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.
The following items are laid into the volume:
- 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)
