%eadnotat; ]> 4072labe An Inventory of the Ladies Benevolent Association of New Brighton (Pa.) Records, 1846-1977 Finding Aid Prepared by FHL staff Encoding made possible by a grant by the Gladys Kriebel Delmas Foundation to the Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Libraries Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 1987 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, December 2000. ENG Ladies Benevolent Association of New Brighton (Pa.) Records, 1846-1977 FHL staff Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. 1987 Descriptive Summary Records, 1846-1977 RG 4/072 Ladies Benevolent Association of New Brighton (Pa.) 3 boxes; 1.25 linear feet Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399 U.S.A.
For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. The Ladies Benevolent Association of New Brighton was a largely Quaker women's society, founded in 1846 in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, to provide clothing and other necessities to destitute poor. In 1907, the Ladies Benevolent Association cooperated with groups to engage a visiting nurse; this organization, known as the District Nurse Association was disbanded five years later. After World War II, the need for sewing declined, and the Ladies Benevolent Association then turned its support to the Beaver Valley General Hospital. The group was dissolved in 1977. Contains the records of the Ladies Benevolent Association of New Brighton, including minutes, financial records, correspondence, and other related papers, including minutes of the District Nurse Association of New Brighton, Pa., 1907-1912.

Repository:

Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081-1399

Phone: (610) 328-8496 FAX: (610) 690-5728

 BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE

In 1846, a group of women, most of whom were Quakers, founded the Female Benevolent Association of New Brighton to “procure clothing and other articles of convenience for the destitute poor.” The small group (whose name was changed to the Ladies Benevolent Association before 1856) met monthly (except during July and August) in each others homes to sew clothing for the needy in the village. They formed a Visiting Committee to investigate cases and to determine the level of support. Financial records indicate that the Ladies Benevolent Association also supplied coal, milk, shoes, and other articles which were purchased through the contributions of the members.

As time passed, their activities expanded to include keeping a room at the hospital and aiding other local charities. In 1907, the Ladies Benevolent Association cooperated with other organizations to engage a visiting nurse; this organization, known as the District Nurse Association (see Series 5), was disbanded five years later due to the difficulties of obtaining continuing funding. After World War II, the need for sewing declined, and the Ladies Benevolent Association began to meet quarterly and then semiannually to support the Beaver Valley General Hospital. The group was dissolved in 1977.

 SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS

Contains the records of the Ladies Benevolent Association of New Brighton, including minutes, financial records, correspondence, and other related papers, including minutes of the District Nurse Association of New Brighton, 1907-1912.

 Arrangement

The collection is divided into six series:

Historical background Minutes, 1846 and 1856-1977 Financial and other administrative records Correspondence, 1896-1977 District Nurse Association of New Brighton, Pa., 1907-1912 Miscellaneous ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Accession information

Donor: Mrs. Roland Kenah, 1987

 Access

Collection is open for research.

 Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in to the Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf Friends Historical Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.

 Preferred Citation

[Indicate the cited item or series here], Ladies Benevolent Association of New Brighton (Pa.), Records, RG 4/072, Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.

A leather purse from the collection was catalogued as Relic #372, then removed and transferred to Cabinet 6.

SELECTED SEARCH TERMS Materials catalogued separately

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Friends Historical Library (TRIPOD). Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings:

Ladies Benevolent Association of New Brighton (Pa.) District Nurse Association of New Brighton Beaver Valley General Hospital Charities -- Pennsylvania Clothing and dress Poor -- Services for -- Pennsylvania Patients -- Clothing Sick -- Services for -- Pennsylvania Quakers -- Pennsylvania Quakers -- Societies, etc. Women -- Pennsylvania -- Societies and clubs Women, Quaker -- Pennsylvania -- Societies and clubs Women in charitable work -- Pennsylvania Pennsylvania -- Charitable and social work Pennsylvania -- Societies, etc. -- Charities Pennsylvania -- Societies, etc. -- Women New Brighton (Pa.) -- Societies, etc. -- Charities New Brighton (Pa.) -- Societies, etc. -- Women DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS

Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the location and box numbers shown below:

 Ser. 1 Historical Background 1 Background material

Includes various manuscript and printed histories, newspaper articles, etc.

 Ser. 2 Minutes, 1846-1977

Minute books include financial reports, lists of contributors of cash and goods, officers and committee members

 Minutes 1846-1848 1

Includes Constitution and By-Laws, Minutes from 1/6/1848

 Minutes 1856-1867 1 Minutes 1868-1885 1 Minutes 1886-1888 1

Includes attendance lists to 1894.

 Minutes 1894-1899 1 Minutes 1900-1909 1 Minutes 1909-1924 1 Minutes 1924-1939 Minutes 1939-1977 2 Ser. 3 Financial and other Administrative Records, 1894-1961 Treasurer's book 1894-1960 2 Roll Book 1911-1937 2

Includes attendance and dues payments.

 Roll Book 1937-1961 2

Includes attendance and dues payments.

 Check Stub Book 1930-1939 2 Ser. 4 Correspondence, 1896-1977 Correspondence 1896-1977 2

Primarily letters accepting or declining invitations to the various anniversary celebrations as well as some material concerning the dissolution of the Assoc.

 Ser. 5 District Nurse Association of New Brighton, Pa., 1907-1912 Records 1907-1912 3

Formed by a consortium of charitable organizations in the New Brighton area, this organization was disbanded after five years due to the lack of continuing funding. The remaining funds were transferred to the Ladies Benevolent Association for their use.

 Ser. 6 Miscellaneous, 1896-1936 “Registrar” (Guest book for Anniversary Parties) 1896-1936 3 Photographs 3 Invitations 3 Relics 3

Includes name tapes. Original leather purse, used to hold petty cash, catalogued as Relic #372 and transferred to Cabinet 6.