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

[Working Woman. Fred O. Seibel editorial cartoon, 1922]

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Editorial cartoon created by Fred O. Seibel in 1922, and published in The Knickerbocker Press. Mounted and identified as no. 1503.Image Description: A…

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…

Story of the Boston Nursery for Blind Babies

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This pamphlet provides a brief history of the Boston Nursery for Blind Babies. The pamphlet is accompanied with photographs displaying the nursery…