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Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing Records

Notifications

Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 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

Call Number:
RG4.018
Repository:
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Extent:
4 linear ft. (8 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item or series here], Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing Records, RG 4/018, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.
Date:
1828-1978 (inclusive)
Creator:
Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing
Form:
Account books
Abstract:
The Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing was a Quaker charity founded in 1828 to distribute clothing and provide other assistance to the sick and poor of Philadelphia. It went out of existence in 1975.

The Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing was a Quaker charity founded in 1828 to distribute clothing and provide other assistance to the sick and poor of Philadelphia. It went out of existence in 1975.

This collection contains the records of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing, 1829-1978. It contains correspondence, minutes, reports, membership lists, financial and legal documents.

The collection is organized into 9 series. The series are:

  1. History
  2. Legal Papers
  3. Minutes
  4. Annual Reports
  5. Financial Records
  6. Record of Relief Activities
  7. Correspondence
  8. Miscellaneous Papers
  9. Memorabilia

For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Gift of Dorothy Hallowell, 1974

Gift of Dorothy Hallowell, Hannah Trescott, June Hallowell, 1982

Gift of Eleanor Zendt, 1990

FHL Relics, #381

Organization
Subject

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
FHL staff
Finding Aid Date
2000
Sponsor
Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Parts of this collection have been digitized and are available in our Digital Library. Explore this collection online.

Use Restrictions

Some of the items in this collection may be protected by copyright. The user is solely responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder or their heirs/assigns to reuse, publish, or reproduce relevant items beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to the law. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/.

Collection Inventory

A00180645. Brief sketch of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor, 1879.
Scope and Contents

14 pages. Gives a brief sketch of the first 50 years of the Female Association's history. Lists the contributors, all officers since the Association's founding, and the current members, subscribers, and donors.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180643. History of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor, 1915-01.
Scope and Contents

15 pages. Gives a brief overview of the history of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Includes a list of members from the Association's founding to 1915.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180644. One hundredth anniversary pamphlet, 1929.
Scope and Contents

7 pages. Gives a brief history of the Female Association and provides the annual report for 1929.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180646. By-laws, 1913.
Scope and Contents

7 pages. Consists of the by-laws of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for; By-laws

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Scope and Contents

Includes dues (1967-1976); attendance (1967-1969); and sewing women (1969)

A00180650. List of members, subscribers, and donors, 1828-1833.
Scope and Contents

41 pages. Consists of alphabetical lists of members, subscribers, and donors. The lists of subscribers and donors specify the amount each person gave each year.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting; Gifts

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180629. Constitution and list of members, 1852-1887.
Scope and Contents

68 pages. Consists of several copies of the Constitution of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing, its by-laws, and several lists of members.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for; By-laws; Constitutions

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Membership, 1852-1954.
Membership, 1967-1975.
Membership, 1959.

A00180647. Constitution, 1973.
Scope and Contents

2 pages. A typescript of the constitution of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing adopted in 1836, along with amendments from 1837 and 1973.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for; Constitution

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Merger with Fiduciary Corporation of PYM, 1974-1978.
Box 1
Papers relating to Fiduciary Corporation.
Box 1

A00180632. Minute Book, 1828-1844.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

229 pages. Minutes of the weekly meetings of the Association, usually including brief statements from the treasurer, assignments to committees, details on the number of garments made, etc. Includes the resolutions passed at the founding of the organization in 1828. The minutes span pages 1-111; the book also includes a list of members through 1855 (pages 125-129), a list of subscribers (pages 133-136), yearly indices of the families assisted (pages 145-254), and a list of women who applied for membership in the Association (page 255).

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Minutes (Records); Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180633. Minute Book, 1844-1855.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

136 pages. Minutes of the weekly meetings of the Association, usually including brief statements from the treasurer, assignments to committees, details on the number of garments made, etc.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Minutes (Records); Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180630. Minute Book, 1855-1866.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

135 pages. Minutes of the weekly meetings of the Association, usually including brief statements from the treasurer, assignments to committees, details on the number of garments made, etc. A list of women elected to the Association is found at the beginning of the book. There is a loose circular in the book titled "An Appeal for the Suffering Poor."

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Minutes (Records); Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180631. Minute Book, 1867-1893.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

229 pages. Minutes of the weekly meetings of the Association, usually including brief statements from the treasurer, assignments to committees, details on the number of garments made, etc. A list of candidates for election to the Association is found at the back of the book.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Minutes (Records); Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180634. Minute Book, 1894-1913.
Box 2
Scope and Contents

210 pages. Minutes of the weekly meetings of the Association, usually including brief statements from the treasurer, assignments to committees, details on the number of garments made, etc. A 1913 printed annual report entitled "An Appeal for the Suffering Poor" is also loose in the book.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Minutes (Records); Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Poor women--Employment; Poor women--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Minutes, 1919-1986.
Box 2-3

Annual Reports, 1849, 1855, 1875, 1919-1970, 1971-1979.
Box 3

A00180649. Treasurer's account book, 1828-1852.
Scope and Contents

183 pages. Record of income, expenses, and goods donated to the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Annual reports clipped from newspapers can be found every few pages.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting; Textile fabrics--Prices

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180655. Treasurer's account book, 1861-1868.
Scope and Contents

61 pages. Record of income and expenses of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Income is primarily from donations and subscriptions. Expenses are primarily for fabric and sewing. Ends with a list of donations of goods from 1861-1868.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting; Textile fabrics--Prices

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180656. Cash book, 1916-1928.
Scope and Contents

187 pages. Record of income and expenses of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Mostly concerned with investments, dividends, and interest.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Cash book, 1928-1949.
Cash book, 1949-1978.
A00180636. Checkbook, 1908-1909.
Scope and Contents

7 pages. Checks and check stubs from the Association, most from January and February of 1909, and a receipt or bill from Watson and Company that was found loose in the book. Handwritten notes on the left-hand pages track the account balance.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Checks

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180638. Checkbook, 1909-1913.
Scope and Contents

90 pages. Checks and check stubs from the Association. Handwritten notes on the left-hand pages track the account balance based on donations and checks. Includes names of donors and names of merchants.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Checks

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180639. Checkbook, 1914-1918.
Scope and Contents

100 pages. Checks and check stubs from the Association. Handwritten notes on the left-hand pages track the account balance based on donations and checks. Includes names of donors and names of merchants.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Checks

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180637. Checkbook, 1918-1920.
Scope and Contents

100 pages. Checks and check stubs from the Association. Handwritten notes on the left-hand pages track the account balance based on donations and checks. Includes names of donors and names of merchants.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Checks

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Savings Account Book, PSFS, 1949-1978.
Box 5
A00180653. Receipts, 1860-1879.
Scope and Contents

18 pages. Receipts for the purchase or donation of goods, mostly fabric, needles, etc. Most purchases made from Thomas Mellor and Co., Mellor, Bains, or Sharpless and Sons. The earlier receipts are made out to "the Cherry Street Sewing Society" or the "Cherry Street Association for Relief of the Poor." The later receipts are mostly made out to Elizabeth J. Ferris, treasurer of the Philadelphia Female Association.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Sales; Gifts; Textile fabrics--Prices

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Donations, dues received, sewing accounts, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1936-1945, 1952-1956, 1967.
Box 5
Finance Committee Records: Helen W. Woodall, Chairman, 1929-1949.
Box 6
Finance Committee Records, 1948-1957, 1957-1969.
Box 6
A00180635. Investment book, 1895-1896.
Box 6
Scope and Contents

16 pages. A record of the Association's investments kept by treasurer Elizabeth J. Ferris.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Investments; Accounting

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Investment Statements, 1955, 1958, 1966-1973.
Box 6
Investment Account: Provident Bank, 1976-1977.
Box 6
A00180654. Treasurer's account book, 1846-1848.
Scope and Contents

16 pages. Record of income and expenses of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Income is primarily from donations and subscriptions. Expenses are primarily for fabric and sewing. Ends with a list of donations of goods 1846-1848.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting; Textile fabrics--Prices

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180657. Treasurer's account book, 1848-1850.
Scope and Contents

17 pages. Record of income and expenses of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Income is primarily from donations and subscriptions. Expenses are primarily for fabric and sewing. Ends with a list of donations of goods 1848-1850.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting; Textile fabrics--Prices

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180658. Treasurer's account book, 1850-1852.
Scope and Contents

16 pages. Record of income and expenses of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Income is primarily from donations and subscriptions. Expenses are primarily for fabric and sewing. Ends with a list of donations of goods 1850-1852. Cover features a print of William Henry Harrison addressing Simón Bolívar.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting; Textile fabrics--Prices; Bolívar, Simón, 1783-1830; Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180659. Treasurer's account book, 1852-1854.
Scope and Contents

14 pages. Record of income and expenses of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Income is primarily from donations and subscriptions. Expenses are primarily for fabric and sewing. A list of donations of goods 1852-1854 is found on page 12.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting; Textile fabrics--Prices

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180640. Treasurer's account book, 1852-1879.
Scope and Contents

231 pages. Record of income and expenses of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Income is primarily from donations, subscriptions, and interest from investments. Expenses are primarily for fabric and sewing. Contains several printed annual reports.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting; Textile fabrics--Prices

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180641. Treasurer's account book, 1879-1909.
Scope and Contents

248 pages. Record of income and expenses of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing. Income is primarily from donations, subscriptions, and interest from investments. Expenses are primarily for fabric and sewing. Contains a 1902 pamphlet titled "An Appeal for the Suffering Poor!"

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting; Textile fabrics--Prices

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180642. Treasurer's account book, 1916-1928.
Scope and Contents

110 pages. Record of income and expenses of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities--Finance; Accounting

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Treasurer's Reports, 1923-1931, 1969-1978.
Box 7
Tax Returns and information, 1965-1977.
Box 7
Williamson Trust.
Box 7

Account of Goods given out to be made.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Copy neg. of 1850-53, p.[3] available

A00180663. List of persons relieved, 1850-1853.
Scope and Contents

34 pages. Lists people given garments by the Female Association, the number of articles they were given, and the Association member who assisted them. Ordered chronologically. Some names marked "col", possibly to indicate that they are African-American. Cover features a print of William Henry Harrison addressing Simón Bolívar.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Social service; Poor--Services for; Bolívar, Simón, 1783-1830; Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180664. List of persons relieved, 1853-1854.
Scope and Contents

29 pages. Lists people given garments by the Female Association, the number of articles they were given, and the Association member who assisted them. Ordered chronologically. Some names marked "col", possibly to indicate that they are African-American. Cover features a print of William Henry Harrison addressing Simón Bolívar.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Social service; Poor--Services for; Bolívar, Simón, 1783-1830; Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180665. List of persons relieved, 1854-1855.
Scope and Contents

26 pages. Lists people given garments by the Female Association, the number of articles they were given, and the Association member who assisted them.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Social service; Poor--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180666. List of persons relieved, 1859-1864.
Scope and Contents

72 pages. Lists people given garments by the Female Association, the number of articles they were given, and the Association member who assisted them. Ordered chronologically. Some names marked "col", possibly to indicate that they are African-American.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Charities; Social service; Poor--Services for

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Notebook.
Box 7
Scope and Contents

Contains agenda(1931), inventory of articles and supplies, materials on hand for distribution, names and addresses of persons releived, and officers.

Friends Hospital, 1972-1975.
Box 8
Communidad Hispana, 1985-1986.
Box 8
Friends Home for Children, 1973-1980.
Box 8
Friends Service Committee, 1966, 1975-1981.
Box 8
The Wharton Center, 1970-1977.
Box 8
Friends Assoc. for the Care and Protection of Children, 1977-1987.
Box 8
Foster Grandparent Program, 1973-1975.
Box 8
Opportunities Industrialization Center, 1970-1979.
Box 8
College Settlement of Philadelphia, 1972-1975.
Box 8
Friends Neighborhood Guild, 1971-1980, 1986, 1987.
Box 8
Center for the Blind, 1971-1977.
Box 8
A00180662. Women's Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Freedman sewing circle records, 1864-1866.
Scope and Contents

29 pages. Dates are approximate. Lists the garment output of various sewing circles in the greater Philadelphia area.

Subjects: Women's Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Freedman; Charities; Minutes (Records); Women--Charities; Clothing and dress; Freedmen

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180661. Annual appeal pamphlets, 1866-1915.
Scope and Contents

43 pages. Annual appeals for donations to the Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing, titled "An Appeal for the Suffering Poor." Lists of the current members of the Association and of gifts made in the past year appear in many of the pamphlets. Most of the appeals date from 1866-1888.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Fund raising; Charities--Finance

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

A00180660. Annual report fragment, 1862-03-01.
Scope and Contents

1 page. Part of an annual report of the Female Association of Philadelphia clipped from a newspaper. Summarizes garment production and distribution during the preceding year and gives the treasurer's annual report.

Subjects: Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of the Sick and Infirm Poor with Clothing; Annual reports

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Verses by Charles F. Jenkins to the Female Assoc. of Philadelphia on the Occasion of its One Hundredth Anniversary, 1937-03-06.
A00180667. Inventories of boxes of supplies, 1863-1865.
Scope and Contents

79 pages. Mostly boxes of clothes sent to the Pennsylvania Freedman's Relief Association, other associations for the relief of freedmen, or private individuals in the South or West. An inventory of a box of books sent to a Gayner Heacock in Beaufort, South Carolina, can be found on page 75.

Subjects: United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Freedmen; African Americans--Services for; Civilian war relief

Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)

Stationery.
Box 8
Embossing Stamp.
Box 8
Rubber Stamp.
Box 8
Misc. Papers, undated.
Box 8
Seal removed to FHL Relics, #381.

Print, Suggest