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Title French Benevolent Society; Simon Family
Date 22 April 1921
Document Type Manuscript; Correspondence
Reference MSS 141, Box 4, Folder 3
Library / Archive Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Collection Name French Benevolent Society of Philadelphia Records, 1804-1977
Description Correspondence regarding the Simon family.
Series Description The materials from the period between 1804 and 1835 are mainly the correspondence of Jean Claude Laval (the first president under the 1805 charter). Much of this correspondence is with a book seller, James McCoy, and has little to do with the activities of the society. The 1804 constitution is housed in Series IV, Box 16, Folder 5. Beginning in 1835, the collection becomes rich in materials. It is assumed that this is when a formal record retention policy was instituted, and it is the earliest date on a formal ledger; the History of the Society Ledger (Series IV, Box 16, Folder 2) dates from 1835-1875. The correspondence dating from the 1830 through the 1850s is again mostly correspondence of Jean Claude Laval. There are also society notices and meeting announcements and society condolences in this period as well. The bulk of the material begins in the 1850s. The correspondence between 1848 and 1864 is held in the Lettered Correspondence Series III, Sub Series A, in the K and R sequences. The French Benevolent Society hosted an annual ball that began in 1847. Series V, Boxes 24 and 26 contain the ball correspondence and scrapbooks. The financial records of the Benevolent Society mostly contain the property records. The Society generated revenue through investments in properties. They collected rent on these properties and it is these records which are housed in Series II. Treasurers reports can also be found in the Lettered Correspondence Series III, but remain there because of the original order of lettered envelopes). There are financial records and income/expense reports covering the years 1843-1941. There are membership lists and meeting minutes from 1830-1941 (Administrative Series IV, Boxes 18-23). The case files, a few of which remain restricted, cover the years 1914 through 1941. Most case records are in this period which encompassed World War I, the Depression, and the beginning of World War II. The Fatherless Children of France adoptee records are contained in this series, and the photographs removed from the collection were removed from this Box (27). The List Helped Ledgers (unrestricted) contain records from 1874-1913.
Biographical Note / History The French Benevolent Society was founded in Philadelphia in 1793. The society serves indigents of French descent and provides scholarships to local students of French extraction. The records include minutes, correspondence, financial and membership records, case files, histories, and uncatalogued photographs. The French Benevolent Society was founded in 1793, but there are no remaining records from this original charter period. The organization was re-chartered in 1805 and then re-chartered again in 1835.
Theme(s) Permanent Settlement and Successive Generations
Places Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Nationality French
Keywords societies, philanthropy, charity, family
Additional Information Please note: Some of the metadata for this document has been taken from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania catalogue.
Language French
Copyright Historical Society of Pennsylvania