In 1756, members of the Society of Friends formed the Friendly Association, precursor to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Indian Committee. Through this agency, they advised Native Americans to make peace treaties and represented Indians’ interests abroad and at treaty councils. Five volumes containing precious records not to be found elsewhere were the result of these efforts.  The documents are often fragile, though most of the volumes are also recorded on microfilm.  Now, with the excellent aid of two Special Collections students, Lucy Saxon and Doug Pickard, the indices to all five volumes have been digitized.  While we plan on making these web accessible, they are currently available to all who inquire in Special Collections.

Documents related to the mostly Quaker settlement of Colonial West Jersey have been donated to the New Jersey State Archives from the 330-year-old Proprietors Council of West Jersey, founded by William Penn. Among the materials is the 1677 “Concessions and Agreements of the Proprietors, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Province of West Jersey in America” which establishes a democratic elected form of government and calls for, among other things, equal rights for women, the education of girls, trial by jury and fair treatment of Native Americans. (Announced in The Star-Ledger).