Guide to the Female Domestic Missionary Society of Philadelphia Records
Open for research.
In 1816 a group of Philadelphia women, concerned at the zeal of Catholic missionaries in the city, banded together to collect subscriptions to support an evangelical missionary to preach the Gospel in the Almshouse, the Pennsylvania Hospital, and the Walnut Street Prison. They named their association the Female Domestic Missionary Society of Philadelphia. By August of 1816 they had raised $410 and employed Francis Ballentine as their missionary.
The Philadelphia Almshouse, which was renamed Philadelphia General Hospital in 1835, became the special care of the Society. By 1860 all the Society's funds were devoted to supporting a missionary to the General Hospital, and at this time its name was changed to "The Female Domestic Missionary Society for the Support of the Gospel in the Almshouse and Vicinity."
In 1916 the Society turned its funds over to the Philadelphia Presbytery's management. In 1959 the Presbytery surrendered this responsibility to the Presbyterian Foundation. In 1976 the members voted to dissolve the Society.
Record Group 319 contains the records of the Female Domestic Missionary Society of Philadelphia--minutes, treasurer's records, annual reports, correspondence and a history written in 1959.
The library has a centennial history and bound annual reports of the Female Domestic Missionary Society--please see the card catalogue.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared: October 1992
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist
| Box | Folder | Description | |
| 1 | 1 | Finding Aid to Record Group 319 | |
| 1 | 2 | Annual Reports, 1817 | |
| 1 | 3 | Annual Reports, 1818 | |
| 1 | 4 | Annual Reports, 1819 | |
| 1 | 5 | Annual Reports, 1825 | |
| 1 | 6 | Annual Reports, 1828 | |
| 1 | 7 | Annual Reports, 1850 | |
| 1 | 8 | Act of Incorporation, Charter, By-Laws, Power of Attorney, 1860-1916 | |
| 1 | 9 | Correspondence, 1858-1952 | |
| 1 | 10 | William F. Schall, 1916-46 | |
| 1 | 11 | William F. Schall, 1971-73 | |
| 1 | 12 | Estates--C Haddock, 1900-08 | |
| 1 | 13 | Estates--H Hubbell, 1937-44 | |
| 1 | 14 | Estates--General, 1897-1916 | |
| 1 | 15 | History, 1959 | |
| 1 | 16 | Letters of Appeal, 1916-17, undated | |
| 1 | 17 | Membership/Officer Lists, 1938-41, 1962-71 | |
| 1 | 18 | Minute Book, 1825-74 | |
| 1 | 19 | Minute Book, 1874-92 | |
| 1 | 20 | Minute Book, 1893-1902 | |
| 1 | 21 | Minute Book, 1902-16 | |
| 1 | 22 | Minute Book, 1917-61 | |
| 1 | 23 | Minute Book, 1962-76 | |
| 1 | 24 | Programs, 1941, 1868 | |
| 1 | 25 | Treasurer's Record Book, 1880-1907 | |
| 1 | 26 | Treasurer's Record Book, 1913-70 |