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 Ladies Howard Society (1836–1918), named for an eighteenth-century philanthropist, was formed in 1836 when the Fragment Society united with the Benevolent and Charitable Societies in Nantucket to carry on the work of caring for the island’s poor. This collection contains documents pertaining to the history of charitable organizations on Nantucket and the philanthropic desire of certain Nantucketers. Records include visitors’ reports (1846–1894), including names of recipients of aid and type of aid given, membership lists, the society’s constitution, financial records, and a brief history of the organization written by Harriet Peirce.
Collection Details
- Collection Number:
- MS71
- Title:
- Ladies Howard Society Records
- Date(s):
- 1836–1918
- Creator:
- Ladies Howard Society.
- 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 Ladies Howard Society Records, Nantucket Historical Association.
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.
Related Collections
- MS69 Fragment Society Records, Nantucket Historical Association.
- MS72 Nantucket Relief Association Records, Nantucket Historical Association.
- MS73 Children's Aid Society of Nantucket Records, Nantucket Historical Association.
- MS76 Volunteer Aid Association of Nantucket Records, Nantucket Historical Association.
Subject Headings
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Topical Terms
- Women in charitable work—Massachusetts—Nantucket.
- Women--Societies and clubs—Massachusetts—Nantucket.
Biographical Information
The Ladies Howard Society (1836–1918), named for an eighteenth-century philanthropist, was formed in 1836 when the Fragment Society united with the Benevolent and Charitable Societies in Nantucket to provide financial assistance to islanders experiencing economic need. At the time of the Great Fire of 1846, the Society lost all of its property but managed to continue its work with the aid of money, fuel, and clothing donations. With the help of William Barney, the Society was officially incorporated in 1856.
Scope and Content
Records include visitors’ reports (1846–1894), including names of recipients of aid and type of aid given, membership lists, the society’s constitution, financial records, and a brief history of the organization written by Harriet Peirce.
Contents
Folder 1 Brief History, written by Harriet Peirce, undated
Folder 2 Constitution and membership lists, 1836, 1886
Folder 3 Incorporation papers, 1856
Folder 4 Annual reports, 1867-1917
Folder 5 Bills, reports and notes, 1856, 1872-1918
Folder 6 Letters in, 1869-1915
Books 1–5 Minutes, October 1846–20 December 1918
Books 6–8 Visiting reports: recipient of aid, January 1846– January 1894
Books 9–12 Treasurers’ reports and accounts, 1846-1918
Processing Information
Processed by Thomas Perich, August 2022.
Finding Aid by Cindy Li, August 2022.