Primary Published Sources
In order of publication
The published records of charitable societies generally consist of Annual Reports, Constitutions and Rules, and official histories. These primary sources are widely scattered, often in the collections of local libraries or universities.
Thomas Bacon, A sermon preached at the parish church of St. Peter's in Talbot County, Maryland on Sunday the 14th of October 1750, for the benefit of a charity working school to be set up in the said parish for the maintenance and education of orphans and other poor chidlren and Negroes. (London: J. Oliver, 1751)
Rules of the Fellowship Society, established at Charles-Town, South-Carolina April 4, 1762 (Charles-Town: Charles Crouch, 1769)
The constitutional and additional rules of the South-Carolina Society (Charles-Town: Peter Timothy, 1770)
Rules of the Fellowship Society, established at Charles-Town, South-Carolina April 4, 1762 (Charles-Town: Robert Wells, 1774)
Rules of the Society for the Relief of the Widows and Orphans of the clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of South Carolina, established October 17, 1787 (Charleston: A. Timothy, 1788)
Rules of the German Friendly Society (Charleston 1789)
Rules of the incorporated South-Carolina Society (Charleston: Markland & M'Iver, 1795)
Rules and Orders of the Baltimore Benevolent Society (Baltimore: Samuel Sower, 1796)
A plan of the Female Humane Association Charity School (Baltimore, 1800, broadside)
A Brief Account of the Female Humane Association (Baltimore: Warner & Hanna, 1803).
Rules of the Charleston Carpenters Society. (Charleston: Gabriel Bouetheau No3 Broad St, 1805)
Rules and Regulations of the Richmond Female Humane Society. Richmond: n.p., c. 1807.
Constitution of the Baltimore Female Association for the Relief of Distressed Objects (Baltimore, 1808)
Constitution of the Washington Society of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1810)
An address to the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the city and county of Baltimore (Baltimore: Joseph Robinson, 1811)
Constitution of the Hibernian Society (Charleston, 1812)
Joseph Lancaster, The British system of education: being a complete epitome of the improvements and inventions practiced, to which is added, a report of the trusees of the Lancaster School at Georgetown. (Georgetown, DC, 1812)
Francis Scott Key, An oration delivered by Francis S. Key before the Washington Society of Alexandria (Alexandria, 1814)
Constitution of the Society for the relief of the poor of the Methodist Episcopal church of the city and precincts of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1815)
First annual report of the managers of the Benevolent Society of the Parish of St. Andrews (Shepherd's-Town, Va.: John N. Snider, 1817)
The fundamental rule and regulation of the Lancastrian institution within this city (Richmond, 1817)
Constitution of the Female Bible and charitable society of Nashville. (n.p., 1817?)
Isaac Parker Cook, Early history of Methodist Sabbath schools in Baltimore city and vicinity (Baltimore, 1817)
Constitution of the Handelian Charitable Society (Baltimore: J. Robinson, 1817)
By-Laws of the Trustees and Rules for the Government of the Poor-House of Baltimore County. (Baltimore: P. & R.W.Edes, 1818).
An Account of the Origin and Progress of the Savannah Free School Society. (New York, 1819)
A warning to the citizens of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1821)
First Annual Report of the Richmond Bethel Union Society in Virginia Evangelical & Literary Magazine 5 (1822), 277-80
Views of the Society for the prevention of pauperism in the city of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1822)
To the citizens of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1822)
Constitution of the Ladies Society of Columbia (Columbia, 1823)
Constitution and Bye-laws of the United Beneficial Society of Baltimore (Baltimore: E J Matchett, 1823)
Revised Constitution and By-Laws of the Raleigh Female Benevolent Society adopted July 23rd 1823. With reports of the society from its commencement. (Raleigh: J. Gales & Son, 1823) available online
John S. Ravenscroft, A Sermon delivered on the anniversary of the Female Benevolent Society, Raleigh, on Sunday the 25th July 1824 (Raleigh, 1824)
The constitution of the St. Andrew's Society of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1825)
Constitution of the Society for the relief of the indigent sick (Baltimore, 1825)
Constitution and Bye-Laws of the Petersburg Benevolent Mechanics Association (Petersburg, Va., 1825)
Constitution of the Methodist Preachers' Aid Society of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1827)
Report of the Trustees of the Alms-House for Baltimore city and county, 1827 (Baltimore, 1827)
General Plan of education appointed for the South Carolina Society's Male Academy, July 1827 (Charleston, 1827)
2nd Annual Report of the Charleston Female Seaman's Friend Society (Charleston, 1828)
Annual Report of the Charleston Bethel Union Society (Charleston 1824-6, 1828)
1st Report of the Charleston Infant School Society (Charleston, 1829)
Annual Report of the Charleston Port Society (Charleston 1824-29)
Report and Proceedings on the subject of a House of Refuge. (Baltimore: Benjamin Edes, 1830).
Thomas House Taylor, An address delivered before the Charleston Infant School Society (Charleston: J.S.Burges, 1831).
Henry L. Pinckney, An oration delivered at the Cathedral of St. Finbar before the St. Patrick Benevolent Society and the Irish Volunteers, on the 17th March 1832. (Charleston: A. E. Miller, 1832)
First annual report of the Orphan Asylum and Female Free School of Alexandria (Washington: U.S. House of Representatives Documents, No. 65, January 25, 1833)
Rules and Regulations of the Female Benevolent Society of Columbia, January 20, 1824 (Columbia: Christian Herald, 1834)
1st Annual Meeting of the Orphan Society of Lexington (Lexington: T.T & W.D. Skillman, 1834)
Henry Laurens Pinckney, Address delivered before the Methodist Benevolent Society, July 1835. (Charleston: E.J.Van Brunt, 1835).
Joshua W. Toomer, Oration at the first centennial celebration of the South Carolina Society, 1837. (Charleston: A.E.Miller, 1837)
A. G. Magrath, An oration delivered at the Cathedral of St. Finbar before the Hibernian Society, the St. Patrick Benevolent Society and the Irish Volunteers, on the 17th March 1837. (Charleston: Eccles, 1837)
Constitution and Rules adopted in 1827, revised 1838. (Charleston: The Society, 1838).
Annual Report of the Board of Administrators of the Charity Hospital (New Orleans: The Board, 1839)
Rules of the Society for the Relief of the Widows and Orphans of the clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of South Carolina (Charleston: A. E. Miller, 1841)
Second Annual Report of the Dorcas Benevolent Society of West Balitmore Station, March 1842. (Baltimore: Richard J. Matchett, 1842)
Rules of the South Carolina Society (Charleston: A. E. Miller, 1842)
Constitution and By-Laws of the Female Humane Association of the City of Richmond (Richmond: Shephard & Colin 1843)
Rules and Regulations of the Brown Fellowship Society (Charleston, 1844)
Constitution and By-laws of the Nashville Protestant Orphan Asylum founded Feb 1st, 1845 (Nashville: W F Bang & Co, 1845)
Second Report of the Board of Visitors of the Natchez Institute (Natchez 1846)
Report of the Trustees of Memphis Hospital (Memphis: B R M'Kennie, 1847)
Constitution and By-laws of the Richmond Men's Orphan Society incorporated in 1847 (np, nd)
Report of the Trustees of Memphis Hospital (Memphis: W F Bang & Co, 1849)
Fourth Report of the Directors of the Baltimore Manual Labor School for Indigent Boys (Baltimore 1849)
Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the Savannah Port Society. (Savannah: Edward J. Purse, 1849)
Rules of the Society for the Relief of Elderly and Disabled Ministers, and of Widows and Orphans of the Clergy of the Independent or Congregational Crurch, in the City of Charleston.: To which are prefixed the acts of incorporation ; adopted 1835. (Charleston : W. Riley, 1849)
The plan and objects of the proposed institution to be called the Church Home with fundamental rues for its management and government (Charleston: Miller and Brown, 1850)
Thomas John Young, Church Home: Services, Addresses at the Opening of the Church Home April 15, 1851 (Charleston: A.F. Miller, 1851)
William B. Yates, An historical sketch of the rise and progress of religious and moral improvements among seamen, with a history of the Port Society of Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston: A. J. Burke, 1851)
The Baltimore Humane Impartial Society and Aged Women's Home: Acts of Incorporation and By-Laws of the society and rules for the government of the Aged Women's home (Baltimore: James Young, 1851)
Report of the Trustees of Memphis Hospital (Memphis: W F Bang & Co, 1851)
Annual Report of the Society for the Relief of Destitute Females and their Helpless Children (New Orleans: Office of the Picayune, 1852)
Constitution of the Ladies Benevolent Society of Charleston and Regulations for the Visiting Committee (Charleston: A E Miller, 1852)
Annual report of the Humane Impartial Society of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1852)
Annual report of the Humane Impartial Society of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1853)
Act of Incorporation and Constitution of the Society for the Relief of the Poor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Baltimore City Station. (Baltimore: John W. Woods, 1853)
Annual report of the Humane Impartial Society of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1854)
Annual Report of the Board of Visitors of the Natchez Institute (Natchez 1854)
Constitution of the Society for the Relief of Disabled Clergymen in Journal of the Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church (Mobile: Benjamin, Farrow & Co, 1854)
Tenth Report of the Directors of the Baltimore Manual Labor School for Indigent Boys (Baltimore 1855)
The Proceedings of the 66th Anniversary of the Orphan House of Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston, 1855)
Annual Report of the Managers of the Ladies' Benevolent Society (New Orleans, Sherman, Wharton & Co, 1855)
The Sermon and Reports at the fifth anniversary celebration of the Church Home (Charleston: A. E. Miller 1855)
The Sermon and Reports at the sixth anniversary celebration of the Church Home (Charleston: A. E. Miller 1856)
The Third Annual Report of the Orphans Home, Corner of Constance and Fourth Streets, Fourth District (New Orleans, Daily Delta Steam Press Print, 1856).
Annual report of the Humane Impartial Society of Baltimore (Baltimore 1856)
By laws of the Robertson Association (Nashville, 1856)
Constitution of the Robertson Association of the City of Nashville Feb 13, 1856 (Nashville: W F Bang, 1856)
Memorial of the Board of Commissioners of the House of Refuge (New Orleans, 1857)
Second Annual Report of the Union Protestant Infirmary of the City of Baltimore (Baltimore: Steam Press of W.M.Innes, 1857).
First Report of the Industrial School of Baltimore for Half-Orphan Boys (Baltimore: J.P. Des Forges, 1857)
The second annual report of the rector and managers of the Church Home. (Baltimore: Joseph Robinson, 1857).
Fortieth Annual and First Printed Report of the Poydras Female Asylum, together with the Medical Report of B. Stille, M.D. (New Orleans, Clark and Brisbin, 1857). (Available online at New Orleans Public Library )
First Annual Report of the Ladies Auxiliary Christian Association (Charleston: James & Williams, 1858)
Constitution of the Charleston Mechanic Society (Charleston: James & Williams, 1858).
Annual report of the Humane Impartial Society of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1859)
R.F.W. Allston, Address before the members and pupils of the Winyah Indigo Society delivered in Georgetown on the 5th of May, 1854 (their 99th anniversary) by the President. (Charleston: Walker, Evans & Co, 1859)
Minutes of the Union Society (Savannah, 1860)
Rules of the Society for the Relief of Elderly and Disabled Ministers and of the widows and orphans of the clergy of the Independent or Congregational Church, in the state of South Carolina, as revised and adopted on the 31st of May, 1860. (Charleston, S.C.: Steam power presses of Evans & Cogswell, 1860)
The past history and present condition of the institution of St. Paul's Parish, originally incorporated under the title of the Benevolent Society of the City and County of Baltimore (Baltimore, 1860)
Constitution and First Annual Report for the Protestant Orphan Asylum Society of Mobile. (Mobile: Farrow & Dennet, 1860)
Act of incorporation and by-laws of the Steamboat Captains' Union Benevolent Association of New Orleans.(New Orleans : Bulletin Book and Job Office, 1860.)
Forty Fourth Annual Report of the Poydras Female Asylum for the Relief of Widows and Orphans (New Orleans: Published at the Office of the True Witness and Sentinel, 1861).
By laws for the commissioners of the Orphan House (Charleston, 1861)
Constitution and by-laws of the society for the relief of the indigent sick (Baltimore: J. F. Wiley, 1869).
Rules of the Winyaw Indigo Society with a short history of the society (Charleston: Walker, Evans & Cogswell, 1874)
Constitution and By-Laws of the Colored People's Union Benevolent Society No. 1 of Lexington (Lexington: William Purnell, 1877)
Constitution and by-laws of the New England Society, of Charleston, S.C. Founded January 6, 1819. (Charleston, S.C., E. Perry & Co., 1885)
The Savannah Benevolent Association (Savannah : The Morning News Print, 1896)
The Saint George's Society of Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston: Walker, Evans & Cogswell, 1898)
J. H. Easterby, The rules of the South Carolina Society established at Charleston in the said province Sept 1, 1737 (Charleston, 1937)
Act of Incorporation and By-laws of the Hibernian Society of Baltimore (Baltimore: E. John Schmitz & Sons, 1960)
Susan L King, ed, The History and Records of the Charleston Orphan House, 1790-1860 (Easley, SC, Southern Historical Press, 1984)