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Records of the Sons of Temperance, Montauk Division

Call Number

MS 618

Date

1847-1871 (bulk 1847-1860), inclusive

Creator

Extent

0.5 Linear feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

The documents in the collection are in English.

Abstract

The Montauk Division was a regional branch, founded in 1844, of the Sons of Temperance, a fraternal order that assisted its members, both in remaining temperate, and as a mutual aid society. The records reflect the practical operation of a nineteenth-century fraternal organization and are composed of meeting minutes, committee reports, bills and receipts, printed circulars, letters, membership applications, inventories, proposed amendments, records of visitations to sick brothers and investigations of brothers.

Historical Note

The Sons of Temperance, a total abstinence society, was founded in New York in 1842. The fraternal order provided assistance for its members, both in remaining temperate, and as a mutual aid society. More broadly, they promoted the societal benefit of abstinence and temperance. The Montauk Division, a regional branch of the Sons of Temperance, was founded in Sag Harbor, in 1844.

In contrast to its immediate predecessor, the Washington Movement, the Sons recruited members from among those already well affected to their cause. Though they refrained from taking public stances on religious and political matters, they did advocate ending the temptation by stopping the production and sale of alcohol.

As a mutual aid society, the Sons of Temperance doled out sickness and disability benefits and allotted money to assist with the burial of fellow brothers and their wives. The attractiveness of its benefits led the organization to operate as a secret society, with stringent rules and a highly restricted membership. Allegations of intemperance and other transgressions were routinely investigated and often led to expulsion from the organization.

Though the Sons of Temperance survived through the Civil War, the Montauk Division ceased operation in 1865, replaced by the Agawam Division in 1867.

Arrangement

The records are divided into series and arranged chronologically.

The records are divided into series and arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

The records offer insight into the practical operation of a nineteenth-century fraternal organization. They cover aspects such as finances, the activities of the local division and wider organization, upkeep of the meeting hall, the management of its membership -- including investigations into allegations of transgressions of the group's rules and visitations, and payments to qualifying members. The records are composed of meeting minutes, committee reports, bills and receipts, printed circulars, letters, membership applications, inventories, proposed amendments, records of visitations to sick brothers and investigations of brothers.

Access Restrictions

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as Records of the Sons of Temperance, Montauk Division, MS 618, The New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Provenance

Purchased by the New-York Historical Society, March 21, 1945.

Collection processed by

Ted O'Reilly

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:47:10 -0400.
Language: Description is in English.

Edition of this Guide

This version was derivedfrom temperance.xml

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024