Name/Title
Report, AnnualEntry/Object ID
2017.9.1o1Description
January 13, 1895 report of the Officers and Teachers of the Union Mission for Colored People. Is published on single 11.5 x 3.25" slip of paper, folded in half to create four pages (two leaves).
p.1: The report reads as follows: "Report. The Officers and Teachers of the Union Mission for Colored People, wish to Submit t the Friends the Following Report: "Just a year ago our first session was held, on Coulter street, with seven teachers and twelve children present. By March the school had so increased that we leased 18 West Penn street for one year, subletting part to Mrs. Lettie Walton, who keeps the rooms in order, attends to the heating, etc. The school meetings in the morning at none and closes at a quarter past ten; the international lesson is taught in all the classes. The school was kept open during the entire year, very little difficulty being caused by teachers going away during the summer, as substitutes were easily found."
pp.2-4: "Early last spring a stereopticon exhibition was given at the mission and was largely attended by both children and parents. Later Mrs. J. H. Worthington invited the school to spend an afternoon at her home, and in July Mrs. Philip C. Garrett allowed us to hold our picnic on her grounds at Fairfield, both occasions being greatly enjoyed by children and teachers.
One evening at the school was spent in hearing recitations, etc., quite a number of the friends of the school helping in the entertainment.
In Christmas week we had another stereopticon exhibition, and also a festival for the children, who recited and sang, and at the end were given presents by a very realistic Santa Claus, from the foot of a Christmas tree. Before this time their present to someone in need, and altogether about a bushel was provided by them, which was afterward sent to a very poor woman.
At every session a collection is taken among the children and during the year about $10 was subscribed by them; this was sent to the Delaware River Sanitarium Association, and the children were greatly pleased by hearing about how their money was used.
Our library of about one hundred and fifty books is very well used by both children and parents. These have been obtained through friends and any further addition will be very welcome, as some of the children have read nearly all those suitable to their age. We have also received pictures, cocoa matting, an organ, a stove, Bibles, a reading desk and other things, for all of which we are sincerely grateful.
During the year many visits have been made to the homes of the children by the teachers, and they often report marked changes for the better, in cleanliness and order, since the visiting began. The visiting has also been a reason for our steadily increasing attendance. The total attendance has been rather more than 2,100, the average increasing from fourteen in the first month, to seventy in the last.
Many of the children have missed only one or two days since they began and very few have left the school except those that moved to some other part of Philadelphia; quite a number have to walk a mile in order to attend.
During the year several of our friends have visited the school and in several cases have spoken to the children. We will gladly welcome them again, and hope that others will also make us visits.
The school is supported entirely by annual subscriptions and voluntary donations and any contributions will be gladly received by our treasurer, Marriott C. Morris. We append a list of the officers and teachers;
Anna S. Jones,
Edith Wistar,
Amy R. Williams,
Elizabeth Pitfield
Arthur N. Starin,
Charles B. Newton,
Horace C. Wood,
Arthur M. Wood,
Laura C. Pitfield,
Hannah C. Baker,
Evan N. Campbell,
Ethel Rhoads,
Edward C. Wood,
Marriott C. Morris,
Harry C. Baker.