1885-1891 HANDWRITTEN ORGANIZATION NOTES AND MINUTES OF "THE MISSES SEWING SOCIETY." de Miller, Marion R - 1885

1885. Original manuscript. Hardcover. Good. 52pp full of entries, neatly pencilled on lined paper in a notebook, blanks separate some entries. Bound in leather-backed marbled boards, 8" x 6". Spine perished, boards loose, needs rebacking; internally clean and sound. A period piece. The Misses Sewing society was formed when "...the young girls of the Presbyterian Church of Moriches [Long Island, NY] met at Marion R. Miller's to organize...officers elected were President Marion Miller; Vice Nettie Terry; Secretary Ella Howell; Treasurer Winnie Howell (with Edna Benjamin, Susie Raynor, Ada Reeve, Katie Reardon...." "The society is very interesting and progressive...and hopeful for the future...." Membership seemed to peak at about 20, including a few adult women as overseers. Meetings average every two weeks, except for the January 21, 1888 get-together when the girls "sailed to the beach on an ice boat." Treasurer's reports include initiation fees (10 cents per member), expenses for sewing materials, money received for various works produced, income from fund-raisers such as the annual Fair. In 1886, the girls were "well rewarded for their work...nearly everything sold and what was not was sold at auction." At the 1887 Fair, "we sold nearly all of the fancy articles." Then there was a Strawberry Festival, and a Turkey Supper netted them $17.84. The girls' projects include aprons and pen-wipers as well as fancy work. Their goals include raising money for "rebuiding the chapel" of the Presbyterian Church. ....finished some pen-wipers, " At the back of the book are recorded expenses for ribbons, brass rings, paper, skeins of worsted plaids, canvas, shears, and other items.