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

Members of the Virginia League of Women Voters, January 1923, Alexandria, Va.

VCU_M 9 Box 242 LWV Convention Alexandria 1923 rsz.jpg

Members of the Virginia League of Women Voters meeting in Alexandria, Virginia on February 3, 1923.Identification from back of photo Left to…

Partners! [editorial cartoon by William Kemp Starrett]

VCU_NC 1300_C37  v3 n4 p238 Partners WK Starrett Knickerbocker rsz.jpg

Editorial cartoon by William Kemp Starrett published in The Knickerbocker Press. Image Description: An anthropomorphized can of Impure Milk shakes…

Chores of Modern Health Crusaders

U Minnesota_SWHA_Chores of Modern Health Crusaders Nat Rec Assn B3 F PRAA BOD May 1924 rsz.jpg

Poster depicting the eleven Chores of Modern Health Crusaders. These eleven health chores set out the essentials of tuberculosis prevention and…