US-RHi-mss642 Guide to the Providence Female Charitable Society Records 1799-1952 Finding aid prepared by Robin Flynn. Rhode Island Historical Society 2009 July 29
121 Hope StreetProvidence, RI 02906Tel: 401-273-8107Fax: 401-751-7930email: reference@rihs.org
 Finding aid encoded by Mark Chepkwony 2009 July 29 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) English Rhode Island Historical Society
121 Hope StreetProvidence, RI 02906Tel: 401-273-8107Fax: 401-751-7930email: reference@rihs.org
 Providence Female Charitable Society Providence Female Charitable Society Records 1799-1952 Providence Female Charitable Society Records 1.5 linear feet The idea for the formation of a charitable society to help "indigent women and children" was first proposed by a group of well-known Providence women in March of 1800. The Providence Female Charitable Society was formed April 2nd the same year. This collection contains correspondence and other records related to the organization. MSS 642 Historical note

The idea for the formation of a charitable society to help "indigent women and children" was first proposed by a group of well-known Providence women in March of 1800. The Providence Female Charitable Society was formed April 2nd the same year. Its first Board of Directors included Lydia (Bowen) Clark, Mrs. Avis (Binney) Brown, Rebecca Munroe, Elizabeth K. (Thompson) Nightingale, Abby (Brown) Francis, Eliza J. Ward, Mary Bowen, and Mary Brown Howell. The first charter and constitution of the Society was printed in February, 1801 by John Carter, Jr. The Society was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly in October, 1802. Membership was based on heredity.

With the exception of special cases, women who applied to the Society for assistance would be denied if they refused to put their younger children "of a proper age" in school, and their older, able-bodied children into service or a trade. One of the ways by which the Society assisted its accepted applicants was to purchase materials for them to make clothing; the completed garments were then sold to the same applicants at a reduced price. The Society also appointed members to teach children reading and writing two hours per day, and lead them to church each Sunday.

Eventually the care of children was given up by the Society because demand outweighed its resources; offshoots of the Society such as a children's home and reform school were created. At its centenary in 1901, the Society noted that it was one of only two charitable organizations in New England that had survived to the one-hundred-year mark. The Society is still in existence today.

 Collection information

There are no restrictions on access.

Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Rhode Island Historical Society.

Providence Female Charitable Society Records, MSS 642, Rhode Island Historical Society.

Generally, the records range from 1799 to 1952. Specifically, the collection includes correspondence from 1802 to 1889; a large number of account books from 1800 to 1917; the Society's 1802 charter and petition to incorporate; printed versions of the charter and constitution (1804); subscriber lists from 1801 to 1952; receipts, both loose and in book form, from 1800 to 1952; meeting minutes and resolutions from 1800 to 1934; and miscellaneous items such as newspaper clippings and members' obituaries.

Series 1: Correspondence Series 2: Society administration Series 3: Subscribers Series 4: Accounts/account books Series 5: Receipts Series 6: Meeting minutes and resolutions Series 7: Miscellaneous

Administrative information

The records were donated in two separate gifts, one in 1971 and one in 1978, by Mrs. Stanley Livingstone as president of the Society.

In 1998, research on the history of the Society was done and a finding aid produced. Additionally, the records were re-housed in upright archival folders and boxes.

 Names Providence Female Charitable Society. Bowen, Mary. Brown, Avis (Binney), 1748-1807. Clark, Lydia (Bowen). Francis, Abigail (Brown), 1766-1821. Howell, Mary Brown. Munroe, Rebecca. Nightingale, Elizabeth K. (Thompson), 1791-1819. Ward, Eliza J.

Subjects Charities - Rhode Island - Providence. Education - Rhode Island - Providence. Children - Rhode Island - Providence. Urban poor - Rhode Island - Providence. Women in charitable work - Rhode Island - Providence. Providence (R.I.) - Societies and clubs. Women - Rhode Island - Societies and clubs. RIAMCO Browsing Terms Rhode Island/Local Interest Social Life and Customs Titles

Types of materials

Occupations

Functions

Additional information Ames, Mrs. William. Centennial. The Fourth of April, Nineteen Hundred. Notable Meeting of the Providence Female Charitable Society (Livermore & Knight Co., Providence, R.I., 1901). Series 1 Correspondence MSS 642 Item 1 1 1 1802-1819 MSS 642 Item 2 1 2 1849-1869 MSS 642 Item 3 1 3 1873-1889 MSS 642 Item 4 1 4 Undated Series 2 Society administration MSS 642 Item 5 1 5 Notice of wish for a relief fundc.1799

Includes list of subscribers

MSS 642 Item 6 1 6 Petition to incorporate1802 Triple Oversize Storage Charter1802 MSS 642 Item 7 1 7 Printed charter of the charter and constitution1804

(2 copies and reprint)

 Series 3 Subscribers MSS 642 Item 8 1 8 Subscribers1801-1932 MSS 642 Item 9 1 9 Subscribers (volume)1898-1952 Series 4 Accounts/account books MSS 642 Item 10 1 10 "Manager's book, 1800 and 1801"1800

Contains only 1800

 MSS 642 Item 11 1 11 Accounts for clothing ("Mrs. R. Munro")1800-1801 MSS 642 Item 12 1 12 Accounts for clothingc.1800-1805 MSS 642 Item 13 1 13 Account book1800-1828 MSS 642 Item 14 1 14 Accounts for clothing ("Elizabeth Burrill")1801 MSS 642 Item 15 1 15 Accounts (clothing) ("Ann Eliza")1801 MSS 642 Item 16 1 16 Accounts1801-1802 MSS 642 Item 17 1 17 Accounts for clothing1801-1802 MSS 642 Item 18 1 18 Accounts of clothing made1802 May-1803 Sep MSS 642 Item 19 1 19 Accounts of clothing (Peddy Bowen)1802 Oct-1803 Feb MSS 642 Item 20 1 20 Manager's book1802-1804 MSS 642 Item 21 1 21 Accounts, including clothes received1803 MSS 642 Item 22 1 22 Accounts of clothing1803 Apr-1804 Apr MSS 642 Item 23 1 23 Accounts (adjusted)1803 May-1804 Mar MSS 642 Item 24 1 24 Accounts of clothing1803 Dec-1808 Mar MSS 642 Item 25 1 25 Accounts of clothing1804 Apr-1805 Apr MSS 642 Item 26 1 26 Accounts1804-1805 MSS 642 Item 27 1 27 Accounts with women serving1804-1805 MSS 642 Item 28 1 28 Accounts between Eliza Bowen and PFCS1805-1806 MSS 642 Item 29 1 29 Account book, (Rebecca F. Snow)1805-1806 MSS 642 Item 30 1 30 Manager's book, (Sarah C. Howell)1805-1806 MSS 642 Item 31 1 31 Accounts1806 MSS 642 Item 32 1 32 Accounts for clothing, ("Martha Munro's applicants")1806-1807 MSS 642 Item 33 1 33 Accounts (Sarah Mumford)1806-1809 MSS 642 Item 34 1 34 Bank book1809-1810 MSS 642 Item 35 1 35 Accounts1809-1811 MSS 642 Item 36 1 36 Accounts1823-1869 MSS 642 Item 37 1 37 Accounts1828-1842 MSS 642 Item 38 1 38 Account book1828-1847 MSS 642 Item 39 1 39 Accounts ("Anne A. Ives")1837-1868 MSS 642 Item 40 1 40 Accounts1840-1858

With list of subscribers, 1801-1866

 MSS 642 Item 41 1 41 Accounts1847-1872 MSS 642 Item 42 1 42 Treasurer1865-1923 MSS 642 Item 43 1 43 Accounts1872-1912 MSS 642 Item 44 1 44 Schedule of property and accounts1876-1892 MSS 642 Item 45 1 45 Manager's book1890-1929 MSS 642 Item 46 1 46 Schedule of property and accounts1892-1912 MSS 642 Item 1 2 1 Accounts and receipt book1912-1917 MSS 642 Item 2 2 2 Accounts, undated. Series 5 Receipts MSS 642 Item 3 2 3 1800-1818 MSS 642 Item 4 2 4 1801 MSS 642 Item 5 2 5 1802-1822 MSS 642 Item 6 2 6 1820-1825 MSS 642 Item 7 2 7 1823 MSS 642 Item 8 2 8 1824-1886 MSS 642 Item 9 2 9 1843-1852 MSS 642 Item 10 2 10 1882-1892 MSS 642 Item 11 2 11 1892-1901 MSS 642 Item 12 2 12 Receipts and expenditures1917-1939 MSS 642 Item 13 2 13 Receipts, subscriptions1949-1952 MSS 642 Item 14 2 14 Receipts, undated Series 6 Meeting minutes and resolutions MSS 642 Item 15 Volume Minute book, includes by-laws1800-1934 MSS 642 Item 16 2 15 Resolutions1852

Some undated

 Series 7 Miscellaneous MSS 642 Item 17 2 16 Sermon, Jonathan Maxcy1802

2 copies

 MSS 642 Item 18 2 17 Sermon, James Wilson1803 MSS 642 Item 19 2 18 "A Discourse delivered in Providence Sept. 6th 1804 before the Female Charitable Society for the Relief of indigent widows and children" by Theodore Dehon1804 MSS 642 Item 20 2 19 Blank subscription form, 19th c.; obituaries for 3 members, 1926; newspaper articles, 1950 and undated MSS 642 Item 20 2 20 Tribute to Harriet Morris Smith1906 Apr