History+of+the+Ladies+Industrial+Relief+Society

Original Author: Tammy Braden, ENG299 FL10 Revision Author:
 * History of the Ladies Industrial Relief Society**

The population in what is now known as Davenport, Iowa grew slowly until 1841. Then newspapers provided the city with the advertising it needed to grow. The city grew dramatically within twenty years to a population of 15,000. Immigrants came by land and boat and they lived on the banks of the river until they found a place to live as there was limited housing available (Family Social Services 5). The city was not prepared for this growth and in 1849 Annie Turner Wittenmyer formed the Ladies’ Benevolent Society to assist incoming immigrants in establishing homes within the community (About Us).

In 1862 theLadies’ Benevolent Society changed their name to the Soldiers Relief Society and their focus expanded to provide charitable work to the disabled and needy soldiers and families of the Civil War (Family Social Services 5). According to Mildred Brennan, staff writer for The Daily Times, when there was no longer a need for these services the society changed their focus “to improve the moral, social and spiritual standards of homeless women” (n.pag.).

In 1864 Annie Wittenmyer served as a trustee on the Iowa Sanitation Agency. She assisted in opening an orphanage “for the Iowa children left homeless by the war and the first orphans home was opened in Farmington, Iowa” (About Us). Annie was instrumental in obtaining property and facilities for the Iowa Soldier’s Orphans Home in Davenport, Iowa which opened its doors in 1865 to “more than 150 orphaned children” (About Us).

According to Brennan, in 1869 the Soldiers Relief Society changed their name to the Ladies Christian Association and adopted their first constitution. There were 30 women devoted to the cause. They rented a home on Ripley and Fifth streets to care for homeless women until they were able to take care of themselves. The Ladies Christian Association was unable to come up with the aid needed to maintain the home and on December 1, 1869 the home closed. The association had to sell the furniture to pay for their debts and the association became inactive (Family Social Services 5).

In 1871 the women of the Ladies Christian Association became active again, responding to a need to provide assistance to the families affected by thegreat Chicago fire (Family Social Services 5).According to Brennan, in 1872 the women of the Ladies Christian Association became associated with the Young Men’s Christian Association providing financial assistance to families during the financial panic.

In 1876 theladies separated themselves from their association with the Young Men’s Christian Association and began to operation independently. While working with the Young Men’s Christian Association the women were introduced to a new way of handing their work load. They were assigned to wards and ward managers handled cases. The managers were required to make visits to the families and individuals they were assigned to. Food, clothing and furniture donations were received providing the necessary resources. The managers had the authority to withdraw money from their five dollar monthly association’s treasury. The principles of operation were based on the need to visit the homes of the needy, investigate the reason for the destitution, determine and provide the services that were needed (Family Social Services 5-6). These principals are still in practice today.

In 1878 the ladies opened an Industrial School in honor of Miss Harriet Roger, a member of the Ladies Christian Association. The objective of the school was to teach girls of poor families how to sew and make their own clothes. According to Family Social Services, additional objectives were to “train [the girls] in manners and moral. . . [and] to lead them to see that the peace of labor can also be made a place of delight” (6). The school was a success and eventually a cooking department was added. In 1886 another name change took place that was more appropriate. The name change was based on the scope of work that they performed and by readopting part of the second name they held, Soldiers Relief Society. They were now called Ladies’ Industrial Relief Society. The society worked with other agencies in the city and continued to provide services to the community (Family Social Services 7).

In 1888 the Ladies’ Industrial Relief Society raised money to build a home. Mr. Nicholas Kuhner, a fond supporterwho believed in the society, assisted the ladies in raising the necessary funds. Their fundraising efforts were successful as they doubled the amount they set out to raise (Family Social Services 7). Architect Mr. Edward S Hammat donated his services and drew the plans for the new home. The home, Industrial House, was completed in 1891, and in 1892 the homewas free of debt and officially opened to the public. The home allowed the ladies to expand the services they offered, providing a laundry school anda day nursery (Family Social Services 8). The laundry school provided facilities for women, who did not have such resources allowing them to earn money to support themselves and their families (Family Social Services 9). The home also offered an employment bureau for women with children in need of work. The employment bureau continued until 1943 when there was no longer a need since similar services were being offered by other agencies(Family Social Services 10).

The day nursery was to provide care for the children of the women utilizing the laundry facilities. The day nursery services expanded to care for other children of women in need (Family Social Services 11). In 1895 services were expanded again to care for children on welfare. A summer school was offered to keep children occupied and teachers volunteered their services to the cause. In 1902 the summer school services were discontinued due to difficulty in obtaining the necessary help to maintain the program (Family Social Services 10). The day nursery remained in existence until 1964, when it was closed since the expense of upgrading the facilities could not be justified due to the decline in the need for services.

In 1895 the agency took steps to secure financial stability as financial support was always an issue of concern. The trustees decided to invest the bequest of money received and utilize the interest only to provide support to the programs of the agency. An Endowment Fund was formed which multiplied through the years providing the agency with the ability to use the interest only for their financial needs. The trustees also reached out to the citizens of the community for annual pledge donations. This was the start of the Sustaining Fund. Both the Endowment Fund and the Sustaining Fund provided the majority of the money the agency needed to operate. These funds provided the agency with the confidence they needed for continued financial success(Family Social Services 13-14).

In 1912 when kindergarten classes was established in the public schools, the Industrial Home was expanded to include kindergarten classes for the nursery children who were unable to attend classes in their own school district. Services were offered until 1916 when the school board decided to allow the kindergarteners of the Industrial Home to attend Lincoln school (Family Social Services 11).

The agency was committed to rehabilitating families and helping them become financially thrift. The agency set aside money to loan to those in need in order to prevent families from being victims of loan sharks. They money was loaned, interest free, and the majority of the money was returned in low payments. They also educated children on savings by providing them with penny banks (Family Social Services 11).

In 1913 the Ladies’ Industrial Relief Society was granted, at their request, to expand their facilities. The necessary funds were raised and the project was completed in August 1914 (Family Social Services 10).

In 1922 the scope of childcare work was expanded to include a Juvenile Protective Department. Casework was offered to assist in the care of delinquent children and unmarried mothersandin this process they established a need for foster home care (Family Social Services 12).

In 1928, Miss Alice Whipple oversaw the society during the great depression, focusing on unemployment. Between 1942 and 1945 during World War II there was an increased demand for services. They agency did not have enough case workers to handle the work load. Families were adjusting to the changes with working moms and fatherless children. When the war ended, families continued to readjust as divorces were on the rise and children were used as pawns in the divorce process. The agency learned much from the war years acquiring experience and understanding its impact to those in need (Family Social Services 12).

In 1949, one hundred years after Annie Wittenmyer founded the Ladies’ Benevolent Society the orphanage was renamed the Annie Wittenmyer home in honor of her dedication. While the home closed in 1975 it is “estimated that the home admitted a total of 12,076 youngsters” since it opened its doors in 1865 (About Us).

In 1959 the society changed its function from providing environmental services to an emphasis on family counseling and they changed their name to Family and Children’s Service assisting with family welfare and providing a day nursery for working mothers. They assisted families facing difficulties such as: unmarried mothers, juvenile delinquency and other adjustments in society. According to Brennan, the services that Family and Children’s Services provided “fall into the province of the social welfare work [of] today” (n.pag.).

In a letter to Family Social Services by Gladys Shuford, 1963 was a year of change. A number of individuals retired who were active members of the agency for many years. These individuals contributed to the employment and training of the professional staff. The agency was recognized for their reorganization efforts in providing more professional services. The staff and board were credited with their ability to work together in a confidential manner for the good of the agency. The agencies primary service remained focused on family counseling.

Today the agency is known as Family Resources, Inc. They follow many of the same founding principles focusing on children. They continue to remain committed to providing foster care and adoption services (About Us).

The founding women of theLadies’ Benevolent Society of 1849 established a society that was able to withstand the test of time. While their name changed frequently through the years they remained focused on providing assistance to those in need and changed their commitment as needed to ensure they meet the needs of the community. Through the financial panic, depression and war, they remained committed to the cause and remained financially solvent. These founding women can be credited for the success and endurance of the agency through the years for establishing solid principles that are still utilized by state and federal agencies.

“About Us.” //Family Resources Inc.// Suffronfusion, 2010. Web. 1 Oct. 2010. [] Brennan, Mildred. “Old Friend Is Given New Name.” //The Daily Times// 11 Feb. 1959: n.pag. Print. Family Social Service, Ladies Industrial Relief Society. //The First Hundred Years 1849-1949.// Davenport: Ladies Industrial Relief Society, 1949. Print. Rathmann, Elaine. “These Sturdy Pioneers are the Ancestors of our Present Ladies’ Industrial Relief Society.” //Scott Co, Iowa USGENWEB Project//. Celtic Cousins, 2001. 28 Sep. 2010. [] Shuford, Gladys W. Letter to the President of Family and Children’s Services of Davenport, Mrs. Johnshort. 6 Dec. 1963. TS. Shuford, Gladys W. Report of Study of Family and Children’s Service. 9-12 June 1965. TS.
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