Descriptive Summary
The Female Association of Philadelphia for the
Relief of Women and Children in Reduced Circumstances,
1800-1972
Coll. no. 831
2 document boxes & 3 packages (2 linear ft.,
ca. 300 items
Haverford College Library
Special Collections
Haverford, PA 19041
Records of a women's charitable Quaker organization based in
Philadelphia spanning the 19th and 20th centuries
831 - Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of Women and
Children in Reduced Circumstances. Records.
On permanent loan from the Female Association of Philadelphia,
April, 1983
Material consists of three wrapped packages containing constitution,
by-laws, minutes, and accounts and two boxes containing reports, legal papers,
correspondence, financial papers and the seal of the Association.
The Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of Women and
Children in Reduced Circumstances was founded in 1800. They first met on
October 30, 1800. At various times they were supported in their charitable
efforts through donations of goods and money. They did spinning work, gave out
soup and opened a home for widows and orphans. The records make no mention of
contemporary events, except yellow fever in 1802 and 1803, the calamities of
war in 1812-15 and bad financial years of 1819, 1841-2 and 1860-2. For further
information, see the printed history noted below.
Collection Contents
Package #1.
Bound volume including: constitution, by-laws, minutes,
1800-1830
Package #2.
Bound volumes containing: minutes and constitution
1801-38; minutes and annual reports,
1829-54; minutes of Board and Trustees
meetings,
1854-1882; minutes,
1882-1897; minutes,
1920-61.
Package #3.
Accounts:
1800-1818; 1943-57; 1952-53.
Box 1
a. history in typescript form
b. correspondence
1800-1955 and n.d., including letters of
officers of the Female Association: Hannah Boudinot, Susan Bradford, Gladys
Connelly, Mary Hodge, Margaret Stocker; also Elias Boudinot, Benjamin Chew,
Benjamin Rush and James Vanuxem.
c. Board of Directors reports,
1804-1830s and n.d.
d. Committee reports,
1810-1812.
e. Legal papers,
1802-1972, including agreement of account with
Pennsylvania Company, amendments to charter and by-laws and articles of
incorporation.
f. Line cut seal of incorporation designed by Thomas
Sully,
1811.
Box 2
Financial Papers
a. Accounts,
1801-20, 1831-1974
b. Beneficiaries
c. Treasurers' reports,
1807-21 and n.d., 1946-57.
Materials Cataloged Separately
Printed materials to the Quaker Collection
- Constitution and By-Laws: 1834, 1854, 1896, 1906, 1923, 1947,
1960
- Articles of incorporation: 1973
- Annual reports: 1837-1976 (some gaps)
- History of the Female Association of Philadelphia for the
Relief of Women and Children in Reduced Circumstances