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Penn Sewing School records
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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
Penn Sewing School was founded in 1868 as the Friends Sewing School. The name was changed in 1871 and classes suspended in 1899.
Known first as the "Friends Sewing School," Penn Sewing School was organized with the help of Dillwyn Parrish and William C. Biddle by two young Quaker women, Annie Caley and Augusta Taber. Friends of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (Hicksite) held at Fifteenth and Race Streets granted the use of a room, and the children were gathered from the neighborhood. The first four teachers were Augusta Taber, Mary Biddle (later Wood), Sallie Cooper, and Annie Caley (later Dorland). The first class was held February 29, 1868. Seventy-nine girls attend the School in the first year, including both black and white children. In the season 1874-1875, 260 children were enrolled. In 1871 the name "Penn Sewing School" was adopted, and the institution was incorporated. In 1873 a meeting for mothers was started. This grew and was incorporated in 1877 as the "Friends Instruction Association." Penn Sewing School continued until 1898 and Friends Instruction Association until 1881.
The collection contains minute books (1876-1906), charter, history, printed report, and other papers.
The collection is divided into five series:
- History
- Charters and trusts
- Reports
- Minutes
- Miscellaneous
Donor: Unknown, before 1957
Found in FHL manuscript room in 1957.
Subject
- Sewing schools -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Schools -- Pennsylvania
- Schools -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Quakers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Quakers -- Social life and customs
- Quaker women -- Charities
- Society of Friends -- Charities -- Records and correspondence
- Charities -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Nonprofit Organizations -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Publisher
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Author
- FHL staff
- Finding Aid Date
- 1957
- Sponsor
- Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research.
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Note that this collection has been digitized and is available in our Digital Library. Explore this collection online.
- Use Restrictions
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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
1888-04-28. 12 pages. Outlines the origins and past 20 years of the Penn Sewing School, from the integration of African-American students into the program to the desire for expansion as the Penn Sewing and Household School. Creators: Dorland, Annie Caley, 1839-1894; Spackman, Katharine Laing, 1857-; Tilney, Anna L. (Anna Longstreth), 1841-1925 Subjects: Sewing schools; Social integration; African Americans--Education; Quakers; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects: Sewing schools; Social integration; African Americans--Education; Quakers; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1906-03-30. 5 pages. States that the Penn Sewing School has been discontinued and gives control of its building and funds to the Friends Neighborhood Guild. Subjects: Carr, Cassandra T., 1854-1926; Friends Neighborhood Guild; Quakers--Charities
Subjects: Carr, Cassandra T., 1854-1926; Friends Neighborhood Guild; Quakers--Charities
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1876-01-25. 2 pages. Certificate amending Articles and conditions of the Charter of the Penn Sewing School. Subjects: Charters and articles of incorporation; Sewing schools; Women in community organization
Subjects: Charters and articles of incorporation; Sewing schools; Women in community organization
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1871-05-17. 2 pages. The original petition for incorporating the Penn Sewing School. Contains the Charter with the articles. Subjects: Charters and articles of incorporation; Sewing schools; Vocational education; Women in community organization
Subjects: Charters and articles of incorporation; Sewing schools; Vocational education; Women in community organization
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1894-1895. 12 pages. Annual report including a list of officers, treasury report, a list of subscribers, and the by-laws of the school. Subjects: Sewing schools; Annual reports; Sewing--Equipment and supplies; Sewing--Study and teaching
Subjects: Sewing schools; Annual reports; Sewing--Equipment and supplies; Sewing--Study and teaching
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1876-1884. 299 pages. Minutes from the meetings of Penn Sewing School teachers from 1876-1884. Includes discussions of resignations and appointments, possible future changes as to how students are selected, and a breakdown of funds and expenses. Subjects: Sewing schools; Cost accounting; Quaker women; Annual reports; Sewing--Study and teaching; Minutes (Records)
Subjects: Sewing schools; Cost accounting; Quaker women; Annual reports; Sewing--Study and teaching; Minutes (Records)
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1894-1906. 60 pages. Minutes from the meetings of the Penn Sewing School. Those present included both officers and teachers. Also contains two letters from G. Herbert Jenkins, an attorney, to Sarah M. Livezey, Secretary of the Association, regarding some legal affairs; a scap of paper with some accounting; and a printed Christmas poem. Subjects: Quaker women; Sewing schools; Cost accounting; Sewing--Study and teaching; Minutes (Records); Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.); Dorland, Annie Caley, 1839-1894; Corlies, Sarah Fisher, 1838-1904
Subjects: Quaker women; Sewing schools; Cost accounting; Sewing--Study and teaching; Minutes (Records); Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.); Dorland, Annie Caley, 1839-1894; Corlies, Sarah Fisher, 1838-1904
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1871-1899. 4 pages. Contains a list of former subscribers to the Penn Sewing School that will be distributed to the teachers. Signed by Elma Hoopes on behalf of the Committee. Subjects: Sewing schools; Women in education; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects: Sewing schools; Women in education; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1868-1899. 4 pages. Document titled ''Rules for the Women.'' Topics addressed include moral expectations during class and as who is eligible to attend meetings. A note on the last page states the address and marital status of Jennie Saunders. Subjects: Sewing schools; Women in education; Vocational education; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects: Sewing schools; Women in education; Vocational education; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1886-1887. 2 pages. Written by Elizabeth L. Coale, Manager of the Dorcas. She describes the the contents of the ''Dorcas Box,'' which are the garments donated to the organization and the garments made by the students. Mentions the girls are having issues meeting their deadlines, which forces them to ''go without'' needed clothes. Subjects: Sewing schools; Women in education; Vocational education; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects: Sewing schools; Women in education; Vocational education; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1893. 3 pages. Two meeting minutes prepared by the Chairperson of the Committee, Lydia J. Hallowell. The committee proposed a new way to divide the students of the sewing school and discussed the possibility of the children's mothers attending meetings. Subjects: Women in community organization; Women in education; Vocational education; Sewing schools; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects: Women in community organization; Women in education; Vocational education; Sewing schools; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1887. 4 pages. Prepared by Elma Hoopes. Contains an account of funds paid to various persons as well as funds received from annual subscriptions and interest. Subjects: Accounts receivable; Women in community organization; Account books; Sewing schools; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects: Accounts receivable; Women in community organization; Account books; Sewing schools; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)
1868-1899. 1 page. Written by Elizabeth L. Coale, Manager of the Dorcas. She describes the the contents of the ''Dorcas Box,'' which are the garments donated to the organization and the garments made by the students. Subjects: Sewing schools; Women in education; Vocational education; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Subjects: Sewing schools; Women in education; Vocational education; Penn Sewing School (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Relevant locations: Philadelphia (Pa.)