Temporary record

The American Seaman's Friend Society, and its Pennsylvania auxiliary, were established as charitable organizations to assist seamen financially and morally. The Society raised money among several different religious denominations to support evangelical activity among seamen, and to clothe, feed and house destitute, shipwrecked or unemployed sailors. The Society also supported homes for aged and indigent sailors, both in the United States and for American sailors abroad.

Scope and contents:

The Seaman's Friend collection represents only a small portion of the original records of the Pennsylvania branch of the Society, and there are considerable chronological gaps. More than 75% of the surviving correspondence dates from 1857-60, when Rev. George Hughes served as Corresponding Secretary from Pennsylvania to the American Society. The extant correspondence includes a few scattered reports from Pennsylvania, records of funds raised, subscription lists for specific requests (e.g., to establish a home for sailors in Valparaiso), and occasional requests for aid to individual seamen.

M-2891.31

Subjects

Charities--Pennsylvania
Seamen--United States

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