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Friends' Association of Philadelphia for the Aid and Elevation of the Freedmen, Annual Reports
Report of the Executive Board of Friends' Association for the Aid and Elevation of the Freedmen, Read at the Meeting of the Association
Yearly reports printed for annual meeting of the association. Largely consist of narrative accounts of the freedmen's progress, drawn from letters sent by teachers who operated colored schools under the care of the association. Most years, a list of the society's officers, the treasurer's report, accounts of donations received in cash and goods, and an overview of distributions made were also included.
1864 - 1871
192 p. ; 22 cm.
reformatted digital
SG 3
Friends Freedmen's Association Records--http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/4024frfr
The Women's Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Freedmen was founded in 1862 to provide charitable assistance to recently freed slaves. Many Quakers were involved in this organization, but it was not until the following year that a similar group that was officially affiliated with the Society of Friends emerged. The Friends Association of Philadelphia and its Vicinity for the Relief of Colored Freedmen, was founded by Orthodox Quaker men in 1863. Soon after, in 1864, an equivalent group was established by Hicksite Quakers of both sexes: the Friends' Association for the Aid and Elevation of the Freedmen (amended to the more precise "Friends' Association of Philadelphia for the Aid and Elevation of the Freedmen"), which incorporated the Women's Association in 1865. It is unclear when this association closed, but it was in existence at least as late as 1872. Its Orthodox counterpart, renamed Friends' Freedmen's Association circa 1873, continued to operate in various capacities--most recently as a scholarship fund--until it was dissolved in 1982.
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covers, to stop the noise of the slates. We have had in constant
use what did come in the first barrels, and they are now about
gone. I was glad to hear from Lucretia. Iam fearfullly tired, so
will conclude, hoping I have asked for all the wants of the
schools. I hear thee saysI have many wants for a satisfied per-
son, but they are mostly wants for the benefit of others, or I
would feel condemned.”
From Sarah A. Steer, Waterford, 1st mo. 17th, 1869.
“Thy letter of Ist mo. 10th has been received. I informed
the colored people of your intention to continue my school for
five months from the first of this month, provided they are
willing to pay $15.00 per month. ‘This they are very willing to
do, and I do not think there will be any difficulty about it. My
school is quite full since Christmas, about fifty ongthe roll; a
number of them are grown people. I do not think their inte-
rest in the cause of education is flagging ; on the contrary I find
in some of them an increased interest since last winter. The
books sent for the Library are very highly appreciated. I am
Librarian; I give them out at the close of school on sixth-day
afternoon, and the promise of a book to take home is induce-
ment for some of the little troublesome ones to be good through
the week. The toys, &c., sent for Christmas were as usual re-
ceived with many demonstrations of joy. There was enough
for all and some to send home to the little ones who do not come
to school. As an evidence of the care the children take of their
presents, I will say that most of them have the gifts received
the first winter I had the school, and they look as nice and new
as if just received. I get the Standard occasionally, not regu-
larly ; I miss it when it fails to.reach me, as it is becoming a
great favorite. I have circulated the numbers I have received
among my white and colored friends. The school house at
Leesburg is not finished. I think the roof is on, but no windows,
and the building not plastered ; at last accounts they had stopped
work on it.”
From B. F. Grant, (Col’d), Centreville, Va., 1st mo. 31st, 1869.
“With great pleasure I take this opportunity to write you a
few lines, to return my sincere thanks for the papers that you
sent me. I would like to take the Hriends’ Intelligencer as long
as I am teaching school out here. J would take it for the year,
but I can not spare the money at this time, for I want to go to
school this summer and will not be making any thing. We had
Sabbath school this morning ; their was some 30 to 35 scholars
out ; we had a good time; we are doing all that the heart could
‘wish in the way of school at present, and I hope the Lord may
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Friends Freedmen's Association Records --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/4024frfr