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

The Case Against the Red Light

M 9 Box 54 Case Against the Red Light cover crop rsz .jpg

Venereal disease bulletin, no. 54. Public health pamphlet arguing that prostitution spreads venereal disease and cannot be "segregated, licensed, and…

Neighborhood House Boy's Basketball Team, 1926 - 1927

Beth Ahabah_NCJW Collection_Neighborhood House Boys Basketball Team  1926-1927 rsz.jpg

Photograph of boy's basketball team from Neighborhood House, Richmond, VA. Nine young men and their coach are shown with a trophy and basketball on…

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…