Series II: Foundling Records (1838-1915)

Scope and Contents note

The foundling records document information regarding orphans who were under the control of the state before they were to be transferred to an orphan asylum or else indentured. They are comprised of personal information of foundlings such as the sex, color, and religion of the infant as well as notes regarding his or her health, and the circumstances of the child's arrival and sometimes their death. All of these records include both boy and girl infants and some volumes contain newspaper articles and affidavits regarding the foundlings. Volume 37 contains personal information of the nurses.

Only volume 38 has records of indentured foundlings, and it does not include the actual indentures of the children. This volume has notes about visiting the indentured child and the child's condition, which was frequently not good. Often the child was declared dead or listed as simply "not found."

Foundlings Records, includes name and age of the child, notes regarding child's health and/or circumstances of the parents, also name and nationality of nurse, occupation of nurse's husband, 1838-1841, inclusive

Volume: 37 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Indentured Foundlings Records, includes name of foundling, to whom indentured, visits, address, and remarks, 1895-1902, inclusive

Volume: 38 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Foundling Records, includes affidavit of person who discovered the child listing a description of child and where child was found, 1902-1905, inclusive

Volume: 39 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Foundling Records, includes description of child and where child was found, 1902-1910, inclusive

Volume: 40 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Foundling Records, includes description of child and where child was found, 1910-1915, inclusive

Volume: 41 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)