Scattergood Motto calendar in transition

© Katherine Scattergood Marino

Due to a publisher change and COVID-19-related delays, a publication date for the 2021 Scattergood or “Motto” calendar is still undetermined.

The simple four-by-six-inch calendars contain quotes from Quakers and others at the top of each month. The calendars were first published by Thomas Scattergood, a Quaker living in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1884. (This Thomas Scattergood was the great-grandchild of the Thomas Scattergood who started Friends Hospital and died in 1814.) The calendars were initially distributed for free to family, friends, and employees. Others grew interested, and Scattergood began selling the calendars but never at a profit.

Scattergood descendants continued the publication following Thomas’s death in 1907. His great-granddaughter Marion Scattergood Ballard had served as publisher from 2000 through to the 2020 calendar, but retired from calendar duties earlier this year.

Marion’s niece, Katherine Scattergood Marino, hopes to continue publication of the calendars including a 2021 calendar, but is still working out details. For more information write to scattergoodmotto@gmail.com.

FJ News Editor

Erik Hanson and Windy Cooler are the news editors for Friends Journal. They contributed to the reporting of this story. Do you know about any Quaker news stories we should be covering? Send us tips at news@friendsjournal.org.

2 thoughts on “Scattergood Motto calendar in transition

  1. Hello –
    I wanted to follow up to the article above and let everyone know that the Scattergood Motto Calendar is currently accepting orders for the 2020 calendar year.
    You can email me at scattergoodmotto@gmail.com for order information!

    Thank you so much for everyone’s continued support and interest!

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