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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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I am determined to stay here until sent by the proper authorities into
another field, or dismissed the service entirely.” She further remarks :
“Tt is not labor for me, as some would call it; I Jove the work.”
Her school now numbers forty-five pupils. ~~
The school under the care of Mary K. Brosius, at Vienna,
although established so recently, is very satisfactory. There is
not material in the surrounding country for a large school, but
education is none the less needed. Her last account gave the
number of pupils as twenty-six. Two instances of progress were
stated by her, as follows: ‘I have two little girls not over five
years old, who have learned their letters in one week.” She
also states they desire her to open a First-day School, which she
intends doing.
In the Twelfth month last we were called to mourn the re-
moval by death of our beloved friend and associate, Macpherson
Saunders. Connected with this Society from its organization,
and ever active in all efforts to extend its usefulness, we shall
long miss the steady judgment and quiet decision that gave such
value to his counsels. Endeared to us by the genial cheerful-
ness and earnestness which he brought to the consideration of
all our affairs, we mourn the loss of a valued friend and co-
laborer.
By this review it will be seen that we are now less busily en-
gaged than formerly, in supplying clothing to the destitute and
suffering freedmen, who are passing from a state of servitude and
dependence, with its corresponding degradation, to freedom, with
all its possibilities of progress and improvement. Our present
efforts are directed almost exclusively to the establishment and
support of schools among them. With the restoration of peace.
and the general resumption of habits of industry, their privations
must soon give place to comparative comfort and thrift, so that
the great needs of the colored people in the future will be facili-
ties for education and adequate protection from the prejudice.
and rapacity of their former masters.
The schools we have opened among them are all actively and
vigorously conducted by conscientious and efficient teachers,
whose sympathies are with the scholars in their efforts to learn.
We have been eminently successful in securing the services of
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Friends Freedmen's Association Records --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/4024frfr