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

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…

Consumer Comix

VCU_Consumer Comix Wisconsin DoJ crop rsz.jpg

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

“V is for Virginia” [broadside]

VMHC_Broadside.1944.4VHS rsz.jpg

In 1944, military leaders struggled to maintain troop levels as casualties mounted in World War II. The Navy Women’s Reserve Act, signed into law in…