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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.
REPORT.
The time of our Annual Meeting having been changed from
the First month to the Fifth, the Report now presented embraces
a period of sixteen months.
Previous to Eleventh month last, two Associations of our
Friends existed in this city, both of which were engaged in col-
lecting money and supplies, and forwarding them for the aid of
the freedmen. The efforts of one were particularly directed to
the relief of their physical wants; the other, while embracing
this point, added to its sphere of labor that of sending teachers
and establishing schools among them. As many Friends were
members of both of these Associations, confusion sometimes
arose in the minds of contributors in regard to their separate
provinces; it was therefore concluded that an advantage would
result from their union, and the ‘“* Women’s Association of
Philadelphia for the Relief of the Freedman” and “ Friends’
Association of Philadelphia for the Aid and Elevation of the
Freedmen ”’ were merged into one organization, under the latter
title.
At the commencement of the year 1865, the schools under
our care were located at Mason’s Island and Camp Wadsworth;
Lydia T. Atkinson, Sarah A. Cadwallader and Sarah E. Lobb,
being teachers at the former place, and Mary McClain at the
latter. Margaret Preston, who had been eagaged as nurse in
the Hospital at Mason’s Island, had been sent to St. Mary’s
County, Md., to inquire into the condition of the Freed-people
on the Government farms there. She remained a few weeks,
doing what she could for their amelioration and comfort ; but,
that locality being subsequently selected by our Friends in New
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Friends Freedmen's Association Records --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/4024frfr