Associations for the care of the poor in the 19th century

Aim
To compile a databank of the most important private associations in the field of care for the poor in the Netherlands in the 19th century.

Status
Ongoing

Project Team

General Description
In the 19th century, the combined provision of ecclesiastical and civil care to the poor displayed regular shortcomings, so that there was scope for private initiatives. These associations for the care of the poor are the subject of this project. In around 1890, detailed overviews appeared of institutions that were engaged with social care. The wealth of documentation in the last decade of the 19th century made it logical to terminate the project at the date 1900. The project links up with previous Huygens-ING projects in which the emphasis lay on the 20th century.
From the many charitable associations, those institutions that were primarily oriented toward combating and preventing impoverishment have been selected.

The project extends to all associations that were mainly directed toward one or more of the following goals:

general (charitable) care for the poor;
work provision and other forms of preventative care for the poor;
accommodation and care of ‘fallen’ women, neglected children;
general care for the sick, handicapped, mentally unstable, pregnant women and women in childbed;
care for prisoners;
combating alcoholism.

Besides researchers interested in the history of social care and of local and national associations, this databank is also useful for the study of pillarization (politico-denominational segregation). In view of the fact that women played a major role in charitable associations, the databank is also relevant to the history of women in society.