"The Suffolk Humane Society was formed in 1806 after the pattern of the Royal Humane Society of London, its purpose being to reward those who saved their fellows from drowning and those who resuscitated people who had apparently died. It took on additional duties the following year when it undertook financing and administration of the Lowestoft lifeboat Frances Ann...This pioneering lifesaving organisation continued to operate the lifeboats at Lowestoft and Pakefield, in spite of a sometimes chronic lack of financial support, until it handed over the tow stations and their boats to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1873; it was not finally wound up until 1892. The documents presented here detail its activities and finances; they are accompanied by an introduction and elucidatory notes" -- Publisher's description.