Explore the history of American social reform and social services 

The Social Welfare History Image Portal brings together photographs, pamphlets, artifacts and documents chronicling the history of the nation's response to human need. This history includes the work of volunteer organizations, reform movements, social workers, and government legislation and systems.

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“Open-air” classroom at Moore Street School, 1113 W. Moore Street, Richmond, Va.

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In the early-20th century, Europe and the U.S. saw the rise of “open air” schools intended to create healthy environments to combat tuberculosis using…

Voting Rights and Legal Wrongs. A Commentary on S. 1564, the proposed "Voting Rights Act of 1965..."

VMHC_JK.1861.V82.V6_v1 Voting Rights Legal Wrongs cover rsz.jpg

This booklet was distributed by the Virginia Commission on Constitutional Government (VCCG) in opposition to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The…

Anti-School Busing Protest, February 1972

Help save Freedom anti busing car P_74_11_18n_rsz.jpg

Black and white photograph of a man and a woman in a car during an anti-busing motorcade to Washington, D.C. The car is driving past the U.S. Supreme…