Portuguese Benefit Society of Our Lady of Help [1904-2017]

Portuguese Benefit Society of Our Lady of Help [1904-2017]

1904-2017

This collection includes documents and other related items surrounding the history of the Portuguese Benefit Society of Our Lady of Help, the oldest Portuguese organization in Peabody, Massachusetts and one of the oldest Portuguese organizations in the United States. This collection includes scans of the organization's bylaws, meeting minutes spanning back to the organization's beginnings in 1904, lists of registered members and their membership fees, financial information as recorded by treasurers throughout the years, interactions with Portuguese businesses, records related to the Peabody Portuguese Catholic Mission, medical notes, letters, photographs of Carnaval performances and rancho folclórico groups, pictures of musical and social events hosted in the Hall, and other documentation spanning the history of the Portuguese Benefit Society.

Historical Overview:

The Portuguese Benefit Society of Our Lady of Help was founded on August 15th, 1904 and was recognized by the Massachusetts State Government on May 9th, 1910. Its primary purpose was to pay sick benefits to any members in the United States (or those who recently left the United States), to provide sick benefits to any members who suffer from a chronic illness in any part of the world, and to pay a death premium to any deceased member, no matter where they resided at their passing. The founding members were Antonio Chaves, Domingos S. Conde, Mateus S. Luz, Manuel S. Silva, John S. Sousa, Frank Aguiar. Manuel Matz, Manuel S. Conde, Manuel Aguiar, John S. Mathias, Jose S. Silva, Manuel M. Mello, John Leal and Manuel Sylvester.

Today, the Portuguese Benefit Society remains a focal point of Peabody's Portuguese community. Even 120 years later, the organization continues to uphold its original mission while simultaneously creating a communal gathering space for new and old generations alike to explore and share Portuguese culture and tradition.

Aguiar, Francisco

Amaral, Jose

Amaro, Antonio F.

Barata, Alberto Mendes

Bettencourt, Americano Cunha

Bettencourt, Jose

Bettencourt, Manuel

Central Studios

Chaves, Manuel J.

Cogswell, E. S.

Conde, Domingos Sousa

Conde, Manuel S.

Cunney, John V.

Eiro, Valquerio S.

Espinola, Manuel

Faria, Arnold F.

Ferreira, José S.

Fine Arts Studio

Freitas, Helen M. de

Frutuosa, José

General Studio

George, Antonio H.

Gil, Manuel

Gomes, Augosto Peres

Goodman, Melvin

Jorge, Antonio H.

Kiley, C. T.

Lima, José

Lima, Joseph

Lourenço, Joaquim Diniz

Lurie, Arthur S.

Luz, Matheus S.

Machado, Bartholomeu

Machado, Manuel S.

Marshall, Bartholomeu

Marshall, Manuel

Martin, Mary L.

Mathias, John S.

Mathias, Manuel S.

Mathias, F.

Mello, Manuel P.

Mendonça, Francisco de Souza

Meniz, Manuel

Olin, William M.

O'Neil, A.

Pais, John, Jr.

Pais, Joseph

Paul, William M.

Prata, Joseph

Ramalho, Antonio Baptista

Renzi, Muriel S.

Silva, Antonio

Silva, Antonio Simas

Silva, Eduino P.

Silva, Joseph, Jr.

Silva, Manuel Sousa

Souza, Frank

Tavares, Aureliano Domingos

Walsh, John F.

Weitz, Mark

Winer, Irving M.

Immigrants

Portuguese American women

Fraternal organizations

Fraternal organizations--Finance

Statutes

Dairy products

Trading companies

Grocer

Bakeries

Marching bands

Insurance

Medicine--Practice

Azorean Americans

Life insurance--Disability benefits

Survivors' benefits

Beneficiaries

Dance parties

Tax returns

Folk dancing, Portuguese

Festivals

Dance ensembles

Catholic Church--Dioceses

First Confession and Communion

Priests

Nuns

Fasts and Feasts

Processions, Religious--Catholic Church

Female impersonators

Musicians

Music--Portuguese influences

New Year

Dinners and dining

Peabody (Mass.)

Salem (Mass.)

Providence (R.I.)

Oak Bluffs (Mass.)

Taunton (Mass.)

Cambridge (Mass.)

Lowell (Mass.)

Hudson (Mass.)

Lawrence (Mass.)

Boston (Mass.)

Archives of the Portuguese Benefit Society of Our Lady of Help in Peabody, MA.

Donated from the personal collection of Joseph Silva for the Portuguese Benefit Society Collection.

Donated from the personal collection of Inês Bettencourt for the Portuguese Benefit Society Collection.

Donated from the personal collection of Delminda Veiga for the Portuguese Benefit Society Collection.

Donated from the personal collection of Idalino Espinola for the Portuguese Benefit Society Collection.

UMass Lowell, Center for Lowell History

Bessone, Porfirio

Bettencourt, Americo

Bettencourt, João L.

Bettencourt, Manuel T.

Bettencourt, Sarah

Bettencourt, Louise

Braga, Antonio H.

Carney, Peter F. J.

Chaves, Antonio

Donahue, Mary R.

Eiro, Valquerio S.

Espinola, Zeferino

Faria, Anibal

Freitas, Manuel A.

George, Antonio H.

Gomes, Augusto Peres

Lima, José

Lima, Joseph

Lourenço, Joaquim Diniz

Luz, Mary E.

Machado, Bartholomeu

Machado, Manuel

Machado, Manuel S.

Mello, Antonio

Mello, Christiano C.

Mello, Manuel

Melo, Manuel Maria de

Marshall, Bartholomew

Marshall, John

Martin, Mary E.

Martin, Wilhemina L.

Pacheco, Dioclecis

Parish Council of Our Lady of Fatima Church

Paul, William M.

Raposo, Antonio

Rosa, Emily E.

Silva, Anthony

Silva, Edwin

Silva, Manuel

Silva, Manuel S.

Sousa, John S.

Tavares, Aureliano Domingos

Tavares, Joseph, Jr.

Unhão, Manuel

No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only: This Work has been digitized in a public-private partnership. As part of this partnership, the partners have agreed to limit commercial uses of this digital representation of the Work by third parties. You can, without permission, copy, modify, distribute, display, or perform the Item, for non-commercial uses. For any other permissible uses, please review the terms and conditions of the organization that has made the Item available.

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

JPEG

PDF

TIFF

English

Portuguese

Image

Text