An Inventory of the Association of Friends for the Free Instruction of Adult Colored Persons Records, 1789-1905
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, 1789-1905
Association of Friends for the Free Instruction of Adult Colored Persons
Biographical History for: Records, 1789-1905
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE The Association of Friends for the Free Instruction of Adult Colored Persons was a Quaker organization organized in 1789 in Philadelphia to operate a charity school for black adults. The Association provided free adult education to blacks until 1904 when it was dissolved and its assets were transferred to the Institute for Colored Youth. Organized in Philadelphia in 1789 as a “Society for the free instruction of orderly Blacks and People of Colour,” the Association provided free adult education to African Americans until 1904 when it was dissolved and its assets were transferred to the Institute for Colored Youth. The Association was briefly suspended from 1822-1831, but was reorganized by 1832 under the name “Association for the Free Instruction of Adult Colored Persons. The Association ran both evening schools and, during some periods, First-Day afternoon schools, at several locations in Philadelphia, including Miller's Alley, Willings' Alley, Green's Court and Raspberry and Shields Courts. A Women's Association began in 1795 as the Society for the Improvement of African Women. By 1797 the name had been changed to “Society for the Free Instruction of African Females;” this group was suspended and reorganized several times, but in 1845, the men's association took charge of running the women's school.
SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS Contains minutes, financial records, and some correspondence of the Association of Friends for the Free Instruction of Adult Colored Persons and its predecessors, the Society of the Free Instruction of the Black People, the Society for the Free Instruction of African Females, and the Association of Friends for the Free Instruction of Colored Women.
Afro-Americans--Services for--Pennsylvania
Afro-Americans--Education--Pennsylvania
Afro-Americans--Pennsylvania
Charities--Pennsylvania
Education--Pennsylvania
Quakers--Charities--Records
Quakers--Pennsylvania
Schools--Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania--Charitable and social work
Philadelphia (Pa.)--Education--Schools
Philadelphia (Pa.)--Education--Afro-Americans
Philadelphia (Pa.)--Societies, etc.--Charities
Society for the Free Instruction of African Females--Records--1795-1802
Association of Friends for the Free Instruction of Colored Women--Records--1831-1845
Society for the Free Instruction of the Black People--Records--1831-1845
series
Ser. 1 Constitution and Historical Background
Constitution 1789
Includes list of first members
Constitution 1808
Includes list of members with addresses.
History
“History of the Association of Friends for the Free Instruction of Adult Colored Persons in Philadelphia”1890
Letter from John C. Allen to Thomas Elkinton7/15/1867
Ser. 2 Minutes
At back: Appendix containing letters written.
Ser. 3 Executive Committee
Executive Committee Reports1831-1836
Executive Committee Minutes1838-1840
Board of Managers Minutes1840-1891
Ser. 4 Women's Association
Ser. 5 Committees
Committee charged with care of First-Day schools1809
Visiting Managers Committee minutes 1852-1890 (gaps)
Men's school
Visiting managers committee minutes 1852-1890 (gaps)
Women's school
Ser. 6 Financial Records
Receipt book1848-1860
Contains names and addresses of women entered
List of securities for support of Raspberry St. School1873-1898
Treasurer's book 1831-1846
Includes Roll book, 1830-1831 of Evening and first-day class for Colored Men
Treasurer's book
Creation of Treasurer's book
Time of Creation of Treasurer's book
Collection books (Middle District)1846-1858
Collection books (Northern District) 1850-1858, 1877-1890
Collection books (Western District)1862-1890
Ser. 7 Correspondence
Letters from techers, pupils1867
Writing assignments1790-1802
Originally catalogued as SC/011