America's female benevolent societies took root in the 1790s. Initially founded on notions of Christian duty and hope of heavenly reward, these groups produced volunteers dedicated to providing aid to unfortunates in general and women and children in particular. Anne Frior Scott explores the history of these aid societies and how they allowed women to influence America's social agenda and make inroads into politics long before they could vote. Scott reveals how women from all corners of society took part; examines their changing role in the midst of tumultuous times and during the rise of the welfare state; assesses the overlooked accomplishment of black women's organizations from the early days of the republic; and looks at the kinds of enduring community institutions women's organizations founded and maintained.

Anne Firor Scott (d. 2019) was a pioneering figure in the field of women's history and a longtime professor at Duke University. Her books include The Southern Lady: From Pedestal to Politics, 1830–1930 and Making the Invisible Woman Visible.

Acknowledgments   xi
Introduction   1

PART 1
The New Republic   7
1. To Cast Our Mite on the Altar of Benevolence: Women Begin to Organize   11
2. To Overleap the Modesty of Nature: The Emergence of Female Activism   37
3. We Are Now Very Busy: Women and War   58

PART 2
A New World - to Some Extent   79
4. Onward Christian Women   85
5. Self-Improvement, Community Improvement   111
6. Inventing "Progressivism": Municipal Housekeeping   141
7. Inventing "Progressivism": Social Justice   159
8. As Organizations They Could Ask and Gain   175

Appendix: The Broad Reach of Municipal Housekeeping   185
Notes   191
Index   231
Illustrations follow page 110.