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Starr Centre Association of Philadelphia records

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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing [Contact Us]Claire Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Boulevard, Floor 2U, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4217

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

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Mr. Theodore Starr (b.1841-1884) established Philadelphia's first Progressive Working Colored Men's Club with the Coal Club from 1878-1893. This began a series of philanthropic establishments that would develop later into a fully-fledged cooperative community service association. Soon afterward, Mr. Starr founded the Starr Bank, the first Penny Bank in Philadelphia, in 1879. The Penny Bank was established to provide local South Philadelphia residents with a place to set aside and save a certain amount of their money and wages for future purposes. As a forerunner of the City Parks Association, Mr. Starr bought two small plots for gardens on St. Mary Street between 1880 and 1882. These plots, named the Starr Garden, were used as a public playground and gardening center for the neighborhood children. Starr also founded the St. Mary Street Day Nursery in 1880, one of the first programs to care for young children while their mothers were at work. The Starr Public Kindergarten was started two years later. The St. Mary Street Free Library also began in 1882. In 1895, the Starr Kitchen was established to serve low-priced, nutritious meals.

With a combination of all these and other efforts, the Philadelphia Starr Centre Association was organized in 1897. Mr. Starr had begun the building operation for the Starr Centre at 700 Lombard Street in 1880, but due to his death in 1884, it was not resumed until 1887 by Miss Hannah Fox. The Octavia Hill Association, based on a London philanthropic organization established in the 19th century by Miss Octavia Hill to improve working class conditions, resumed this building operation for the Philadelphia Starr Centre in 1896. The completed building consisted of a bakery in the cellar, an office and kitchen on the ground floor, the relocated free Library on the second floor, and tenants on the third and fourth floors. The free Library, renamed Starr Library, was the same Saint Mary Street Library. The Octavia Hill Association also influenced the Saint Mary Street Library to begin a Stamp Saving system. Philadelphia was the fourth American city to do so. This Stamp Saving system was incorporated as a Starr Centre committee and encouraged the local neighborhood children and adults to save their money.

On October 31, 1900, members of the reorganized Starr Centre Association met to "provide for and to promote by practical methods, the educational and social improvement of those poor neighborhoods; primarily in the vicinity of the Starr Garden." This reorganization included a more structured system that combined the various clubs and branches which had previously existed under the Starr Centre. Miss Susan P. Wharton was the first chairperson and president of the Starr Centre Association which began with a total of $4,152.18 in membership donations and loans for the first month of operations. The Centre's expenses for rent, food, salaries and supplies were met, and shortly afterward a program of selling penny lunches, milk for babies, coal, and other necessities was spearheaded.

Nine committees were established in 1900: Executive, Finance, Starr Library, Coal Club, Stamp Saving, Starr Office, Starr Work Bureau, Starr Real-Estate, and Auditing. An annual one dollar donation was asked of persons who desired to be contributing members. Several people were in more than one committee at the same time, and though faces changed through the years, the purpose of each committee remained consistent. The Starr Library Committee was a continuation of previous efforts to maintain the Starr Library located on Saint Mary Street. These committee members were responsible for recording resource circulation, attendance, obtaining new resources, and helping local schools when necessary. The Starr Office Committee controlled the main office maintenance, supplies, workers, and committee records. The Starr Work Bureau hired neighborhood residents and distributed the work force among the Starr branches. The Starr Real-Estate Committee headed a search to secure larger, more efficient quarters for their work. The Starr Auditing Committee worked along with the Finance Committee to maintain financial records. The reorganized Starr Centre still retained the Kindergarten and the Kitchen.

Between 1900 and 1905, the Starr Centre succeeded in increasing the amount of coal, food, and milk that they sold to the community. But the costs of keeping the program alive increased to more than double of when they began. With great generosity, Miss Susan P. Wharton loaned the center $1500. Within this five-year period the Starr Centre secured the deeds to 727 and 725 Lombard Street. The 725 Lombard building became known as the Starr Centre Neighborhood House. Though the main office was in 725 Lombard Street, Miss Wharton frequently offered the use of her home at 910 Clinton Street for the Centre's meetings. By the end of 1905 it was clear that the Centre was indispensable to the local neighborhoods, and demands for services increased. The Centre's income was constantly being challenged to meet the ever increasing amount of capital necessary to maintain the Starr Centre.

A medical department was finally added to the Starr Centre because the Centre saw an increasing number of unhealthy visitors to the Neighborhood House. The facilities consisted of one washstand, an examining table, and a number of surgical instruments. Tuberculosis was one of the most commonly reported chronic illnesses. A doctor was first added to the Starr Centre work force in 1905. Miss Mary E. Clarke, furnished by the Philadelphia Visiting Nurse Society, joined the Centre as the first trained nurse to aid the doctor in 1906. Two dispensaries were established, one at 790 S. 7th Street and the other at 729 Lombard. By 1906, the Starr Centre services were grouped into the Health Clinic, the Free Circulating and Reference Library, Penny Lunches, and the Neighborhood House with modified vocational, recreational, and thrift programs.

The next decade saw both success and danger. There was a constant fluctuation of the Centre's debt and credit balances. This was also the period when the nursing staff was increased. In 1907 the number of nurses' calls totaled 339, an increase of 83 percent over the previous year. Milk sales increased by 70 percent. But Penny Lunches' profits decreased by 94 percent. Various safety modifications were made to the Neighborhood House and Library which also set back their budget. By 1908, milk sold for one penny, nurse care was a dime per visit, doctor's advice a dime, and doctor home calls fifty cents per visit. The Milk Station and Health Center revamped their system and focused more on the medical situation of their visitors because it was decided that mothers could be taught how to prepare milk formulas in their own homes.

By 1914 the Starr Centre's revenue base had strengthened, allowing continuation of services. This same year, more than 35,000 books were circulated in the Starr Library, nurses' visits increased by 87 percent, and prenatal care was established. Five years later the Starr Centre established a dental clinic. The Centre also became the first health agency in Philadelphia to adopt Schick testing and immunization against diphtheria.

In 1920, Mr. Henry Collins, as President, led the program into the new decade with enhanced services. A new clinic was established, the number of lunches rose, and there was increased knowledge within the general public concerning cause and prevention of diseases. The Division of Child Hygiene of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health closed its Hygiene Center, making the Starr Centre solely responsible for Philadelphia's child health problems. These programs dove-tailed with other community service establishments such as the National Conference of Social Work, Keystone State Library Association, and the Welfare Federation.

The Depression of the 1930's posed some financial difficulties for the Starr Centre. Staff turnover was high, contributions dwindled, and income from investments dropped. By the late 1930's, the penny lunches were abolished because public school lunch programs made this service unnecessary. There were also several member agencies of the United Charities Campaign serving the same neighborhoods as the Starr Centre, yet many other sectors did not have such services. A 1937-38 reevaluation showed that though the Starr Centre's past activities were worthwhile, the Health and Nursing Service was still far more valuable. This bolstered the decision to eventually relocate the Starr Centre.

The pivotal 1937-38 reevaluation showed that the Starr Centre's focus should be on the Health and Nursing Service. As a result, it was decided that the Visiting Nurse Society of Philadelphia, the City Department of Public Health, and the Philadelphia Mouth Hygiene Association should be invited to participate in the Starr Centre's new generalized public health nursing service program. As other health services became established in South Philadelphia, the Starr Centre's services were becoming redundant.

Operation of the Library was taken over by the City in 1943 as part of the larger Philadelphia Free Public Library. With the loss of the library and the decreased need for the Centre's health services in South Philadelphia, a decision was made that the Starr Centre would be relocated. The Germantown location was selected from a choice of Frankford, the 34th Ward in West Philadelphia, Manayunk, and Germantown. Germantown was selected because of the area's need for additional child health services, as well as burgeoning health problems related to Philadelphia's growing defense industry. The cooperation of existing agencies was assured, and vital statistics indicated that this particular section was in need of improved health. The property located on 58 East Haines Street, Germantown, which was a Fire House at the time, was secured in 1943.

The role of the nurse was much more vital to the Centre's overall goals in this decade than ever before. The nurse service would be responsible for the family as a whole. Therefore, more than one nurse was required to service an entire family. The increased health services included maternal health supervision, child health supervision, morbidity service, control of tuberculosis, control of venereal disease, crippled children, group education, and dental service.

Under Sydney E. Longmaid's chairmanship, such details as the nurses' hours and wages, service fees, and form of payment were decided. New committees were added to the old, including Executive and Finance, House, Health, Medical Advisory, Membership, and Nomination. The Steering Committee consisted of both Starr Centre members and various local educational and health institutions.

In 1945, after the first full year of the revised program, the agency's income and funds totaled nearly $63,000 as a result of the increased number of visitors and the liquidation of their South Philadelphia property. Expenditures in this same year totaled over $21,000 due to normal expenses and the rehabilitation of the Starr Centre's new headquarters. The Centre also received income from the Philadelphia Community Chest. But World War II made it difficult for the Centre to maintain the full nursing staff required to handle its medical case load. The year 1945 saw over 11,000 home visits, 139 diagnosed tuberculosis cases, and a small but growing number of venereal disease cases.

The focus on children's health was intensified through the development of the Child Health Conference, which began in April of 1944, but did not flourish until after 1945. At the conclusion of 1945, the number of children per session grew from 2 per week to 19 per week. The total number of children attending the first year of these conferences was 1,873. When it was discovered that 82 percent of respiratory infections occurred in children ranging from pre-kindergarten to second grade children, a part-time nurse was assigned to help this age group of children in the local schools.

As the forties drew to a close, the agency's health programs continued to be effective. Pre- and post-natal instruction, infant and child health supervision through the Child Health Conferences, dental care (performed and supervised by the Philadelphia Mouth Hygiene Association), and the control of tuberculosis and venereal disease added to the success of Starr Centre's revised health program.

The first meeting of the Committee for the Planning for Starr Centre Association was held on May 7, 1951. Mr. Longmaid presided the meeting in which various committees were formed to guide the relocation of services. The committees were Executive, House, Membership, Personnel, Volunteer Aid, Publicity, Medical Advisory, Community Relations, Chronically Ill, and the Nominating Committee. With the amalgamation of the Visiting Nurse Society, the Centre had to re-evaluate their fees. Nursing fees were the following for 1950-51: $2.50 regular fee; $3.50 hourly appointment; $4.00 for evening visits. The fees were on a sliding scale, according to one's ability to pay. The development of the Well Baby Clinic at the Germantown Hospital decreased visits to the Starr Child Health Conference.

In response to press coverage of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the general atomic hysteria of the 1950s, Starr Centre joined the rest of the country in taking precautions against potential nuclear strikes. The threat of nuclear war motivated the creation of two defense committees, state and city, to plan First Aid classes for the community. The city commenced the "Philadelphia Plan for Defense" program which divided the city in four sections. Four hundred First Aid Stations were distributed throughout the city to treat possible casualties and provide care for the injured. The Centre offered such facilities as first aid and blood typing stations.

In 1957, the Centre began working with other health programs for the purpose of expanding generalized nursing service in other areas of Philadelphia. When the Philadelphia Mouth Hygiene Association discontinued operation of the Dental Clinic, the Community Nursing Services, Inc. was created from the three parent organizations: the Visiting Nurse Society, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and the Starr Centre. Two years later, the Board of the Community Nursing Services, Inc. held their first meeting and resolved to sell the 58 East Haines Street property at its market value of $22,500. It was also decided that Starr Centre would move from 58 East Haines Street in order to expand it work processes and health services. The Visiting Nurse Society merged with the Starr Centre's Board of Directors. Half of the Starr Board resigned and the Visiting Nurses Society filled these vacancies, fully integrating the two agencies.

Throughout the 1970's much of the Centre's focus was on maintaining financial solvency.

The Starr Centre began in 1900 as a traditional settlement house in the heart of Philadelphia's South Central district, a predominantly African-American neighborhood. From its early years, the Starr Centre initiated many programs to aid black residents of the neighborhood, and later eastern European immigrants, at its health clinic in South Philadelphia. Its programs included a cooperative coal club, a lending library, a penny lunch club, and a stamp savings bureau. In 1905, the Starr Centre began its Medical Department, employing one nurse and sometimes contracting for visiting nurse services through the Visiting Nurse Society of Philadelphia. The Starr Centre merged with the Visiting Nurse Society of Philadelphia in the 1950s and relocated to the Germantown section of Philadelphia due to the increasing number of health care facilities in South Philadelphia. The strength of this collection is the detailed information within the Starr Centre's annual reports and meeting minutes, concerning the kinds of service the Starr Centre provided. The collection sheds light on issues of health care in ethnic communities.

Gift of G. Lloyd Kirk, 1987.

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Center staff, updated by Bethany Myers
Sponsor
This collection was processed with funds provided by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission as part of the Nursing History Processing and Cataloging Project.
Access Restrictions

Series 9 is restricted.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the Center with requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote or reproduce the material.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents note

This series includes materials documenting the Association's founding and early architecture. It contains a nearly complete set of annual meeting minutes (1900-1973) and board meeting minutes (1900-1961) which provide a detailed overview of activities. Included in this series are the Association's original constitution and by-laws (1900) and subsequent revisions (1912-1960); President's reports (1945-1958); Executive Director's Reports (1946-1958); individual Presidents' files; and correspondence and pertinent information concerning board members.

Constitution, by-laws, and minutes of Annual and Board of Directors, 1900-1906.
Box 1 Folder 1
Charter and by-laws, 1912 (two copies; revisions 1937-1939).
Box 1 Folder 2
Amendment to by-laws, 1943-1960 (correspondence regarding by-law amendments, by-laws, 1943).
Box 1 Folder 3
Correspondence, by-laws, 1943 (By-law amendments, 1943-1960).
Box 1 Folder 4
Minutes, annual meetings and Board of Directors, 1906-1908 (Ledger).
Box 1 Folder 5
1908-1914.
Box 1 Folder 6
1915-1921.
Box 1 Folder 7
1922-1928 (extra copy of first page of 1922 minutes, no page for 1925).
Box 1 Folder 8
1929-1939 (missing 1938?).
Box 1 Folder 9
1940-1946.
Box 1 Folder 10
1947-1949.
Box 1 Folder 11
1950-1964 and 1968-1973.
Box 1 Folder 12
1908-1909.
Box 1 Folder 13
1910-1911.
Box 1 Folder 14
1912-1913.
Box 1 Folder 15
1914-1915.
Box 1 Folder 16
1916-1917.
Box 2 Folder 17
1918-1919.
Box 2 Folder 18
1920-1921.
Box 2 Folder 19
1922-1924.
Box 2 Folder 20
1925-1926.
Box 2 Folder 21
1927-1928.
Box 2 Folder 22
1929-1930.
Box 2 Folder 23
1931-1932.
Box 2 Folder 24
1933-1934.
Box 2 Folder 25
1935-1936.
Box 2 Folder 26
1937-1938.
Box 2 Folder 27
1939-1940.
Box 2 Folder 28
1941-1942.
Box 2 Folder 29
1943-1944.
Box 2 Folder 30
1945-1946.
Box 3 Folder 31
1947-1948.
Box 3 Folder 32
1949-1950.
Box 3 Folder 33
1951-1952.
Box 3 Folder 34
1953-1954.
Box 3 Folder 35
1955-1956.
Box 3 Folder 36
1957-1959.
Box 3 Folder 37
1960-1961.
Box 3 Folder 38
Minutes, Board of Directors, Starr Centre Association and Visiting Nursing Society, 1960.
Box 3 Folder 39
1900-1901.
Box 4 Folder 40
1903-1908.
Box 4 Folder 41
1910-1920.
Box 4 Folder 42
1943-1944.
Box 4 Folder 43
1944-1945.
Box 4 Folder 44
1945-1947.
Box 4 Folder 45
1948-1951.
Box 4 Folder 46
1952-1955.
Box 4 Folder 47
1956-1958.
Box 4 Folder 48
1946-1950.
Box 4 Folder 49
1951-1955.
Box 4 Folder 50
1956-1958.
Box 4 Folder 51
Sidney E. Longmaid, 1935-1937.
Box 4 Folder 52
Sidney E. Longmaid, 1938-1939.
Box 4 Folder 53
Sidney E. Longmaid, 1940-1942.
Box 4 Folder 54
Sidney E. Longmaid, 1943.
Box 4 Folder 55
Sidney E. Longmaid, 1944-1945.
Box 4 Folder 56
Sidney E. Longmaid, 1946-1949.
Box 4 Folder 57
Sidney E. Longmaid, 1950-1958.
Box 4 Folder 58
William Hord, 1958-1959.
Box 4 Folder 59
Charles R. Kimbell, Board member, 1938-1943.
Box 4 Folder 60
Marion Shand, Executive Director, 1943.
Box 4 Folder 61
Mrs. Wheeler H. Page, Corresponding Secretary of Board of Directors, 1960.
Box 4 Folder 62
Correspondence-appointments, resignations and business activities of Board Members, 1933-1957.
Box 5 Folder 63
List of Board and Committee members, 1896-1957.
Box 5 Folder 64
Memorandum, administrative changes, May 10, 1939.
Box 5 Folder 65
Name, address and dates served as Board member, 1901-1954 (index cards).
Box 5 Folder 66
Obituaries-Board members, 1944-1946.
Box 5 Folder 67
Starr Library business transacted, 1933.
Box 5 Folder 68
Starr Library work, 1921, 1929, 1931, and 1932.
Box 5 Folder 69

Scope and Contents note

This small series consist of a handwritten biographical profile of Theodore Starr (b.1841-d.1884) as well as published and unpublished histories of the social and health programs by and about the association. These files range in date from 1897 to 1943.

Biographical information, Theodore Starr, 1901.
Box 5 Folder 70
Historical sketches, 1912-1937.
Box 5 Folder 71
History of a street - St. Mary Street, 1901.
Box 5 Folder 72
Introduction to Starr Centre Association, 1943.
Box 5 Folder 73
Story of Starr Center Association, 1911.
Box 5 Folder 74

Scope and Contents note

This series contains committee minutes, the majority of which are from the period 1937-1959. These committees include advisory, building, executive, finance, membership and nominating, and reorganization. Also included are reports for determining and planning future health care programs.

Advisory Committee minutes, November 2 1944.
Box 5 Folder 75
Advisory Committee minutes for Planning Future Program, May 11, 1943.
Box 5 Folder 76
Advisory Committee minutes regarding health activity, June 18, 1937.
Box 5 Folder 77
Building Committee minutes, November, 1937.
Box 5 Folder 78
Determination of Neighborhood House Services Committee minutes, 1941.
Box 5 Folder 79
Executive Committee minutes, 1909-1913.
Box 5 Folder 80
Executive and Finance Committee minutes, 1911-1959.
Box 5 Folder 81
Expansion of Generalized Nursing Service in Germantown Committee minutes, 1951.
Box 5 Folder 82
Expansion of Generalized Nursing Service in Germantown Committee correspondence, 1951-1952.
Box 5 Folder 83
Finance Committee minutes, 1909-1939.
Box 5 Folder 84
Library and Kindergarten Committee minutes, 1910-1913.
Box 5 Folder 85
Membership and Nominating Committee minutes, 1959.
Box 5 Folder 86
Milk and Medical Committee minutes, 1909-1913.
Box 5 Folder 87
Organization Meeting minutes, November 17, 1937.
Box 5 Folder 88
Steering Committee for Planning Program for Starr Centre, 1942.
Box 5 Folder 89
Building Committee minutes, 1951.
Box 5 Folder 90
Location for Centre Committee minutes, 1943.
Box 5 Folder 91
Plan for Expansion of Generalized Nursing Service in Germantown Committee minutes, 1951.
Box 5 Folder 92
Clinic Survey Committee report, 1938-1939.
Box 5 Folder 93
Special Committee on Health Activities, preliminary report, 1941.
Box 5 Folder 94
Special Meeting, Future Plan for Services report, 1951.
Box 5 Folder 95
Sub-committee Nursing Policies and Practices for Proposed Generalized Nursing Service-Germantown, 1943.
Box 5 Folder 96
Sub-committee, Study Adequacy of City of Philadelphia Health Centers, 1951.
Box 5 Folder 97
Determination of Health Services Committee correspondence, 1941.
Box 5 Folder 98

Scope and Contents note

Found within this series are a variety of material used for public relations purposes such as pamphlets, calendars, and newspaper clippings highlighting services mainly provided for the years 1900-1919. It includes newspaper clipping (1944) of the health association.

Calendar, Cooperative Coal Club, 1909.
Box 6 Folder 99
Coal Club Branch, pamphlet, 1911.
Box 6 Folder 100
Health Agency Information, newspaper clippings, 1944.
Box 6 Folder 101
Health Teaching, newspaper clippings, 1910-1923.
Box 6 Folder 102
Milk and Medical Department, pamphlet, 1911.
Box 6 Folder 103
Negro Branch of Starr Centre, pamphlet, 1909.
Box 6 Folder 104
Neighborhood House, Starr Centre Association, services available pamphlets, 1901-1913.
Box 6 Folder 105
Nursing Health Service, brochure, 1940's.
Box 6 Folder 106
Pictures, reprints, Starr Centre's services and headquarters, 1900's.
Box 6 Folder 107
Pre-natal, Child Health Services, pamphlet, 1904-1919.
Box 6 Folder 108
Services available, pamphlet, 1901-1913.
Box 6 Folder 109
Starr Centre Library, pamphlet, 1904.
Box 6 Folder 110
Starr Centre Neighborhood House, pamphlets, 1900's.
Box 6 Folder 111
Starr Centre Stamp Saving Branch, pamphlets, 1900.
Box 6 Folder 112
Summer work, pamphlet, 1911-1919.
Box 6 Folder 113

Scope and Contents note

This series documents the initiation of generalized public health nursing programs linking the Starr Center Association, Visiting Nurse Society of Philadelphia, and the City of Philadelphia with headquarters in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. It includes agreements and correspondence concerning the amalgamation.

Agreement between Visiting Nurse Society and Starr Centre Association, March 3, 1959.
Box 6 Folder 114
Agreement and ordinance between Starr Centre and City of Philadelphia, no date.
Box 6 Folder 115
Amalgamation, Visiting Nurse Society and Starr Centre Association, 1951.
Box 6 Folder 116
Combining Services, "Community Nursing Services", 1958-1959.
Box 6 Folder 117
Headquarters, 56-58 E. Haines Street, building plans, legal description and photographs, 1951.
Box 6 Folder 118
Health Centre, newspaper clippings, 1951-1952.
Box 6 Folder 119
Progress of Starr Centre Services, 1944.
Box 6 Folder 120
Properties, Lombard and Catherine Streets, 1943.
Box 6 Folder 121
Proposed Plan for Starr Centre Services, 1943.
Box 6 Folder 122
Plans for Starr Centre Services, 1943.
Box 6 Folder 123
Purchase of Starr Centre Site by Board of Education, newspaper clipping, 1960's.
Box 6 Folder 124
Statement of intent, relocation of Starr Centre, 1942.
Box 6 Folder 125
Statement for selection of location for Starr Centre, 1942-1944.
Box 6 Folder 126
Statement for combining Agencies, Secretary, Health Division, Council of Social Agencies, 1942.
Box 6 Folder 127
Statement for consideration of the Visiting Nurse Society Board on amalgamation with Starr Centre Association, 1942.
Box 6 Folder 128

Scope and Contents note

This series includes reports, booklets, surveys, and various memos concerning the service programs sponsored by the Association or by other agencies. It includes two surveys, one by Philadelphia Health Survey (1949) and the other by Philadelphia Hospital and Health Survey, Public Health Nursing (1928). There is a file for the proposal of a Community Nursing Service, Inc. (1955).

Case Histories, 1900's.
Box 7 Folder 129
Dispensary, memorandums, minutes and correspondence, 1932-1942.
Box 7 Folder 130
La Madre Ed Il Bambino, City of Philadelphia-Child Health.
Box 7 Folder 131
Little Mothers Leagues, Organization and Equipment, Child Federation, Philadelphia booklet, 1919.
Box 7 Folder 132
Manual, Nursing, Visiting Nurse Association, Phila., 1931.
Box 7 Folder 133
Philadelphia Public Health Survey, Starr Centre survey, pages 176-179, 1949.
Box 7 Folder 134
Proposal, Community Nursing Services, Inc., Health and Welfare Council, Inc., Health Division, 1955.
Box 7 Folder 135
Statistical Service reports, 1952-1954.
Box 7 Folder 136
Survey, Public Health Nursing, Philadelphia Hospital and Health Survey, 1928.
Box 7 Folder 137

Scope and Contents note

Found in this series are reports of the Association's audits (1958-1962); ledgers of cash disbursements, cash receipts, budgets requirements, and invoices from 1909-1959. Also, there are correspondence files pertaining to bond and insurance; the Community Chest of Philadelphia and Vicinity; tax information; transfer of securities; trust estate; and income and expenses.

Agreement and Correspondence, United Fund of Philadelphia, 1959.
Box 7 Folder 138
Application for Exemption Certification for use by charitable organizations, 1956.
Box 7 Folder 139
Auditor's reports, 1958-1962.
Box 7 Folder 140
Bond, Indemnity Insurance Company of North America, 1940-1954.
Box 7 Folder 141
Bond, Special Ordinance Bond to City of Philadelphia, 1944.
Box 7 Folder 142
Change of Registration Office, Visiting Nurse Society, Philadelphia and Starr Centre Association, 1960-1963.
Box 7 Folder 143
Bond and Insurance, 1958-1959.
Box 7 Folder 144
Budget, Community Fund of Philadelphia and Vicinity, 1940.
Box 7 Folder 145
Certification of Offices, banking processing, 1960 and 1963.
Box 7 Folder 146
Community Chest of Philadelphia and vicinity, 1957-1959.
Box 7 Folder 147
Financial Grant, Germantown Relief Society, 1959-1960.
Box 7 Folder 148
Funding, availability of payment for social and health care, re: Samuel H. Ashbridge Fund, 1944-1959.
Box 7 Folder 149
Legal: Noerr Motor Freight, Inc. vs. Eastern Railroad Presidents Conference, et al., 1958-1960.
Box 7 Folder 150
Refunding and Services, 1933-1938.
Box 7 Folder 151
Transfer of Securities, 1959-1962.
Box 7 Folder 152
Income and expense, 1931-1934.
Box 7 Folder 153
Refunds to the Visiting Nurse Society, 1951-1958.
Box 7 Folder 154
Tax Information, 1958-1977.
Box 7 Folder 155
Trust estate-Joseph Lapsley Wilson, 1937-1938, 1962-1970, 1976-1979.
Box 7 Folder 156
Ledgers, Cash Disbursements, June to December, 1934.
Flatbox 16
Ledgers, Cash Disbursements, May, 1943.
Flatbox 16
Ledgers, Cash Receipts, 1939-1943.
Flatbox 16
Ledgers, Budget Requirements, 1939-1942.
Flatbox 17
Ledger, Cash Disbursements, 1938-1943.
Flatbox 17
Ledger, Cash Disbursements, 1956-1959.
Flatbox 17
Ledger, Invoices, 1909-1910.
Flatbox 17

Scope and Contents note

This series includes annual reports of other community social and health agencies, such as College Settlement, Kitchen and Coffee 1896 and 1898; St. Mary Street, College Settlement of Philadelphia, 1894-1895; Child Federation Philadelphia, 1914-1916; and Babies Welfare Association, 1916-1917.

Babies Welfare Association, annual report, 1916-1917.
Box 8 Folder 157
Charitable Institutions, Germantown area, 1942.
Box 8 Folder 158
Child Federation Philadelphia, Pa., annual report, 1914-1916.
Box 8 Folder 159
College Settlement, Kitchen and Coffee, annual report, 1896 and 1898.
Box 8 Folder 160
St. Mary Street, College Settlement of Philadelphia, annual report, 1894-1895.
Box 8 Folder 161

Scope and Contents note

Found within this series are files of the Starr Centre Association employees and of nursing personnel assigned to Starr Center Association from the Visiting Nurse Society of Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia Public Health Department Administration.

Personnel Files, 1928-1967 (Bulk, 1940-1960).
Box 9
Absalom, Emily, 1945-1946.
Box 9 Folder 162
Bennett, Celestine, 1955-1958.
Box 9 Folder 163
Blackman, Eleanore Whittaker, 1940-1943.
Box 9 Folder 164
Bovio, Catherine M. Hahn, 1944-1945.
Box 9 Folder 165
Byrne, Lillian E., 1928-1944.
Box 9 Folder 166
Cavedon, Mary K., 1957-1958.
Box 9 Folder 167
Chan, Pheng Looi, 1952-1953.
Box 9 Folder 168
Chetowska, Elsie Barbara, 1945-1947.
Box 9 Folder 169
Coley, Dorothy May, 1955-1959.
Box 9 Folder 170
Corey, Helen Hyatt, 1936-1942.
Box 9 Folder 171
Crocker, Fran, 1949-1962.
Box 9 Folder 172
Davis, Alonzo, 1939-1946 (custodian).
Box 9 Folder 173
Davis, Mary Louise, 1943-1944.
Box 9 Folder 174
Dickerman, Eva K., 1936-1941.
Box 9 Folder 175
Eakle, Mary H., 1946-1949.
Box 9 Folder 176
Ego, Mary Adele, 1955-1956.
Box 9 Folder 177
Fidler, Sylvia E., 1941-1943.
Box 9 Folder 178
Garrett, Mae, 1944-1945.
Box 9 Folder 179
Glinka, Martha Rose, 1947-1948.
Box 9 Folder 180
Goldberg, Evelyn L., 1944-1945.
Box 9 Folder 181
Goluboff, Ruth, 1941-1942.
Box 9 Folder 182
Greiner, Dorothy Nauman, 1936-1937.
Box 9 Folder 183
Groff, Edith H., 1944-1945.
Box 9 Folder 184
Gross, Marta, 1957-1958.
Box 9 Folder 185
Hart, Velma M., 1944-1946.
Box 9 Folder 186
Hesson, Mary E., 1945-1946.
Box 9 Folder 187
Hill, Mary Alice, 1951-1952.
Box 9 Folder 188
Hirsch, Gertrude, 1946-1947.
Box 9 Folder 189
Horvath, Irene, 1946-1949.
Box 9 Folder 190
Hudson, Catherine Cleo, 1951-1952.
Box 9 Folder 191
Iungerich, Zoe, 1952-1955.
Box 9 Folder 192
Jaschik, Eva, 1950-1951.
Box 9 Folder 193
Johnston, Pauline Gladys, 1948-1951.
Box 9 Folder 194
Laubach, Frieda, 1946-1947.
Box 9 Folder 195
Leuchak, Elizabeth, Aug. 1956-Dec. 1956.
Box 9 Folder 196
Lex, Evelyn, 1938-1940.
Box 9 Folder 197
Maguire, Mary Murphy (Kathleen), 1955-1957.
Box 9 Folder 198
Matthy, Helen Foertsch, 1944-1946.
Box 9 Folder 199
McCaffrey, C. Eleanor, 1915-1944.
Box 9 Folder 200
McGrath, Mary A., 1947-1948.
Box 9 Folder 201
McNervey, Carolyn, 1938.
Box 9 Folder 202
MacOwen, Amy A., 1939-1942.
Box 9 Folder 203
Meyer, Marian Gibson, 1954-1955.
Box 9 Folder 204
Miller, Mildred A., 1931-1943 (librarian).
Box 9 Folder 205
Moore, Janice E., 1945-1947.
Box 9 Folder 206
Nieto, Jean Rodger, 1953-1954.
Box 9 Folder 207
Obermiller, Mary L., 1950-1953.
Box 9 Folder 208
O'Donnell, Sara F., 1944-1949.
Box 9 Folder 209
O'Donnell, Elizabeth, 1948-1950.
Box 9 Folder 210
Pickens, M. Elizabeth, 1949-1950.
Box 9 Folder 211
Pubillores, Eleanor G., 1948-1950.
Box 9 Folder 212
Rainey, Margaret, March, 1952-Sep. 1952.
Box 9 Folder 213
Ranson, Elsa Jean, 1946-1947.
Box 9 Folder 214
Rhea, Katherine, March, 1945-July, 1945.
Box 9 Folder 215
Richardson, Mildred, March, 1943-July, 1943 (librarian).
Box 9 Folder 216
Roper, Louise, 1948-1950.
Box 9 Folder 217
Rucker, Justine, 1951-1957.
Box 9 Folder 218
Rule, Joan Marie, 1953-1955.
Box 9 Folder 219
Ryan, Lilian A., 1947-1948.
Box 9 Folder 220
Sheppard, Anita Faller, 1950-1951.
Box 9 Folder 221
Smith, Margaret Hannah, 1950-1953.
Box 9 Folder 222
Smith, Mary Emma, 1953-1955.
Box 9 Folder 223
Snarr, Blanche, 1946-1949.
Box 9 Folder 224
Sulock, Anna, 1946-1948.
Box 9 Folder 225
Swet, Emily Wharton Henley, 1947-1949.
Box 9 Folder 226
Thomas, Sally S., 1944-1945.
Box 9 Folder 227
Thomton, Mary Ella, 1950-1951.
Box 9 Folder 228
Treloar, Cordelia W., 1948-1950.
Box 9 Folder 229
Uhrich, Jennie, 1944-1946.
Box 9 Folder 230
Usilton, Anne Montgomery, 1936.
Box 9 Folder 231
Veith, Marily Jane, 1950-1952.
Box 9 Folder 232
Wallis, Alice, 1957-?.
Box 9 Folder 233
Walsh, Elizabeth, 1947-1948.
Box 9 Folder 234
Weber, Emma Gertrude, 1949-1950.
Box 9 Folder 235
Weiner, Sara, July, 8-16, 1943 (library assistant).
Box 9 Folder 236
Wilson, Anna B., 1939-1947.
Box 9 Folder 237
Woodlock, Nila, 1944-1946.
Box 9 Folder 238
Yanov, Nadya, 1944-1946.
Box 9 Folder 239
Zachwieja, Anna, 1945-1947.
Box 9 Folder 240

Scope and Contents note

The photographs making up this series are mainly from 1897-1937. The Association used photographic images to communicate their services to the community. The association reproduced some of the photographs found in this series in annual reports and pamphlets. The photographs include nurses working in the home; Association headquarters; other facilities such as the library, clinics, kindergarten, playground, and savings bank; and neighborhood housing.

Where Old Europe Meets New America, 1909.
Box 10 Folder 1
Alley Near the Casa Ravello, c.1910.
Box 10 Folder 2
Alley Near the Casa Ravello, (Glass Negative).
Box 10 Folder 2.1
Families in Alley, c.1909.
Box 10 Folder 3
Alley without People, c.1910.
Box 10 Folder 4
Street with Clothes Drying in the Air, c.1910.
Box 10 Folder 5
Crooked Alley with Hanging Clothes.
Box 10 Folder 6
Little Boys and Girl in Costume, c.1910.
Box 10 Folder 7
Little Girls and Boy on Center Steps, c.1910.
Box 10 Folder 8
Girls Outside Center, c.1910.
Box 10 Folder 9
Theodore Starr Savings Bank, c.1910.
Box 10 Folder 10
Casa Ravello Starr Center, 7th and Catherine Streets, c.1910.
Box 10 Folder 11
Sign for Casa Ravello Starr Centre, c.1910.
Box 10 Folder 12
Filippo Giovanni Door, Closed.
Box 10 Folder 13
Filippo Giovanni Door, Open.
Box 10 Folder 14
Nurse with Family of Eight (Glass Negative), "The Work of a Nurse" on Reverse Side.
Box 10 Folder 15
Family in One Room Apartment, c.1915.
Box 10 Folder 16
Family in One Room Apartment.
Box 10 Folder 16.1
Growing Pains.
Box 10 Folder 17
The Preparation of Formula, c.1915.
Box 10 Folder 18
The Preparation of Formula, c.1915.
Box 10 Folder 19
Nurse Weighs Baby, c.1915.
Box 10 Folder 20
Nurse Weighs Baby While Two Mothers Wait with their Children, c.1920.
Box 10 Folder 21
Mother Bathes Baby While Nurse Watches, c.1930.
Box 10 Folder 22
Mother Dresses Baby While Nurse Watches, c.1930.
Box 10 Folder 23
Dentist Examines Girl, c.1930.
Box 10 Folder 24
Two Dentists Examine Girl, c.1930.
Box 10 Folder 25
Mother With Babe on Lap Chats with Doctor, c.1930.
Box 10 Folder 26
Nurse Gives a Shot to Boy Toddler, c.1930.
Box 10 Folder 27
Keeping Tabs on Mary Ann, April 1937.
Box 10 Folder 28
Nurse and Doctor Examine Sick Baby, c.1935.
Box 11 Folder 29
Nurse and Doctor Examine Sick Baby.
Box 11 Folder 29.1
Nurse and Doctor Examine Sick Baby (Glass Negative).
Box 11 Folder 29.2
Nurse and Child with Books at Door, c.1935.
Box 11 Folder 30
Nurse Gathers Medical Information from Woman, October 1919.
Box 11 Folder 31
One-Year Old Girl Seated, 1910.
Box 11 Folder 32
One of Our Neighbors Who Needs Consideration.
Box 11 Folder 33
Kindergarten Children Outside Starr Centre (Glass Negative), 1915.
Box 11 Folder 34
Large Group of Children in Front of Hanging Rings (Glass Negative).
Box 11 Folder 35
Smaller Groups of Children in Front of Hanging Rings (Glass Negative).
Box 11 Folder 36
Group of Children Around Swings (Glass Negative).
Box 11 Folder 37
Group of Children at See-Saw.
Box 11 Folder 38
Group of Children in and Around Sandbox.
Box 11 Folder 39
Children in Horse-Drawn Buggy, c.192?.
Box 11 Folder 40
Group of Girls, Posed, c.1925.
Box 11 Folder 41
Two Mothers with Baptismal Babies, April 1914.
Box 11 Folder 42
Neighborhood Types, c.1915.
Box 11 Folder 43
Mothers with Children in Front of Baby Saving Station, c.1915.
Box 11 Folder 44
Six Mothers, Each with Twins, c.1915.
Box 11 Folder 45
A Customer, an Italian Woman with her Baby.
Box 11 Folder 46
A Customer, an Italian Woman with her Baby.
Box 11 Folder 46.1
Woman Holding Two Babies.
Box 11 Folder 47
SCA Seated Group Shot.
Box 11 Folder 48
Seven Mothers, One Father, 10 Children Waiting, c.1910.
Box 11 Folder 49
Four Mothers and Babies Waiting, c.1910.
Box 11 Folder 50
Six Mothers and Nine Children Waiting, c.1910.
Box 11 Folder 51
Six Mothers and Nine Children Waiting, c.1910.
Box 11 Folder 51.1
Mother, Son and Grandson, c.1940.
Box 11 Folder 52
Mother, Son and Grandson, c.1940.
Box 11 Folder 52.1
Group of Girls Sewing, April 1914.
Box 11 Folder 53
Group of Girls Knitting, c.1915.
Box 11 Folder 54
Eight to Ten Year-old Boys and Girls Reading, April 1914.
Box 12 Folder 55
Children Sit in a Circle, April 1917.
Box 12 Folder 56
Library Check-Out, Summer 1918.
Box 12 Folder 57
A Busy Time at the Library Desk Following the Close of School, c.1920.
Box 12 Folder 58
A Busy Time at the Library Desk Following the Close of School.
Box 12 Folder 58.1
Asking for the New Books, c.1918.
Box 12 Folder 59
Groups of Students Read and Play Checkers, c.1918.
Box 12 Folder 60
Two Boys, Four Girls, Study at Table (Teens), c.1918.
Box 12 Folder 61
Music Lesson Time-Two Youthful Students,.
Box 12 Folder 62
Music Lesson Time-Two Youthful Students,.
Box 12 Folder 62.1
A Corner in the Library.
Box 12 Folder 63
Penny Lunch With Children.
Box 12 Folder 64
Woman with Three Young Helpers Standing Behind Tables, c. 1915.
Box 12 Folder 65
Penny Lunches at the McCall Annex Public School,, c. 1915.
Box 12 Folder 66
Children with Soup and Crackers, Long Tables, c.1915.
Box 12 Folder 67
Children with Soup and Crackers, at Desks, c.1915.
Box 12 Folder 68
Children with Soup and Crackers, in a Square, c.1915.
Box 12 Folder 69
Penny Lunch Children, Forten School, 1897.
Box 12 Folder 70
Forty-three Years of Penny Lunches, c.1940.
Box 12 Folder 71
Modified Milk Store, c.1915.
Box 12 Folder 72
Modified Milk Store.
Box 12 Folder 72.1
Modified Milk Store.
Box 12 Folder 72.2
Mothers at Milk Counter, c.1910.
Box 12 Folder 73
People at Milk Counter, c.1915.
Box 12 Folder 74
Girl with Milk Bottle, c.1915.
Box 12 Folder 75

Scope and Contents note

This small series includes a mimeograph and ledger keys. It also contains several scrapbooks (1902-1922) of the Association's promotional material of its services to the community such as appeals, reports, statistical data and newspaper clippings.

Artifacts.
Box 13
Mimeographs and ledger keys, (no date).
Box 13
Scrapbooks, 1902-1922.
Box 14
Cooperative Coal Club Rainy Day Fund calendar, 1909.
Box 14
1., 1902-1905.
Box 14
2., 1906-1910.
Box 14
3., 1916-1920.
Box 14
4., 1911-1916.
Box 15
5., 1920-1922.
Box 15

Print, Suggest