Some items in the TriCollege Libraries Digital Collections may be under copyright. Copyright information may be available in the Rights Status field listed in this item record (below). Ultimate responsibility for assessing copyright status and for securing any necessary permission rests exclusively with the user. Please see the Reproductions and Access page for more information.
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.
16
I arranged the Christmas gifts for the children on a Christmas tree.
They assembled at my boarding-house in the morning, and I made the
presentations. The Christmas tree was a great curiosity to the children,
and when they beheld their beautiful presents hanging upon the branches,
their sable faces fairly shone with delight.
It gives me joy to act as your agent in the good work, and to see the
hearts of the oppressed race made glad by the kindness shown by their
friends in the North.
I asked them, «Who put it into the hearts of these good people to send
them so many nice gifts?” They answered, « God.”
There were two children that came after their Christmas gifts very
poorly clad; I dressed them in a new suit of clothes, and they went their
way rejoicing. I have heard of several families that are in a very desti-
tute condition, that live some two or three miles distant; I have sent them
word I have clothing for them.
It is impossible for me to get around among them, as the roads are very
bad. My men are working at the school-house this week. They expect
to have it ready for me by next Second-day.
Iam heartily weary of my long vacation, Expect I will have a very
large school, this winter.
Herndon, Fairfax County, Va.
From Martua Wriaut, at Lewensville, Va. :—
I have two pupils whom I think would make good teachers in a few
months. I think it would have done your hearts good, could you have
seen the radiant faces of my pupils when they stepped forward and took
from my hands the proffered Christmas presents. Many thanks for the
clothing.
The opportunities for profitable industry which have grown
out of the more peaceable and settled condition of the Southern
communities have been so productive of thrift and comparative
comfort among the Freedmen as to call for much less assistance
in the way of food and clothing than in the trying years imme- —
diately following the war. We have found the part-worn gar-
ments donated by our friends, both in the city and in the coun-
try, to be sufficient, with the goods on hand from last year, to
meet the demands upon us in this direction.
We have, however, felt it right to respond to the appeals from
our teachers for suitable garden seeds, to enable the Freedmen to
cultivate the plots of ground at their disposal to advantage. In
this we have been aided by donations from Friends; a liberal
donation of 2100 packages of assorted seeds, well adapted for
Page 16
Friends Freedmen's Association Records --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/4024frfr