According to an article of its constitution, the objects of the New York Colored Mission were the “religious, moral and social elevation of the colored people.” Programs to this end were classes in cooking, sewing, carpentry, bible instruction also a lodging house, employment agency, district nurse and the Fresh Air program, which gave black women and children a chance to spend some time in the country.
The Mission was founded in 1865. Originally named the African Sunday School Association, it was later renamed the New York Colored Mission. The governing arm of the Mission consisted of a Board of Managers and a Board of Trustees. While the managers, appointed by the trustees, carried on the work of the Mission, their actions were subject to approval by the Trustees.
Two of the Mission's leading lights were Joshua L. Barton, 1849-1926, and Levi Hollingsworth Wood, 1873-1956. Barton, a doctor, was elected to the Board of Managers in 1883; he served as secretary and president of the Board of Trustees until his death in 1926. Wood, a lawyer, was elected secretary of the Board of Trustees in 1898, a position he held till his death in 1956. He was also active in other social work, and was chairman of the Board of the National Urban League.
Based on the Washingtonian principle of obtaining jobs and decent housing for blacks, the New York Colored Mission officially terminated in 1966 when the duBoisian principle of immediate equality for blacks became preeminent. Assets of the Mission were turned over to New York Monthly Meeting.
The New York Colored Mission was under the care of the Society of Friends from its inception. see Harry Helmsley letter, 1964, in box 6 Information from Original Documents in Box 6
This section of the collection includes minutes of the Board of Managers and Board of Trustees, correspondence, accounts and donations, and miscellaneous.
User note: See additions beginning in box 6
Gift , 1971.
Wrapped and standing on shelf: Account book, 1865-1876; Account book, kept by T.W. Spanswick, including donations, for 1873.
[re application form for potential Fresh Air outings participants; report on fresh air homes]
[announcement of Wood's election as chairman of social education committee]
[reports amount in treasury of N.Y.C.M. & other financial matters, including possible property purchase.]
[case history of one girl and what is being done for her.]
[asks what to do for a specific case.]
[Suggests new location for N.Y.C.M.]
[concerns property for potential purchase by N.Y.C.M.]
[Gives option to N.Y.C.M. on his farm.]
[treasury report of N.Y.C.M.]
[Supports request of N.Y.C.M. to establish a kindergarten in their building.]
[concerns Fresh Air Fund — plans for sending people connected with N.Y.C.M. into the country.]
[note from two boys hoping to be placed in jobs]
[says there are many Fresh Air Homes for women and children and related matters; encloses list of cooperating agencies.]
[gives statement of N.Y.C.M. finances and suggests possible investments.]
[accepts check to be used for district nurse.]
[tells of various charities to which Friends donate money]
[accepts invitation to be on debating society of N.Y.C.M. — which later became Young Men's Social and Literary Club]
[regrets that his organization which gives free classes in manual training and domestic economics cannot afford to help N.Y.C.M. with a physical training class]
[reports work being accomplished in the Mission office, primarily by Mary Shober Kimber]
[concerns the sale of N.Y.C.M. property]
[gives information concerning available building]
[cites causes why N.Y.C.M. is not prospering]
[discusses setting up of cooking classes and evening classes]
[has never been in a carpenter's shop, so her drawing may be lacking].
Wrapped and standing on shelf: Board of Managers' minutes, 1865-1876; Board of Managers' and Executive Committee minutes, 1876-1887; Managers', Trustees' and Members' minutes, 1886-1914; Board of Trustees' minutes, 1877-1907.
Wrapped and standing on shelf: 12 lantern slides
Removed from the collection (with locations noted):
See also: printed constitution and by-laws of N.Y.C.M. in stacks (1886)
Deposited by New York Yearly Meeting through Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, May and July, 1998.
Accession #6276 & #6299.
This addition is in boxes 6-9 of the collection and is interrelated with records in the first accession. The abbreviation “NYCM” is used for The New York Colored Mission. The symbol + is for use at Haverford College.
+ Potential interest for History 361
Materials in these boxes are arranged in series: Original or fundamental documents, correspondence and financial records (box 6, the latter continued in box 7); minutes (box 8); annual reports and photographs (box 9).
This addition to the records of The New York Colored Mission includes such original or fundamental documents as the certificate of incorporation in 1871, and several sets of by-laws; correspondence about the Green-Wood Cemetery and other issues; financial records, including investments and accounts; minutes of the Board of Managers; annual reports; and photographs of Sunday School groups at the New York Colored Mission building. Correspondents include: Stephen W. Collins, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Greater New York Fund, Harry B. Helmsley, Robert T. Kerlin, Malcolm Lovell, Frank C. Matthews, H.A. Miller, William J. Shieffelin, Lena Williams, and L. Hollingsworth Wood.
Includes mission statement and activities provided by NYCM
[asks recipient to buy stock in the City and Suburban Homes Co. which offers opportunity for employment of black laborers and thus improves housing for N.Y. blacks] +
[after meeting with Kerlin, who was in the dept. of English at VMI in 1921, Wood writes a letter of recommendation; Kerlin writes to Wood of his qualifications after being dismissed from his teaching position and unable to find employment; Kerlin accepts post of head of English dept. at State Normal School, West Chester, Pa.; attached is a printed notice stating the reason for Kerlin's dismissal from VMI] +
[the Kerlin case; contrasting a trip in America to one in Russia] +
[list of Quakers who dined with Father Divine as his guests, including two members of the New York Colored Mission] +
[managers must be appointed who would be able to visit NYCM and make recommendations. As the Mission has been a Friends' group from inception, it is logical for look to New York Monthly Meeting for these managers; is the name NYCM in keeping with the times or should “Colored” be dropped]
Includes names of donors and other income, funds and expenses. Paste down on inside front cover indicates NY Colored Mission as legatee.
With related documents.
Laid in are four typed reports of the Superintendent of NYCM,
These were occasional meetings occurring at least once per year, but usually during the course of the year as well.
These included reports on the Sunday School, day nursery, day camp, employment center, donations, sewing classes and other activities.
4 black & white photographs of [Sunday School?] groups leaving The New York Colored Mission building, [ca. 1920s?]
Printed pamphlets and booklets published by The New York Colored Mission to PG & QC