Lexington Orphan Society records

Abstract

The Lexington Orphan Society records (dated 1833-2000; 3.32 cubic feet; 6 boxes) comprise operating records, philanthropic documents, incorporation documents, correspondence, newspaper articles, residency documents, photographic portraits, a painting, and assorted documents that document the Lexington Orphan Society and their work with children in Lexington, Kentucky.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Lexington Orphan Society records
Date
1833-2000, undated (inclusive)
Extent
3.32 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Orphanages -- Kentucky -- Lexington.
Charitable organizations -- Kentucky.
Women in charitable work.
Children
Philanthropists.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by subject.
Finding Aid Author
Ellen Dukes
Preferred Citation
2006ms011: [identification of item], Lexington Orphan Society records, 1833-2001, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
The Lexington Orphan Society was founded during the cholera epidemic of the 1830s in Kentucky. Originally named the Lexington Orphan Asylum, the organization first opened its doors to destite and unprotected children in 1833. The Orphan Society functioned first as an orphanage and was the second oldest of its kind in the United States. Run by an all female management, the Society cared for as many as 35 children at any time. The first officers included Mrs. Benjamin Gratz, Mrs. David Sayre, Mrs. Lewis Richardson, Mrs. Sarah Mard, and many others. The orphans were first housed in an old church on Mill Street, then shortly the asylum moved to a house on West Third Street. In 1907, Mary Todd Lincoln's childhood home, Parker Place, was purchased for use by the Society. Without fail, the Society has met the first Tuesday of every month since its conception. The Society transformed from orphanage to strictly charitable organization in 1971 where it continues to destribute funds to needy children of Lexington and Fayette County. The Lexington Orphan Society remains the oldest running charitable organization in Lexington today.
Scope and Content
The Lexington Orphan Society records (dated 1833-2000; 3.32 cubic feet; 6 boxes) comprise operating records, philanthropic documents, incorporation documents, correspondence, newspaper articles, residency documents, photographic portraits, a painting, and assorted documents that document the Lexington Orphan Society and their work with children in Lexington, Kentucky. Notable members of the society documented by the records include Mrs. Benjamin Gratz, Mrs. David Sayre, Mrs. Lewis Richardson, Mrs. Sarah Mard, Mrs. Lucy S. Crump, Mrs. Katie Lee, C.C. Strout, Mrs. George R. Hunt, James C. Thomas, Mrs. Sam B. Marks, and Deshanna Baker. The bulk of the collection consists of operating records, including eleven minute books documenting the society's monthly meetings from 1895-1998. Additionally, the records also contain three visiting books, the charter of the Orphan Asylum, incorporation documents, financial documents, and a small amount of correspondence concerning charitable donations. Also includes residency documents concerning Parker Place, childhood home of Mary Todd Lincoln, bought and used by the Lexington Orphan Society in 1976. The collection also contains several photographs relating to their previous property on Short Street as well as a photograph album of a program Camp Okahawhena in 1983.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The identification of anyone residing at the orphanage as a result of consulting these records is prohibited until the year 2075. These materials may not be photocopied, microfilmed, digitized, or reproduced in any way by anyone except by official representatives of the Lexington Orphan Society until that year.
Before use of the collection researchers must fill in and sign an access request form. Contact the Special Collections Research Services desk for further information and to obtain a copy of the form.
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.

Contents of the Collection

Operating records, 1895-1998, undated

Minute book, 1895 May-1902 July

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Minute book, 1902 August-1909 December

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Minute book, 1910 January-1923 December

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Minute book, 1924 January-1936 January

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Minute book, 1936 February-1945 November

  • Box 1, folder 5
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Minute book, 1946 January-1957 December

  • Box 2, folder 1
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Minute notebooks, 1965 September-1969 December

  • Box 2, folder 2
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Minute book, 1970 January-1971 May

  • Box 2, folder 3
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Minute book, 1971 June-1973 December

  • Box 2, folder 4
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Minute book, 1974 February-1982 June

  • Box 2, folder 5
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Minute book, 1982 October-1998 December

  • Box 3, folder 1
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Visiting book, 1896-1905

  • Box 3, folder 2
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Visiting book, 1905-1915

  • Box 3, folder 3
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Visiting book, 1970-1971

  • Box 3, folder 4
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Records book, undated

  • Box 4, folder 1
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Book of inventories, 1922-1925

  • Box 4, folder 3
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Monthly meeting report and representative notices, 1907 April 23

  • Box 4, folder 2
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Annual meeting pamphlet, 1834

  • Box 4, folder 5
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Annual reports, 1892, 1912

  • Box 4, folder 6
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Meeting minutes, 1979

  • Box 4, folder 7
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Board minutes, 1990

  • Box 4, folder 8
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Monthly meeting attendance, 1993-1996

  • Box 4, folder 9
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Special meeting minutes shorthand, 1998 December 4

  • Box 4, folder 10
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Assorted meeting notes, undated

  • Box 5, folder 33
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Incorporation documents, 1834-1835, 1924, 1972

Act to incorporate, 1834 January 24

  • Box 4, folder 11
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Orphan Asylum Charter, list of initial members, and their donations, 1835 October

  • Box 6, folder 5
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Members of the board list, 1924

  • Box 4, folder 12
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Correspondence and amended articles of incorporation, 1972

  • Box 4, folder 13
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Expenses and philanthropic documents, 1980-2000

BankOne notebook, 2000

  • Box 4, folder 4
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List of loaned furnishings, 1980 November 4

  • Box 4, folder 14
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Assorted expenses and income logs, 1980-1988

  • Box 4, folder 15
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Donation charts, 1985-1993

  • Box 4, folder 16
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Non-profit cororation statement of change, 1988 February 4

  • Box 4, folder 17
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Salvation army playground proposal and timeline, 1999

  • Box 4, folder 18
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Newspaper articles, 1969-2000

Newspaper clipping on Katy Lee retirement, 1969 October 5

  • Box 4, folder 19
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Lexington Herald-Leader article on Orphan Society history, 1971 February 4

  • Box 4, folder 20
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Lexington Herald-Leader article on donation to Boys Ranch, 1974 December 12

  • Box 4, folder 21
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Newspaper clippings on Orphan Society, 1984

  • Box 4, folder 22
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Lexington Herald-Leader article on Lucy Crump, 1998 January 11

  • Box 4, folder 23
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Lexington Herald-Leader article on Virginia Brewers Sanders, 2000 April 2

  • Box 4, folder 24
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History of the organization, 1930, undated

Articles on history of Orphan Society, undated

  • Box 4, folder 25
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Historical outlines, undated

  • Box 4, folder 26
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Historical article, 1930

  • Box 4, folder 27
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Correspondence, 1933-2000, undated

Fayette County Children's Bureau letter to Mrs. George R. Hunt, 1933 April 20

  • Box 5, folder 1
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C.C. Strout letters with Orphan Society and A.W. Fortune, 1842 February 23-March 4

  • Box 5, folder 2
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Mrs. Katie Lee letters to Orphan Society, 1943-1944

  • Box 5, folder 3
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Tax exemption letters, 1941, 1960

  • Box 5, folder 4
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Letter of appraisal Orphan Society on 511 Short St., 1970 June 30

  • Box 5, folder 5
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Investments Security Trust Co. letters, 1948, 1969

  • Box 5, folder 6
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Incorporation letters, 1972 July 17

  • Box 5, folder 7
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IRS letters, 1973-1979

  • Box 5, folder 8
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Orphan Society letter to Judge Joe Johnson, 1966 April 28

  • Box 5, folder 9
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Louise L. Black letter to Mrs. Sam B. Marks about endowment, 1973 September 26

  • Box 5, folder 10
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Katherine Burdette letter to Lucy S. Crump, 1984 January 2

  • Box 5, folder 11
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Deshanna Baker letter to Orphan Society, 1988 March 7

  • Box 5, folder 12
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James C. Thomas leter to Ms. Lucy S. Crump, 1988 July 1

  • Box 5, folder 13
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Center for Woman, Children, and Families letter to Orphan Society, 1999 November 1

  • Box 5, folder 14
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Shop with a Cop receipt and letter, 1999

  • Box 5, folder 15
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Lexington Hearing and Speech Center letter to Orphan Society, 1999 October 12

  • Box 5, folder 16
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Lexington Women's Health Club letter to Orphan Society, 2000 April 8

  • Box 5, folder 17
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Living Arts and Science Center letter to Orphan Society, undated

  • Box 5, folder 18
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Orphan Society letter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baker, undated

  • Box 5, folder 20
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Residency documents, 1833-1999, undated

Third Street photographs, 1833-1907

  • Box 5, folder 21
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Architectural Review correspondence, minutes, bylaws, and photographs, 1976

  • Box 5, folder 22
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Invitation and newspaper article on opening of Parker Place, 1976 April 24

  • Box 5, folder 23
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Parker Place NCAA news release, 1984 October 24

  • Box 5, folder 24
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Parker Place newspaper articles, 1973-1985

  • Box 5, folder 25
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Parker Place purchase and lease documents, 1984-1999

  • Box 5, folder 26
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Parker Place maintenance letters, 1991 March 1-6

  • Box 5, folder 27
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Parker Place photos, postcards, and negatives, undated

  • Box 5, folder 28
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Parker Place history and design article, undated

  • Box 5, folder 29
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Handwritten draft Parker Place article, undated

  • Box 5, folder 30
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Copies of passage from "Lincoln and his Wife's Hometown", undated

  • Box 5, folder 31
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Assorted documents, 1952-2000, undated

Ranck's History of Lexington, pg 326, undated

  • Box 5, folder 34
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Thank you note from Brewer family, undated

  • Box 5, folder 35
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Resolutions, undated

  • Box 5, folder 36
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Harrison Elementary plaque to Orphan Society, 1999-2000

  • Box 5, folder 38
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Harrison Elementary thank you letters and playground construction timeline, 2000

  • Box 5, folder 39
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License from Kentucky Department of Child Welfare, 1969 August 22

  • Box 5, folder 40
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Certification of Appreciation from Bluegrass Association for Mental Retardation, 1973 July 27

  • Box 5, folder 41
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Photocopy of letter to Maria Gitz-Gratz from Henry Clay, 1835 October 10

  • Box 5, folder 42
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Fayette County Court judgments, 1971 September 16

  • Box 5, folder 43
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Certificate of social insurance award, 1952 September 15

  • Box 5, folder 44
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List of names and ages, undated

  • Box 5, folder 45
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Photographs and portraits, 1983, undated

Unlabeled photographs, undated

  • Box 5, folder 32
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Photograph album Camp Okawhena, 1983

  • Box 5, folder 37
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Photographic portrait of Mrs. Buim, undated

  • Box 5, folder 46
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Photographic portrait of Mrs. Patsy Parker, undated

  • Box 6, folder 1
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Photographic portrait of an unidentified woman, undated

  • Box 6, folder 2
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Photographic portrait of Mrs. David Sayre, undated

  • Box 6, folder 3
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Photographic portrait of Mrs. Ephraim Sayre, undated

  • Box 6, folder 4
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Painting of Elizabeth Hay Brand Macalester-Woodward, undated

  • Box 6, folder 6
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.