Chicago Woman's Aid records, 1903-1988

  • IdentificationMSCWA_68
  • TitleChicago Woman's Aid records MSCWA_68
  • PublisherSpecial Collections
  • LanguageEnglish
  • RepositorySpecial Collections
  • Physical Description24.0 Linear feet
  • Date1903-1988
  • AbstractThe Young Ladies Aid Society, organized in 1882, was incorporated by the State of Illinois in 1895 and renamed the Chicago Woman's Aid. The collection contains correspondence, reports, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, minutes, and photographs dating from 1903 to 1988.
  • OriginationChicago Woman's Aid.

Old Resource ID was CWA

The Young Ladies Aid Society, organized in 1882, was incorporated by the State of Illinois in 1895 and renamed the Chicago Woman's Aid. The founding members adopted the motto, "She lightened the burden of life to others" from the novel Romola. This motto guided them in establishing programs of civic, philanthropic, literary, educational, and social welfare nature.

To develop these programs more fully, the executive officers created the Civics and Philanthropy Department to give assistance to those seeking public housing, to safeguard public morality, to provide mild for school children, and other such programs. The Education Department, which furnished books for the library of the Maxwell Street Settlement, also sponsored summer school programs and playgrounds. The Art and Literature Department encouraged local artists to exhibit their paintings, sponsored lectures and concerts for adults and children, etc. Besides these departments, standing and special committees are used to conduct business affairs and to supervise special projects.

The collection contains correspondence, reports, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, minutes, and photographs dating from 1903 to 1988. The materials pertain to such issues as birth control, child welfare, public housing, immigration, racial discrimination, and juvenile delinquency. The collection includes correspondence with Hull-House residents and friends including Rachelle Yarros, Louise de Koven Bowen, and Charlotte Carr

Chicago Woman's Aid records, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago

  • Names
    • Bowen, Louise de Koven, b.1859 -- Correspondence
    • Carr, Charlotte E. (Charlotte Elizabeth), 1890-1956 -- Correspondence
    • Chicago Woman's Aid. -- Archives
    • Yarros, Rachelle S. (Rachelle Skidelski), 1869-1946 -- Correspondence
  • Subject
    • Birth control.
    • Chicago Community Organizations.
    • Child welfare.
    • Emigration and immigration.
    • Juvenile delinquency.
    • Midwest Women's History.
    • Public housing.
    • Race discrimination.
  • Geographic Coverage
    • Illinois.
    • United States.