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COLLECTION Identifier: MC 285

Records of the Female Bible Society of Boston and Its Vicinity, 1814-1889

Overview

Annual reports, minutes, financial records, correspondence, etc., of the Female Bible Society of Boston and Its Vicinity, an auxiliary of the American Bible Society.

Dates

  • Creation: 1814-1889

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Access Restrictions:

Access. Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright. Copyright in the records created by the Female Bible Society of Boston and Its Vicinity as well as copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns.

Copying. Records may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures.

Extent

1.05 linear feet ((2+1/2 boxes) plus 1 folio+ folder)

The Female Bible Society of Boston and Its Vicinity was a relatively early example of women organizing for a specific purpose; its records provide a fairly complete account of its activities. The Secretary's, Corresponding Secretary's and Assistant Treasurer's records cover the entire period of the Society's existence and include information about membership, finances, the number of Bibles bought and distributed, and the activities of the American Bible Society. The records are arranged by officer or by type.

HISTORY

The Female Bible Society was founded in 1814 for the express purpose of distributing "...gratuitously the common version of the Holy Bible, without note or comment...." Members paid an annual subscription of $2.00, or $30.00 for a life membership. In October 1816, the members voted to become an auxiliary of the American Bible Society and added the word Auxiliary to the Society's name. The Society henceforth made yearly contributions to the American Bible Society and ordered its Bibles from the New York office.

The Society was dissolved in 1889, "...there being something over 300 societies doing similar work in Boston...," and its funds transferred to the Massachusetts Bible Society.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number: 77-M71

The records of the Female Bible Society of Boston and Its Vicinity were purchased from the Diocesan Library of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in May 1977.

CONTAINER LIST

  1. Box 1: 1.-4
  2. Box 2: 5v-9v
  3. Box 3: 10v-15

Processing Information

Processed: May 1979

By: Bert Hartry

Title
Female Bible Society of Boston and Its Vicinity. Records of the Female Bible Society of Boston and Its Vicinity, 1814-1889: A Finding Aid
Author
Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
Language of description
eng
EAD ID
sch00576

Repository Details

Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository

The preeminent research library on the history of women in the United States, the Schlesinger Library documents women's lives from the past and present for the future. In addition to its traditional strengths in the history of feminisms, women’s health, and women’s activism, the Schlesinger collections document the intersectional workings of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in American history.

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