Myers, Albert Cook, 1874-1960

Albert Cook Myers (1874-1960) was a Pennsylvania historian, who dedicated his life’s work to the identification, study and organization of William Penn’s published writings and personal papers. Beginning in 1910, after securing an endorsement from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, he set out to publish: “The Complete Works of William Penn.” All told, Myers devoted fifty years of his life to this project. Though his publication goals were never realized, he assembled a massive and notable body of information about William Penn, which included transcriptions of original documents found in the United States and England, research notes, first and other early original editions of Penn’s published works, and some original manuscript material as well. To complete his studies, Myers travelled abroad and throughout the United States. As a result of his efforts, he came to be regarded as an expert on the topic and often spoke publicly on the life and times of William Penn.

Myers was born in 1874 in York Springs, Pennsylvania. He was a devoted Quaker. He attended Martin Academy and Swarthmore College, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Swarthmore in 1898 and 1901, respectively. He obtained further graduate education from the Universities of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Harvard. Later, in 1932, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Franklin and Marshal College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Though he was best known for his work on the Penn papers project, throughout his life, Myers was involved in many other historical pursuits of significance. Early in his career, he served as history editor for the publication, The Literary Era, and he also authored and/or edited several books on early American and Pennsylvania history. They include, Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1902; Sally Wister’s Journal, 1902; Quaker Arrivals at Philadelphia, 1902; Memoir of Gilbert Cope, 1929; William Penn’s Early Life in Brief, 1944-1974, 1937; and several others.

Myers was also involved in various capacities with the Jamestown Exposition in 1907, the Pennsylvania State Historical Commission, Pennsylvania Commission on School History Text Books, Philadelphia Mayor’s Historical Commission, and the Sesquicentennial Celebration. He was a member and chairman of the Historical Commission of Valley Forge Park from 1923 to 1935, and in 1932, directed the William Penn Commemoration. He was president of Friends Historical Society of England and a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies. During World War I, he served as officer of the War Camp Community Service in Philadelphia, organizing historical walks through Philadelphia and receptions at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for servicemen.

Albert Cook Myers died on April 1, 1960. He never married.

From the guide to the Albert Cook Myers Historical Collection: William Penn papers, 1645-1960, (Chester County Historical Society)