ORPHAN ADOPTION HELP
This page was created with he idea helping researchers track down whatever clues they can find in searching this field. Names of Orphanages address changes census info aides Archivists etc. Contributions to this page are always accepted. Please E-MAIL Nancy
| BROOKLYN DAILY UNION NEWSPAPER |
Listed the following Agencies operating in July 1876
The Local Charities
Homeopathic Hospital: Cumberland street, near Myrtle avenue.
Homeopathic Maternity, 46 & 48 Concord st.
Long Island College Hospital, Henry st., corner of Pacific st.
Orphan Asylum(Protestant), Atlantic near Brooklyn ave.
Inebriates' Home, near Fort Hamilton.
Home for Friendless Women & Children, 20 Concord st.
Helping Hand, Atlantic, corner of Grand ave.
Children's Aid Society Lodging House, 61 Poplar st & 139 Van Brunt st.
Female Employment Society, 93 Court st.
Industrial School Association, 141 S. Third st, Eastern District.
Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, 108 Livingston st.
Society for the Relief of Respectable Aged Indigent Females, 320 & 322 Washington st.
Sheltering Arms(Protestant)Episcopal), Third ave, corner of Atlantic ave.
Home for Idiotic, Feeble-minded, Paralytic & Deformed Children & Adults, Tompkins ave, corner Madison. |
| DIRECTORY: ADOPTION AGENCIES, ORPANAGES & MATERNIY HOMES 1980 |
Guild of the Infant Savior c.1976: This maternity home closed at which time the address given is actually that of the New York Catholic Center (an office building): 1011 First AvE. Manhattan 10022. 1966: The Guild of the Infant Savior 225 E. 52nd St.. Manhattan, 10022 Catholic Maternity Home for unwed mothers; childbirths occur at six hospitals; psychological testing is by Catholic Charities. 1965 to 1962: Guild of the Infant Saviour 225 E. 52nd St nonsectarian maternity home for 22 unwed mothers. 1954 to 1935: Same name and address; for Catholic mothers and their babies from the 10 counties in the Archdiocese of New York; under the division of Protective care of Catholic Charities; established in 1901. 1922: Same name, 105 E 22nd St. Manhattan; " co-operates with maternity and foundling hospitals, obtains shelter for destitute mothers and children for destitute mothers and children; places children for adoption or board in Catholic families or institutions" 1916: Same name, same address |
| DIRECTORY: ADOPTION AGENCIES, ORPANAGES & MATERNIY HOMES 1980 |
Home for Friendless Females or Children was in part of the section on WOODYCREST-FIVE POINTS CHILD CARE also known as GREER-WOODYCREST CHILDREN'S SERVICES. However, they were under Protestant auspices and not Catholic Charities. They had 12 Industrial Schools throughout the city and camps in Rockland County. They did mention one school in the Bronx, no address given. There is quite a bit of information over they years written about Woodycrest. Below is what is stated in the Directory for the first few years and then I skipped to what it is today. I am aware of several Jewish Orphans who were in residence, so possibly there were children also placed there by Catholic Charities. NOTE: See the following for a person rememberence: WOODYCREST REMEMBERENCE 1896: (1)The Home for the Friendless, Established in 1849 32 E. 30th St. Home School 29 E. 29th St., (2)Unverified Citation for the Five Points House of Industry. Note: "Five Points" is the name of a neighborhood in Manhattan at the intersection of Baxter, Worth and Cross Streets. *****There is a web site all about the Five Points Neighborhood at http://r2.gsa.gov/fivept/fphome.htm 1900: American Female Guardian Society and Home for the Friendless, 29 E. 29th St., and E. 30th, Manhattan; plus added entry at "Home for the Friendless". 1904 Census: The Five Points House of Industry, in Manhattan; for children and unemployed women. 1905 State Census: (1) American Female Guardian Society, in NY County; enumerated in the 35th AD, 37th ED (2) Five Points House of Industry, in NY County; enumerated in the 2nd AD, 20th ED. 1909: American Female Guardian Society and Home for the Friendless, 936 Woodycrest Ave. adoptive placements into Chiristian families; cares for destitute children; operates 12 industrial schools and a summer home in Oceanport, NJ ... [perhaps akin to 1905: Woodycrest, no address, in Tarrytown, NY; a summer home for children from various institutions in NYC; during the winter it serves cripple children]. WOODYCREST-FIVE POINTS CHILD CARE a/k/a GREER-WOODYCREST CHILDREN'S SERVICES ...last known address in 1977, 106 E. 25th St. New York, NY 10016. However, in 1998 I received an email from someone else looking for information from this orphanage and she told me her mail to this address was returned. My directory only goes up to 1980. But I just did a search on the Internet and came up with the following address which I believe is from 1996. Can't hurt to either write or telephone them for information. GREER WOODYCREST CHILDREN'S SERVICE PRI DIRECTOR 110 Pomona Rd Pomona, N.Y. 10970 (914) 354-0200 From this site, you will find the following: http://www.familysearch.org/sg/New_York.html |
| ORPHAN TRAIN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF AMERICA |
The mission of the National Orphan Train Complex: To collect, preserve, interpret, and disseminate knowledge about the orphan trains, and the children and agents who rode them. The museum’s collections, exhibitions, programming and research will engage riders, researchers, and the general public and create an awareness of the Orphan Train Movement National Orphan Train Complex 300 Washington St. P.O. Box 322 Concordia, KS 66901 Phone: 785-243-4471 orphantraindepot@gmail.com http://www.orphantraindepot.com/ From about 1854, some 100,000 homeless children from New York City were placed out to families in upstate New York and the midwestern states. They are frequently referred to as the orphan train children. New York agencies that have records are: NEW YORK CHILDREN'S AIDE SOCIETY This society was organized in 1853. Adoption and Foster Home Division 150 East 45th Street New York, NY 10017 Telephone: 212-949-4800 Fax: 212-682-8016=20 NEW YORK FOUNDLING HOSPITAL (Catholic) This society was organized in 1869 and began placing out children in 1873. 590 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10011 Telephone: 212-633-9300 Fax: 212-886-4048=20 Orphan Train riders were sent from New York City to western families for adoption. The largest groups came from the New York Foundling Hospital, and from the Children's Aid Society. The following books abstract several censuses taken by the federal and state government at these institutions. Author: Inskeep, Carolee R. Title: The Children's Aid Society of New York: An Index to the Federal, State, and Local Census Records of Its Lodging Houses (1855-1925). Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1996. (FHL book 974.71 J3i; computer number 773504.) Includes 1855, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (police census), 1900, 1905, 1910, 1915, 1920, and 1925 censuses. Author: Inskeep, Carolee R. The New York Foundling Hospital: Title: An Index to Its Fede=ral, State and Local Census Records (1870-1925). Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield, 1995. (FHL book 974.71 J48i; computer number 770095.) Includes 1870, 1880, 1890 (police census), 1900, 1905, 1910, 1915, 1920, and 1925 censuses. Alphabetical list of children, sisters, and workers. Catholic Charities is also known now as "HEARTSHARE HUMAN SERVICES" You can write to either of them at: Catholic Charities 191 Jorelemon Street Brooklyn New York Telephone number is 718-722-6000. Orphan's Home and Asylum 0pened in 1851. According to Reg Niles Directory, "Adoption Agencies, Orphanages and Maternity Homes" published in 1980 the following is written: ORPHANS' HOME AND ASYLUM OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1947: Recently moved to 463 Hawthorne Ave., Yonkers, NY [By 1954, it had been absorbed by the Leake and Watts Children's Home in Yonkers] 1946: ORPHAN HOME and ASYLUM OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH in New York 168 Convent Ave. Manhattan. Incorporated: 1859. Congregate care for dependent children age 6+; Summer home in Beacon, NY 1940 to 1935: Same name and address; for orphans and half orphans, age 5-10; Summer Home in Beacon. 1933 Census: Same name, no address; 57 dependent white children. 1925: Orphans' Home and Asylum of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 168 Convent Ave; 110 beds; Established in 1851. 1923 Census: Same name, no address in Manhattan; for white children; under the auspices of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 1921: Same name, 168 Convent Ave., at W 135th St; for American Protestant orphans, age 3 to 8; Summer home in Beacon. 1916: The ORPHAN ASYLUM and HOME OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Convent Ave. and W. 135th St. 1900: ORPHAN ASYLUM IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (Protestant Episcopal Church), no address. According to the Directory, "Adoption Agencies, Orphanages and Maternity Homes", by Reg Niles, The following link you can view the directory: http://www.hnoh.com/ published in 1980 the following information is given: SPEEDWELL Services for Children closed in 1976 and its work carried on by: Sheltering Arms 3 West 29th St. Manhattan 1001 and 200-08 Murdoch Ave. Saint Albans, Queens, 11423; Adoptions, foster placing, and residential care for children, including dependent, handicapped problem and convalescing children; Founded in 1902. In 1979, according to the Directory, "Orphanages, Materity Homes and Adoption Agencies LEAKE and WATTS CHILDREN'S HOME was located at 463 Hawthorne Ave. Yonkers, NY 10705. Residential care for children and adoptions, under private auspices. Established in 1831 in New York City, it was founded by Congressman John Watts (1749-1836). In 1876, the Leake and Watts Orphan Home was located at 9th Ave., and 11th Street New York City. |
| HEBREW NATIONAL ORPHAN HOME ALUMNI |
including JEWISH ORPHANAGES IN THE UNITED STATES Marge Spears-Soloff Orlando, FL HNOHalumni@aol.com Web site: HNOH Welcome-Jewish Orphanages in the US http://www.hnoh.com/ |
| Roman Catholic Records. Brooklyn-Queens-Manhattan 1994 |
Queensborough Library Ridgewood Historical Society. Listing Churches, school, ophanges, when they bagan, closed and absorbed. It states that ALL of the following records can be found at the adddress : SISTERS OF ST DOMINIC Dominican Orphan Home "The Orphan Home" Graham St., Bklyn, N.Y. 1863-1943 Records are in the Archives : Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse 55 Albany Ave. Amityville, N.Y. 11701 Phone # in 1994 is 516-842-6000 Ext 312 Including : SORROWFUL MOTHER HOME Harrison Place, Bklyn 1890-1942 QUEEN OF ROSARY CONVENT Amityville, LI.NY 1876 (Boys) 1906(girls) NAZARETHIAN TRADE SCHOOL Farmingdale 1900 ST. ROSE INDUSTRIAL HOME Melville 1906 |
| CENSUS |
New York 1880 Soundex St.PATRICK MALE ORPHAN ASYLUM Fifth Ave Vol 63 ED 576 St.PATRICK FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM Vol 47 ED 61 1855 New York State Census FHC (Family History Center) film # 1018665 1855 Ward 22 E D 3rd 13 July 1855 NEW YORK ORPHAN ASYLUM 6 pages 1870 Census Info. NYC ORPHAN ASYLUM Series: M593 Roll: 1003 Page: 388 1870 Census - New York, New York - 19 WD 11 ED Sisters of Charity - Orphan Asylum 1900 census. The GERMAN EVANGELICAL and AID SOCIETY EDs 524-525, which are on roll 1067. "The NEW YORK CITY NURSERY of POOR and DESTITUTE CHILDREN" E.D. 936, pages 1-25, identified as "Randall's Island Asylum and Schools." The district also includes the Infant Hospital, pages 26-32, and the House of Refuge, on pages 33-49. 1910 Census ED for the St. JOSEPH ORPHAN ASYLUM was E D 285 . The inmates as they were called are listed by last name boys and girls in alphabetical order St. JOSEPH'S ORPHAN'S HOME for GIRLS Queens is on Roll T624-1064 page 265 St. Joseph's Orpahanage St Joseph's Services For Children and Families 540 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217 Attn: Legal Dept. Ms. Michelle Billups Legal Caseworker I would recommend contact with: Mr. John Martino via: www.italiangen.org |
SHELTERING ARMS CHILDREN'S SERVICE (NY, NY) RECORDS
Please NOTE: Since the records are restricted, all requests for information have to go through Sheltering Arms itself. Web page with contact information: http://www.sacs-nyc.org/sacs_contact.php A description of the above records in RLIN [Research Libraries Information Network]. There are 21 oversized vols and 136 cartons of records at: Rutgers University Libraries in New Brunswick, NJ, and include records from 1851-1966, such as foster homes, annual reports, publications, and many records from smaller agencies swallowed up by Sheltering Arms over the decades. The RLIN ID number is DCLV88-A1438. The records were acquired in 1969, access is restricted, and there is an inventory in the repository. |
| GERRITY SOCIETY |
The correct name of the organization is the Gerry Society. It later became known as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. It is a children's advocacy organization formed in NYC by Elbridge Gerry in December 1874. They currently have offices at 161 William St., New York City. Joe Gleason is the archivist and they have an extensive collection of records on children they represented. This is only for Manhattan. There may be another one in Brooklyn. |
| SISTERS of ST. DOMINIC |
Most Holy Trinity on Graham Avenue in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. This was a German parish. The orphanage was administrated by the Sister of St. Dominic. They also had other orphanages under their direction. One that I know of was Most Sorrowful Mother on Harrison Street also in the Williamburg section. |
| ANGEL GUARDIAN HOME |
is still in business. Angel Guardian Home 6301 12th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219 718-232-1500 |
| St. JOHN'S HOME FOR BOYS & ST. JOSEPH'S FEMALE ORPHANAGE |
Two of the homes that destitute families used to care for their children.
The children may indeed have been orphans ... or simply their families could not care for them.
These homes are no longer at their long time locations.
The old St John's Home was at
992 St. Marks Ave, and St Joseph's was nearby.
Here are the addresses to be used to contact the archivists for these facilities.
For St. Joseph's - which ceased operations in 2003,
the contact is:
Sister Rita King
Archivist, Mt. St. Vincent on Hudson
6301 Riverdale Av
Bronx, NY 10471-9930
For St. John's, the contact is:
Marie Bacalles, Record, Dept.
St. John's Residence and School
144 Beach 111th Street
Rockaway Park, NY 11694-2592
NOTE: Sept. 2004.
{....For St. John's, the contact is:
Marie Bacalles, Record, Dept.
St. John's Residence and School
144 Beach 111th Street
Rockaway Park, NY 11694-2592 ...}
Regarding the above: Marie Bacalles retired in June, 2004.
Requests for records are now to be sent to :
Rita Tortorelli,
Human Resources Dept.
St. John's Residence and School
144 Beach 111th Street
Rockaway Park, NY
11694-2592
I am Rita Tortorelli and I was told by Marie Bacalles to refer them to a
Ms. Barbara Crowley on Joralemon Street in Brooklyn.
Requesters, Use Ms Barbara Crowley
ST. JOHN'S HOME - R.C. ORPHAN ASYLUM SOCIETY - 1900 CENSUS
A Square - Albany, St. Mark's & Gray Avenues and Prospect Place
Series T623 - Roll 1062 - Page 23B
24th Ward - ED 420 - Sheet #1A thru 12A
Stamped # rt. top 238A
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