Finger Lakes history · regional story
A sewing society wrote the work into its rules
An 1851 newspaper printed a Rochester antislavery society’s constitution, from raising funds to finishing the sewing and keeping supper simple.
Tea, bread and butter, one plain cake and one simple relish. The Rochester antislavery sewing society’s printed rules specified supper closely enough to set a twenty-five-cent fine for breaking the menu. The rule appears near the end of a constitution published in Frederick Douglass’s paper on September 4, 1851. Constitution of the Rochester Female Anti-Slavery Sewing Circle, printed September 4, 1851.
Earlier articles set out the work. Members were to meet every fortnight at half past two and pay a dollar a year. Six directresses would make purchases and cut and prepare the sewing; each member was responsible for finishing whatever she took on. Constitution of the Rochester Female Anti-Slavery Sewing Circle, printed September 4, 1851.
The object was to raise money for antislavery purposes. Fairs and festivals could add to it. The constitution directed funds toward the press, lecturers, relief for people escaping slavery and other antislavery work. Members would elect the committee that made appropriations. Constitution of the Rochester Female Anti-Slavery Sewing Circle, printed September 4, 1851.
Keeping track mattered too. The treasurer was to account for money coming in and going out; the secretary was to record meetings and handle correspondence. Julia Griffiths is listed as secretary, Mrs. S. D. Porter as president. Constitution of the Rochester Female Anti-Slavery Sewing Circle, printed September 4, 1851.
The heading calls the group a Sewing Circle; its first article says Sewing Society. Both names belong to this printed document. The rules give us a close view of the organization its members set down on paper, but not a tally of the work they completed. Constitution of the Rochester Female Anti-Slavery Sewing Circle, printed September 4, 1851.
Sources & research notes
Review status: Developing history. Human editorial review is pending.
Written and source-checked with AI assistance under an owner-authorized editorial process. This is not a personal review by Riley or an independent historian. Sources and unresolved questions are listed below; corrections are welcome.
- What the records establish
- The printed constitution describes fundraising purposes, offices, meeting and membership rules, accounting, sewing responsibilities and supper. Named offices and prescribed duties can be traced to exact articles.
- What remains uncertain
- A constitution does not establish how many meetings occurred, how much was raised, which garments were made, who received aid, or whether anyone paid the supper fine. No claim about a specific Underground Railroad station or unnamed recipient is supported here.
- What we are researching next
- Find manuscript minutes, treasurer’s accounts, correspondence and contemporary reports of particular fairs. Trace members and beneficiaries only through named records, with privacy and community review where required.
Sources
- Constitution of the Rochester Female Anti-Slavery Sewing Circle, printed September 4, 1851 — Rochester Female Anti-Slavery Sewing Society, as named in Article 1; published in Frederick Douglass’ Paper; 1851-09-04. Locator: Printed page 2 / single-page PDF page 1, column 1, complete constitution headed CONSTITUTION OF THE ROCHESTER FEMALE ANTI-SLAVERY SEWING CIRCLE: preamble and Articles 1–8. Printed page 2 / single-page PDF page 1, column 1, constitution Articles 9–15: officer duties, accounts/correspondence, preparing/completing work and supper rule. Printed page 2 / single-page PDF page 1, column 1, officer list following Article 15, including Secretary Julia Griffiths; adjacent column 2 editorial masthead dated ROCHESTER, SEPTEMBER 4, 1851. Accessed October 22, 2026.