Category Archives: Social services

Sangamon County poor farm, 1914 (Springfield Survey photo)

Posted on October 8, 2013 by editor

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 Public health, Social services, Springfield Survey | Tagged | 21 Comments

Hettie Bunker Smith

Posted on October 8, 2013 by editor

Hettie Bunker Smith (1896-1989), an art teacher and housewife, began making artificial facial features for disfigured people in 1934, when a friend asked her for help covering a facial scar. Eventually, she received a presidential citation for her volunteer work … Continue reading →

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Rev. Francis Springer

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

The Rev. Francis Springer (1810-92) is considered the father of Lutheranism in Springfield. A service he held in his home in 1841 led to the founding of the first Lutheran congregation in the city. That church later evolved into both … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Education, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures, Social services | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

City jail ‘bullpen,’ 1914 (Springfield Survey photo)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

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 Law enforcement, Social services, Springfield Survey | Leave a comment

1925 Springfield City Plan (The West Plan)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

The 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago inspired the so-called City Beautiful movement that dominated urban planning in the U.S. and abroad until well into the 1920s. One of the more successful City Beautiful planners in the Midwest was Myron … Continue reading →

Posted in Local government, Public health, Sangamon River, Social services | Tagged | Leave a comment

Springfield Hospital and Training School

Posted on October 7, 2013 by editor

A home on the northwest corner of Fifth Street and North Grand Avenue in Springfield was the genesis of today’s Memorial Medical Center. The house was built by T.S. Little, described in 1874 as a “clothier and merchant tailor” with a shop … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Medicine, Public health, Social services | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Springfield Redemption Home

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

The Springfield Redemption Home, organized by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Hunt in 1903, was set up for the “conversion, reformation, and Christian education of penitent erring girls and to provide a home for dependent infants and children.” It operated … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Social services | 5 Comments

Billy Sunday revival (1909)

Posted on October 6, 2013 by editor

Evangelist Billy Sunday’s six-week-long revival meeting in Springfield in 1909 is remembered chiefly because of a spectacular attack on Sunday the very first night of the revival. Sunday’s revivals were typically held in open-air “tabernacles” specially constructed for the evangelist. … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Social services | Tagged | 3 Comments

Springfield Survey, 1914

Posted on October 4, 2013 by editor

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. The survey was initiated by a group of Springfield citizens who were … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Children, Education, Law enforcement, Local government, Medicine, Parks, Photos and photosets, Public health, Resources, Schools and school districts, Social services, Springfield, Springfield Survey | Tagged | 4 Comments

Lincoln Colored Home

Posted on April 11, 2013 by editor

Eva Carroll Monroe (1868-1950) created and operated the Lincoln Colored Home, the first orphanage for African-American children in Sangamon County, from 1904 until 1933. As of early 2019, the building, though empty and boarded up, still stood at 427 S. … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Buildings, Children, Historic Sites, Prominent figures, Social services, Women | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment