Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum.
Chapin Hall for Children records, 1867-1984
Descriptive
Inventory for the Collection at Chicago History Museum, Research Center
By Jack Whalen, 2013
Please address questions to:
Chicago History Museum, Research Center
1601 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614-6038
Web-site: http://www.chicagohistory.org/Research
© Copyright 2013, Chicago Historical Society,
Clark St. at North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
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Title: Chapin Hall for Children (Chicago, Ill.) records,1867-1984.
Creator: Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum.
Size:
46 linear ft. (68
boxes and 1 pkg.)
1 oversized folder.
1 sound tape.
Restriction: Unprocessed materials and case files
(1977-1984) are closed to researchers.
Restrictions:
For listening purposes, it is
necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a listening copy made if
one is not available).
Provenance: Gift of the Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum (M1967.0662;
M1968.0711).
Terms governing use: Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.
Please cite this collection as: Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum, Chapin Hall for Children (Chicago, Ill.) records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.
This descriptive
inventory contains the following sections:
Biographical/historical note,
Summary description of the collection,
Description of some materials related to this collection,
List of online catalog headings about the collection,
Arrangement of the collection,
List of contents of
the collection.
Biographical/historical
note:
Founded in 1860, the Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum provided day-care services for working mothers and served as a home for orphans and other dependent children for over one hundred years. Its early constitution stated the objectives as the "care and maintenance of poor women's children, enabling the women to find employment; also the care and maintenance of such children as are deprived, by death or other cause, of either parent."
The organization was incorporated in 1865, and in 1869 used
a bequest of $17,000 from Jonathan Burr to secure a more permanent home than
the property it was renting. The new building was incomplete at the time of the
Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but began to house some
children on a long-term basis plus temporarily care for more than fifty
children who had become lost in the confusion of the fire.
Since the 1930s, the
organization was known as Chapin Hall for Children, the name of its new
building (built in 1931) at 2800 West Foster. Over the years, some children who
resided there were adopted and left the orphanage to join new families.
In 1984 a successor
organization became part of the University of Chicago as a research and service
center officially named the Chapin Hall Center for Children. The old Chapin
Hall building at 2800 West Foster was torn down in 1985.
Summary description of the collection:
Correspondence,
minutes of meetings, 1867-1958, admission and dismissal ledgers, financial
records, case files, and other records of the organization, which provided
day-care services for working mothers and served as a temporary shelter for
dependent children and as an orphanage. The Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan
Asylum was known since the 1930s as Chapin Hall for Children (the name of its
building at 2800 West Foster Avenue). The archives include materials on its
100th anniversary celebration in 1960. Also an
oversize folder in the collection contains rules and regulations and a list of
donors (ca. 1950).
A record book of meetings of the early Lady Managers of the Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum, 1868-1871, lists officers elected; number of children accepted, admitted, and left; reports of sick children, hospital cases, deaths; physicians reports; donations and plans for new building; changes in by-laws; and names of children in the asylum.
Some later correspondence,
1946-1954, relates to the Chapin Hall Ridge Farm Preventorium in Lake Forest
(Ill.), an organization seeking to assist dependent children and neglected
children with behavioral problems.
Description of
some material related to the collection:
Related materials at
Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Chapin Hall for Children
photograph collection (1986.0277).
List of online
catalog headings about the collection:
The following
headings for this collection were placed in the online catalog:
Subjects:
Chicago
Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum--Archives.
Chapin Hall for Children
(Chicago, Ill.)
Chapin Hall Ridge Farm
Preventorium (Lake Forest, Ill.)
Day care
centers--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.
Charities--Illinois--Chicago--19th
century.
Charities--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.
Child care services--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.
Child care services--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.
Child care services--Illinois--Lake Forest--20th century.
Day care centers--Illinois--Chicago--19th century.
Day care
centers--Illinois--Chicago--20th century.
Orphanages--Illinois--Chicago--19th
century.
Orphanages--Illinois--Chicago--20th
century.
Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--19th century.
Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century.
Lake Forest (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century.
Form/genre:
Added entries:
Chapin Hall Ridge
Farm Preventorium (Lake Forest, Ill.)
United States--Illinois--Cook
County--Chicago.
Arrangement of the collection:
The collection is
arranged in 5 series:
Series 1. History
and minutes (box 1-10)
Series 2. Admission
and dismissal, etc. records (box 11-15)
Series 3. Reports
(box 15-18)
Series 4. General
operating records (box 19-25 )
Series 5. Financial
records (box 26-44)
Unprocessed and
restricted files.
List of contents of the collection:
Series 1. History and minutes (box 1-10)
1 oversize folder: Rules
and regulations and a list of donors (ca. 1950)
box 1
folders
1 Blumberg history of Chapin Hall &
Ridge Farm, 1865-1911
2 Blumberg history of Chapin Hall &
Ridge Farm, 1916-1965
3 Research materials, 1900-1978
4 Blumberg historical notes
5 Blumberg historical notes, 1980
box 2
folders
1 History, 1860-1977
2 History, 1860-1977
3 Centennial history 1860-1960
4 Centennial, 1960
5 Centennial, 1960
6 Centennial audio tape
box 3
folders
1 Minutes, 1867-1868
2 Minutes, 1868-1871, Lady Managers
volume
3 Minutes, 1871-1874
4 Minutes, 1873-1906
5 Minutes, 1875-1878
6 Minutes, 1880-1883
box 4
folders
1 Minutes, 1878-1880
2 Minutes, 1884-1886
3 Minutes, 1887-1889
4 Minutes, 1890
5 Minutes, 1891-1894
6 Minutes, 1894-1895
7 Minutes, 1896-1897
box 5
folders
1 Minutes, 1898-1899
2 Minutes, 1899-1900
3 Minutes, 1901
4 Minutes, 1902
5 Minutes, 1903
6 Minutes, 1904
7 Minutes, 1905
8 Minutes, 1906
box 6
folders
1 Minutes, 1907
2 Minutes, 1908
3 Minutes, 1909
4 Minutes, 1910
5 Minutes, 1907-1917
box 7
folders
1 Minutes, 1911
2 Minutes, 1911-1915
3 Minutes, 1912
4 Minutes, 1913
5 Minutes, 1914
6 Minutes, 1915
7 Minutes, 1916
box 8
folders
1 Minutes, 1917
2 Minutes, 1918
3 Minutes, 1919
4 Minutes, 1920
5 Minutes, 1921
6 Minutes, 1922
7 Minutes, 1923
box 9
folders
1 Minutes, 1924-1926
2 Minutes, 1927-1929
3 Minutes, 1930-1932
4 Minutes, 1933-1935
5 Minutes, 1936-1938
6 Minutes, 1939-1941
7 Minutes, 1942
8 Minutes, 1943
box 10
folders
1 Minutes, 1944-1945
2 Minutes, 1946-1948
3 Minutes, 1949-1950
4 Minutes, 1951
5 Minutes, 1952
6 Minutes, 1953-1954
7 Minutes, 1955-1956
8 Minutes, 1957-1958
Series 2. Admission and dismissal, etc. records
(box 11-15)
box 11
folders
1 Admissions, 1865-1891
2 Admissions, 1875-1887
3 Admissions, 1888-1889
11-Oversize (?): Relations, 1897-1898
box 12
folders
1 Admissions & dismissals, 1893-1904
2 Admissions & dismissals, 1894-1905
3 Admissions, 1901-1903
4 Admissions, 1903
5 Admissions, 1904-1908
box 13
folders
1 Admissions, 1904-1909
2 Admissions, 1905
3 Admissions, 1909-1916
box 14
folders
1 Matron's diary, 1917
2 Matron's diary, 1918
3 Matron's diary, 1919
4 Matron's diary, 1920
5 Matron's diary, 1923
6 Matron's diary, 1924
7 Matron's diary, 1925
box 15
folders
1 Admitting cards A-L, 1939-1949
2 Admitting cards M-Z, 1939-1949
Series 3. reports (box 15-18)
box 15 - continued
folders:
3 Children, 1941-1982
4 Public welfare, 1946-1950
5 Public welfare, 1951-1953
6 Public welfare, 1954-1955
7 Public welfare, 1956-1958
box 16
folders
1 Annual reports, 1931, 1949-1951, 1980-1981
2 Medical reports, 1930-1944
3 Casework reports, 1934-1938
4 Casework reports, 1939-1941
5 Casework reports, 1942-1943
6 Case committee, 1945-1949
7 Infant Dept., 1933-1936
8 Infirmary, 1935-1942
9 Infirmary, 1943-1949
box 17
folders
1 Secretary's reports, 1934-1949
2 Social service, 1930-1931
3 Social service, 1932-1936
4 Social service, 1937-1944
5 Social service, 1945-1946
6 Social service, 1947
7 Social service, 1948-1949
box 18
folders
1 Statistical reports,
1931-1942; omits 1943
2 Statistical reports, 1944-1950; omits
1947-1948
3 Superintendent's reports, 1937-1939
4 Superintendent's reports, 1940-1941,
1948-1949
Series 4. General operating records (box 19- )
box 19
folders
1 General papers, 1857-1879
2 General papers, 1880-1889
3 General papers, 1890-1899
4 Correspondence, 1900-1908
5 General papers, 1900-1903
6 General papers, 1904-1905
7 General papers, 1906-1914
8 General papers, 1911-1917
box 20
folders
1 General papers, 1918-19
2 General papers, 1920-29
3 Abstract of title, Oct. 18, 1927
4 General papers, 1930-35
5 Study of Chapin Hall, 1935; covering
letter, Aug. 2, 1937
6 General papers, 1936-1947
7 General papers, 1950
box 21
folders
1 General papers, 1951
2 General papers, Jan.-June 1952
3 General papers, July-Dec. 1952
4 General papers, Jan.-May 1953
5 General papers, June-Dec. 1953
6 General papers, 1954-1974
7 General papers, 1980-1984
8 General papers, Undated
box 22
folders
1 Building addition contracts
2 Foster Avenue building fund, 1911-1915
3 Foster Avenue building fund: contributions,
1914-1916?
4 Foster Avenue building fund, Jan.-June
1916
5 Foster Avenue building fund, July Dec.
1916
6 Foster Avenue building fund, 1917
7 Foster Avenue building fund, 1920-1929
8 Contingent bequests, 1924-1928
box 23
folders
1 Boys Cottage building fund, 1929
2 Specifications, 1929
3 Boys Cottage building fund, 1930-1931
4 Blueprints, 1929, 1949
5 Building fund disbursements, 1964-1965
6 Building fund disbursements, 1965, Jan.-Sept.
1966
7 Building fund disbursements, Oct.-Dec.
1966
8 Building fund disbursements, 1967-1972
box 24
folders
1 By-laws, 1952-1982, undated
2 Chicago Association of Commerce, 1933-1939
3 Chicago Association of Commerce, 1940-1949
4 Grove School, 1965-1973
5 Memoranda, 1965-1971
6 Public relations, 1941-1942
7 Public relations, 1964-1984
box 25
folders
1 Visitor register, 1871-1916
2 Visitor register, 1940
3 Winona Avenue, 1965-1976
box 25A (cu. ft.
box)
Newsclippings scrapbook, 1952-1959
Newsclippings scrapbook, 1960-1964
Newsclippings scrapbook, 1965
Series 5. Financial records (box 26-44)
box 26
folders
1 Treasurer's reports, 1873-1892
2 Treasurer's reports, 1893-1899
3 Treasurer's reports, 1901-1902
4 Treasurer's reports, 1903-1904
5 Treasurer's reports, 1905-1909
box 27
folders
1 Treasurer's reports, 1910-1919
2 Treasurer's reports, 1920-1925
3 Treasurer's reports, 1926-1929
4 Treasurer's reports, 1930-1932
5 Auditor's reports, 1925-1931
box 28
folders
1 Treasurer's reports, 1941-1951
2 Treasurer's receipt books, 1948-Mar.
1950
3 Treasurer's receipt books, Mar.-Apr.
1950
4 Treasurer's receipt books, July-Dec.
1950
5 Treasurer's receipt books, Dec.
1950-May 1951
6 Treasurer's receipt books, Apr.-Dec.
1951
7 Treasurer's receipt books, July
1952-Apr. 1953
box 29
1 Auditors reports, 1927; 1930-1934
2 Auditors reports, 1935-1939
3 Budget, 1978-1981
4 Budget work sheets, 1978-1980
5 Treasurer's receipt books, Sept.
1953-July 1955
6 Treasurer's receipt books, April 1953
7 Treasurer's receipt books, May-June
1953
box 30
folders
1 Arthur Young correspondence, 1963-1975
2 Arthur Andersen audit reports, 1932-1936
3 Arthur Andersen audit reports, 1937-1939
4 Arthur Young audit reports, 1941-1943
5 Arthur Young audit reports, 1944-1947
6 Arthur Young audit reports, 1948-1953
7 Arthur Young audit reports, 1954-1957
8 Arthur Young audit reports, 1972, 1973,1977
box 31
folders
1 Endowment fund, 1881-1915
2 Endowment fund, 1917-1920
3 Endowment fund, 1921-1926
4 Endowment fund, 1927-1929
5 Endowment fund, 1930-1932
6 Endowment fund, 1933-1938
7 Endowment fund, 1939
8 Endowment fund, 1940-1954
box 32
folders
1 Permanent fund, 1881-1885
2 Permanent fund, 1890-1899
3 Permanent fund, 1900-1901
4 Permanent fund, 1902-1903
5 Permanent fund, 1904-1908
6 Permanent fund, 1923-1930
7 Permanent fund, 1931
8 Permanent fund, Feb.-June 1933
9 Permanent fund, Aug. 1933-1935
box 33
folders
1 Subscription records, 1868-1875
2 Family expenses, 1875-1881
3 Hospital reforms contributions for beds,
1887-1901
4 Hospital records, 1904-1908
5 Cash received for board, 1895-1900
box 34
folders
1 Cash received for board, 1901-1909
2 Cash received for board, 1916-1922
box 35
folders
1 General ledger, 1889-1891
2 General ledger, 1891-1893
3 General ledger, 1891-1907
4 General ledger, 1894-1898
box 36
folders
1 General ledger, 1908-1911
2 General ledger, 1917-1935
3 General ledger: part 1, 1936-1960
4 General ledger: part 2, 1963-1966
box 37
folders
1 General ledger, 1925-1926
2 General ledger: part 1, 1932-1949
3 General ledger: part 2, 1932-1949
4 General ledger: part 1, 1950-1953
5 General ledger: part 2, 1950-1953
6 General ledger, 1954
7 General ledger, 1956-1958
8 General ledger, 1959-1960
box 38
folders
1 General ledger, 1941-1947
2 General ledger, 1953-1962
3 Bond endowment, 1935-1947
4 Bond endowment, 1950-1960
box 39
folders
1 Cash book, 1899-1904
2 Cash book, 1904-1908
3 Cash book, 1907-1916
4 Cash book, 1908-1911
box 40
folders
1 Cash book, 1907-1925
2 Cash book, 1912-1916
3 Cash book, 1914-1916
4 Cash receipts, 1960-1963
box 41
folders
1 Petty cash, 1950
2 Petty cash, 1950-1951
3 Petty cash, 1951-1952
4 Petty cash, 1952
5 Petty cash, 1955
box 42
folders
1 Cash statements, 1961-1962
2 Contribution acknowledgments, 1964-1966
3 Contribution acknowledgments, 1967-1976
4 Donations, 1957-1964
5 Finance committee, 1960-1962
6 Finance committee, 1962-1973
7 Financial condition report, 1934-1944
box 43
folders
1 Bequests: A-E, 1905-1953
2 Bequests: H-M, 1942-1952
3 Bequests: S-Z, 1940-1952
4 Insurance policies, 1933, 1950, Jan.-June
1961
5 Insurance policies, July-Dec. 1961-1962
6 Insurance policies, 1963-1973
7 Investments: Part 1, 1935
8 Investments: Part 2, 1935-1936
9 Investments: Part 3, 1937-1939
box 44
folders
1 Investments, 1933, 1940-1953
2 Investments, 1962- Jan.-June 1963
3 Investments, Sent Oct. 63, 1964
4 Investments, 1965-1967
5 Monthly financial report, 1966-1969
6 Subscription & donations, 1913-1915
7 Securities, 1891-1906
CLOSED:
11 boxes of case
files, 1977-1984 (stored off-site)
Unprocessed files in
boxes 45-51.