An Inventory of the Friends' Employment Society (New York, N.Y.) Records, 1862-1954
General International Standard for Archival Description
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399 U.S.A.
Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, December 2000.
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Records, 1862-1954
Friends' Employment Society (New York, N.Y.)
Biographical History for: Records, 1862-1954
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE The Friends Employment Society was founded in New York City in 1862 by Hicksite women as the Women's Association of Friends for the Employment and Relief by Clothing of the Suffering Poor. These Quakers felt a concern to aid in relieving the want and distress of the wives and widows of soldiers, women who were untrained for work outside of the home, and women whose family cares compelled them to remain in the home. Incorporated in 1902, it continued to provide sewing employment for the working poor. In the early years, the Society purchased the materials, and its own members cut the garments which were distributed for sewing by the beneficiaries who were paid for their work. Later, other charitable associations such as the Association of Friends for the Relief of Freedmen and local hospitals purchased the materials. The Friends Employment Society distributed the piecework and paid the workers. The finished clothing and bedding were then returned to the charitable organization. During WWII, instead of sewing linens for hospitals, the women sewed garments for the American Friends Service Committee, to be distributed overseas. Phebe Anna Thorne was the first Directress, Elizabeth M. Bunting, Treasurer, and Ella F. Bunting, Secretary. Lydia H. Macy was Chairman and Directress at the time of incorporation. Other individuals involved with the Society include Hannah W. Haydock, Sarah H. Baker, Lydia S. Fleet, Emeline Haight, Lydia Ann Thorne, Margaret G. Corlies, Smith, Isabelle B. Smith, Rachel H. Powell, and Alice Smedley Palmer. By 1947, the Society became inactive due to the small number of participants and changing labor conditions and welfare options. In 1948, it changed its charter to support the needy through contributions to other charitable organizations, which included the New York Young Friends Aid Association, a New York Quaker organization that consistently donated funds to the Friends Employment Society.
SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS This collection contains minutes and financial records from 1862 to 1954. It also includes work assignments, donations, and other miscellaneous papers.
Quakers- -New York (State)- -New York
Quakers--Poor--Services for
Quakers- -Charities
New York (N.Y.)--Quakers
New York (N.Y.) --Social and charitable work
New York (N.Y.)--Charities
Charities- -New York--New York
Charities--Quaker
Clothing and dress
Poor- -Services for- -New York
Quakers- -Societies, etc.
Quakers--Charities--Records
Women- -New York- -Societies and clubs
Women, Quaker- -New York -Societies and clubs
Women in charitable work- -New York
New York -Charitable and social work
New York --Societies, etc.- -Charities
New York -- -Societies, etc.- -Women
New York (N.Y.)- -Societies, etc. - -Charities
New York (N.Y.) -Societies, etc.- -Women
Church work with the Poor--New York
Thorne, Phebe Anna, 1828-1909
Bunting, Elizabeth M., 1831-1921
Bunting, Ella F. (Ella Frances), 1837-1899
Macy, Lydia H., 1841-1910
Haydock, Hannah W, 1818-1893
Baker, Sarah H., b. 1853
Fleet, Lydia S.
Haight, Emeline, d. 1887
Thorne, Lydia Ann
Corlies, Margaret G., 1811-1896
Smith, Isabelle B.
Powell, Rachel H., b. 1864
Palmer, Alice Smedley, b. 1870
Young Friends Aid Association
Association of Friends for the Relief of Freedmen
series
Ser. 1 Constitution and Legal Records, 1902-1948 & n.d.
Certificate of Incorporation
Creation of Certificate of Incorporation
Time of Creation of Certificate of Incorporation
Constitution (printed)
Change of purpose and related correspondence
Creation of Change of purpose and related correspondence
Time of Creation of Change of purpose and related correspondence
Ser. 2 Minutes and Financial Reports, 1862-1947.
Minutes and Treasurer's reports
Creation of Minutes and Treasurer's reports
Time of Creation of Minutes and Treasurer's reports
Minutes
Creation of Minutes
Time of Creation of Minutes
Minutes and Financial reports
Creation of Minutes and Financial reports
Time of Creation of Minutes and Financial reports
Ser. 3. Treasurers' Books, 1862-1936.
Treasurer's Book
Creation of Treasurer's Book
Time of Creation of Treasurer's Book
Ser. 4. Annual Reports, 1870-1954.
Annual Reports
"What Next for the Friends Employment Society?"
Creation of "What Next for the Friends Employment Society?"
Time of Creation of "What Next for the Friends Employment Society?"
Annual report of the Young Friends' Aid Association
Creation of Annual report of the Young Friends' Aid Association
Time of Creation of Annual report of the Young Friends' Aid Association
Discusses proposal to liquidate its assets.
Ser. 5. Miscellaneous, 1908-1944.
List of Donors
Creation of List of Donors
Time of Creation of List of Donors
Work assignments
Accounts of Donated Items
Creation of Accounts of Donated Items
Time of Creation of Accounts of Donated Items
Creation of Work assignments
Time of Creation of Work assignments
Miscellaneous
Includes correspondence, work received.