Table of Contents

Historical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Separations List

Administrative Information

Description

Subject Headings

Inventory of the South Bristol Farmers' Club Records

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Historical Note

The South Bristol Farmers' Club was organized in 1882 by Franklyn Howland (1843-1907) and was incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1894. Its constitution states that its purpose was to be "the promotion of agriculture and horticulture by frequent meetings for the discussion of these subjects." As the club grew so did its purpose "to associate farmers together for the purpose of improvement in farming knowledge by means of discussions, lectures, and fairs and for social purposes and for the establishment and maintenance of a place for reading room and social meetings." The members would meet twice a month for an entire day. Meetings began with lecture sessions in the morning and afternoon with luncheons being served during the months of January-March and October-December. In the summer, outings were held at a member's farm where one could inspect crops, observe methods of cultivation, etc. Women were allowed to join the club as equals and, in 1887, they held the first Woman's Day where the program was arranged and executed by women. The club was very successful but, by 1950, only met in the summer for social gatherings. Numerous discussions concerned whether to disband the club due to lack of interest in the area. Each time, the members felt that there was suitable support for the group and it wasn't disbanded until 1982, on its one hundredth anniversary.

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Scope and Content Note

Materials in this collection span the years 1887 to 1982 and reflect the activities of the South Bristol Farmers' Club. These records include minutes of meetings of the board, 1893-1917; and of the club, 1894-1982, including by-laws, constitution, and articles of incorporation. Membership records, 1893-1974, are annotated with the dates of deaths of members. Financial records contain pass books for saving accounts, 1902-1951, and bills and receipts, 1942-1970. Other records consist of correspondence, 1940-1967; and a scrapbook, historical sketch, and miscellany, from the years 1887 to 1981.

This collection also contains records for the Dartmouth Farmers' Club, organized in 1869 "to increase interest and knowledge of agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, and kindred subjects of this town and vicinity." These records consist of minutes of meetings of the club for the years 1869-1891 and include a constitution, by-laws, and lists of members.

Arrangement of Collection

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Information for Researchers

Access to Collections

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 74, [sub-group, series, sub-series, folder/volume as appropriate], [item]

Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 United States Code 552a) governs the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction if the document does not infringe the privacy rights of an individual, group, or corporation. These specified conditions of authorized use include:

If the researcher later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the researcher is personally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement and agrees to indemnify the New Bedford Whaling Museum from any legal action as a result of the error. Permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document does not indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from the document without permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded.

Permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, sell, or otherwise distribute the item must be obtained separately in writing from the holder of the original copyright (or if the creator is dead, from his/her heirs) as well as from any individual(s), groups, or corporations whose name, image, recorded words, or private information (e.g. employment information) may be reproduced in the source material. The holder of the original copyright is not necessarily the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for "fair use."

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order is judged in violation of copyright or federal or state privacy law. This institution also places restrictions on the use of cameras, photocopiers, and scanners in the research room.

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Separations List

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Administrative Information

Provenance

Materials in this collection were donated to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by Mrs. William Gallop acting for the South Bristol Farmers' Club on 18 November 1982.

Processing Information

Processed by: Judith Downey, ca. 1982

Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 24 July 2012

Funds for processing this collection were provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Description

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Subject Headings

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