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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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cypher. A few days since I visited Floyd Court House, the
county-seat of one of the counties recently added to my Division ; _
found that the freed-people had been greatly neglected in that
locality, and were without schools, books, or even churches of
their own. I took initiatory steps towards establishing a school
at that place, and succeeded in securing the services of a colored |
man, who can read well and write a little, to take charge of the —
interest for the present. Some of the books you secured for me
I have decided to appropriate to their use. I am now required
to visit each county-seat of my six counties once a month, and
make a report of those visits to the Assistant Commissioner at
the close of each month. Shall be kept very busy, but my heart
is in the work; and the encouragement given will cheer me in
the midst of my duties. With kind remembrances,
I remain very truly yours,
C. S. ScHAEFFER.”
The meetings of the Association have been held monthly, in
the evening of the third Fourth-day ; and it may possibly be in-
teresting information, as well as an incentive to continued effort,
if we select from the record of our proceedings some of the ap- —
peals from various localities, to which we have been unable to
give an affirmative response.
At a meeting held 10th mo. 31st, M. Hichoate, a colored fe-_
male teacher, was present, and informed us of a prospect that she -
and her two daughters had, of establishing a school near Jack-
sonville, Florida. They subsequently embarked in the enter-
prise without anyendowment or fixed compensation for their ser-
vices, trusting entirely to casual contributions. An impromptu
collection of forty dollars was made, and they were requested to _
correspond with us concerning the success of their school. Fur-
ther aid we have been unable to give.
Frances W. Harper and Catharine Rollins, two colored teach-
érs, gave interesting statements of their experience in Kentucky, —
Tennessee, South Carolina, &c. At a school in Charleston,
where one of them has been teaching without compensation, the
_ pupils were too degraded and wretched to be received into other _
schools. Pecuniary assistance was desired to build a school-
house. Although the meeting sympathized with the labor, the
state of the finances prevented the extension of aid.
Ata meeting of the Association held 11th mo. 6th, a rete 3 ;
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Friends Freedmen's Association Records --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/4024frfr