After my last post proposing a possible link between the Silk Dress Cipher and Orphan Trains, I widened my search a little to take in 19th Century Baltimore orphanages. What kind of archival sources might still exist, in a town where 1,500 buildings were destroyed by fire in 1904?
But rather than look directly, I decided to instead first try to find any books or studies on 19th century Baltimore orphanages. And it turns out that (unless you know otherwise) there are only really two of those to consider…
Baltimore orphanages #1 – Marcy Kay Wilson
The first is “Dear Little Living Arguments”: Orphans and Other Poor Children, Their Families and Orphanages, Baltimore and Liverpool, 1840-1910, a freely downloadable 2009 dissertation by Marcy Kay Wilson at the University of Maryland:
The two Baltimore orphanages that I examine are the Home of the Friendless of Baltimore City (HOF), which was established in 1854, and the Baltimore Orphan Asylum (BOA). The latter was known as the Female Humane Association Charity School (FHACS) at the time of its incorporation in 1801. Six years later (1807), it was reincorporated as the Orphaline Charity School (OCS). It was renamed the Baltimore Female Orphan Asylum (BFOA) in 1826, and finally became known as the BOA in 1849. [pp.10-11]
Her primary sources for the Baltimore Orphan Asylum (in the Woodbourne Collection of the Maryland State Archives) include:
* Board Minutes (1881-1897, 1905-1921)
* Monthly Reports (1893-1917)
* Annual Reports (1860-1930)
For the Home of the Friendless of Baltimore City, the same Woodbourne Collection holds:
* Annual Reports (1854-1914)
* Constitution and By-Laws, 1859.
* Charter and By-Laws, revised 1904.
* Board Minutes (1901-1913)
Also (even though I’m not initially looking at Catholic orphanages):
The female-religious order known as the Oblate Sisters of Providence (OSP) granted me access to its records, which are housed at Our Lady of Mount Providence Convent in Baltimore. The OSP has the distinction of being the oldest Catholic religious order for African-American women in the United States, and was created in 1829. [p.13]
I’ve started to patiently work my way through its 402 pages, but I’ll be a little while. It turns out that orphanages sprung up all over America during the 19th century, initially triggered by the family-destroying ravages of cholera epidemics… so best not hold your breath, then. 🙂
Baltimore orphanages #2 – Nurith Zmora
Marcy Kay Wilson refers early on to Nurith Zmora’s Orphanages Reconsidered: Child Care Institutions in Progressive Era Baltimore (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1994).
Zmora used the records of the Samuel Ready School for Orphan Girls (which opened in 1887, and whose archives are in the special collections of the Langsdale Library at the University of Baltimore), the Hebrew Orphan Asylum (whose records are now held by the Maryland Jewish Historical Society), and the Dolan Children’s Aid Society (whose records are in the Children’s Bureau archive of the Associated Catholic Charities of Baltimore).
Though Wilson and (the far more revisionist, it has to be said) Zmora both offer fascinating insights into the social and political dynamics underpinning Baltimore’s orphanages, it’s hard not to conclude that their efforts sit somewhat at right-angles to our present angle: and it also has to be said that there is not a hint of the whole Orphan Trains narrative emerging from the various archives so far. But… perhaps this is all just the tip of an evidential iceberg. 😉
Other sources
There were a number of other books that kept coming up during my literature trawl, that I thought I ought to mention:
Second Home: Orphan Asylums and Poor Families in America by Timothy A. Hacsi (Harvard University Press).
Clement, Priscilla Ferguson, “Growing Pains: Children in the Industrial Age, 1850-1890”, New York: Twayne Publishers, 1997. [Wilson points to p.200]
Holt, Marilyn. “The Orphan Trains: Placing Out in America. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1992. [Wilson points to pp.80-117]
O’Connor, Stephen. “Orphan Trains: The Story of Charles Loring Brace and the Children He Saved and Failed”. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.
Crooks, James B. “Politics and Progress; The Rise of Progressivism in Baltimore, 1895 to 1911”. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1968.
I think my great grandfather may have been in the orphanage. Is there any way I can find this out? His name was Joseph William Armhold. Born in 1898. (or 1899)
I just found out my grandfather was in the orphanage in 1875 to 1885 Ohio, I found a letter that stated he was abandoned as a child and was in and out of orphanages I always thought this but now I have some facts but now the work begins, he said he used the names of his foster parents Tangled in all of his name’s first last and middle, find the 1900 census you may be able to find a census for the orphanages in the area he was born
1920 census show my Grandmother Alice Healy in an orphanage in Baltimore City at 215 North Strickler St
I can’t find any info on this facility.
Any help please
Tara Armhold Tay
Darleen Allwein,
215 N. Stricker Street, Baltimore, Maryland was known as Baltimore Orphanage in 1900. Later from 1916-17 it was known as Baltimore Orphan Asylum. Enter ” 215 North Stricker Street, Baltimore, MD 1920 “. German Marylanders Site will appear. ED-265 June 4, 1900. Above on left top there is ” MISCELLANEOUS A to Z ” and ” German Orphan Home “. From what I understand, at least one of Grandparents had to be of Germanic Descent in order for the child or children to be placed there. I hope that this information helps each of you.
I am looking for information about my grandmother who was removed from her parents with four older siblings in Baltimore in 1907. All I know is that she grew up in a facility for girls run by nuns. The girls were taught to sew and made clothing for Baltimore’s society ladies, especially wedding gowns. The girls and nuns walked downtown at Christmas time to purchase gifts. Each girl was given twenty-five cents. My grandmother didn’t say the name of the convent school, if that’s what it was. I would deeply appreciate any information about it.
Hi Theresa,
The most obvious place to start would be the 1910 census for Baltimore, but I couldn’t see that anywhere online (which I’m guessing you already knew). I would think you can track this down via here: https://www.archives.gov/research/census
As far as finding out more about Baltimore’s orphanages (specifically the ones run by nuns), I strongly recommend going through Marcy Kay Wilson’s dissertation (link in the post) and Nurith Zmora’s book “Orphanages Reconsidered: Childcare Institutions in Progressive Era Baltimore”.
These should give you a a feel for how orphanages (or at least, those ones whose archives have survived) were funded and run: for example, Wilson talks (briefly) about mantua-making (which I think is a fascinating yet little-known historical topic all on its own) and dressmaking (p.249).
At the very least, you should be able to use these to draw up a (fairly short) list of religious orphanages in Baltimore.
Cheers, Nick
I’m trying to find the records of the Nursey and Child’s Hospital for the 1890-1895 time frame when my grandmother resided there. I thought I would contact Marcia Kay Wilson to see if she had encountered them but don’t know how to find her. If anyone has any suggestions, please help. Thanks – Gail
My grandmother and aunt were in a Jewish orphanage in Baltimore in the early 1900s.Their names are Gertrude Nadel, and Anna Irene Nadel. Their parents were Aaron and Mary Nadel.
Looking for information. Thank you for your help.
Michelle Gellman.
Michelle,
I can’t find any trace of Aaron and Mary using the usual search tools. That is not to say that they can’t be found, just that it might be a difficult search. If you are looking to trace the ancestry of Aaron and Mary I suggest that the easy way to do that is to take the 23andme DNA test. This company has by far the largest Jewish DNA database and I would be confident that the test would at a minimum show up DNA matches at the third cousin level. From there it would be relatively straightforward to link these DNA matches up to Aaron and Mary.
Judging from my experience with Australian orphanage records I would expect that trying to get anywhere with 100 year old orphanage records would be a big ask. IMHO.
DNA tells the truth. Official and private records often do not.
Gail,
a Marcia Kay Wilson died in 2017. “Marcia Kay Wilson 67, of Indianapolis, passed away on March 25, 2017. She was born on September 23, 1949 to the late James H. and Ellen Montgomery in Indianapolis, IN”
There is/was more than one Marcia Kay Wilson in the USA but this lady seems to be the best fit.
I AM SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ON FRANK BELL BORN BETWEEN 1880 TO 1882, DEC 25TH. SUPPOSEDLY HAD SISTER WHO VISITED HIM IN WV. FRANK B BELL IS MY BIOLOGICAL GRANDFATHER AND I CAN NOT LOCATE ANY PROOF OF HIS BIRTH. PLEASE CONTACT. ME.
JEAN LONG: would that be Frank Bernard Bell, born 25 Dec 1882, Baltimore County, Maryland, died 1964, married Mary Frances Elizabeth Milton in 1900: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3G7B-TJJ (private family tree of Michael D. Roth)?
There are lots of other people called Frank/Francis Bell, but this one jumped out at me.
Jean Long,
WW2 USA Draft Registration records; Frank Bernard Bell born 25th December 1880 Living (as at 27th April 1942) at R.2 Mannings, Harper’s Ferry Jeff. Co. WVA. Born “MO”? “Ixio”? county Baltimore.
Wife Mary F. Bell at same address. Employed at “W.P.A.” Jefferson Co. Place of employment “Charles Town” Jeff. Co. WVA. 5 feet eight inches. 182 pounds. Brown eyes. Brown hair.
Ancestry has thirty three family trees that include him.
Frank Bernard Burnett “Booby””Judge of the Mountain””Burnet” Bell
Born 25th December 1880 Baltimore, Maryland. Married 23rd March 1904 Jefferson WVA to Mary Frances Milton 1885-1971
Died 13th May 1964 at Charles Town, WVA
Jean Long.
Frank Bernard Bell and his wife had four daughters and two sons.
Alice C (Virginia) m Stagner 1905-1984
Rose Etta m 1) Chamblin 2) Prather 1909-2000
Frank Wilmer Bell 1911-1978
Nellie May 1913-1999
James Cleveland Bell 1918-1985
Frances Virginia m 1) Gillespie 2) Speck 1919-2007
Grandfather and his sister were residents in the Home of the Friendless abt 1905. Their parents were married in Hagerstown Md, according to records I found at the MSA, the children were also born in Hagerstown. Assuming that the children’s birth records would have been given to the orphanage, where can I find these birth records now?
I have done research for some time now and tried to find information at the Maryland Archives with no luck. Hers what I have known as told to me by my mother years ago. I’am looking for records on a Rudolph Ruppers who may have been born in Germany, immigrated to Maryland not sure of the date but he was in the Civil war on the Confederate side. He was taken as a prisoner at the Battle of Antietam. War records show someone that died with a similar name., However my Great Great Grandfather survived the War. He had married someone named Anna. Their first child was born in August 1870 name Robert Edward Lee Ruppers, (he always went by Edward and was my Great-grandfather), 2nd son born William Paul Ruppers born in 1872. Now for the the Orphan situations. Story is the boys were orphaned, don’t know if they were full orphans, but they were taken in by a family named ‘Beall’ who raised them as Catholic. I cannot find Edward Ruppers activity until 1896 in Wisconsin and then Chicago and have no problem finding that info. However I thought maybe there could be some type of paper trail of there life in Maryland, so far nothing. Edward was consistent showing Maryland was where he was from on all records since 1896. William puts New York, but that is from Census info, and not reliable. Any help out there,
I have been searching for my grandmother’s relatives. Her name was Margaret Barry. She was raised in an orphanage in Maryland in the early 1900’s. She was born in 1900. She later married Bernard Heslin in New York, New York. I have not been able to find any birth records for her. Would love to know who her parents were, or any blood relatives. Any help is most appreciated. Thank you!
I am looking for any information. I was born in Baltimore MD and placed up for adoption , then went to an orphanage in the city or county.
Anyway to find out what the name of the orphanage was called ?
Awaiting dna
Karen, Tracy, Anne-Marie,
orphanage records are difficult to access, and often they have been “weeded” or otherwise destroyed. If your main objective is to trace your blood line then a DNA test will usually identify your grand parents, or great grand parents, and through contact with second and third cousins by the DNA matches you will often get the family secrets, including the identity of your parents. So, even if “non paternal” events are involved you stand a reasonable chance that one of your second or third cousins knows the family scandals. IMHO Ancestry is the best option if you think your ancestry is mostly Western European, or Central European. If you think you might have Eastern European or Jewish heritage then 23andme is the better option. Using both tests would cover more ground and you can load the DNA data onto other sites such as GedMatch, and get additional cover and extract additional details (ancient DNA lines and such like). Ancestry has DNA data for more than twenty million people, mainly from Western Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Most people, including those living outside these areas, would have 3rd or 4th cousins whose families had migrates to these areas, so they will still have relatively close DNA matches, just not so many. But still enough to be useful.
If you are not able to do the genealogical research you might be able to get help from local genealogy groups. These groups often have members who like solving genealogical mysteries.
Tracy, it is more likely that you will find the name of the orphanage from one of your near relatives who will be identified by your DNA test. I know because I have done this for a friend. I have also researched for several people who have had unknown fathers or grandfathers.
Anne-Marie. In your case a DNA test is the way to go. It will identify your distant German DNA matches, and with a bit of luck you might find one with the surname Ruppers (or similar). Some of the DNA sites are getting so good now that they will show you what part of Germany your forbear came from. However, I note that the surname Ruppers comes from Norfolk (County) in England, not Germany. There are six family trees in Ancestry that contain your forbear Edward Robert Lee Ruppers born 1st August 1870 in Maryland, USA.
My grandmother was placed in St Paul’s Industrial School for Girls around 1900. I have googled everything I could think of. St Paul’s has a little blurb about the industrial school but nothing of substance.. I found her in the 1910 census under the name Florence Sowerwald. I’m interested in what her life was like ther and hopefully some images. The school was located at 2411 North Charles Street. It was originally called The Benevolent Society of Baltimore City and County.
My great grandmothers sister Ellen Purdy was a nurse at the Home of the Friendless between 1904 and 1913. I’d love to find out more about her time there, but Maryland records office has not replied to my email. Any suggestions?
My father was left at a church orphanage in 1947 in Baltimore. Supposedly, it was the last orphanage in Baltimore. Not sure of the name or if it’s closing date. Any info?
My grandpa was born in Maryland and was an orphan and he said buildings burned down and all the records of who he was truly. He supposedly had a twin sister. His name (either adopted or real or assumed??) was Edward James Thomas. Could you help?
Francesca Knight
I was placed around 1950 with Associated Catholic Charities Orphanage in Baltimore.
All, spend a hundred bucks and take the Ancestry.com spit test. There are very good odds that second cousins will pop up immediately and a reasonable chance for first cousins or closer.
My Ancestry.com test linked me to over 400 fourth cousins, or closer.
And some of these people will know the family scandles. The best part is that you don’t have to do anything, the Ancestry.com computer will sort it all out for you.
Anne-Marie,
Edward Robert Ruppers born 8th January 1870 in Maryland died 22nd September 1956 in Phoenix, Arizona. Spouse
Edward’s parents were Rudolph Ruppers and Amanda Bernadine Nelson (or Nilson) 1869-1937.
There are seven family trees that include Edward and it is likely these family trees are run by your relatives of some degree. They may know family secrets and be able to answer your questions.
If you ask Nick I give him permission to forward on my email address and I will put you in contact with your probable relatives.
Wow! I am so impressed with this site. I really hope you can help. My sister’s and I were separated in 1949-1950 in Baltimore, Md. I am now 75 years old and the only one left. We have done everything we knew to do, even trying to go through the court system but no one has helped us. I have the file number and where it is located. It has been 75 years. What can I do?
Regina, if you can manage it, spend a hundred bucks and take the Ancestry.com spit test. There are very good odds that second cousins will pop up immediately and a reasonable chance for first cousins or closer.
My Ancestry.com test linked me to 416 fourth cousins, or closer and 1,018 DNA matches where there are two or more people within the match.
And some of these people will know the family scandals. The best part is that you don’t have to do anything, the Ancestry.com computer will sort it all out for you for the relatively close relatives. Your local genealogy clubs would probably be happy to help you. When the DNA test lists your close relatives it is just a matter of checking their family trees for clues and, more importantly, get in contact with these people. Ancestry.com has a system whereby you can send a message via Ancestry that preserves both parties identity. If the DNA match (= blood relative) is agreeable then you can make personal contact. Being an American the best choices for a DNA test are Ancestry and 23andme s the have the largest DNA data bases. Ancestry is best for general European ancestry whereas 23andme is more focused on jewish ancestry.
I have traced the parentage for several people using the Ancestry DNA test and it should have a 100% success rate for US citizens of European descent.
Your DNA (in the cells from the lining of your mouth that are present in the spit sample) contain the DNA from both your parents and this DNA is present (but diluted) in their blood relatives. I have found distant DNA relatives into the 18th Century and the match is confirmed by more than one DNA match back to a common ancestor.
My grandfather came over from Russia or Poland, we are told that his parents sent their children over one at a time as soon as they could afford it. He told us that the orphanage was called St. Mary’s in Baltimore, but I cannot find any information about this. He was later adopted by a sea captain.
Is there any information about this orphanage?