The name 'Swarthmore' has its roots in early Quaker history. Swarthmoor Hall, in Cumbria, England, was the home of Thomas and Margeret Fell in 1652 when George Fox, fresh from his epiphany atop Pendle Hill in 1651, came to visit. The visitation turned into a long association as Fox persuaded Thomas and Margeret Fell and the inhabitants of the nearby village of Fenmore of Friendly, and Swarthmoor was used for the first Friends' meetings.

See also: *Unofficial History of Swarthmore College 

Alumni

Swarthmore's alumni include five recipients of the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (sometimes referred to as "the genius awards") and four Nobel laureates, most recently Edward C. Prescott of the class of 1962. In addition, hundreds of prominent figures–in diverse fields, including law, art, science, business, and politics –have attended Swarthmore. The most famous Swarthmore graduates are probably Michael Dukakis, a former Presidential candidate and novelist James Michener, both of whom graduated with highest honors. (Astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, attended but later transfered to Stanford University to major in Physics and English.)

Other notable Swarthmore alumni can be found on the List of Swarthmore College people

• Co-educational institution from its beginning (1864)
• Continuously highly ranked on U.S. News and World Report's ranking of liberal arts colleges
• Campus itself is a nationally recognized arboretum (see Scott Arboretum )