philanthropy

Philanthropy and Government Aid

The 19th Century

Early Statehood

Petition of E. Mieling for Relief Due to Damages Incurred by His Wife, 28 August 1854 / Typed Transcription

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Apprentice Indenture, Fayette County, 1860 / Typed Transcription

  • In the mid-19th century, charitable aid societies in New York City sent vagrant and abandoned children to homes in the rural Midwest. Farmers needed cheap labor and, it was reasoned, the children would benefit from the fresh rural environment. Special trains were even run from New York to the Midwest for the purpose of placing the children at each stop. This Apprentice Indenture is for Alfred Lumsden, an eight-year-old charge of the New York Juvenile Asylum. This document is also included on the Children and Family page.
  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The Civil War

Application for Relief, Bureau County, 1862 / Typed Transcription

  • The Civil War brought economic hardship to many who remained at home. With heads of households off at war, wives, children and the elderly often had to turn to their county government for assistance. county boards established relief committees to deal with the problem.
  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Relief Interrogatory, Bureau County, 1864 / Typed Transcription

  • Relief committees would research each case in order to determine merit. This interrogatory summarizes Mrs. Ezra Lathrop’s request for relief, which was denied. The document also notes that work was hard to find for women at this time.
  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Overseer of the Poor Claim, Alexander County, 1866 / Typed Transcription

  • In 1839, counties were given the choice to build almshouses to hold indigents. This record shows the quality of the inmate diet. This list might not have been the entire diet of the inmates since many almshouses had large garden or farms attached to them.
  • *Note that Do. stands for ditto.
  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The Late 19th Century

Sketch of a Proposed Public Bathing House, 17 July 1873

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Petition from the Woman's Christian Association to Remit Water Taxes for their Boarding House, 12 February 1883 / Typed Transcription

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Resolution to Provide for Disabled Policemen, 10 May 1886 / Typed Transcription

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Petition of Catherine Svaneck for Compensation for the Death of her Son, 17 May, 1886 / Typed Transcription

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Communication from the Illinois Woman's Alliance Concerning Bathing Houses, 19 January 1891 / Typed Transcription

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Resolution Requesting the Mayor to Appeal to the People on Behalf of the Workmen at Pullman, 4 June 1894 / Typed Transcription

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Communication from the Commander of G.A.R. Post No. 5 Notifying the City Clerk of the Post's Intention to Undertake the Relief of Indigent Veterans, 8 July 1895 / Typed Transcription

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Ordinance for Relief of the Needy and Suffering Poor, 14 December 1896 / Typed Transcription

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. From the Ashes, 1872-1900 A Selection of Documents from the Proceedings Files of the Chicago City Council. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1990. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The 20th Century

The Great Depression

Letter From the U.S. Secretary of State Requesting Information for the Austrian Government, 13 October 1931

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Letter From the Moweaqua Coal Corporation Concerning Operations, 28 July 1932

  • The Moweaqua Coal Corporation requested financial aid from the state of Illinois. The governor at the time, L. L. Emmerson, suggested contacting the U.S. Reconstruction Finance Corporation to see about qualification for the federal aid application.
  • Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Letter From Concerning Library Service for Illinois Federal Transient Camps, 28 February 1934
  • Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Governor's Statement Concerning an Attack Made on Relief Workers in Chicago, 29 January 1935
  • Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Letter Concerning the Collapse of the Chicago Housing Market, 2 February 1935

  • The Building Recovery Committee of Chicago was organized to help the Federal Housing Administration. They looked for ways to help home owners who were not eligible for the National Housing Act.
  • Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Illinois Emergency Relief Commission Monthly Statistics, April 1935

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Better Illinois Communities Through W.P.A. Projects, 1936

  • Citation: "Better Illinois Communities Through W.P.A. Projects." Illinois: Information Service, Works Progress Administration, 1936.

Letter Requesting Relief for the Daughters of a Civil War Veteran, 18 October 1939

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Hard Times In Illinois: 1930-1940. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2002. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

World War II

Communication from Mrs. Wm. D. Battey Concerning Day-Care

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Post World War II/Cold War Era

Post Cold War