The Orphan Trains and Their Riders History at a Glance In

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• The Orphan Trains and Their Riders

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History at a Glance

• In 1852, the NY Chief of Police reported that
  10,000 dependent and delinquent children lived in
  the city.
• Childrens Aid Society was formed in 1853
• In 1854, the first group of children were sent to
  Michigan
• The Free Home Placing Out continued until 1929
• Between 1854 and 1929 an estimated 250,000
  orphaned, abandoned, homeless children and poor
  families were placed in homes

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Beginning of the Childrens Aid Society

• Formed by Charles Loring Brace first secretary
  of CAS
• He developed the Placing Out system
• Philosophy of the Society
• Idea of self-help
• Gospel of work
• Importance of education

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Orphanages

• In 1834, the American Female Guardian Society and
  Home for the Friendless was established
• In 1853, the New York Juvenile Asylum was opened
• From 1865 to 1903 the New England Home for Little
  Wonderers in Boston sent children out west
• In 1869 to 1912, the New York Foundling Hospital
  was founded

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Distribution of Children
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Childrens Aid Society Agents

• Western Agents would visit the towns to scout out
  good locations to place children
• They then traveled with the children supervised
  the placing out process.
• They were required to followed up on the children
  at least once a year.
• Two Agents
• Anna Laura Hill mainly brought children
• to Kansas
• Reverend Clark mainly brought children
• to Iowa.

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CAS Advertisement
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Placing Out Process

• A screening committee was formed
• They would usually receive a bath, a new set of
  clothes, and a bible
• Children would travel by train or other means
  with an agent
• The children would go to a town meeting hall or
  other neutral building
• The placing agent would give a talk on the
  procedures and a short sermon

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Placing Out Process (continued)

• The children would line on a stage or platform.
• The interested townspeople would fill out an
  application for the child they wanted
• The children would usually go home with the
  adult(s) for lunch
• They would return and the committee would
  announce who received which child
• Those children not chosen would stay with the
  agent or move on to the next city

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Placement Terms
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Two Orphans Story

• Nellie S. and Nettie M. Crook

Nettie Crook
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Orphan Train Heritage Society of America (OTHSA)

• Founded by Mary Ellen Johnson in Springdale,
  Arkansas in 1986.
• Goals
• Preserving the history of the orphan trains
• Help with research
• Host various seminars and annual meetings
• Publish orphan train riders stories
• Assist teachers and students

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• Consists of the restored Union Pacific Depot and
  the new Morgan-Dowell Research Center
• Contains the archives and artifacts of the orphan
  train riders.
• Will have exhibits and information on display
  about the orphan trains and local railroad
  history.
• Continue to educate the public about the orphan
  trains

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Restored Train Depot
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Questions?