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.

Featured Items

Errand Boys, Child Labor Street Permit #254 [pinback button]

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Child labor street permit. This pinback button for an errand boy was issued in 1929. Variant state seal with armored Virtus and mountains in the…

Equal Suffrage League of Richmond, Va., February, 1915

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Equal Suffrage League of Richmond, Va. in front of Washington Monument, Capitol Square, Richmond. The members of the ESL were promoting the suffrage…

Consumer Comix

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This educational comic book was a project of the Wisconsin Department of Justice, funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity, Washington, D.C.The…