The single volume of detailed minutes of the meetings provides a record of the discussions held and opinions expressed by members. Resolutions passed comprise a substantial part of the minutes. The 1835 constitution and annual reports also are included in the notebook.

The dates covered by the volume are 1835 to 1857.

Received from the Oberlin College Library, July 14, 1978 [The Record Book of the Oberlin Female Moral Reform Society was probably part of the Cowles papers]. The book’s inscription reads: “Given by his daughter, Cornelia M. Johnson, in the name of her grandmother, Cornelia E. Johnson, whose name appears as Secretary in these records—and in the name of the Aelioian Society—to the Union Library Association. July 1896 Edward C. Johnson, Oberlin, Ohio.”

Received from the Oberlin College Library, July 14, 1978 [The Record Book of the Oberlin Female Moral Reform Society was probably part of the Cowles papers]. The book’s inscription reads: “Given by his daughter, Cornelia M. Johnson, in the name of her grandmother, Cornelia E. Johnson, whose name appears as Secretary in these records—and in the name of the Aelioian Society—to the Union Library Association. July 1896 Edward C. Johnson, Oberlin, Ohio.”

For additional information in the Oberlin College archives see the papers of Robert S. Fletcher, 30/24. See also the papers of Charles G. Finney contained in record group 2, in which can be found some of the correspondence and papers of his three wives. All three of Finney's wives were active in various women's organizations in Oberlin. Lydia, and after Lydia's death, Elizabeth, reported on the religious state of communities through their correspondence. All three led the Maternal Association, the Infant School, and the Oberlin Female Moral Reform Society. Lydia was involved in the formation of five organizations, including the Ohio Ladies Anti-Slavery Society.
Additionally, a portion of the volume in this collection was transcribed as part of Professor
of History Carol Lasser’s course History 266: Women and Social Movements in Antebellum America. These include Document 6A, 1840 Annual Report, and 6B 1855 Annual Report, and may be accessed at the site of Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1775-2000: http://womhist.binghamton.edu/oberlin/doclist.htm
The records of Westwood Cemetery, Oberlin, Ohio contained in Westwood: A Historical and Interpretive view of Oberlin’s cemetery, Oberlin, Ohio. , published by O.H.I.O., 1997 contains brief entries on Elizabeth Ford Atkinson Finney (1799-1863) and Lydia Root Andrews Finney (1804-1847). These records may be accessed on-line at:
www.cc.oberlin.edu/~EOG/westwood/westwood.pdf
Additionally the Special Collections of Oberlin College contains several books and periodicals published by Female Moral Reform Societies.