Hannah Kilham (1774-1832)
Family Maxims
Letterpress broadside print on paper
Bentham & Ray, Sheffield: 1st Quarter 19th Century
22 x 17.5 inches
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Family Maxims
Hannah Kilham, 19th Century
Hannah Kilham, 19th Century
Large printed broadside, with 38 family maxims for a happy, fulfilling, and prosperous life, derived from the Bible and common wisdom, collected by Hannah Kilham, a prominent Quaker from Sheffield, England, who later moved to Tottenham. Kilham's interest in teaching went well beyond publishing maxims, and she became interested in furthering the education of Africans. In 1820 she had the idea of recruiting two African men from a Gambian ship, whom she would teach English while they taught her the Walof and Mandingo languages. Then she would produce dictionaries, grammar books and school books in those languages. The ultimate plan was for the two men to set up schools in Gambia. With the assistance of other Tottenham Quakers, she carried out her plan, and eventually accompanied them back to Gambia for a year to start the school. Then she returned to England, but later went to Sierra Leone where she established more schools.
Some examples of the maxims are:
"Goodness leads to goodness - and where the law of kindness rules, there is the greatest power in ruling."
"Make good use of time. Remember the time which is gone, is gone for ever."
"Retire early to rest, and be 'early to rise.' Industry promotes health, order, and happiness."
"Value the Holy Scriptures as a treasure inestimable."
Reference:
"Hannah Kilham." Bruce Castle Museum. 1999 http://www.nanning.nildram.co.uk/quakers/history/Killham001.html