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.
