Category Archives: Children

Fourth of July mayhem, 1907

One of the staples of newspaper journalism in the early 20th century was the annual July 5 roundup of Independence Day mayhem, much of it caused by children’s attraction to fireworks. What probably was the worst local Fourth of July-related … Continue reading

Posted in Celebrations, Children, Local government, Media, Public health | 1 Comment

The potato matinee of 1925

The “potato matinee” of Christmas 1925 was the brainchild of longtime local theater manager Harry Thornton. It quickly went awry, the victim of its own success. Illinois State Journal editor/publisher J. Emil Smith, a friend of Thornton’s, heard the potato … Continue reading

Posted in Amusements, Business, Children, Media, Prominent figures, Social life, Theaters | Leave a comment

Myers Brothers’ monkey

A monkey was a mainstay attraction of the second-floor boys’ shop at Myers Brothers Department Store in Springfield for much of the 1950s. Actually, there were at least two monkeys – “Weegee,” who went on display at Myers in 1952, … Continue reading

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Lithuanian children at Palmer School, 1910s

Excerpted from “An Immigrant Childhood,” written by Ann Tisckos Wisnosky and republished on Sandy Baksys’ Lithuanians in Springfield web site.   When we started Palmer School, we were looked upon as “those foreign kids” and sometimes called names. Other ethnic groups … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Education, Ethnic groups, Lithuanians, Schools and school districts | Tagged | 3 Comments

Elizabeth Brown Ide

Elizabeth Brown Ide (1873-1978), who was born into money and married more, could have been merely a socialite. Instead, she became Springfield’s most prominent children’s advocate during the early 20th century. Ide’s parents were Christopher Brown and Caroline Owsley Brown, … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Medicine, Prominent figures, Public health, Social services, Springfield Survey, Women | Tagged , | 6 Comments

A blended immigrant family: Treinis/Nevada/Zakar

From Sandy’s Blog, News and Profiles, a section of Lithuanians in Springfield, Illinois: Lithuanian coal-mining families in Springfield at the turn of the 20th Century had many hardships — and virtues — in common. Hard work, faith and determination were … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Communities, Ethnic groups, Family life, Lithuanians | 8 Comments

Fire escape hazards, 1914 (Springfield Survey photo)

The Springfield Survey was a massive study of local schools, prisons, and other institutions undertaken in 1914 by the Russell Sage Foundation with the help of hundreds of local volunteers. Topics covered included schools, care of “mental defectives, the insane … Continue reading

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Child and Family Service of Sangamon County

Child and Family Service was created when the Family Welfare Association and the Springfield Day Nursery merged into the existing Children’s Service League in 1953. The Colored Children’s Service Bureau joined CFS in 1959, and the name was changed to … Continue reading

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Children’s physical exams, 1914 (Springfield Survey photo)

The Springfield Survey was a massive study of local schools, prisons, and other institutions undertaken in 1914 by the Russell Sage Foundation with the help of hundreds of local volunteers. Topics covered included schools, care of “mental defectives, the insane … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Photos and photosets, Public health, Springfield Survey | Leave a comment

Children’s Service Bureau

The Children’s Service League originated as the Children’s Bureau, a subdivision of the Family Welfare Association, in 1925, but soon became an independent entity. In 1928, the Children’s Bureau merged with the Home for the Friendless to become the Children’s … Continue reading

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