{"id":317,"date":"2022-08-11T15:29:03","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T15:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wbbm.digitalprojects.brynmawr.edu\/dev\/?page_id=317"},"modified":"2022-09-14T17:07:47","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T21:07:47","slug":"quakers-bmc","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wbbm.digitalprojects.brynmawr.edu\/why-build\/exhibit\/founding\/quakers-bmc\/","title":{"rendered":"The Quakers of Bryn Mawr College"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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No single person founded Bryn <\/span>Mawr<\/span> College. Instead, a circle of progressive <\/span>Orthodox Quakers from the north- and southeastern United States came <\/span>together to debate and realize a collective vision. <\/span>\u200b<\/p>\n

Troubled by contemporary social ills \u2013 the horrors of slavery and devastation of <\/span>the Civil War, the struggles of <\/span>Freedmen<\/strong><\/a> and women, the displacement and <\/span>exploitation of Indigenous peoples, the wealth gap produced by rapid <\/span>industrialization, the subordination and disenfranchisement of women \u2013 they <\/span>sought to mitigate these problems by realizing greater Quaker influence in <\/span>society. They saw education as a primary means of achieving this goal. <\/span>\u200b<\/p>\n

Like many Quaker philanthropists and social reformers of the era, founder <\/span>Joseph W. Taylor feared a breakdown in society, precipitated by women <\/span>succumbing to “foolish fashions” and “follies.” Only a Christian education could <\/span>safeguard women from <\/span>worldly<\/strong><\/a> distractions. Taylor and his circle of <\/span>advisors believed the fate of Western civilization was held in sway. They sought <\/span>to build a College that would promote Quaker values of <\/span>simplicity<\/strong><\/a>, while also <\/span>announcing an intention to impact the world. <\/span>\u200b<\/p>\n

Many of these Quakers were involved in multiple philanthropic organizations <\/span>and movements intended to aid Indigenous peoples and formerly enslaved <\/span>men and women. Nevertheless, their philanthropic pursuits were <\/span>often <\/span>paternalistic<\/strong><\/a>, shaped by fundamental principles of <\/span>white<\/a> supremacy<\/a><\/strong> and <\/span>a <\/span>Christian civilizing mission<\/a> <\/strong>that caused severe harm. Moreover, <\/span>marginalized communities were just as active in mobilizing and advocating for <\/span>themselves, but this advocacy was sometimes ignored or devalued. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about the diverse philanthropic investments of the founders<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cthe said Trustees….may proceed to expend a portion of the principle in….the erection thereon of substantial buildings of the most approved construction, for the comfort, advanced education, and care of young women, or girls of the higher and more refined classes of society. <\/p>

“In the admission of students….those should be preferred who are of high moral and religious attainments and good examples and influence, and,such as are most advanced in education…\u201d<\/p>

\u201cthe effects of a guarded advanced Christian education of females… would strengthen character and elevate them above the foolish fashions now so prevalent, andwould fit [them] forusefulness and influence, should they become mothers, to train infant minds and give directions to character and to make homethe center of interest and attraction and thus to preserve youth from foolish follies or haunts that lead to ruin!”<\/p>Excerpts from the Will of Dr. Joseph W. Taylor (1877)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Return to: Founding Bryn Mawr<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Continue To: Competing Ideas at the Quaker Educational Conference<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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