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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
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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.
We deem it needless at this time to elaborate an argument
to convince of the necessity for earnest, unfaltering service in
the ever-enlarging field into which we have entered. It is suffi-
cient only “to lift up our eyes and look upon the fields” that
we may know they ‘‘are ripe already to harvest,” and therefore,
the call for laborers is pressing and imperative.
Being desirous that this offering of our gleanings should give
the receiver a clear understanding of our work during the past
year, a repetition of former publications has been unavoidable.
Impressed with the immediate need of attention to the welfare
of the colored people in our country liberated from bondage, a
large company gathered in Friends’ Meeting House on Race St.,
First month 6th, 1864, and organized “‘ Friends’ Association for
the Aid and Elevation of the Freedmen,” adopted a Constitution, —
appointed a Finance Committee, and an Executive Board which
has met twice in each month during most of the year.
At their meeting First month 12th, 1864, an Address, solicit-
ing the co-operation of the members of Philadelphia Yearly Meet-
ing of Friends was read, approved and referred to a committee for
circulation, with a desire that it should be read in Monthly and
other meetings.
The response to this appeal gave encouragement to believe that
the continued aid of Friends would be-freely given in the work
before us, and, therefore, with renewed earnestness, we made
preparations to hear the cries of the needy, and, according to
our means and ability, to endeavor to relieve their sufferings.
A committee was formed for the judicious distribution of sup-
plies at a meeting of the Executive Board, First month 6th, and,
at the same time, a proposition was introduced to send teachers
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Friends Freedmen's Association Records --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/4024frfr