The entries on philosophical and doctrinal matters serve to define the basic tenets of the faith and in some cases can be used as comparative points. For example, comparing the entries on Baptism and Sin in these two volumes can show basic differences between the two churches....The three books have authors, rather than editors, and all of them have has appropriate credentials for their subjects. The bibliographies are thematically arranged. These volumes are essential purchases for theological libraries and should be strongly considered by academic and public libraries where there is a subject interest.

Booklist

The scope, breadth and depth of the content is most impressive and, compared to the first edition, the theological, geographical and ethnic diversity of global Quakerism is more comprehensively represented. Entries are written in an accessible style, making the Dictionary of value to both the scholar and the general reader alike. This publication should find a place not only in the academic library but also, translations permitting, in the homes of Friends and on the shelves of meeting house libraries around the world.

Quaker Studies

For all of its existence, Scarecrow’s Historical Dictionary series has provided a place for information on remarkably narrow and specific topics to find a home. Each of the volumes, with the standard features of a chronology, introductory essay, alphabetical entries, bibliography, and index, offers the individual authors the format and space to fully cover the topic while remaining within the template, which lets researchers know what they can expect. The three new additions to the Religions, Philosophies, and Movements subset cover Calvinism, new religious movements, and the Friends (Quakers). As reference books, the volumes on Calvinism and the Friends have a similar style and purpose. Each is intended to provide information on an established religion. The biographical entries cover church leaders and historical figures. The entries on philosophical and doctrinal matters serve to define the basic tenets of the faith and in some cases can be used as comparative points. For example, comparing the entries on Baptism and Sin in these two volumes can show basic differences between the two churches....The three books have authors, rather than editors, and all of them have has appropriate credentials for their subjects. The bibliographies are thematically arranged. These volumes are essential purchases for theological libraries and should be strongly considered by academic and public libraries where there is a subject interest.

Booklist

This expanded edition stands as a comprehensive, thorough resource about the Friends/Quakers. Abbott (Walk Worthy of Your Calling: Quakers and the Traveling Ministry), Mary Ellen Chijioke, Pink Dandelion (The Quakers: A Very Short Introduction), and John William Oliver Jr. (coeditor, Founded by Friends: The Quaker Heritage of 15 American Colleges and Universities), all of whom edited the previous edition, present here approximately 100 additional pages that include a longer introduction, an updated chronology, an appendix of statistics, and new entries that cover, for example, educational institutions. Entries run from a single paragraph to two pages. Some, such as the one covering publishing, now feature additional paragraphs, while other pieces that previously combined two ideas, such as "advices and queries," have been divided between the two terms. The international flavor of the first edition remains strong. For example, all eight 21st-century events highlighted in the chronology took place outside of North America. Access is enhanced by numerous cross-references and a lengthy index, and the material is backed up by extensive bibliographic references. VERDICT Dandelion's An Introduction to Quakerism (Cambridge Univ. Pr., 2007), which studies specific leaders and historical periods in more depth, is a useful narrative companion. This dictionary is recommended for religion and philosophy students, especially those without access to the first edition.—Marianne Orme, Des Plaines P.L., IL

Library Journal

This book will be eagerly received by Friends as a useful one-stop source for ready information about the Quaker movement in all its complexity. While other valuable ready references exist...none attempts to cover the same range of topics. There is much useful to this book, and we can be grateful to the editors and the many contributors of individual articles for their work. Meeting libraries that have a good basic Quaker collection will do well to have this available.

Friends Journal

...the entries are both brief and informative, and the work successfully captures the worldwide scope of the Friends movement....The choice of entries and the breadth of information available in approximately 400 pages make this a most worthy investment for both the personal and public library.

Reviews In Religion and Theology

Every monthly meeting should have a copy of this dictionary in its library. An invaluable reference guide, it provides a comprehensive view of the history of the Quaker movement, its present status and its future prospects. It goes beyond the usual reference guide because those who are not only knowledgeable about Quakers but also personally involved edited it....an indispensable asset for anyone interested in Quakers, their history and beliefs.

Quaker Life

An excellent starting point for anyone interested in the Religious Society of Friends...High school and university libraries should consider this volume for their reference collections.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)

Nearly every entry is concise and accurate....especially handy for the non-specialist....a welcome addition to Friends' resources.

Quaker Monthly

An excellent starting point for anyone interested in the Religious Society of Friends...High school and university libraries should consider this volume for their reference collections.

American Reference Books Annual