Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

This volume contains the minutes of the Maternal Association of St. Michael's Church in Bristol, Rhode Island, which met monthly between December 1836 and February 1839. The minutes reflect the group's intention to encourage support, prayer, and discussion for and among Christian mothers.

This minute book (53 pages) pertains to the Maternal Association of St. Michael's Church in Bristol, Rhode Island. The first 7 pages are comprised of an explanation of the founders' decision to form the society (1 page), a constitution adopted in July 1836 (4 pages), and a membership list (2 pages). Two later pages contain a list of children under the age of fifteen who belonged to the association. The bulk of the volume (44 pages) consists of monthly meeting minutes dated December 28, 1836-February 27, 1839; the minutes for several months are missing because of the secretary's absence. At their meetings, the women prayed, sang religious songs, shared readings, and discussed their difficulties with or advice for raising children as Christians. Some entries mention the deaths of members' children. The volume also includes an annual report for 1838.

• Fragment of a financial account (August 22, 1828)
• Edward Spalding's ownership certificate for Pew 73 in St. Michael's Church (March 7, 1834)
• Letter from Ambrose Burnside to "Mrs. Green" regarding his intention to give up a room he had been renting (April 11, 1857) (housed separately)
• Recipe for turkey gravy (undated)
• Signed lithograph portrait of John Oliphant (undated)

This volume contains the meeting minutes for the Middlebrook Council No. 61 Friends of Temperance in Middlebrook, Virginia. The records cover its founding in 1869 with their constitution and minutes through 1871 (largely consisting of the names of members who attended the meetings). At one meeting, a member was punished for drinking cider on New Years' Day. The remainder of the volume contains scribbles, penmanship practice, maths problems, and additional content.

This volume contains the meeting minutes for the Middlebrook Council No. 61 Friends of Temperance in Middlebrook, Virginia. The records cover its founding in 1869 with their constitution and minutes through 1871 (largely consisting of the names of members who attended the meetings). The remainder of the volume contains scribbles, penmanship practice, maths problems, and additional content.

• A partial dictionary
• A partial account book
• Several letter copies or fragments
• Math problems (fractions, word problems)
• Geography notes
• Dimensions for a blind bridle

Levi Jones of Milton, New Hampshire, recorded the Milton Sacred Musical Society's constitution, monthly meeting minutes, and membership fines in this volume between January and December 1817. Also included are financial records pertaining to Jones's estate after his death in 1847.

This volume (34 pages) contains minutes and other records related to the Milton Sacred Musical Society of Milton, New Hampshire, and financial accounts related to the estate of Levi Jones, the society's first secretary. The first section (22 pages) pertains to the Milton Sacred Musical Society. Its founding members adopted a constitution on January 1, 1817, outlining the group's internal organization and some of its formal procedures (pp. 5-10). Officers included a president, vice president, account auditors, secretary, and librarian, and members paid dues and additional fees for missing meetings or disobeying the president. The constitution also described procedures for admitting new members. The document is accompanied by a membership list and 3 pages of brief monthly meeting minutes for the year 1817 (pp. 19-22). The society cancelled their July and September meetings because of funerals. A piece of paper laid into the volume after the minutes contains a note certifying the publication of marriage banns for Stephen B. Stacey and Joanna Door, signed by Levi Jones in his capacity as town clerk (February 3, 1817). The second section of the book, which begins from the opposite cover, contains 11 pages of accounts between the Milton Sacred Musical Society and individual members. These accounts primarily reflect fees assessed after members failed to attend monthly meetings, and most charges are between 20 and 40 cents. None are recorded as having been paid.

The final 12 pages have financial accounts pertaining to the estate of Levi Jones, recorded between September 2, 1847, and April 13, 1848. Two pages of running accounts document expenditures and income, and the following 10 pages are comprised of notes regarding payments to specific individuals. The volume's interior covers were also used for unidentified mathematical calculations.

Two debating societies based in Montgomery, New York, recorded their constitutions and meeting minutes in this volume in the early to mid-19th century. At weekly meetings, members debated questions related to politics, morality, and other subjects, though religious topics were banned.

Two debating societies based in Montgomery, New York, recorded their constitutions and meeting minutes in this volume (approximately 180 pp.) in the early to mid-19th century. At weekly meetings, members discussed political issues and moral questions.

The title page has an unattributed epigram taken from verses written by Robert Burns for the Freemasons. Following this, the Farmers & Mechanicks Debating Society of Montgomery recorded its first minutes (February 4, 1823), which pre-date its constitution (February 11, 1823). The 4-page constitution and 2-page list of members' signatures are followed by about 70 pages of minutes from the society's weekly meetings. Every week, the group discussed a member's question, posed and chosen the week before, with members arguing in the negative and affirmative. Questions covered a range of moral and political subjects such as quality of life, wealth, women's rights, punishment for crimes, and finances, though religious topics were banned. The minutes record the names of members presenting either side of the question and occasionally concern administrative affairs such as officer elections. The final dated entry appears on January 26, 1825, with one last entry from "Saturday evening Feb 28" of an unknown year.

The second section (approximately 90 pages) contains the minutes and constitution of the Farmers & Mechanicks Debating Society's successor, the Good-Will Debating Society, in the Town of Montgomery. Its constitution, which has later annotations and alterations, is largely similar to the earlier document. Weekly meeting minutes cover December 11, 1840-January 30, 1846, though some dates are missing or appear out of chronological sequence. The society's debate topics were similar to its predecessor's, though some related to contemporary political issues such as the annexation of Texas. A group of loosely tied newspaper clippings laid into the volume (dated 1846) pertain to the Mexican-American War and topics related to mechanics and manufacturing.

The Female Evangelical Society of Montgomery, New York, kept annual meeting minutes in this volume from 1822, the year of its establishment, to 1841. Its members raised funds for missionary societies and educational establishments.

The Female Evangelical Society of Montgomery, New York, kept annual meeting minutes in this volume (39 pp.) from 1822, the year of its establishment, to 1841. The group, whose mission was "extending the knowledge of divine truth," adopted a constitution on May 6, 1822 (pages 1-2), and kept minutes of its annual meetings, held on the first Monday in May, from 1822-1841 (pages 3-39); the minutes from 1835 and 1839 are missing. Each set of minutes has a report from the treasurer, who collected dues and other income, and the names of the society's presidents, treasurers, secretaries, and managers. Every year, the society donated money to religious groups, occasionally to purchase life memberships in various societies for the pastors of Goodwill Church. Three undated newspaper clippings with poetry composed for The Philadelphia Saturday Courier (2 items) and a list of names (1 item) are laid into the book, and the minutes are also followed by a 9-page list of the society's members to 1828.

The Qui Vive Society of Montgomery, New York, recorded meeting minutes in this volume between June 1881 and October 1885. The young persons' social club met monthly at members' homes and organized dramatic performances, musical performances, readings, and other entertainment.

The Qui Vive Society of Montgomery, New York, recorded 97 pages of meeting minutes in this volume between June 1881 and October 1885.

The "Book of Records of the Qui Vive Society" has a copy of the group's constitution, with amendments and by-laws (pp. 1-4), and a list of 57 male and female members (pp. 5-6). The remainder (pp. 7-97) contains meeting minutes dated June 15, 1881-October 28, 1885. The group originally intended to meet at different members' homes on the final Wednesday of each month, but later met irregularly. Minutes often pertain to administrative matters, such as officer elections, constitutional amendments, and by-laws. One constitutional amendment, later rescinded, limited membership to residents of the township of Montgomery. At many meetings, the society put on and enjoyed dramatic presentations, readings, recitations, musical performances, and other entertainments. Some minutes record individual events or works and their performers.

The New England Society for the Promotion of Manufactures and the Mechanical Arts record book contains meeting minutes of the society for the duration of its existence, 1826-1868.

The New England Society for the Promotion of Manufactures and the Mechanical Arts record book contains 146 pages of meeting minutes of the society for the duration of its existence, 1826-1868. The volume begins with copies of legislative acts of the Boston City Council and Massachusetts state government incorporating the society. As stated in the Act of Incorporation, passed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, March 3, 1826, the society’s purpose was:

the promotion and encouragement of domestic manufactures of all descriptions, and of mechanical skill, in every department of industry, by public sales and exhibitions of the products of the arts, by awarding premiums for new inventions, and for the best specimens of skill, by introducing any new discoveries, which may be made in other countries, and by collecting models of inventions…and communicating the same to the manufacturers and mechanics of New England. (p. 2)

The society held an inaugural meeting on June 1, 1826, to create its by-laws. The remainder of the volume contains meeting minutes, including lists of its current members and officers, financial accounts, winners of the society's awards, and plans for exhibitions and public sales. The society's 1868 dissolution is reflected over the course of several late entries.

The New Gloucester (Me.) collection contains documents, financial records, and other items related to four local groups active in the early 19th century: the First Christian Universalist Society, the Congregational Fund, the Hill School District (later the Southwest School District), and the Antipedo Baptist Society. Other material concerns a Universalist convention in Turner, Maine, and newspaper advertisements and subscriptions.

This collection contains 61 documents, financial records, and other items related to four groups active in New Gloucester, Maine, in the early 19th century: the First Christian Universalist Society, the Congregational Fund, the Hill School District, and the Antipedo Baptist Society. Other material concerns a Universalist convention in Turner, Maine, and newspaper advertisements and subscriptions.

The Universalist Society Documents series (3 items) is comprised of a membership list for the First Christian Universalist Society in New Gloucester (June 18, 1805) and a receipt for the society's reimbursement of a purchase of a record book (July 11, 1805), both signed by Reuben Barns (or Barrs), as well as a signed statement by Jonathan Bennett, Jr., regarding Jacob Bailey's sworn oath to become the society's assessor (undated).

The three Imprints are a 2-page circular; a 1-page document relating to a convention of Universalist societies assembled in Turner, Maine (September 4, 1805); and Directions for Taking and Using the True and Genuine British Oil... (8 pages, undated).

Receipts and Promissory Notes (13 items) pertain to advertising costs in the Portland Gazette (April 7, 1804), a subscription to the Eastern Argus (August 1, 1810), and the finances of "the Congregational Fund in New Gloucester" (11 items, September 18, 1807). Promissory notes from the Congregational Fund are addressed to the fund's treasurer, Enoch Fogg; each contains notes about interest and repayment on the reverse side, dated as late as 1823.

The School District Papers are comprised of 22 notices and meeting minutes and 1 financial document. The records relate to the affairs of the Hill School District (later the Southwest School District) in New Gloucester, Maine, from June 5, 1806-October 31, 1823. Eligible male voters were notified of meetings held to settle administrative affairs, and notices and meeting minutes refer to votes on subjects such as the construction of a new schoolhouse, building repairs, provision of wood for the school's stove, authorization and dates of terms, finances and taxes, and hiring teachers. On different occasions, the district intended to hire both male and female teachers. The final item is a list of names and amounts of money (November 6, 1823).

Documents related to the Antipedo Baptist Society (19 items) include notices of meetings, requests for membership, and meeting minutes, most of which relate to the election of officers. The group operated in New Gloucester, Gray, and Poland, Maine; its members included Elder Ephraim Stinchfield.

The Peace Society of Windham County record book contains various records documenting the activities of the antiwar group of Windham County, Connecticut, including numerous meeting minutes, a constitution, and a long list of members.

The Peace Society of Windham County record book contains approximately 81 pages of records that shed light on the group's organization, decision-making, meetings, activities, and philosophies. The volume primarily comprises minutes (1826-1839), which are particularly valuable for the information they provide on the group's members and their attendance, speakers and the topics they addressed, religious activities and affiliations, and references to the Society's publications and promotional materials.

The volume opens with a description of the group's founding and a copy of its constitution. The latter describes its mission and structure (pp. 5-9) and notes its goal to "promote and extend the full import of the angelic message, 'Peace on Earth and good will to men'." Following this are the carefully kept minutes for thirteen annual meetings and scattered semi-annual, ad hoc, and board of directors meetings. The minutes primarily record the organization's decisions, arrived upon after numerous discussions and votes. Issues put to a vote include the locations of various meetings (which were primarily held in members' homes), the people to whom the society should express gratitude, the names of possible speakers, fundraising measures, and the distribution of tracts and literature.

The Record Book includes debates over the group's philosophies and objectives. Minutes show that they invited particular members to speak on topics, such as "The Prejudice by which the custom of War is upheld in society" (p. 19) and the injustice of the American Revolutionary War (p. 37). On the latter topic, the secretary noted, "This was of course a sentiment new to many, and at first many minds may revolt from it, but it is doubtless correct." The record book closes with a 7-page list of members of the society, along with their places of residence.

This collection consists of two volumes of organizational records from the Scots Thistle Society of Philadelphia, a fraternal mutual aid society. The volumes include the society's constitution, bylaws, and a brief history of the founding of the society, as well as minutes, financial records, and membership lists. Although these volumes were begun in 1806 following the loss of earlier records, they contain information from before that, including the constitution, bylaws, and membership lists from 1805. The bulk of the collection dates to 1806-1865, with one inserted leaflet dated 1904.

This collection consists of two volumes of organizational records from the Scots Thistle Society of Philadelphia, a fraternal mutual aid society. The volumes include the society's constitution, bylaws, a brief history of the founding of the society, minutes, financial records, and membership lists. Although these volumes begin in 1806, after the loss of earlier records, they contain information from before that, including the constitution, bylaws, and membership lists from 1805. The bulk of the collection dates to 1806-1865, with one inserted leaflet dated 1904.

Inserted into the front cover of Volume 1 is a printed reminder note for the Scots Thistle Society meeting held on March 7, 1904, with handwritten meeting notes. Another laid-in leaflet bearing handwritten notes is located in the "Laws section" of the volume. The record of minutes for the meeting held on March 4, 1826, includes a written reference to the United States Constitution.

Four loose sheets of notes are inserted into Volume 2: one sheet in the Quarterly Dues section at the page for 1847; two at the minutes of the meeting held on June 1, 1840; and one at the minutes of the meeting held on June 26, 1845.

See the Detailed Box and Folder Listing for tables of contents for the two volumes.