History of the Kansas Orphans’ Home, 1887-1962. The Professionalization of Charity

“How great is the ability of humans to transform relationships between nonkin into relationships typical of those among kin, and what factors appear to limit that ability? Given the association of kinship with human compassion and cooperation; this question has obvious practical implications of great significance. Dr. Chmidling’s detailed analysis of the history of the Kansas Orphans’ Home age provides us with one particular answer to this question within a particular cultural and historical setting.” – Prof. Craig Palmer, University of Missouri

“We need more studies of organizations and geographic regions in the history of institutional and home-based care and the author has significantly broadened the scope of our understanding with her research.” – Prof. Diane Creagh, Pennsylvania State University

“One of the most important things about this book is how well it tells the story, in one place, of the movement toward foster care; the historical literature on foster care is very limited, and this will be an important addition.” – Prof. Tim Hacsi, University of Massachusetts Boston

FOREWORD by Craig Palmer
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION: Pertinent Theories and the Case Study
Children’s Homes
The Perspective on Children
Social Engineering
Altruism and Reciprocal Altruism in Socioeconomics and Evolutionary Theory
Adoption in Evolutionary Theory
The Anthropology of Kinship
Case Study: The Kansas Orphans’ Home
METHODS: Archival Data
Interviews
CHAPTERS: 1. PERIOD ONE, 1887-1907: Sanctuary from the Present; Preparation for the Future .
The State
The County Courts
The Parents
The Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home
The Foster Parents
The Children
Individual Experience .
Interview 1328, “Margaret” about “Helen” .
Period One Conclusion
2. PERIOD TWO, 1907-1930: The Price of Care
The State
The County Courts
The Parents
The Orphans’ Home
The Foster Parents
The Children
Individual Experiences
Interview 6739, “Dorothy” about “William”
Interview 2614, “James” about “Betty”
Period Two Conclusion
3. PERIOD THREE 1931-1938: Streamlining
The State
The County Courts
The Parents
The Orphans’ Home
The Foster Parents
The Children
Individual Experience
Interview 0478, “Jane”
Period Three Conclusion
4. PERIOD FOUR, 1939-1962: Rise of the Professionals
The State
The County Courts
The Parents
The Orphans’ Home
Orphans’ Home, Population Characteristics and Movement
The Receiving Home for Children
The Kansas Children’s Receiving Home
Per Capita Income/Expense Comparison
The Foster Parents
The Children
Individual Experiences
Interview 0970, “Jason”
Interview 1420, “Robert”
Interview 2832, “Evan”
Interview 4763, “William”
Interview 1570, “Randy”
Contact 1444, “Donna” about “Viola” and “Beatrice”
Interviews for the Post-1962 Facility
Contact 2116, “Bonnie”
Interview 1171, “Margaret”
Interview 6101, “Thomas”
Interview 4138, “Ralph”
Period Four Conclusion
5. CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INDEX

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