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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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The following letter is from a little girl aged nine years, to
some who had contributed toward the Christmas gifts :—
‘1st month, 2d, 1868.
“My kind beloved Friends,—I take this on myself, to write you
a few lines to thank you for your kindness. I enjoyed myself
very much Christmas day. I thought the Christmas tree looked
very pretty, and I think that you all are very kind to send us
Christmas presents way down here. I am going to school at this
time, and 1 am learning a little every day, not spending all my
time in play; and I think if we believe in the Lord our God we
need not fear; for he can do and see all things. May God bless
you for your kindness to the freedmen. |
From Satire Lee, 9 years old.”
The Teachers thus report of the First month:
Mary A. Taylor, from Charleston, S. C., writes—
“We havea flourishing sewing school of fifty of the largest girls.
This is a goodly number to fix and cut out for, but two or three
good dressmakers (colored) have volunteered to help us. During
the first hour of evening school I teach the boys drawing. Some
of them make excellent attempts, and are deeply interested.”
Cornelia Hancock, at the same place, gives a fuller account of
their “Industrial School,’’ which has interested them for some
time, but which they-have been unable to carry into effect before,
stating that “a lady from Boston visited the school, and present-
ed us with a whole piece of muslin and one of calico; and so far,
that has helped us in material, but now we are out and want
more. I think in your Association there may be some who feel
a particular interest in their learning to sew; if so, I will prom-
ise their contributions shall be directed to good account. I think |
it an important matter, and I will do all I can to aid in the en- -
terprise. | |
“¢T have two scholars who compose sentences correctly, and one
who understands Fractions thoroughly, and ten cyphering in Com-
pound Numbers.” ) ?
Of the school of Isabel Lenair, the colored teacher, also located
at Charleston, we have a very good account. ‘She has 54 pupils
enrolled, all between 6 and 16 years of age, 41 of whom are read-
ing, 35 write, and 25 are in arithmetic. The reduced average at-
tendance is thus accounted for: ‘¢ The planting season has com-
menced, and a large number of families have moved four and five ©
miles into the country, and the larger children walk that dis-
tance, but the little ones cannot. In some cases, the children
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Friends Freedmen's Association Records --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/4024frfr