This series comprises minutes and reports for the Sisters' Council of the Mary J. Drexel Home and Philadelphia Motherhouse of Deaconesses (MJDH/PMD). They are from the Sisters' Council first meeting in November 1921 to its last meeting held in December 1962. Minutes from 1921-1954 are handwritten in bound notebooks. Minutes from 1955-1962 are typewritten on loose-leaf pages. Other minutes are from a joint meeting of the sisters' councils from the PMD and the Baltimore Motherhouse of Deaconesses. In addition to council minutes, there are reports from special committees on finance and an early study committee considering the question of discontent among the younger sisters. One folder contains printed copies of the regulations for the sisters' council, as well as a handwritten draft of a portion of the regulations. Initially meetings were held weekly, but then soon switched to monthly. Periodically there are gaps, or "intermissions," as the minute taker refers to them in the minutes. There is no explanation given for these gaps. Meeting minutes typically include a roll of who is present and absent, matters reported on by the directing pastor and the directing sister, actions taken by the council, and updates on sisters who are ill or on leave. The notebook containing minutes from 1921-1954 is in poor condition and has loose pages that are very brittle. These pages should be handled as little as possible.
