H. M. Tracy Cutler to Richard Yates

Dwight Dec. 28th 1864

His Excellency Gov. Yates:

Sir when I had the honor to call on you in Springfield a short time since, I mentioned that I was in contemplation to organize a society having for its object the establishment of industrial homes. The present influx of Refugees and Contrabands seems to demand something of this nature, in order to save many from degrading pauperism and almost inevitable vice.

You were so kind as to remark that you would be glad to [notice?] any thing of the kind in your forthcoming

message and I therefore enclose to your address the Constitution and Resolutions adopted by the patriotic ladies assembled at Chicago during the Freedmen's Fair which has just closed.

We hope the ideas embodied, may meet with general approbation and acceptance, and that a class of charities being demanded by the misfortunes of the poor, will soon spring up at the touch of beneficent legislation, fostered by Christian Charity.

With sentiments

of high esteem

I remain truly

Your obedient servt

Mrs. H. M. Tracy Cutler

Cutler Mrs. H. M. T.

Dwight Dec. 31/64

As you told her you would like to speak of the project for organizing an Industrial Home in your message, she sends you their constitutions and resolutions passed at the Freedmen's Fair.

Industrial Homes.

Organization of a Society to Make Provision for the Destitute - The Committee.

A meeting of ladies was held at Bryan Hall on Monday, a.m., at 9 o'clock, according to previous notice, to form an association for the organization of a National Industrial Home. Mrs. H. Tracey Cutler was appointed President, and Miss Eliza Cherrie, Secretary.

The Committee, to whom was assigned the drafting of resolutions and constitution, submitted the following which were approved and adopted:

Whereas, In the present organization of society, and especially since the great rebellion has culminated in most desolating war, multitudes of helpless women and children, as well as aged and infirm men, have been thrown upon the charity of the public, and

Whereas, Charity, when it provides only the measure of relief that for the passing hour saves the individual from starvation, and leaves the sufferer still dependent, often tends to the encouragements of indolence, and leads directly to degredation, and

Whereas, Labor is God's appointed means of comfort for the human race, and the source of all temporal prosperity, we who desire to aid, most wisely and effectively all who need aid, agree to organize ourselves into an association for the promotion of this object.

Art. 1. This Society shall be known as the National Industrial Association.

Art. 2. The officers of this Association shall be a President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and a Board of Directors, to be elected annually, at such time and place as the President and Board of Directors shall designate.

Art. 3. The object of this Association shall be, by all proper methods, to seek to organize industrial homes, where all destitute persons can be received and employed in such a manner as to prevent degrading pauperism; where orphan children can be cared for, and the aged and helpless shall not be turned away; where the widow may go with her children and find shelter, and at the same time the means of giving them an industrial education that shall fit them for all the duties of good citizens. From these homes, good help should be furnished for those requiring labor, thus putting the laborer in communication with the employer, without the indolence and waste of time connected with ordinary intelligence offices, and to which they can return when their term of service expires, without being left to the temptations which beset the unemployed.

Art. 4. The duties of the President, Vice Presidents and Secretaries shall be such as usually pertain to similar offices. The Board of Directors, presided over by the President, shall seek to organize State Associations, auxiliary to the National Association, and these shall seek for other auxiliary organizations, whereby the masses of the people shall be interested in becoming partakers in this benificent work. They shall also have power to arrange homes as soon as means can be procured for the commencement of their work. They shall also memorialize our State Legislature and Executive to make such appropriation, for the purposes above specified, as their wisdom shall see fit. Congress should be applied to in behalf of the Territories and the District of Columbia, inasmuch as the first duty of a State or nation is to look after the interests of those whose projectors have fallen into the national service.

Art. 5. Any lady may become an annual member and entitled to vote at any meeting, by the payment of one dollar, or a life member on the payment of $25.

Any gentleman may become an honorary member, and may attend the meetings and advise with the members, on payment of $5 annually, or a life member by the payment of $25.

Art. 6. This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any annual meeting, provided that notice to that effect shall be given, through the Secretary, one month in advance of such meeting.

The following resolutions were then adopted:

Resolved, That the safety and future prosperity of our nation depends, not only upon the success of our national armies, but upon the intelligence and virtue of our people, who shall know how to convert victory into a blessing, even to our enemies.

Resolved, That the ignorance and poverty that is fleeing from the desolation of war and finding a temporary asylum in our great cities, will not only add greatly to our pecuniary burthens, but will involve an alarming increase of vice and degradation, especially among unemployed women and children; that therefore it becomes us as patriotic women to seek out the best methods of relieving present suffering, without encouraging vagrancy and fostering crime.

Resolved, That to accomplish this, it is needful first to provide homes, and then to furnish employment, either in these homes or by finding avocations among our citizens; and that for these objects we deem such an organization as this now

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contemplated a necessary step in the progress of our nation.

Resolved, In view of these considerations, that we earnestly invite the hearty co-operation of all lovers of humanity, and especially of all patriots, who are zealous of the true prosperity and glory of our beloved land.

MRS. H. TRACEY CUTLER, Pres't.

MISS ELIZA CHERRIE, Secretary.

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