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

Wages of Saleswomen: What the United States Government Says and What the Consumers' League Knows

M 86 Box 1 Wages of Saleswomen p1 rsz.jpg

This pamphlet by the Consumers' League is an analysis of the 1907-1910 Bureau of Labor report on the condition of woman and child wage earners in the…

National League of Women Voters convention badges

M9 Box 230 National League of Women Voter Convention badges rsz.jpg

Convention badges for the National League of Women Voters Annual conventions. Fifth Annual Convention, April 24 - 29, 1924, Buffalo, NY Eighth Annual…

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…