Selections from the Victor Remer Children’s Aid Society Records

The collection consists of selections from the historical records of the Children's Aid Society. The charitable organization was founded in New York City in 1853 to aid, educate, and provide lodging for poor children in the city, and/or to place them in foster homes or with employers outside of the city. The records relate to the Children's Aid Society lodging houses, industrial schools, convalescent homes, health centers, farm schools, and, especially, the emigration programs ("orphan train") which operated during the period 1853-1947. The majority of the unrestricted photographs from the collection have been digitized and are viewable here. In addition, the digital collection includes a diary, 1858-1859, and selections of reports from one of the lodging houses, 1873-1881.