Children's Aid Society Donation Receipt and Circular -- 1888
- [New York, New York]: Children's Aid Society, 1888
[New York, New York]: Children's Aid Society , 1888. Near-fine. Minor toning and letter folds.. Printed donation receipt and circular with valuable information about the Children's Aid Society in New York, including: a list of "Industrial Schools Open to all Children who cannot attend the Public Schools"; a list of Lodging Houses and other related work placements for children, including a flower mission, laundry, "Brush Factory for Crippled Boys", and "Cottage for Crippled Girls"; information about clothing and provisions furnished to the children; the address of the "Western Emigration Office"; and a lengthy list of statistics, including such valuable figures as how many meals were served in the past year (275,283), how many girls were taught to use the sewing machine (226), and the total number of children under charge of the Society in one form or another (35,287). The donation form below has been filled out in early ink manuscript, thanking J.H. Coghill for his donation of twenty dollars to the Children's Aid Society "to place a child in a home". Measures 11.5" by 6.25". The Childrens Aid Society, established in 1857 and incorporated on 22 Sept. 1865, was the second children's aid society in the U.S. Like its predecessor, the New York Childrens Aid Society, it emphasized placing dependent children in foster homes, but like the Cleveland Orphanages, it also sheltered them. It initially organized to support the Cleveland Industrial School. In 1876, when the city closed the Cleveland Industrial School, the Children's Aid Society modified its focus to house the children who formerly resided at the school, using the schools facility at 10427 Detroit Rd.In 1876, Rev. William Sampson served as superintendent and chaplain for over 19 years, travelling thousands of miles, placing children and visiting them to confirm the quality of their care. Between July 7, 1876, and December 31, 1893, the society received and cared for 2,109 children.