Summary Information
Ladies Benevolent Society of Oshkosh Records
1890-1963, 1968, 1974
- Ladies Benevolent Society of Oshkosh (Wis.)
Oshkosh Micro 8; Micro 566
5 reels of microfilm (35mm)
UW-Oshkosh Polk Library / Oshkosh Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records primarily concerning a home for needy, elderly women operated by the Ladies Benevolent Society of Oshkosh; including financial records, resident records, minutes, annual reports, and other records.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr0566 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Ladies Benevolent Society of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the oldest women's organization in that city, was founded in 1862. Originally named the Ladies Aid Society, it was formed to help Civil War soldiers and their families. However, after the war requests for aid remained and the women continued to perform charitable work.
One of the organization's major goals was the establishment of a home for needy, elderly women, and in 1889 they successfully opened such an institution. Within 4 years it housed 27 women. The Society supported the Home from an endowment fund created from inmates' admission fees, savings, and estates. Women living at the Home agreed to open joint savings accounts into which their incomes, including Social Security payments, were deposited and from which they received a monthly allowance and to bequeath their belongings to the Home. In exchange the Home provided for their welfare and made the necessary funeral arrangements. Although not a nursing home, the Home was organized to look after the general well being of the women in its charge. A matron supervised the Home's operation; she in turn was supervised by the Board of the Society, which was composed of 13 volunteer women elected from the general membership which today numbers over 200 women.
On April 15, 1964 the Society closed the building that housed the inmates and transferred the remaining residents to Evergreen Manor, Inc. However, the Ladies Benevolent Society continues to care for the well being of these women.
The organization retains a complete history of the Society in their bank deposit box at First Wisconsin National Bank, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Scope and Content Note
The records of the Ladies Benevolent Society of Oshkosh are organized in one large subject file arranged alphabetically by type of record. The bulk of this material is composed of financial records, inmate records, and minutes. The remainder of the collection consists of small files whose contents are identified by their folder titles. The records span the years 1890-1963 and therefore do not document the Society's earlier charitable works; rather, they focus on the organization and operation of the Home.
The financial records reveal not only the income and expenditures needed to operate the Home but also some investments made with donations and inmates' money in order to generate more funds. Inmate records, which include admission files and inmate profiles, contain personal and family information of varying detail about those women who were accepted and rejected for the Home, Finally, the minutes also discuss the application and admission process including certain physical and financial qualifications to be met by applicants; the social life of the Home which included entertainment by outside groups plus activities organized by the inmates themselves such as sing-alongs and piano recitals; and some financial investments made with inmates' stocks and bonds. The papers document the Society's efforts to provide balanced diets for the inmates, to arrange for medical care when it became necessary, and to care for the required maintenance and repair of the building. The minutes also discuss personnel questions such as expanding the duties of the matron and increasing her salary.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Originals loaned for microfilming by The Ladies Benevolent Society of Oshkosh via Elizabeth Rojahn and Edward Noyes, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, January 17, 1975. Accession Number: M75-19
Processed by Christine Rongone, December 3, 1975.
Contents List
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Reel
1
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Annual reports, 1906-1907; 1909-1921; 1924-1934
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Reel
1
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Clippings, 1901-1902; 1974; undated
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1
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Correspondence, 1925; 1930; 1932; undated
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Reel
1
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Equipment inventory
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Reel
1
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Financial records
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Daybook
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1
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1931, October-1938, June
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Reel
1
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1938, July-1956, July
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Dues book
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Reel
1
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1931-1950
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Reel
1
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1948-1952
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Ledger
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Accounts payable and receivable
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Reel
2
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1919, January-1943, September
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Reel
2
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1943, September-1963, December
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Matron's funds
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Reel
3
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1924, October-1930, September
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Reel
3
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1940, September-1942, November
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Reel
3
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1942, December-1945, September
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Reel
3
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1945, October-1948, April
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Reel
3
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1948, May-1950, September
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Reel
3
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Undated
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Reel
3
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Securities book, circa 1899-1932
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Reel
3
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Guest register, 1939-1950; 1952; 1954-1963
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Inmate records
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Reel
3
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Applications for admittance, 1893-1894; 1896-1904.
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Reel
3
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Applicants, accepted and rejected, 1890-1940
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3
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Inmate case files, circa 1916-1961
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Inmate profiles
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3
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circa 1915-1938
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3
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circa 1918-1961
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3
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Legal records, miscellaneous, 1920; 1946; 1960; 1968.
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Reel
3
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Menus, 1933, June-December; undated
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Minutes
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Executive Board
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Reel
4
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1903, November-1922, January
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Reel
4
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1922, February-1928, October
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Reel
4
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1928, November-1935, October
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Reel
4
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1935, November-1942, October
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Reel
4
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1942, December-1946, November
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Reel
4
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1946, December-1950, December
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Reel
5
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1951, January-1959, December
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Reel
5
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1960, January-1963, December
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Reel
5
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Regular meetings, 1903, November-1925, January.
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Reel
5
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Organizational information re articles of incorporation,
constitution, by-laws
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Reports
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Reel
5
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Historical Committee report, 1919
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5
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Treasurer's report, 1916, June 1
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Reel
5
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Resolution, 1938
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