The following informative reply to Joanie Evans' inquiry was provided by
Bill Bolger, Architectural Historian, Philadelphia Support Office (PHSO),
National Park Service.

Clifford Tobias, Ph.D.
Park History Program Leader, PHSO


Quakers did this as well as late as the early 20th c.  The separation was
to allow for separate business meetings: one for men and one for women.
Each had different things that they were responsible for.  Partitions would
be lowered to separate the men and women for their separate business
meetings and then be raised for worship.  This really provided an unusual
equality for women allowing them their own organizational identity.  They
were also welcome to speak in meeting and many of the most notable Quaker
preachers were women, such as Lucretia Mott.  The symetrical facade with
two entrances symbolized this equality.  Catherine Lavoie's catologue for
the exhibit on Quaker Meetings is available through the Quaker Information
Center.  Contact:

Peggy Morscheck
Director, Quaker Information Center
1501 Cherry Street,  Philadelphia, PA  19102.
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://www.quakerinfo.org

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