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Outlines the origins and past 20 years of the Penn Sewing School, from the integration of African-American students into the program to the desire for expansion as the Penn Sewing and Household School.

Minutes and occasional treasurers' reports of the organization known at different times as the Society for the Free Instruction of African Females, the Society for the Free Instruction of Females of Color, and the Association of Friends for the Free Instruction of Colored Women, which eventually merged with the Association of Friends for the Free Instruction of Adult Colored Persons. The minutes discuss rules for the running of the organization, rules for the teachers and students, and reports on the occurrences at the school. The treasurers' reports detail the organization's income and expenses. The book also lists the names of the organization's members. Records skip 15 years between 1816 and 1831; it is not clear if the organization was active during that time. Blank pages were not scanned.

In the first letter, Lizzie (probably teacher Elizabeth Dorsey) discusses recent deaths as well as donations to the Schofield Normal and Industrial School. In the second letter, Samuel Willets tells Schofield that he has enclosed a donation for her school.

Sarah "Sallie" F. Corlies was a friend of Martha Schofield's and was the secretary of the Germantown Freedmen's Aid Association, an important source of funding for Schofield's school in Aiken. Has been too busy to write or visit Darby. Discusses the Penn Sewing School and offers to send Schofield a copy of its charter and by-laws. Gives Schofield credit for the official report from the "Penna. Asso." (possibly the Pennsylvania Freedmen's Relief Association) and asks how many teachers Schofield was assigned. Is interested in hearing about the state of Schofield's school upon her return to Aiken. Reminds her to write, stating the Schofield's letters about her work and school are the main business of the Germantown Association meetings. Reports news about family/friends, including Sarah B. (possibly Sallie R. Bowman)'s enthusiasm about the recent woman's suffrage meeting she and some of Schofield's family members attended. References Lawrence Obanyon Posey and Allen A. Scott, former students of Schofield who were attending Lincoln University.

Sarah Ash was Martha Schofield's sister. Martha writes that Mrs. Sprague, principal of the Schofield School, has just written her that she will not be returning to Aiken after the summer. She says that she is confident they will be able to find a replacement since teachers are "plenty." She adds that women teachers are cheaper than male teachers and discusses the salary she paid Mrs. Sprague. She is considering putting an ad in the Woman's Journal.

Isaac N. Rendall was president of Lincoln University. Discusses Martha Schofield's former student Lawrence Obanyon Posey, who had just arrived at Lincoln. Describes his religious condition and tells Schofield to continue encouraging him in his studies. Discusses William Woodruff, principal of Lincoln's preparatory department. Also discusses Allen A. Scott, another student of Schofield's, and summarizes what Schofield has said about his life. Says Scott is welcome at the university.

Text is faded. Like Schofield, Philena Heald taught freedmen in South Carolina after the Civil War. Heald describes her school and students, who are "breathless in attention and catch every word we say." She describes in detail the house where she is living, in which rebels once resided. She also describes attending a Black church. She expresses a desire to see Schofield since they are now living so close to each other.

Annie B. Storm was Martha Schofield's cousin; Archer Walker was likely one of Schofield's former students in Aiken, South Carolina. Walker tells Schofield how he is adjusting to life in New York. Bell's letter passes on news of the family.

Elizabeth Dorsey was treasurer of the Germantown Freedmen's Aid Association, an important source of funding for Martha Schofield's school in Aiken. Describes Isaac N. Rendall's report of the academic progress of Schofield's former students Allen A. Scott and Lawrence Obanyon Posey at Lincoln University and discusses the lack of funding to sponsor other African American students. Briefly talks about the recent death of Mr. Webb.

Written from Lincoln University. Lawrence Obanyon Posey was an African American man from Aiken, South Carolina, who studied at Martha Schofield's school in Aiken. Posey went on to study at Lincoln and Howard Universities, ultimately graduating from Howard's law school in 1882 as valedictorian. Mentions Allen A. Scott, another former student of Schofield's who studied at Lincoln, and Elizabeth Dorsey, a Quaker woman involved with Schofield's school. Discusses his studies and summer plans. Describes the planting of a class tree.