Public welfare

Memorandum listing major problems with the facilities and services of the Children’s Court of New York County. The building that currently houses the court is inadequate and even though money has been allocated for a new building, the Board of Aldermen has stalled any action. There is one probation officer for 10,000 cases, nineteen have been requested but the Board of Aldermen has not yet acted. The Big Brothers of America have had excellent results with delinquent boys, but it is funded by volunteers and donors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-02

Information about the Fathers and Mothers Club of Boston, including a list of officers and the club’s objectives, among which is the maintenance of a farm to provide outings for ill children. A handwritten note indicates the farm was purchased last May and has hosted groups of ill children.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-17

The Francis Murphy Association describes how it will aid individuals struggling with liquor and their families.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-12

The People’s Institute of Jersey City sets forth its purpose to present important subjects for public discussion to assist in finding solutions. The institution will not be affiliated with any political, social, or religious party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-04

President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan look at each other. In between them are two hearts–“our policies”–with the arrow of “public welfare” through them.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Joseph Harry Cunningham’s cartoon in the Washington Herald did not appear on Valentine’s Day, nor even April Fool’s Day, so it evidently fell in the category then of common discussion. President Roosevelt recently had delivered a long, substantial, and fairly radical special message to Congress. In the paper he outlined an extensive list of policy prescriptions for the last year of his presidency and beyond.

This newsletter lists the events held during the 1907-1908 season by the Neighborhood House, a settlement house in southwest Washington, D.C. The newsletter also includes photographs of past events and lists of trustees, volunteers, and donors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907

A postcard subscription form offers the opportunity of becoming a monthly donor to the “Neighborhood House,” a settlement house in Washington, D.C. The envelope contains the return address of Treasurer John P. Herrmann.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907

The August 1913 edition of The Progressive Bulletin celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Progressive Party’s first national convention. It discusses many of the principles of the Party and includes mention of Theodore Roosevelt’s involvement at the previous year’s convention.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1913-08

David B. “Hill” holds a knife labeled “Spite” and sneaks up behind a woman labeled “National Democratic Party” who is sitting at a table, reading a paper labeled “Wilson Bill.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1894-04-25

Theodore Roosevelt discusses the Republican Party’s 1912 Platform and its position on several topics, including economics, constitutionalism, and public welfare. Item includes several drafts.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-06

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary suggests that Henry Lloyd contact Jacob A. Riis about speaking as he has been engaged in social work and thoroughly knows the poorer sections of cities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-29

Theodore Roosevelt introduces Father John C. York to Oscar S. Straus. York is asking for help on behalf of Miss Travers, the daughter of Francis C. Travers. Travers was head of New York’s St. Vincent de Paul Society. His family is now struggling financially, and Miss Travers wishes to work. Roosevelt commends her to Straus.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-24

The only articles Theodore Roosevelt has written on South America are those in the Outlook. Roosevelt believed in the “human welfare” side of the Progressive platform, but the people as a whole did not support it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-18

Theodore Roosevelt asks Senator Borah if he could offer his assistance by helping a widower and mother of four children in any way possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-13

President Roosevelt writes to Gerald Morgan, expressing how much he enjoyed spending the evening with Morgan’s sister touring several facilities for the homeless and poor. Roosevelt expresses the misery of these individuals’ situations and also bemoans how difficult it would be to rectify the situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-31

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Edward S. Van Zile for his letter and agrees with Van Zile’s sentiment that Tammany Hall represents a more direct, if deeply flawed, type of humanitarianism for the New York City “down-trodden” compared to the “Evening Post mugwump type of reformer.” 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-18

Theodore Roosevelt comments on his belief in the need for social insurance and pensions to avoid poverty for Americans in old age. Roosevelt also states that there must be some kind of pension for widows left with children, as well as some kind of support for deserted wives and children.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-11

President Roosevelt congratulates J. Hall Pleasants on his body’s planned reorganization and admires the work he is doing in Baltimore, Maryland. Roosevelt is passionate about eliminating institutionalism and hopes families will be able to stay together.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-18

President Roosevelt joins with Henry B. F. Macfarland’s committee and all the citizens of Washington, D.C., to recognize the social service that Charles Frederick Weller and Eugenia Winston Weller have performed over the past seven years. Among many other initiatives, the couple worked on committees to prevent consumption, improve housing conditions, and establish playgrounds and summer outings. Their departure is widely regretted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-18

President Roosevelt believes that as the national capital, Washington, D.C., should be a model city in providing solutions for the social problems present in large cities. He thinks Charles Frederick Weller’s study will aid in identifying issues and suggesting solutions. The Homes Commission has been appointed to begin the same work in Washington, D.C. as it conducted in New York. Roosevelt appreciates Weller’s effective use of specific stories in his book instead of the usual, dull statistics. He feels Weller’s book provides a sympathetic understanding of these social problems.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-08