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Aimwell School records
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Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The Aimwell School was founded in 1796 by Anne Parrish (1760-1800) and was run originally out of Parrish's own home on North 2nd Street in Philadelphia as an educational opportunity for underprivileged girls. The school's mission was to provide a "proper" education to young girls while charging no more than a small regular fee for the usage of books. No tuition was charged and the school ran entirely on donations. Parrish and her coworkers formed together as the Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children, under the management of the Society of Friends. As the institution grew, it moved to four different locations before settling in the Friends' Meeting House at 6th & Noble Streets in Philadelphia in 1889, where it stayed until 1914. In 1915, the school reopened at 865-69 North Randolph Street in Philadelphia and emphasized the goals of spiritual, mental, moral, and physical education for the students.
In 1859, the Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children was incorporated and the name was then changed to the Aimwell School Association. The school was open until 1923; the corporation dissolved in 1935. The funds were transferred to a Friends fiduciary group.
There were several principal contributors to the Aimwell School, namely: Anne Parrish, Sarah Richie, Sarah Bacon, and Margaret Warder, who were some of the first members of the Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children. Catharine Morris was also an early member to the Society and provided significant financial support for the institution. Mary Wheeler served as the first treasurer, followed by Mary M. Leeds whom served in the position for an extensive period of time.
The Aimwell School Records (1796-1935) consist primarily of meeting minute book records and various documents related to the operation and administration of the Aimwell School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are 13 volumes of minute books, including extracts and drafts of minutes (1797-1935). Financial information includes 11 volumes of treasurer's accounts (1797-1895) including an account of the cost of building a new school house in 1825 and documents regarding bequests and donations. There are several legal documents (1886-1919; 1935) including mortgages, bonds, deeds, and insurance contracts. There are records of the general operation of the school (1796-1920) including regulations, a school constitution, articles of association, typed histories, catalogues, an account of the library holdings, and a log of all enrolled students. Also included in this collection are some miscellaneous materials, namely, a series of photographs related to the school as well as several keys to the Aimwell School buildings and the original box for these records.
Materials within the collection are organized chronologically within each series.
Unknown.
Processed by Grace Thiele; completed July, 2014.
People
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- Grace Thiele
- Finding Aid Date
- July, 2014
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is available for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Standard Federal Copyright Law Applies (U.S. Title 17).
Collection Inventory
174 pages. Meeting minutes of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) from 1809-08-06 to 1816-01-06. Includes the treasurer's annual reports, a description of the school's instructional system (based on the monitorial system). scopecontent
2 pages. Copied extract of an Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) meeting minute from 1809-02. Discusses a decision to solicit subscribers for the sake of the institution's financial stability. Includes a list fragment of annual subscribers.
64 pages. Meeting minutes of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) from 1797-11-20 to 1802-01-08. Includes the Society's rules and regulations for the school, a list of members, and the treasurer's annual reports.
154 pages. Meeting minutes of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) from 1802-03-06 to 1809-07-01. Includes the Society's rules and regulations for the school, a list of members, and the treasurer's annual reports.
2 pages. Describes a resolution to sell a plot of land on Cherry Street.
32 pages. Extracts from minutes followed by financial records, dated 1828-09-08 to 1866-02-20, for the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children).
154 pages. Meeting minutes of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) from 1826-02-10 to 1836-11-04. Includes treasurer's annual reports.
220 pages. Meeting minutes of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) from 1854-07-08 to 1866-12-08, documenting the operation of the Aimwell School. Includes monthly attendance statistics and the treasurer's annual reports.
202 pages. Meeting minutes of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) from 1837-02-11 to 1854-06-10, documenting the operation of the Aimwell School. Includes the treasurer's annual reports.
1 page. Authorizes the sale of an alley next to the school building on Cherry Street.
206 pages. Meeting minutes of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) from 1837-02-11 to 1854-06-10, documenting the operation of the Aimwell School. Includes the treasurer's annual reports.
120 pages. Meeting minutes of the Aimwell School Association from 1881-01-08 to 1890-11-08, documenting the operation of the Aimwell School. Includes monthly attendance statistics and the treasurer's annual reports.
188 pages. Meeting minutes of the Aimwell School Association from 1891-01-10 to 1909-03-16, documenting the operation of the Aimwell School. Includes monthly attendance statistics and the treasurer's annual reports.
168 pages. Meeting minutes records of the Aimwell School Association from 1909-05-18 to 1924-09-16, documenting the operation of the Aimwell School.
54 pages. Meeting minutes records of the Aimwell School Association from 1925-01-20 to 1935-01-15. Includes treasurer's reports.
1 page. Official decree by the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granting the Aimwell School Association's petition to disband.
1 page. Order for publication of a notice regarding the upcoming hearing of the Aimwell School Association's petition.
8 pages. Aimwell School Association petition for dissolution, submitted to the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Titled "Petition of the Dissolution for a Corporation and for Leave to Transfer Charitable Trust Funds to a Succeeding Trustee".
2 pages. Statement provided upon request regarding the funds, investments, and trustee powers of the Aimwell School Association.
44 pages. Lists the income and expenses of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children), dated 1797-1804. Also includes a list of subscribers, dated 1802-1808.
64 pages. Lists the income and expenses of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children). Last entry made 1813-01-01.
36 pages. Lists the income and expenses of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children), dated 1811-1812. Includes lists of subscribers and donations, dated 1812-1813. Last entry from 1814-01-07.
31 pages. Lists the income and expenses of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children). Also includes lists of subscribers and donations.
50 pages. Lists the income and expenses of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children). Also includes lists of subscribers and donations.
2 pages. Financial statement listing the expenses of constructing the Aimwell school house erected on Cherry Street in 1825.
130 pages. Financial records book of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) from 1825-04-16 to 1865-12-01.
153 pages. Financial records book of the Aimwell School Association from 1866-01-18 to 1895-01-15.
140 pages. Record of expenses paid by the treasurer of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children). Majority of entries are from after 1820.
126 pages. Record of expenses paid by the treasurer of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children).
177 pages. Record of expenses paid by the treasurer of the Aimwell School Association from 1851-07-09 to 1879-01-31.
317 pages. Record of expenses paid by the treasurer of the Aimwell School Association from 1879-04-18 to 1911-12-19.
4 pages. Three letters (dated 1897-01-31, 1896-07-24, and undated) to Aimwell School treasurer Mary M. Leeds, concerning the sale of Aimwell property on Irving Street
1 page. Has a check for the Aimwell School Association to use as treasurer Mary M. Leeds sees fit.
1 page. Discusses finances surrounding the sale of a building.
1 page. Acknowledges financial checks of the Aimwell School Association. Apologizes for the delay in the settlement.
2 pages. Discusses a Shelter mortgage settlement. Letter dated 1914-01-31 and envelope dated 1913-12-31.
1 page. Discusses financial matters surrounding a mortgage and the Aimwell School Association.
1 page. Elkins, Morris & Co. bill of sale of New York City bonds to Aimwell School Association Treasurer Mary M. Leeds.
1 page. Card from Aimwell School Association Treasurer Alice H. Yarnall encouraging annual subscriptions to the Aimwell School.
2 pages. Fragment of list of subscribers to the Aimwell School, recording names and financial donations.
2 pages. Details about an estate bequeathed to the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) in an individual's will.
1 page. Extract from the will of Deborah Howell, who bequeathed money to the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) upon her death.
1 page. Fragment of the will of Josiah Hewes, who bequeathed money to the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) upon his death.
3 pages. Extract from the will of Thomas Wistar, who bequeathed money to the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) upon his death. Also discusses difficulties with the way the money was invested.
2 pages. Extract from the will of Ann Mifflin, who bequeathed money to the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) upon her death.
2 pages. Extract from the will of Jane Clark, a treasurer of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) who bequeathed money to it upon her death.
2 pages. Extract from the will of Catharine W. Morris, who bequeathed money to the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) upon her death.
1 page. Extract from the will of Catharine M. Brown, who bequeathed money to the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) upon her death.
2 pages. Written by Anthony P. Morris and J. H. Morris [sp]. Discusses a building the Aimwell School Association may be interested in buying.
2 pages. Tells Sarah E. Smith, the treasurer of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children), that Susanna Morris has bequeathed money to the Association.
4 pages. Probably written by John W. Biddle (1835-1916). Sends money to treasurer Mary M. Leeds that his cousin Rebecca bequeathed to the Association in her will.
6 pages. Letter regarding the closing of the J. R. Ritter investment in relation to the Aimwell School Association. Includes the Guaranteed General Search documents referred to in the letter, dated 1896-02.
8 pages. Multiple property tax bills and an information certificate to J. R. Ritter for the Irving Street building.
4 pages. Fire Insurance policy documents for the Irving Street property issued to J. R. Ritter and transferred to the Aimwell School Association.
4 pages. Insurance policy for the Aimwell School Association's Irving Street property.
6 pages. Insurance policy documents for Rodger Dugan and the Aimwell School Association's Ithan Street property between 1911-1916.
6 pages. Insurance policy documents for Myer Bleshman and the Aimwell School Association's Fairview Avenue property.
6 pages. Insurance policy documents for Samuel Shore and the Aimwell School Association's Fairview Avenue property.
4 pages. Deed Poll documents issued to the Aimwell School Association concerning its Irving Street property.
2 pages. Settlement for the Irving Street property between John H. Rose and the Aimwell School Association.
4 pages. Mortgage documents relating to the Aimwell School Association's Irving Street property.
3 pages. Financial Bond and Warrant document relating to John F. Donovan and the Aimwell School Association.
18 pages. Constitution and member list of the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children). Constitution written in 1796; member list continues through 1865.
18 pages. Constitution, member list, and by-laws of the Aimwell School Association.
49 pages. Educational system laid out by the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children). Details the weekly curriculum and rules for the students' behavior. Ends with an extended description of a proposed curriculum and rules of conduct based on the Lancasterian system.
16 pages. Educational system laid out by the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children). Describes the school curriculum (based on the Lancasterian system) in detail. Also lays out the duties of the managers.
3 pages. Undated. Constitution of the Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children, which later became the Aimwell School Association.
3 pages. Undated. Lists rules and regulations for teachers and students of the Aimwell School.
1 page. Invitation to the centennial exercises of the Aimwell School.
1 page. Notice of the upcoming 120th anniversary celebration of the Aimwell School.
1 page. Poem commemorating the 120th anniversary of the Aimwell School.
2 pages. Invitation to the 125th anniversary celebration of the Aimwell School.
1 page. Blank promotion/graduation certificate for students of the Aimwell School.
1 page. Document outlining the organization and responsibilities of Aimwell School Association committees.
4 pages. Lays out the policy about absent students decided upon by the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children). Also briefly discusses students' sewing.
1 page. Lays out the daily and weekly schedule of the students, teachers, and managers.
10 pages. Resignation letters to the Aimwell School Association (Society for the Free Instruction of Female Children) from members Jane Clark (1856-10-10), Mary Potts (1860-05-11), Mary Fox (1861-12-05), Elizabeth L. Woolman (1863-07-09), and Ruth Leeds (1864-06-10).
1 page. Newspaper clipping. Undated advertisement by the Aimwell School Association, seeking property to establish as a school house.
2 pages. Written by A. R. Cooper. Proposes a plan to prevent student absences.
1 page. Employment contract between the Aimwell School Association and Isaiah Balderston for a janitorial position.
2 pages. 'Average report'' documenting attendance rates at the Aimwell School.
7 pages. Written by Hannah C. Reeve. In depth reflections on the positive work of the Aimwell School Association over the past 123 years.
17 pages. Lists books purchased for the library along with their prices. Also lists donations to the library.
40 pages. Catalog of books at the Aimwell School Library.
18 pages. Undated catalog of books at the Aimwell School Library.
1 page. List of books donated by Isaac W. Morris and his son Isaac P. Morris to the Aimwell School.
6 pages. Chart of numbers in ascending order from 378 to 1507.
43 pages. Catalog of literature at the Aimwell School Library in the years 1827 and 1832. Includes library rules and regulations, dated 1809.
92 pages. Yearly lists of students' names and addresses.
5.25 x 7.25 in. Presumably a building associated with the Aimwell School in Philadelphia.
2 pages. Annotated reproduction of William L. Breton's 1829 lithograph titled ''A Monday morning view of Friends Meeting House and Academy, Philada. Forty years ago.'' Several reproductions of this reproduction exist in the collection but have not been catalogued.
10.25 x 7.5 in. Exterior photograph of Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia.
9.75 x 8 in. Exterior photograph of the Aimwell School.
12 pages. Photographs of an Anniversary play called "Anne Parrish's Home," probably depicting the founding of the Aimwell School. Possibly photographs of multiple performances (photos dated 1921-11-18 and 1922-11-18). Names and ages of the students are listed on the back multiple photographs. The photos are approximately 7.5 x 9.5 inches.
23 pages. Photographs and silhouettes of the Aimwell School, its previous locations, and people associated with it. Silhouette of Anne Parrish possibly from an earlier date.