ORGANIZED CHARITY and the CIVIC IDEAL in INDIANAPOLIS 1879-1922 Katherine E. Badertscher Submitted to the Faculty of the Univers
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ORGANIZED CHARITY AND THE CIVIC IDEAL IN INDIANAPOLIS 1879-1922 Katherine E. Badertscher Submitted to the faculty of the University Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University May 2015 Accepted by the Graduate Faculty, Indiana University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ______________________________ Dwight F. Burlingame, Ph.D., Chair Doctoral Committee ______________________________ Robert G. Barrows, Ph.D. March 6, 2015 ______________________________ Nancy Marie Robertson, Ph.D. ______________________________ Philip V. Scarpino, Ph.D. ii Acknowledgments My thanks begin with my doctoral committee. Dwight Burlingame advised me throughout my entire program, chose the perfect readings for me in our dissertation seminar, helped me shape the project, and read each chapter promptly and thoughtfully. His steadfast belief in my scholarship and his infinite kindness have been invaluable. Phil Scarpino and Bob Barrows led the seminars during which my dissertation idea took shape. Nancy Robertson challenged me to look at the work from many different angles and suggested a veritable treasure trove of scholarship upon which to draw. All their questions, comments, guidance, and encouragement have helped my work more than mere words can express. My colleagues in the doctoral program and students in the undergraduate program provided unwavering support as I lovingly talked about my research, “my organization,” and “my time period.” I especially thank Barbara Duffy, who chose the Charity Organization Society of Indianapolis (1879-1883) for her History of Philanthropy doctoral seminar research project. I enjoyed talking about “our women,” sharing our emerging ideas, swapping sources, and basking in one another’s “Eureka!” moments as we made one connection after another. Reference staff members in Indianapolis have provided tremendous assistance. Brenda Burk and Steve Towne at IUPUI’s Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives pleasantly answered all my questions and obtained materials. Teodora Durbin of Interlibrary Loan services cheerfully secured many obscure items, always in the form I requested (please – no microfilm!). At the Indiana State Library, Marcia Caudell gave me a special guided tour and Bethany Fiechter made iii manuscripts accessible before whisking them away for conservation. Suzanne Hahn, Amy Vedra, and everyone else in the Indiana Historical Society’s Library handled all my requests with skill and personal attention. Many a time, whoever happened to be at the Reading Room desk politely indulged me as I whooped with glee when I uncovered a treasured snippet of information. John and Evaline Holliday insisted that their personal papers be destroyed once they had passed away. John and Evaline’s great-grandson, William Rhodehamel, kindly introduced me to his mother, Evaline Rhodehamel. Evie and her caregiver, Carol Pennybaker, spent several hours with me to give me a window into the Hollidays’ personal service ethic. Evie let me read the few personal items that survive and listened with interest as I talked about my research. My husband, Dick Badertscher, supported me in ways too numerous to name here. He visited all manner of obscure locales in the city (including Crown Hill Cemetery). Dick read rough drafts of each chapter and always asked perceptive questions. He talked with me about Indianapolis philanthropy, people, and places for endless hours that stretched into years. Inspired by nineteenth-century Elberfeld, Germany civic engagement, Dick even agreed to run for Clermont Town Council (and won). His true partnership, love, and devotion through the entire project have been precious beyond description. iv Katherine E. Badertscher ORGANIZED CHARITY AND THE CIVIC IDEAL IN INDIANAPOLIS 1879-1922 The Charity Organization Society of Indianapolis experienced founding, maturing, and corporate phases between 1879 and 1922. Indianapolis provided the ideal setting for the organized charity movement to flourish. Men and women innovated to act on their civic ideal to make Indianapolis a desirable city. As charity leaders applied the new techniques of scientific philanthropy, they assembled data one case at a time and based solutions to social problems on reforming individuals. The COS enjoyed its peak influence and legitimacy between 1891 and 1911. The organization continually learned from its work and advised other charities in Indianapolis and the U.S. The connected men and women engaged in organized charity learned that it was not enough to reform every individual who came to them for help. Industrialization created new socioeconomic strata and new forms of dependence. As the COS evolved, it implemented more systemic solutions to combat illness, unemployment, and poverty. After 1911 the COS stagnated while Indianapolis diversified economically, culturally, ethnically, and socially. The COS failed to adapt to its rapidly changing environment; it could not withstand competition, internal upheaval, specialization, and professionalization. Its general mission, to aid anyone in need, became lost in the shadow of child saving. Mid-level businessmen, corporate entities, professional social workers, service club members, and ethnic and racial minorities all participated in philanthropy. The powerful cache of social capital enervated and the v civic ideal took on different dimensions. In 1922 the COS merged with other agencies to form the Family Welfare Society. This dissertation contributes to the scholarship of charity organization societies and social welfare policy. The scientific philanthropy movement did not represent an enormous leap from neighborhood benevolence. COSs represented neither a sinister agenda nor the best system to eradicate poverty. Organized charity did not create a single response to poverty, but a series of incremental responses that evolved over more than four decades. The women of Indianapolis exhibited more agency in their charitable work than is commonly understood. Charitable actors worked to harness giving and volunteering, bring an end to misery, and make Indianapolis an ideal city. Dwight F. Burlingame, Ph.D., Chair vi Table of Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One: Literature Review ........................................................................... 10 Scholarly Literature – Philanthropic Studies ............................................... 10 Scholarly Literature – Social Welfare Policy History ................................... 12 Scholarly Literature – Indiana History ........................................................ 15 Scholarly Literature – Social Work History ................................................. 20 Primary Sources – Charity and Philanthropy .............................................. 24 Primary Sources – Indianapolis History ...................................................... 31 Chapter Two: Neighborhood Benevolence, 1835-1879 .......................................... 37 The Legal Framework ................................................................................ 39 Religious Tradition .................................................................................... 47 Voluntary Association ............................................................................... 55 The Indianapolis Benevolent Society .......................................................... 61 Railroads Transform the City .................................................................... 72 The Asylum Movement ............................................................................. 81 The Indianapolis Benevolent Society in Crisis ............................................. 97 Chapter Three: Founding Phase, 1879-1891........................................................ 109 Scientific Philanthropy ............................................................................. 115 Reverend Oscar Carleton McCulloch ....................................................... 126 The Charity Organization Society of Indianapolis ..................................... 140 Gaining Community Consensus and Legitimacy ...................................... 155 Women Encounter Organized Charity ...................................................... 170 Redefining Philanthropy .......................................................................... 190 Chapter Four: Maturing Phase, 1891-1911 ......................................................... 207 John H. and Evaline Holliday .................................................................. 210 The Club Movement ............................................................................... 229 City Beautiful and the Commercial Club .................................................. 249 The COS Achieves Legitimacy ................................................................. 264 From Friendly Visitor to Case Worker ...................................................... 285 COS Principles in Public Policy ................................................................ 294 Chapter Five: Corporate Phase, 1911-1922 ......................................................... 308 The COS Stagnates .................................................................................. 315 Immigration and Ethnicity ......................................................................