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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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termined to make some effort towards relieving them. I reported
the case to Capt. S., who immediately summoned a man, and had
some wood sent them from his own wood-house to last till Second
day, when they were provided with a load. |
“My school is quite large,—has been since New Year’s; many
days numbering over fifty. Somedays I hear as many as twenty
classes recite. I open school at 83 o’clock in the morning, give
but half an hour noon recess, and teach in the afternoon till 43
or 5 o’clock. I felt rejoiced to learn you intend keeping the
schools open the rest of the term. I know my people are not _
able to wholly support a school yet, and they are now looking
forward to building a school-house,—to commence it as soon as
the spring opens,—which will take all they can spare from their
families. I hope they may succeed; many of them deserve to,
for they have worked with a will’ One of the men, at our edu-
cational meeting, made the remark, ‘If I have strength given
me, I am determined to give my children an education, if I have
to have them taught at home.
‘“‘T had a very pleasant visit to Waterford last week, with my.
friend Sarah Steer and her family. What dear kind friends
they have been tome! Sarah’s school-house is now finished,
and it is a very comfortable house indeed. I only hope ours (in
prospective) may be as good. I wish I could be in Philadelphia .
now for a month or so; I would do some (not shopping) but
begging, for I am determined the school-house shall be built.
“Leesburg, Va., 3d Month Tth, 1868.”
From Sarah Ann Steer,—
‘The letter containing the agreeable news of the continuance of
my school by the Association was received. I am very glad to
continue it. under your care, though it is much smaller than dur-
- ing the First and Second months. The spring work has taken
off a number of my scholars; still I find enough to keep me very
busy. Among my scholars are some that would be very glad
to fit themselves for teachers. I have always encouraged this
idea of their becoming teachers, as an inducement for them to —
study. Ihave received the package of garden seeds for distri-
bution.
“« Waterford, 3d mo, 24th, 1868.”’
From Caroline Thomas,—_
“ The time is approaching when my ‘ Winter Scholars’ leave,
and I shall have new ones. If I could keep the same all the
time, I could see greater improvement; my most advanced class —
are those who attend regularly, and who have been my. pupils
since I have been here. It is consoling to know there are young
men and women who will go into the world with a knowledge of
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Friends Freedmen's Association Records --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/4024frfr