New Homes for Old

Sophonisba P. Breckinridge, Sophonisba Breckinridge

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN:
  9781351308748
• Topic: Sciences sociales
• Subtopic: Histoire de l'Amérique du Nord

New Homes for Old was one of ten volumes published by the Carnegie Corporation on "Methods of Americanization." Reappearing near the end of four decades of massive immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, the volumes were "to give as clear a notion as possible of the methods of the agencies actually at work in this field." Breckenridge's volume considers the immigrant homes and family life.

Sophonisba Breckenridge was a major figure in the remarkable circle of women associated with Jane Addams's Hull House. She played a leading role in Progressive Era social research and in the development of professional social work. Published just a few years before restriction virtually ended immigration New Homes for Old holds great interest to contemporary students of immigration and ethnicity, women's history, and progressive reform. Surprisingly, it has been virtually unknown. This is an account of how immigrants actually lived-what they ate, how they shopped, how much money they saved, what kind of clothing they wore, how they organized households and cleaned their homes, how parents raised children, and a host of other issues. Rich in descriptive detail, it contains numerous examples of actual immigrant families and organizations. Breckenridge considers issues largely ignored in the historical literature on immigration, providing useful primary sources to supplement the secondary literature on immigration in this period. She also reveals a great deal about how progressive reformers and social scientists viewed immigrants. Her work reflects the general conclusion of Chicago School sociologists and reformers that rural immigrants underwent dramatic "social disorganization" upon arrival in urban America.

Steven J. Diner's new introduction places New Homes for Old in the context of the Americanization movement, which was greatly invigorated by World War I domestic mobilization. This volume is an invaluable primary source for the history of home economics and social work, professions dominated from the start by women. As such it will be of interest to those interested in immigration and ethnic history, women's history, social welfare, and the Progressive Era.

Steven J. Diner is professor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University, Newark. He is the author of many articles and books including A City and Its Universities: Public Policy in Chicago, 1919-1992, and A Very Different Age: Americans of the Progressive Era.

Index

A

Abbott, Edith, xlix, 1, 153, 161, 186, 308

Abbott, Grace, 1, 223

Agencies:

Adjusting immigrants

American, 222–276

Case work, 277–311

Immigrant, 187–221

Studied, 7–8

Agriculture:

Legislation, 38, 76, 254–257

Workers, 34–35

Akron, Ohio:

Home Demonstration Agent, 259

American Association for Family Welfare Work, 281

American Association for Social Work with Families, 7, 310

American Home Economics Association:

Committee on Household Budgets, 115, 250–252

American Institute of Architects: Articles on Housing, 72–74

American Red Cross:

Chapter

Case Work, 281

Home Service, 7, 310

Americanization:

Agencies and instruments

American organizations, 222–276

Case-work organizations, 277–311

Immigrant organizations, 187–221

Factors, 14–18

Anderson, A. M., 270

Anthony, Katharine Susan, 136

B

Baltimore, Maryland:

Polish National Alliance, 202

Banks:

Postal Savings, 111–115

Benefit Societies:

Life and Health insurance, 94–95

Organization, 192–196, 201

Birdseye, Clarence Frank, 226

“Board of Health Baskets,” 133

Boarders:

Relation to family problems, 23–27, 52, 63–64

Bohemia:

Customs in, 174

Bohemians:

Building and loan association, 76, 109

Child care, 158, 164, 182

Cookery, 59

Dvorak Park, Chicago, 273–274

Home ownership, 105, 107

In Chicago, 11

Nebraska, 169

Life insurance, 94

Menus, 333–334

Postal Savings circular, 112

Spending habits, 90, 122, 134–135

Unemployment, 92

Boston, Massachusetts:

Boston Associated Charities Office of District Superinten-dent, 298

Case-work agencies, 283, 295

Dietetic Bu...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables
• List of Illustrations
• Introduction to the Transaction Edition
• Introduction to the Original Edition
• I. Finding the New Home
• III. The Care of the House
• IV. Problems of Saving
• V. The Neglected Art of Spending
• VI. The Care of the Children
• VII. Immigrant Organizations and Family Problems
• VIII. Agencies of Adjustment
• IX. Family Case Work
• Appendix Principal Racial Organizations
• Index