Portland Female Charitable Society records

Collection

Identifier: Coll. 376

Staff Only

Scope and Content note

Primarily secretary's minutes and treasurer's accounts, but also includes copies of the act of incorporation, the rules of the society and other miscellaneous papers. Includes both originals and photocopies.

Dates

Creation: 1818 - 1950

Creator

Portland Female Charitable Society (Portland, Me.) (Donor, Organization)

Access

Unrestricted

Copyright

Access to collections at Maine Historical Society is not an authorization to publish. Rights and reproduction requests may be submitted in writing to the MHS Image Services Coordinator or Research & Administrative Librarian, subject to format.

Administrative note

Portland Female Charitable Society (PFCS) was formed in 1812 in response to the suffering brought on by the War of 1812. PFCS was concerned with assisting the "worthy needy" and instituted programs that allowed the needy to help themselves. For example, in the 1800s, PFCS opened a school to teach poor children how to sew and knit, enabling them to make their own clothes. The PFCS initially focused most of their finances on supplying the poor with cloth to sew their own clothes. However, as welfare programs grew in the middle of the 20th century, many of the costs PFCS had previously covered were taken care of by the government. In recent history, PFCS has paid for expenses such as oil, eyeglasses and dentures among others.