Learn about the history of FGC Gatherings! FGC Gatherings from 2014 – present have pages including videos and other resources.
Precursor Conferences (pre-1900)
First Day School Conference
| 1868 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1869 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1870 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1871 | New York, New York |
| 1872 | Baltimore, Maryland |
| 1873 | Richmond, Indiana |
| 1874 | Mt. Pleasant, Ohio |
| 1875 | Pickering, Ontario, Canada |
| 1876 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1878 | Baltimore, Maryland |
| 1879 | New York, New York |
| 1881 | Clear Creek, Illinois |
| 1883 | Waynesville, Ohio |
| 1884 | Mt. Pleasant, Ohio |
| 1886 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1888 | Yarmouth, Ontario, Canada |
| 1890 | Pendleton, Indiana |
| 1892 | Lincoln, Virginia |
| 1894 | Chappaqua, New York |
| 1896 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania |
| 1898 | Richmond, Indiana |
| 1900 | Chautauqua, New York |
Friends Union for Philanthropic Labor
| 1882 | Waynesville, Ohio |
| 1883 | Baltimore, Maryland |
| 1884 | Mt. Pleasant, Ohio (w/FDSC) |
| 1886 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1888 | New York, New York |
| 1890 | Pendleton, Indiana |
| 1892 | Lincoln, Virginia |
| 1894 | Chappaqua, New York |
| 1896 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania |
| 1898 | Richmond, Indiana |
| 1900 | Chautauqua, New York |
Friends Religious Conference
| 1893 | Chicago, Illinois |
| 1894 | Chappaqua, New York |
| 1896 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania |
| 1898 | Richmond, Indiana |
| 1900 | Chautauqua, New York |
Friends Educational Conference
| 1894 | Chappaqua, New York |
| 1896 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania |
| 1898 | Richmond, Indiana |
| 1900 | Chautauqua, New York |
Young Friends Associations
| 1894 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1895 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1895 | Trenton, New Jersey |
| 1896 | New York, New York |
| 1897 | Newtown, Pennsylvania |
| 1898 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1899 | Woodstown, New Jersey |
| 1900 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 1900 | Chautauqua, New York |
| 1900 | Abington, Pennsylvania |
Biannual Conferences (1900-1962)
The precursor Conferences were officially joined together to create Friends General Conference at Chautauqua, New York in August 1900.
| 1900 | Chautauqua, New York | |
| 1902 | Asbury Park, New Jersey | |
| 1904 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| 1906 | Mountain Lake Park, Maryland | |
| 1908 | Winona Lake, Indiana | |
| 1910 | Ocean Grove, New Jersey | |
| 1912 | Chautauqua, New York | |
| 1914 | Saratoga, New York | |
| 1916 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1918 | Not Held | |
| 1920 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1922 | Richmond, Indiana | |
| 1924 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1926 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1928 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1930 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1932 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1934 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1936 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1938 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1940 – | Cape May, New Jersey | Building for the World of Tomorrow |
| 1942 | Cape May, New Jersey | Toward a Free and Generous World |
| 1944 | Cape May, New Jersey | Reconstruction, Inward and Outward |
| 1946 | Cape May, New Jersey | Religious Foundations for Citizenship in One World |
| 1948 | Cape May, New Jersey | A Living Faith for Today’s Needs |
| 1950 | Cape May, New Jersey | Reconciliation Bridging the Gaps of Misunderstanding |
| 1952 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1954 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1956 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1958 | Cape May, New Jersey | From Fear to Faith |
| 1960 | Cape May, New Jersey | |
| 1962 | Cape May, New Jersey |
Annual Gatherings (1963-2024)
In 1963, the Conferences began to be held annually. In the late 1970s, in order to order to make room for emphasis on the other important work of Friends General Conference, the annual conference began to be called the Gathering.
| 1963 | Traverse City, Michigan | ||
| 1964 | Cape May, New Jersey | ||
| 1965 | Traverse City, Michigan | ||
| 1966 | Cape May, New Jersey | ||
| 1967 | Columbia, Missouri | Stephens College | |
| 1968 | Cape May, New Jersey | ||
| 1969 | Wilmington, Ohio | Wilmington College | |
| 1970 | Ocean Grove, New Jersey | You will say, Christ saith this, and the apostles say this, but what canst thou say? Art thou a child of Light and hast walked in the Light, and what thou speakest, is it inwardly from God? | |
| 1971 | Not held | ||
| 1972 | Ithaca, New York | Ithaca College | |
| 1973 | Richmond, Indiana | Earlham College | |
| 1974 | Ithaca, New York | Ithaca College | |
| 1975 | Berea, Kentucky | Berea College | Spirit into Life |
| 1976 | Ithaca, New York | Ithaca College | Discovering Quaker Ways of Life |
| 1977 | Not held | ||
| 1978 | Ithaca, New York | Ithaca College | The Future: What Does the Lord Require…? |
| 1979 | Richmond, Indiana | Earlham College | Nurturing the Seed |
| 1980 | Ithaca, New York | Ithaca College | Here Am I! Send Me |
| 1981 | Berea, Kentucky | Berea College | |
| 1982 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock State College | Living Our Faith Together |
| 1983 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock State College | The Way is Open! Let the Spirit Move |
| 1984 | Canton, New York | St. Lawrence University | The Future is NOW |
| 1985 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock State College | Community: Unity with Diversity |
| 1986 | Northfield, Minnesota | Carleton College | Many Roads, One Journey |
| 1987 | Oberlin, Ohio | Oberlin College | And This Shall Be Our Charge: To Listen, To Minister, To Witness |
| 1988 | Boone, North Carolina | Appalachian State University | Nurturing the Tree of Life: Cultivating Justice, Healing, and Peace |
| 1989 | Canton, New York | St. Lawrence University | Currents of Faith, Wings of Vision |
| 1990 | Northfield, Minnesota | Carleton College | A Time to Mend |
| 1991 | Boone, North Carolina | Appalachian State University | Growing in Radical Faith |
| 1992 | Canton, New York | St. Lawrence University | Live Love |
| 1993 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Oklahoma State University | Riding the Wind of Spirit |
| 1994 | Amherst, Massachusetts | University of Massachusetts | Living the Spirit, Listening, Acting |
| 1995 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Western Michigan University | Gathering the Light |
| 1996 | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | McMaster University | Journeys in Truth |
| 1997 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | James Madison University | Be Open, Be Transformed, Be Faithful |
| 1998 | River Falls, Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin | Strength to Lead, Faith to Follow |
| 1999 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Western Michigan University | On Holy Ground, In Holy Times |
| 2000 | Rochester, New York | University of Rochester | Deep Roots, New Growth |
| 2001 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Virginia Tech | Stillness: Surrounding, Sustaining, Strengthening |
| 2002 | Normal, Illinois | Illinois State University | To Be Gathered Still |
| 2003 | Johnstown, Pennsylvania | University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown | Coming to Peace |
| 2004 | Amherst, Massachusetts | University of Massachusetts | Simple Lives, Radiant Faith |
| 2005 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Virginia Tech | Weaving the Blessed Tapestry |
| 2006 | Tacoma, Washington | Pacific Lutheran University | Swimming in Living Waters |
| 2007 | River Falls, Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin | “…But Who Is My Neighbor?” |
| 2008 | Johnstown, Pennsylvania | University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown | Courageously Faithful |
| 2009 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Virginia Tech | Wings of Joy, Fire of Love, Rooted in Spirit |
| 2010 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Bowling Green State University | Accepting Gifts of the Spirit |
| 2011 | Grinnell, Iowa | Grinnell College | Meeting at the Center |
| 2012 | Kingston, Rhode Island | University of Rhode Island | All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir |
| 2013 | Greeley, Colorado | University of Northern Colorado | At the Growing Edges of Our Faith |
| 2014 | California, Pennsylvania | California University of Pennsylvania | Let Love Be the First Motion |
| 2015 | Cullowhee, North Carolina | (Western Carolina University) – | Seeking Wholeness |
| 2016 | St. Joseph, Minnesota | College of St. Benedict) | be humble, Be Faithful, BE BOLD |
| 2017 | Niagara Falls, New York | Niagara University | Ripples Start Where Spirit Moves |
| 2018 | Toledo, Ohio | University of Toledo | The Power of Truth |
| 2019 | Grinnell, Iowa | Grinnell College | Peace in our Hearts, Justice in the World |
| 2020 | Virtual | Sink Down To The Seed Sown In the Heart | |
| 2021 | Virtual | Way Will Open | |
| 2022 | Virtual | …and follow me. | |
| 2023 | Monmouth, Oregon | Western Oregon University | Listen So That We May Live |
| 2024 | Haverford, Pennsylvania | Haverford College | Rooted in Story |
| 2025 | Online | A Spring Whose Waters Never Fail |
Youth & Young Adult Gatherings
From time to time, FGC has sponsored standalone events for youth and young adults. Below is a partial list of such events.
| 1999 | Catoctin Quaker Camp, Thurmont, Maryland | Young Quakes Conference | |
| 2000 | Illinois Yearly Meeting, McNabb, Illinois | Young Quakes Conference | “Be Not Conformed to this World” |
| 2007 | Burlington Meeting House, Burlington, NJ | Young Adult Friends Conference | |
| 2008 | Earlham School of Religion, Richmond, IN | Young Adult Friends Conference | |
| 2022 | Radford University, Radford, Virginia | YAY (Young Adult and Youth) Gathering | “Center Together…and follow me” |
| 2025 | Colombiere Retreat Center, Clarkston, MI | YAY (Young Adult and Youth) Gathering | “Peace Like a River, Joy Like a Fountain: Nourishing Spirit through Creativity, Worship, and Play” |