Chapin Hall for Children photograph collection

Descriptive Summary

Title: Chapin Hall for Children photograph collection
Dates: 1918-1982, bulk 1930-1973
Identifier: 1986.0277
Creator: Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum
Creator
Size: 220 photographic prints :
b&w ;

11 x 14 in. or smaller.
Size: 208 photographic prints :
col. ;

16 x 21 cm. (6 x 8 in.) or smaller.
Size: 3 albums (121 photographic prints) :
few col. ;

31 x 25.5 cm. (12 x 10 in.) or smaller.
Size: 1 negative :
nitrate ;

5 x 7 in.
Size: 3 folders of transparencies :
slide, col. ;

35 mm.
Size: 1 folder of non-graphic material.
Language: Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Scope and Content

Views concerning a charitable social service organization founded in 1860 as the Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum, and known informally as the Chapin Hall for Children, to provide day-care services for working mothers and eventually served as an orphanage. Primarily shows children participating in holiday celebrations, birthday parties, talent shows, picnics, dancing, gardening, and graduation programs. Includes many informal portraits of children and staff, a few formal class pictures from 1970s, shots of the Chapin Hall building (built by Holabird and Root in 1931 at 2800 West Foster and demolished in 1985) and surrounding buildings and grounds. Most images unidentified.

Conditions for Access

Advance appointment required to view color material in cold storage; please email research@chicagohistory.org. Nitrate negative closed pending digitization, but there is a copy photoprint in the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Credit photographer.

Preferred Citation

A common citation for archives is as follows: Item, Folder number and/or title, Box number, Collection title, ID number, Repository name, location.

Custodial History

Gift of Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum, 1986 (1986.0277).

Biography or History

Founded in 1860 as the Chicago Nursery and Half-Orphan Asylum, the organization was known unofficially as Chapin Hall for Children since the 1930s. In 1984 a successor organization became part of the University of Chicago as a research and development center officially named the Chapin Hall Center for Children. The old Chapin Hall building at 2800 West Foster was torn down in 1985.

Arrangement

Organization: By topic.

Other Descriptive Data

Negative printed.

Related Material

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Chapin Hall for Children records.

Container list available (1986-277).

Contents

Collection Access