African American children

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.

Pictorial Envelope: 1 envelope; 3 x 5 1/2 in. African-American boy clings to the leg of General Butler. Butler extends his sword to fend-off slave owner with whip and dog. Beige envelope with red and blue ink. Image on left. Printed below image: 'One of the F. F. V's after his Contraband. / General Butler 'can't see it.' Printed vertically at left of image: 'D. Murphy's Son, Print. 65 Fulton & 372 Pearl Sts. N. Y.'

Pictorial Envelope: 1 envelope; 3 x 5 1/2 in. African-American boy clings to the leg of General Butler. Butler extends his sword to fend-off slave owner with whip and dog. Beige envelope with red and blue ink. Image on left. Printed below image: 'One of the F. F. V's after his Contraband. / General Butler 'can't see it.' Printed vertically at left of image: 'D. Murphy's Son, Print. 65 Fulton & 372 Pearl Sts. N. Y.'

Pictorial Envelope: 1 envelope; 3 x 5 1/2 in. African-American boy looking at large sign seeking funds for the Confederate States of America. White envelope with black ink. Image on left. Printed below image: 'HOYT.'

The collection contains 403 photographic negatives produced circa 1920-1980 (bulk 1920-1950) by commercial photographers on behalf of The Boys' Club of New York ("BCNY"). The majority depict young BCNY members engaged in a variety of activities, either at the club's Tompkins Square Building (later renamed Harriman Clubhouse) or at the William Carey Camp in Jamesport, New York. Many of the photographs were published in annual reports, where they served to promote the organization's work.

The New-York Historical Society holds important collections relating to Black history, slavery in the United States, and the Atlantic slave trade. Dating from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, they constitute a rich archive of primary source materials that will be of value to anyone researching the history of African Americans, slavery, the slave trade, emancipation, and the abolitionist movement.