Annual Reports of the Ladies’ Association of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (1852-1862)

Annual Reports of the Ladies’ Association of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (1852-1862)

1852-1862

Ladies’ Association of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul

This digital collection consists of a series of eleven annual reports of the Ladies’ Association of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul attached to the Metropolitan Parish of Dublin and instituted for the Spiritual and Temporal Relief of the Sick Poor. Published from 1852-1862, the reports describe the association’s mission, organisation, finances, events, challenges, and triumphs. The reports provide statistics regarding membership numbers, and the administration of the organisation. Several case studies or testimonies are provided in the reports, detailing the visitation of the Sick Poor. The reports include financial statements of donations, subscriptions and expenditures of the association, and list benefactors. The first report includes an account of the origins and describes the introduction of the association of St. Vincent de Paul into Ireland, and the introduction of the Ladies’ Association of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul to the Dublin Metropolis. According to Jacinta Prunty (1999, 56-57), Margaret Aylward is considered to be the main author of these reports. The reports are valuable little-known primary sources for the study of charity networks, poor relief, childcare, and education in nineteenth-century Ireland.

On behalf of the Sisters of the Holy Faith Congregational Archives, this collection was digitised and curated by Helena La Pina (2020).

References
Prunty, J. (1999) Margaret Aylward, 1810-89: Lady of Charity, Sister of Faith, Four Courts Press Ltd.