The Travelers Aid movement began in St. Louis, Missouri, under the leadership of Mayor Bryan Mullanphy. Its purpose was to provide assistance to American pioneers and new immigrants who became stranded on their journeys. At his death in 1851, Mullanphy left a bequest of a half million dollars in his will to help "aid travelers going west."
By the 20th century, Travelers Aid Societies had sprung up in major cities across the country. The programs protected stranded travelers, especially women and children, from others who would use, abuse, or victimize them. The primary fear was that young women travelers, native born and immigrant alike, would be kidnapped and turned into "white slaves" (defined as white women forced into prostitution). Therefore, Travelers Aid Societies, most notably the Travelers Aid Society of New York, provided social work to vulnerable travelers at train stations and piers in order to prevent their falling victim to the white slave trade and related vices.[1][2] Although many of the Travelers Aid programs were started by religious communities, services were often provided regardless of beliefs. It is the oldest non-religious social welfare organization in the United States.
The founder of the Travelers Aid Society of New York (TAS-NY), Grace Hoadley Dodge, had hoped to unite other Travelers Aid Societies to form a national association, but she died in 1914 before this could be accomplished.[3] Due primarily to the efforts of TAS-NY General Secretary Orin Clarkson Baker, national unification was finally accomplished in 1917.[4] This national association provided a "chain of service", with one agency helping another when intercity transportation of a client was required. Travelers Aid was one of the original "United Service Organizations" (USO) that provided assistance to traveling service men and women, operating 175 troop transit lounges. Today, Travelers Aid responds to the specific needs of the community. Although each member agency shares the original service of assisting stranded travelers, many Travelers Aid agencies provide shelter for the homeless, transitional housing, job training, counseling, local transportation assistance, and other programs.
Similar organizations were founded in other countries; in Great Britain and many other countries it is spelled as "Travellers' Aid Society", and originally was closely associated with the YWCA.[5]
^Baker, Orin (1912-10-27). "Philanthropic Effort to Save 50,000 a Year" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-06-09.
^Cimino, Eric (2016). "The Travelers' Aid Society: Moral Reform and Social Work in New York City, 1907–1916". New York History. 97 (1): 35.
^"Grace Dodge Dead". The New York Times. 1914-12-28.
^McCall, Bertha (1950). History of the National Travelers Aid Association, 1911–1948. New York: National Travelers Aid Association. pp. 1–269. OCLC 23956563.
Cimino, Eric (2020). "The Travelers Aid Society". New York Archives. 20 (1): 24–28.
Cimino, Eric (2015). "Safeguarding the Innocent: Travelers' Aid at the Panama-California Exposition". Journal of San Diego History. 61 (3&4): 455–74.
Cimino, Eric (2012). On the Border Line of Tragedy: White Slavery, Moral Protection, and the Travelers' Aid Society of New York, 1885-1917 (Ph.D. thesis). Stony Brook University.
Hill, Kathryn Louise (2010). Just Where Do You Think You're Going?: Maternalism and Social Work of the Travelers' Aid Society of Virginia (M.A. thesis). College of William and Mary.
Horan, Marion (2006). "Chapters 5 & 6". Trafficking in Danger: Working-Class Women and Narratives of Sexual Danger in English and United States Anti-Prostitution Campaigns, 1875-1914b (Ph.D. thesis). Binghamton University.
Phillips, Richard (2006). "Unsexy Geographies: Heterosexuality, Respectability, and the Travelers' Aid Society". ACME: An International E-Journal for Critical Geographies. 5 (2): 163–90.
Stadum, Beverly (Fall 1997). "Female Protection and Empowerment: Travelers Aid Services, 1919-1934". Affilia. 12 (3): 278–96.
External links
Travelers Aid International
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travelers, international, travelers, movement, began, louis, missouri, under, leadership, mayor, bryan, mullanphy, purpose, provide, assistance, american, pioneers, immigrants, became, stranded, their, journeys, death, 1851, mullanphy, left, bequest, half, mil. The Travelers Aid movement began in St Louis Missouri under the leadership of Mayor Bryan Mullanphy Its purpose was to provide assistance to American pioneers and new immigrants who became stranded on their journeys At his death in 1851 Mullanphy left a bequest of a half million dollars in his will to help aid travelers going west Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory EditBy the 20th century Travelers Aid Societies had sprung up in major cities across the country The programs protected stranded travelers especially women and children from others who would use abuse or victimize them The primary fear was that young women travelers native born and immigrant alike would be kidnapped and turned into white slaves defined as white women forced into prostitution Therefore Travelers Aid Societies most notably the Travelers Aid Society of New York provided social work to vulnerable travelers at train stations and piers in order to prevent their falling victim to the white slave trade and related vices 1 2 Although many of the Travelers Aid programs were started by religious communities services were often provided regardless of beliefs It is the oldest non religious social welfare organization in the United States The founder of the Travelers Aid Society of New York TAS NY Grace Hoadley Dodge had hoped to unite other Travelers Aid Societies to form a national association but she died in 1914 before this could be accomplished 3 Due primarily to the efforts of TAS NY General Secretary Orin Clarkson Baker national unification was finally accomplished in 1917 4 This national association provided a chain of service with one agency helping another when intercity transportation of a client was required Travelers Aid was one of the original United Service Organizations USO that provided assistance to traveling service men and women operating 175 troop transit lounges Today Travelers Aid responds to the specific needs of the community Although each member agency shares the original service of assisting stranded travelers many Travelers Aid agencies provide shelter for the homeless transitional housing job training counseling local transportation assistance and other programs Similar organizations were founded in other countries in Great Britain and many other countries it is spelled as Travellers Aid Society and originally was closely associated with the YWCA 5 See also EditTravelers Aid Family Services of BostonReferences Edit Baker Orin 1912 10 27 Philanthropic Effort to Save 50 000 a Year PDF The New York Times Retrieved 2011 06 09 Cimino Eric 2016 The Travelers Aid Society Moral Reform and Social Work in New York City 1907 1916 New York History 97 1 35 Grace Dodge Dead The New York Times 1914 12 28 McCall Bertha 1950 History of the National Travelers Aid Association 1911 1948 New York National Travelers Aid Association pp 1 269 OCLC 23956563 English Notes The Queenslander Vol XXXIV no 675 Queensland Australia 8 September 1888 p 419 Retrieved 15 May 2016 via National Library of Australia Further reading EditCimino Eric 2020 The Travelers Aid Society New York Archives 20 1 24 28 Cimino Eric 2015 Safeguarding the Innocent Travelers Aid at the Panama California Exposition Journal of San Diego History 61 3 amp 4 455 74 Cimino Eric 2012 On the Border Line of Tragedy White Slavery Moral Protection and the Travelers Aid Society of New York 1885 1917 Ph D thesis Stony Brook University Hill Kathryn Louise 2010 Just Where Do You Think You re Going Maternalism and Social Work of the Travelers Aid Society of Virginia M A thesis College of William and Mary Horan Marion 2006 Chapters 5 amp 6 Trafficking in Danger Working Class Women and Narratives of Sexual Danger in English and United States Anti Prostitution Campaigns 1875 1914b Ph D thesis Binghamton University Phillips Richard 2006 Unsexy Geographies Heterosexuality Respectability and the Travelers Aid Society ACME An International E Journal for Critical Geographies 5 2 163 90 Stadum Beverly Fall 1997 Female Protection and Empowerment Travelers Aid Services 1919 1934 Affilia 12 3 278 96 External links EditTravelers Aid International This article about a philanthropic or charitable organization is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Travelers Aid International amp oldid 1059943285, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
