Girls Friendly Society of the United States of America, Diocese of Michigan records, 1896-1997

Summary

Creator:

Girls Friendly Society of the United States of America. Diocese of Michigan.

Abstract:

The Girls Friendly Society of the United States of America, Diocese of Michigan serves girls and women within the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Their main function was to maintain several cottages, which were first used as vacation homes for working women in the 1890's and then slowly evolved into a summer camp for young girls. The record group includes meeting minutes, clippings, publications, and related materials.

Extent:

1.5 linear feet

Language:

English

Call Number:

0451 Bk 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by Leslie Knoblauch, March 2004

Background

Scope and Content:

The record group is divided into four series: Administration, Clippings, Photographic Prints, and Publications.

Biographical / Historical:

The Detroit Branch of the Girls Friendly Society was started in 1895 when the organization first rented a cottage on Pine Lake to serve as a vacation house for working women. The society members emphasized organizing local fundraising events with the community and planning for the summer vacationers.

By the early 1900's the society owned three cottages and had transformed the property into a summer camp for young girls. In the 1950's the camp moved from Pine Lake to Ortonville and was renamed Camp Holiday. The society used the facilities year round, during the brief summer months it was a summer camp for young girls and for the rest of the year it served as a conference center. As Camp Holiday became the primary task of the society more resources went into the maintenance of the cottages and less time was spent connecting with the community through social events.

In the later 1970's the camp found itself financially strained. The society had altered the mission of the camp and no longer taught religious studies. The financial concerns and the lack of a strong mission forced a reorganization of the society in the 1980's when the Diocese of Michigan took over administration of the camp. The camp became co-ed and a strong Christian camp program was adopted. The camp continued to falter economically throughout the decade, membership slowly dwindled, and by the later half of the 1990's the society was considering disbanding.

Acquisition Information:

Records received from the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan through Cheryl Sands, Gordonwood Center (donor no. 1059 )

Subjects

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Subjects:

Camps -- Michigan.
Girls -- Michigan -- Societies and clubs.
Women -- Michigan -- Societies and clubs.
Camps -- Michigan.
Girls -- Michigan.
Prayer.
Women -- Michigan.

Formats:

Photographs.

Names:

Girls Friendly Society of the United States of America. Diocese of Michigan.
Episcopal Church. Diocese of Michigan.

Places:

Pine Lake (West Bloomfield, Mich.)