Welcome to the History of Abolitionism and Black Activism in the Belfield Neighborhood resource.  This resource explores the history of Quaker settlers and abolitionism, as well as Black activism in the 20^th century, with a focus on Black student activism in the Belfield area. Several collections were leveraged to build this resource including the Wister Family papers in La Salle University’s Special Collections, student and corporate records in the La Salle University Archives, as well as the Belfield, Fisher and Butler Family papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

The creation of this resource was funded by a grant from The Pennsylvania Abolition Society. The resource project team included La Salle University student interns, Taylor Bennett and David O’Brien, La Salle professors Dr. Luisa Ossa and Dr. Lisa Jarvinen, and Connelly Library’s Special Collections Librarian, Dr. Heather Willever-Farr.  In addition, Dezlen Long, a Special Collections Intern, contributed to this guide by researching and writing about Fanny Kemble and Sarah Wister Butler. His internship was supported by a grant from the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL).