This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Research Library at the Nantucket Historical Association. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the internet.
Summary
The Children’s Aid Society (1867–1954) was organized by Nantucket women on 10 June 1867. The Society’s purpose was to provide a home for girls, 6–12 years old, who had been removed from their families. Care was expanded to include boys as well as girls circa 1885. The collection includes the correspondence, minutes, treasurer’s reports, and other records.
Collection Details
- Collection Number:
- MS73
- Title:
- Children’s Aid Society Records
- Date(s):
- 1867–1962
- Creator:
- Children’s Aid Society.
- Extent:
- 0.5 linear feet (approximately 15 items)
- Repository:
- Nantucket Historical Association
- Language:
- Material is in English.
Information for Users
Restrictions to Access: No restrictions. Open for research.
Restrictions to Use: No usage restrictions.
Copyright Notice: Copyright is retained by the authors of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation: [identification of item], in the Children’s Aid Society Records, Nantucket Historical Association.
Acquisitions Information:
Gift of the Union Benevolent Society (Acc. 1980.15).
Sensitive Materials Statement:Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual’s private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Nantucket Historical Association assumes no responsibility.
Subject Headings
-
Topical Term
- Charities—Massachusetts—Nantucket.
- Children—Massachusetts—Nantucket.
- Women—Massachusetts—Nantucket.
Biographical Information
The Children’s Aid Society (1867–1954) was organized by Nantucket women on 10 June 1867. The Society’s purpose was to provide a home for girls, 6–12 years old, who had been removed from their families. Care was expanded to include boys as well as girls circa 1885. The Society was incorporated on 21 July 1894 and certified as legally organized on 8 August 1894. Money was raised to support the foster homes and to supply some clothing and bedding. Among the matrons of the homes were Narcissa Coffin and Anna Coggeshall. The Society disbanded in 1954 and turned its records and assets over to the Union Benevolent Society, which was fulfilling the same children’s needs.
Scope and Content
The collection contains records that demonstrate how the Children’s Aid Society executed daily orders; correspondence that explains how the society maintained communication with the mainland as well as organized events and activities; and treasurer reports that demonstrate how the society managed its budget.
Contents
OP-73/1 Certificate of Incorporation, 8 August 1894
Folder 1 Correspondence, 1948–1962
Folders 2–4 Minutes, 1867–1950
Minutes are bound in three volumes.
Folder 5 Records, 1894, 1929–1943
Folder 6 Treasurer Reports, 1929–1952
Items Separated
- OP-73/1
Processing Information
Processed by Cindy Li, August 2022
Finding Aid by Cindy Li, August 2022