SA Series 922 AV

              State Archives Series 922 AV
Ohio Division of Charities
Ohio children’s homes
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
State Archives Record Series
SA 922 AV
OHIO DIVISION OF CHARITIES
Ohio children’s homes
OVERVIEW OF THE SERIES
Series Number: Series 922 AV
Creating Agency: Ohio Division of Charities
Series Title: Ohio children’s homes
Dates of Series: Ca. 1900 - 1910
Media: Photographs
Quantity: 0.25 cubic feet
Location: Ohio Historical Center
AGENCY BACKGROUND
In 1866, the Ohio General Assembly, in response to a dramatic increase of homeless
children following the Civil War, authorized boards of county commissioners to construct
orphans asylums or other facilities as funds would permit. Previously, overseers of the
poor and trustees of poor houses cared for indigent children. The legislature gave the
commissioners the power to levy a tax for the construction of children’s homes in 1866.
The 1866 legislation also established a board of trustees for such homes that consisted
of five members appointed by the board of county commissioners. The trustees could
hire superintendents to administer homes. Adjoining counties could establish district
homes. Children's homes accepted children who were orphaned, abandoned,
neglected, inadequately provided for by the parents or placed in the home by the
juvenile court. The trustees became the Child Welfare Board in 1946. The Juvenile
Court judge replaced one of the five appointed members. This board could provide
foster home care for children and hire an executive secretary, who was often the
superintendent of the home, to administer child welfare programs. In 1969 the board
became the Children’s Services Board. Since that time the Board has often closed
children's homes with the approval of boards of county commissioners and the State
Department of Welfare. The Children’s Services Board now provides for unfortunate
children through public and private service agencies and foster homes.
FUNCTIONS OF THE RECORD SERIES
Documents the facilities, staff and the care provided to children who were residents of
early children’s homes in Ohio.