Records of the New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor
Collection
Identifier: MSS 3/019
Scope and Contents
Volume of copies of outgoing correspondence, 1844-1861, of Robert Milham Hartley, first Corresponding
Secretary and General Agent of the New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor. Volume
documents organization and first years of relief work of Association. Correspondence concerns funding appeals
and donations; organizational matters; letters on individual charity cases; and statistical reports of diet, fuel use,
employment, and emigration. Extracts of printed reports and newsclippings included. Additional folder of
unbound material also included.
Dates
- 1844 - 1861
Creator
- Hartley, Robert Milham (Person)
Biographical / Historical
The New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor was formed in 1843 and incorporated in
1848. It was a non-sectarian charitable organization, formed to systematize and distribute charity in New York.
Its work was funded solely by voluntary contributions. The Association tried to elevate the moral and physical
condition of impoverished people with no other charitable support, inspire them to self-sufficiency, and relieve
cases of necessity. The Association divided the city into districts and sections; a "Visitor" was assigned to
investigate and report on relief cases in each section. The Association eventually had oversight of a bathhouse,
industrial settlement house, labor bureau, and summer retreat house. In 1939, the New York Association for
Improving the Condition of the Poor merged with the Charity Organization Society of the City of New York to
form the Community Service Society of New York.
Extent
.2 Linear feet (1 volume and 1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- Hartley, Robert Milham (Person)
- New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor (Organization)
- Title
- Records of the New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
215-399-2001
library@collegeofphysicians.org
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
215-399-2001
library@collegeofphysicians.org