Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service records
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The collection contains the records of the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service and its predecessor organizations, including the Brooklyn Bureau of Social Service Service and Children's Aid Society, the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities, the Brooklyn Childen's Aid Society, and the Sheltering Arms Nursery. The collection comprises sixty five linear feet, includes various types of records (administrative records, housing ledgers, scrapbooks, photographs, audiovisual media, etc.), and spans the years 1866 to 1989. The Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service was a charitable organization with a focus on aiding the impoverished, children, and people with disabilities. The Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service was renamed Brooklyn Community Services in 2010 and continues to operate today.
Historic chronology
Chronology
- 1866
- Brooklyn Children's Aid Society founded.
- 1866
- Union of Christian Work founded.
- 1870
- Sheltering Arms Nursery founded.
- 1878
- Brooklyn Bureau of Charities founded.
- 1901
- Union of Christian Work consolidated with the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities.
- 1920
- Sheltering Arms Nursery absorbed by the Brooklyn Children's Aid Society.
- 1945
- Brooklyn Bureau of Charities renamed Brooklyn Bureau of Social Service.
- 1948
- Brooklyn Bureau of Social Services and Brooklyn Children's Aid Society merge, becoming the Brooklyn Bureau of Social Services and Children's Aid Society.
- 1969
- Brooklyn Bureau of Social Services and Children's Aid Society renamed Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service.
- 2010
- Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service renamed Brooklyn Community Services.
Sources:
- Goldman, Esther. 100 Years of Concern for Human Needs, 1866-1966. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Brooklyn Bureau of Social Service and Children's Aid Society, 1966.
Historical note
The Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service was a charitable organization with roots that date back to the 19th century. Its predecessor organizations included the Brooklyn Children's Aid Society (established 1866), the Union of Christian Work (established 1866), the Sheltering Arms Nursery (established 1870), and the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities (established 1878). Over the years these organizations consolidated, culminating in the merger of the Brooklyn Bureau of Social Service and the Brooklyn Children's Aid Society in 1948. The organization was renamed the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service in 1969, and then rebranded as Brooklyn Community Services in 2010. The mission of these organizations generally remained the same, with a focus on aiding the impoverished, children, and people with disabilities.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into four series:
Series 1: Brooklyn Bureau of Charities and Bureau of Community Service records
Series 2: Brooklyn Children's Aid Society records
Series 3: Sheltering Arms Nursery records
Series 4: Photographs
The first series contains the records of the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service, the Brooklyn Bureau of Social Service and the Children's Aid Society (after the 1948 merger), the Brooklyn Bureau of Social Service (pre-merger), and the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities.
The second series contains the records of the Brooklyn Children's Aid Society prior to its merger with the Brooklyn Bureau of Social Service in 1948.
The third series contains records of the Sheltering Arms Nursery prior to its acquisition by the Brooklyn Children's Aid Society in 1920.
The fourth series contains photographs from all organizations.
Scope and Contents note
The collection contains the records of the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service and its predecessor organizations, including the Brooklyn Bureau of Social Service Service and Children's Aid Society, the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities, the Brooklyn Childen's Aid Society, and the Sheltering Arms Nursery. The collection comprises sixty five linear feet, includes various types of records (administrative records, housing ledgers, scrapbooks, photographs, audiovisual media, etc.), and spans the years 1866 to 1989.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
Rights to photographs and audiovisual media in the collection have not been evaluated. Please consult library staff for more information.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services records, ARC.129, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accessions 1991.002 and V1991.110 were gifts of Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service, 1991.
Custodial History
Prior to acquisition by BHS, the records comprising accession 1991.002 (the bulk of this collection) were surveyed by Anne E. Bowler.
Other Finding Aids
A detailed survey of the records comprising accession 1991.002 (the bulk of this collection) is available in the 1991.002 accession file. Additionally, an inventory of the collection's films is available in the collection's electronic accession file. Please consult library staff for more information.
About this Guide
Processing Information note
The collection was minimally processed to the series-level by Patricia Glowinski and Weatherly Stephan in October 2010. In November 2011 a third Child's Day ledger was added to the collection by Nicholas Pavlik. Additional unprocessed material was added to the collection by John Zarrillo in October 2016. He also provided folder-level description, updated the collection-level description, and revised the collection's organization.
This collection combines the accessions 1985.094, 1991.002, V1991.110, portions of 1985.093, and one folder from 1985.106.
Sponsor Note
Repository
Series 1: Brooklyn Bureau of Charities and Bureau of Community Service records, 1881-1989, inclusive
Language of Materials
Scope and Contents
The series contains the records of the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service (BBCS) and its predecessors, the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities and the Bureau of Social Service and Children's Aid Society, dating from 1881 to 1989. It includes reports, publications, Board of Directors and executives' papers, committee files, scrapbooks, and audiovisual media. Photographs related to the BBCS and its predecessor organizations can be found in Series 4: Photographs.
Arrangement
The series is organized into ten sub-series:
Sub-series 1.1: Reports and publications
Sub-series 1.2: Board of Directors records
Sub-series 1.3: Courts Committee
Sub-series 1.4: Tenement House Committee and Housing Committee
Sub-series 1.5: Committee on the Blind and related events
Sub-series 1.6: Women's Committee
Sub-series 1.7: Papers of individuals
Sub-series 1.8: Audiovisual media
Sub-series 1.9: Scrapbooks
Sub-series 1.10: Miscellaneous
Sub-series 1.1: Reports and publications, 1881-1989, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains annual reports, annual meeting reports and programs, by-laws, newsletters, and other publications, dating from 1881 to 1989.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically, with miscellaneous publications placed at the end of the sub-series.
Annual Meeting reports and programs, 1903-1966, inclusive
Annual Report, 1881, inclusive
Annual Report (bound volumes), 1882-1926, inclusive
Annual Reports, 1885-1925, inclusive
Annual Reports, 1926-1969, inclusive
Annual Reports, 1970-1989, inclusive
Bi-weekly reports, 1964-1967, inclusive
The Bureau Chat (two issues), 1941-1945, inclusive
Brooklyn Association for Improving Conditions of the Poor publications, 1933, 1943-1954, inclusive
Brooklyn Tuberculosis and Health Association: A Report of Services Rendered Through Christmas Seals, 1938, inclusive
Fifty and One Hundred Year Anniversary books, 1916, 1966, inclusive
The Friendly Light Magazine (twenty four issues), 1930-1966, inclusive
The Full Circle: A Newsletter By and For Foster Parents and Children at the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service (six issues), 1971-1975, inclusive
Harriman Farm School promotional books with photographs, circa 1955, inclusive
The House Organ (five issues), 1914-1915, inclusive
Long-Term Homemaker Service: Project Report, 1958, inclusive
The Open Door, 1927-1932, inclusive
The Open Door, 1940-1978, inclusive
The Shelter Island Scoop (five issues), circa 1978-1982, inclusive
Assorted reports, by-laws, publications, and cookbooks, 1916-1971, inclusive
Assorted pamphlets, 1909-1970s, inclusive
Sub-series 1.2: Board of Directors records, 1899-1974, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains Board of Directors and Executive Committee meeting minutes (1899-1907 and 1960-1974) and Fiscal Review Committee files (1973-1974).
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Board of Directors and Executive Committee meeting minutes ledger, 1899-1907, inclusive
Board of Directors meeting minutes, 1960-1968, inclusive
Board of Directors meeting minutes, 1968-1974, inclusive
Fiscal Review Committee, 1973-1974, inclusive
Sub-series 1.3: Courts Committee, 1907-1959, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains records relating to the Courts Committee, dating from 1907 to 1959. It includes reports, minutes, correspondence, and other files.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically, with miscellaneous files placed at the end of the sub-series.
Annual reports and minutes, 1913-1914, inclusive
Annual reports and minutes, 1935-1943, inclusive
Adolescents' Court, 1931-1934, inclusive
Adolescents' Court, 1936, inclusive
Adolescents' Court, 1937, inclusive
Adolescents' Court, 1940-1949, inclusive
Adolescents' Court, 1952-1957, inclusive
Bloede Estate, 1913-1914, inclusive
Brennan Bill (disorderly conduct), 1913-1914, inclusive
Brooklyn Civic Club, 1915, inclusive
Buildings Committee, 1912-1915, inclusive
Case Reports, 1913-1915, inclusive
Children's Court, 1912-1915, inclusive
Domestic Relations Court, 1907-1915, inclusive
Family Court, 1956-1959, inclusive
Finger Print Bureau, 1913-1915, inclusive
Judicial Statistics Committee, 1910-1914, inclusive
Magistrates Court, 1912-1915, inclusive
Monday Club, 1908-1914, inclusive
Probation Committee, 1912-1915, 1932, inclusive
Prostitution, 1910-1915, inclusive
Reports, 1926, inclusive
Miscellaneous subjects, 1913-1915, inclusive
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1912-1915, inclusive
Sub-series 1.4: Tenement House Committee and Housing Committee, 1911-1940, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains files relating to the Tenement Housing Committee and the Housing Committee, dating from 1911 to 1940. It includes annual reports, committee reports, and clippings and correspondence belonging to Housing Committee Secretary Joseph Fink.
Tenement House Committee annual reports, 1911-1916, inclusive
Committee reports, 1926-1929, inclusive
Committee reports, 1930-1931, inclusive
Multiple Dwellings Bill, 1912, 1927-1937, inclusive
The Multiple Dwelling Law, 1931, inclusive
Miscellaneous papers and correspondence, 1920-1930, inclusive
Joseph Fink articles: Fire escapes, 1927-1928, inclusive
Joseph Fink articles: Housing legislation, 1924-1927, inclusive
Joseph Fink articles: Model tenements, 1927-1929, inclusive
Joseph Fink articles: Pushcarts, 1928-1929, inclusive
Joseph Fink correspondence and papers: Fire, 1916-1936, inclusive
Joseph Fink newspaper clippings: Fire, 1921-1937, inclusive
Joseph Fink newspaper clippings: Boston housing, 1940, inclusive
Joseph Fink newspaper clippings: Prohibition, 1931, inclusive
Joseph Fink newspaper clippings: Miscellaneous, 1930-1931, inclusive
Sub-series 1.5: Committee on the Blind and related events, 1913-1987, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains records relating to the Committee on the Blind and events such as the Week for the Blind and the Day for the Blind, dating from 1913 to 1987. It is primarily composed of event programs, but also includes annual reports and a photograph album/scrapbook. Additional photographs documenting the organizations work with the blind can be found in Series 4: Photographs.
Committee on the Blind annual reports, 1913-1914, 1921-1922, inclusive
Blind Women of Brooklyn - The Happy Days Review programs, 1935, inclusive
Eleventh Annual Card Party for the Benefit of the Blind and Handicapped, 1940, inclusive
Week for the Blind annual programs, 1929-1947, inclusive
Week for the Blind annual programs, 1948-1956, inclusive
Week and Day for the Blind annual programs, 1957-1970, inclusive
Day for the Blind annual programs, 1971-1978, 1980, 1987, inclusive
Brooklyn Week for the Blind photograph album and scrapbook (o), 1957, inclusive
Sub-series 1.6: Women's Committee, 1969-1985, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains a Women's Committe publicity scrapbook (1969-1980) and meeting agendas and minutes (1974-1985).
Women's Committee publicity scrapbook (m), 1969-1980, inclusive
Women's Committee meeting agendas and minutes (two folders), 1974-1985, inclusive
Sub-series 1.7: Papers of individuals, 1908-1967, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains papers belonging to five leaders of the Bureau and its predecessor organizations, dating from 1908 to 1967.
Mary Childs Draper was President of the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities and later the Brooklyn Bureau of Social Service and Children's Aid Society. These papers include speeches and memoranda dating from 1942 to 1951.
Paul F. Ely served as the Bureau's Secretary, Director, and President. His papers include a photographic portrait, resume, clipping, and ephemera relating to the Brooklyn Savings Bank (of which he was President), dating from 1960 to 1963.
Lester Peddy was Executive Director of the Bureau. His papers consists of correspondence, memoranda, and reports that were sent between Peddy and Ely between 1961 and 1967.
Thomas J. Riley served as General Secretary of the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities. His papers include Reports of the General Secretary and a typescript titled "History -- Finances -- and Administration of the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities 1878-1926." The papers date from 1908 to 1926.
Alfred T. White was a founder of both the Brooklyn Children's Aid Society (where he served as Vice President) and the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities (where he served as Secretary and then President for over twenty nine years). His papers include a speech, biographical writings, correspondence, and a scrapbook documenting his time as President of the Bureau and commemorating his life, dating from 1920 to 1921.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by surname.
Mary Childs Draper, 1942-1951, inclusive
Paul F. Ely, 1960-1963, inclusive
Lester Peddy, 1961-1967, inclusive
Thomas J. Riley, 1908-1926, inclusive
Alfred T. White, 1920-1921, inclusive
Sub-series 1.8: Audiovisual media, 1960s-1973, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains audiovisual media related to Bureau, specifically thirty six 35 mm film reels, two 16 mm film reels, and two magnetic audio tapes. The bulk of the sub-series consists of the film "Some People from Brooklyn" (1965). Due to the large amount of film, it is assumed that it includes b-roll in addition to the edited motion picture. The sub-series also includes two 16 mm films labeled "Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services 'Updated Version'" (circa 1960s) and one audio recording of a WNYC radio program titled "Homes--Not Hospitals" (1973).
Other Finding Aids
An inventory of the films is available in the collection's electronic accession file. Please consult library staff for more information.
Brooklyn Bureau of Community Services "Updated Version" 16 mm motion picture reels (two reels), circa 1960s, inclusive
"Some People from Brooklyn" magnetic audio tape, 1965, inclusive
"Some People from Brooklyn" 35 mm motion picture reels (thirty one reels), 1965, inclusive
"Some People from Brooklyn" 35 mm motion picture reels (five reels), 1965, inclusive
"Homes -- Not Hospitals" WNYC program magnetic audio tape, 1973, inclusive
Sub-series 1.9: Scrapbooks, 1922-1983, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains scrapbooks that primarily contain publicity clippings, dating from 1922-1983.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scrapbooks (a and b), 1922-1925, inclusive
Scrapbooks (c, d, and e), 1930, 1938-1941, inclusive
Scrapbook (f), 1941-1943, inclusive
Unbound scrapbook pages (g), 1943-1945, inclusive
Barbara Ann Smith scrapbook (h), 1947, inclusive
Unbound scrapbook pages (i), 1947-1950, inclusive
Scrapbook (j), 1950-1958, inclusive
Scrapbook (k), 1965-1968, inclusive
Scrapbook (l), 1976-1983, inclusive
Scrapbook (n), 1977-1981, inclusive
Sub-series 1.10: Miscellaneous, 1887-1974, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The sub-series contains a variety of records that did not fit into the other sub-series, including a copy of the Bureau's Certificate of Incorporation, one financial ledger (1920s), files relating to the merger of the Brooklyn Children's Aid Society with the Bureau of Social Service, reports of the District Nursing Committee, and assorted other files dating from 1887 to 1974.
Certificate of Incorporation (copy), 1887, inclusive
Change of Name, 1944-1952, inclusive
Children's Aid Society: Arthur Nash Affair, 1950, inclusive
Children's Aid Society: Miscellaneous papers and correspondence, 1947-1960, inclusive
District Nursing Committee reports, 1910-1919, inclusive
General
See also The Visiting Nurse Association of Brooklyn records, 1985.093 (the successor to the District Nursing Committee).
Financial ledger, 1920s, inclusive
Letterhead, circa 1970s, inclusive
Merger, 1947-1949, inclusive
New Building, 1927, inclusive
Public Relief, 1913-1915, inclusive
Public Relief, 1913-1915, inclusive
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary, 1903, inclusive
Miscellaneous papers and correspondence, 1879-1913, inclusive
Miscellaneous papers and correspondence, 1915-1974, inclusive
Series 2: Brooklyn Children's Aid Society records, 1866-1956, inclusive
Language of Materials
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series contains records of the Brooklyn Children's Aid Society, including annual reports (1872-1946), one certificate of incorporation, a scrapbook and photograph album, two publications titled Summer Relief for Little Children and Thirty-Five Years of Saving Services, and six registers documenting the disposition of children being sheltered by the Society.
The registers generally list the name of child admitted; case, city, and state numbers; dates the children were admitted, committed, expiration, and discharged; who the children were committed by (public agency or relatives); date of birth of the child and age of the child when committed; if the children were committed or non-committed to boarding homes, Herriman Farm School, or the Wavecrest facilities (Far Rockaway); remarks; and temporary home.
Photographs related to the organization can be found in Series 4: Photographs.
Sub-series 1.10: Miscellaneous contains files related to the Society's merger with the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities.
Certificate of Incorporation (copy) and Purposes of the Children's Aid Society, 1866, inclusive
Annual Reports, 1872-1905, inclusive
Annual Reports, 1907-1946, inclusive
Annual Reports, 1907-1941, inclusive
Thirty-Five Years of Life Saving Service 1876-1911, 1911, inclusive
Summer Relief Work for Little Children, 1912-1921, inclusive
Temporary shelter admissions ledger, 1918-1929, inclusive
Brooklyn Children's Aid Society scrapbook (V1991.110.302), circa 1922, inclusive
Admission ledger vol. III, 1923-1930, inclusive
General
Loose pages have been sleeved and foldered for preservation purposes.
Transfer book, 1931-1933, inclusive
Temporary Home record, 1933-1939, inclusive
Child Day Register, 1939-1944, inclusive
Child Day register, 1945-1946, inclusive
Child Day Register, 1947
Child Day register, 1948-1956, inclusive
Series 3: Sheltering Arms Nursery records, 1871-1917, inclusive
Language of Materials
Extent
Scope and Contents
The Sheltering Arms Nursery (SAN) records include annual reports, admissions ledgers, and an event program, dating from 1871 to 1917. The ledgers log information about each child admitted to SAN and include the following categories: age of child, religious affiliation, health status upon arrival, family information such as the reason the child was admitted, ethnic heritage, and the date and reason the child was discharged from SAN.
Index of names belonging to ledger, 1873-1919, inclusive
Admissions ledger, 1871-1890, inclusive
Admissions ledger, 1873-1891, inclusive
Admissions ledger, 1891-1914, inclusive
Admissions ledger, 1906-1917, inclusive
Admissions ledger, 1914-1917, inclusive
Annual Reports, 1872-1891, inclusive
"Arte Loane and Fancie Bazaar" program, 1883, inclusive
General
Held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Series 4: Photographs, 1920s-1986, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This collection contains photographic prints, albums, lantern slides, and 35 mm slides, dating from the 1920s to 1986. The photographs were produced for the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service and its two predecessor organizations, the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities and the Brooklyn Children's Aid Society.
The photographic prints date from the 1920s to 1986 and are primarily promotional in nature, documenting the services provided by the Bureau. Many of the images feature blind adults and children at work and play. Other subjects include members of the Board of Directors and staff, special events, and Brooklyn street scenes. Many of the photographs were taken by Bernard Ravitz, Paul Parker, Publicity Photographs, and Verna Photographs.
The lantern slides document life in Brooklyn in the 1920s and 1930s. They include images of tenements (interiors and exteriors), but also the construction of new buildings and what appear to be more affluent sections of the borough. Many of the slides were produced by the Devereaux View Company and James Huntington.
The 35 mm slides are also primarily promotional in nature, and date from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Twp additional photographic albums and scrapbooks can be found in Sub-series 1.5: Committee on the Blind and related events and Series 2: Brooklyn Children's Aid Society records.
