| Description | A small sequence of records, mainly comprising minutes of the Home Organisation Committee, 1896-1957, the Home and Depot Committee, 1884-1957, and the Girls Auxiliary, 1931-1952. Also including papers and correspondence relating to key events in the Society's calendar, papers relating to Cromwell House chapel and a few photographs. |
| Administrative History | When the Society was founded supporters were appointed for areas throughout the country as Association Secretaries to be responsible for arousing interest in and support for the Society in Great Britain. A Central Association Secretary had her office at headquarters and was in charge of co-ordinating the work of the Association Secretaries. She was Secretary to the Home Organisation Committee (set up in 1896 and called Funds and Home Organisation Committee 1896-1898). Her title was changed to Home Organisation Secretary in 1908, and the Association Secretaries became, less confusingly, Organising Secretaries. They were to represent the Society in their area, to speak on its behalf and to arrange deputation work for returning missionaries and others. There were also Deanery Secretaries. Both these reported to the Home Organisation Secretary. She also kept in touch with the Clerical District Secretaries, clergymen who by sermons were able to gain access to parishes which would not accept a woman speaker.
The Secretary was head of the Home Organisation Department (including the Exhibitions section) and supervised the Girls' Auxiliary. She was also responsible for the management and organisation of the annual and farewell meetings. |