The Woman's Friend Society was formed in 1876 "with the intention of extending sympathy and help to girls and women of any nationality and of any class,. . . and by that sympathy and help to inspire and encourage habits of industry and self-reliance."

Fact: Only a small minority of abused children ever come to the attention of public authorities; few of them are ever separated from their parents, for many good and sound reasons.

In 1879 Jenny Emmerton and her father Captain John Bertram donated Emmerton House, an historic brick mansion on the present Hawthorne Boulevard in Salem, as a home for women and girls who were students and working. In 1884 the Society was incorporated.

Today, the Society is a small charity, with 120 members. It still provides living quarters at Emmerton House to 18 working women students, ranging in age from 20-somethings to 70-something; and it continues its tradition of philanthropy to various women's charities, through donations of dollars, handmade goods, and volunteer services.

The Woman's Friend Society seeks new members, especially younger women, as well as donations for deferred maintenance of Emmerton House.