Summary Information
Marion G. Ogden Papers
circa 1890-1970
- Ogden, Marion G., 1875-1976
Milwaukee Mss EF; Milwaukee SC 5; Milwaukee SC 48
2.1 c.f. (5 archives boxes and 2 folders)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Papers of Ogden, a Milwaukee reform activist for improving conditions for children and youth, concerning her involvement with various philanthropic and civic organizations and governmental institutions throughout the state. The bulk of the collection dates from 1900 to 1930, and consists of her correspondence, writings, diaries, and record books documenting her theories and ideas on child welfare; general materials on child welfare including broadsides, clippings, handbooks, pamphlets, and newsletters; materials documenting her involvement (often as founder) in various Milwaukee organizations dedicated to the improvement of child welfare; and files on Juvenile Court laws. Legislative materials in the collection include working papers and drafts of child welfare bills from the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly, and miscellaneous documents of the Children's Code Committee and the Legislative Committee on Child Welfare.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil000ef ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Marion G. Ogden, Milwaukee social worker and social activist, has been an influential member of various organizations dedicated to child welfare reform and legislation particularly during the Progressive Era. Granddaughter of John Ogden, who came to Milwaukee from Chicago in 1835, Marion was born to George W. And Elizabeth Ogden on February 20, 1875. She began her education at home, but entered the normal school in the fourth grade. Later she attended East Side High School from which she graduated in 1893. After one year of study at Wells College in Aurora, New York, illness cut short her education, and she remained inactive until 1900 when she answered an advertisement by Mrs. Henry F. Whitcomb seeking someone to visit boys in jail. 1900, therefore, marked the beginning of her career as a social activist. Under the guiding influence of Mrs. Whitcomb, founder and president of the Boys' Busy Life Club (later the Milwaukee Boys' Club), Miss Ogden became not only interested in every manner of boys' problems but also involved in institutions and organizations geared to the broader needs of youth. In the fall of 1900 the Boys' Club decided to work for the founding of a juvenile court through the Wisconsin legislature. The committee formed to coordinate the program consisted of Mrs. Katharine Van Wyck, a prominent Progressive; Mrs. Whitcomb; and Miss Ogden. Through their efforts a juvenile court bill passed the legislature in 1901. That action was followed in the same year by the founding of the Children's Betterment League. Child welfare activities were Miss Ogden's main preoccupation until 1903, when she traveled to Colorado. Upon her return the next year, she participated in the formation of the Central Council of Philanthropies and resumed her role as promoter and leader of programs and legislation to secure improved juvenile justice and social welfare. A progressive reform enthusiast, she founded or was active in numerous organizations that sponsored programs to better the lives of neglected children and youth in the urban environment, particularly in Milwaukee. Correspondence, planning, and meetings connected with these organizations and with her legislative and philanthropic interests dominated her life for many years. She was also one of the three founders of the Milwaukee County Historical Society.
Scope and Content Note
A diverse collection of papers document Marion G. Ogden's many years as a Milwaukee social reformer. The bulk of the papers cover the period 1900-1920, the three decades when she was most active in the child welfare and juvenile court movements. Some items of earlier and later dates are scattered throughout several series of the materials, and it is evident that Miss Ogden retained her interest in the problems of urban children long after her active participation and leadership in organizations had diminished. The collection covers the activities, thought, and contributions of one social activist attempting to cope with the problems of urban youth during the Progressive era in Wisconsin, and therein lies its major significance. No records of her association with the Milwaukee County Historical Society are in this collection.
Correspondence includes both incoming (arranged alphabetically, 1907-1970), and outgoing (arranged chronologically from 1907 to 1967), primarily with other people concerned with child welfare legislation.
Writings of Miss Ogden's include: addresses and articles on various topics concerning child welfare; and journals, diaries, and record books, 1901-1924. These are filled with her ideas on child welfare reform and much information on Wisconsin's early treatment of juveniles.
The materials on Child Welfare are divided in two parts: 1) papers on general child welfare activities and philosophies, including addresses, broadsides, clippings, handbooks, newsletters, pamphlets, and documents of the farm School, a foster home at Lad Lake, which Miss Ogden sponsored; and 2) papers by or about Milwaukee organizations, concerned with child welfare and social reform, including reports, a scrapbook and miscellaneous documents.
Juvenile Court materials include drafts of a Juvenile Court law, 1901-1905; miscellaneous papers, statistics, and studies; visiting committee reports; and materials on the Juvenile Court of Denver, Colorado, headed by Miss Ogden's contemporary, Judge Ben B. Lindsey.
Legislative Papers document Miss Ogden's efforts to secure legislation promoting child welfare. These consist of working papers and drafts of bills from both the Senate and Assembly, and papers and minutes from the Children's Code Committee and the Legislative Committee on Child Welfare.
A Chronology of Papers is also included which is Ogden's listing of important dates and papers in the collection.
Milwaukee SC 5 contains reports and notebooks on child welfare in Milwaukee, particularly the Milwaukee Children's Betterment League, and five typed manuscripts by Ogden on early Milwaukee and Delafield, Wisconsin, and on the Ogden family.
Milwaukee SC 48 contains photographs and an essay on the resort hotel Draper Hall, built by Martin T. Draper in 1869 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Marion G. Ogden, Milwaukee, Wis., 1975. Accession Number: M75-106
Processed by C. Cummings (FGH intern) and Joanne Hohler, October 19, 1976.
Contents List
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Milwaukee Mss EF
Box
1
Folder
1
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“Chronology of Papers,” (Miss Ogden's listing of important dates and papers in the collection)
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Correspondence
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Incoming (Alphabetical), 1907, January 23 - 1970, January 19
: Primarily 1910-1965.
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Outgoing (Chronological), 1907, May 4 - 1967, November 8
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Writings
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Addresses, circa 1901-1908
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Articles, 1901-1939
: Primarily 1901-1906.
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Journals, Diaries, Record Books
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Box
1
Folder
6
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1901-1910
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Box
1
Folder
7
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1901-1924
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Child Welfare
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General
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Addresses, 1926 February; 1936, September 27
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Broadsides, 1949(?); 1969
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Clippings (Unbound), 1890-1970; undated
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Farm School (Lad Lake, Wisconsin) - Miscellaneous, 1904-1906; 1967
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Handbooks, circa 1938-1940
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Newsletters, 1937-1967
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Pamphlets, circa 1907; 1909; 1958
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Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Organizations
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Milwaukee Boys' Club
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Box
2
Folder
7
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Miscellaneous Items and Reports, 1899-1970
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Scrapbook, circa 1900-1903
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Milwaukee Children's Betterment League
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Miscellaneous, 1901-1911
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Milwaukee SC 5
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Reports and Notebooks, 1900-1910, 1971
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Milwaukee Mss EF
Box
2
Folder
10
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Milwaukee City Club - Miscellaneous, 1920-1925
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Milwaukee Community Welfare Council - Miscellaneous, 1919-1960
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Box
2
Folder
12
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Milwaukee County Children's Court Center - Reports, 1965-1970
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Box
3
Folder
1
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Milwaukee County Public Charities and Corrections - Visiting Committee - 1st Annual Report, 1874
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Milwaukee Detention Home - An Investigation
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Box
3
Folder
2
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Papers and Reports, 1918-1920; 1923-1927
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Miscellaneous, 1901-1904; 1912-1918; 1926
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Milwaukee - Maryland Avenue Parent-Teacher Association - Miscellaneous, 1924-1930
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Box
3
Folder
5
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Milwaukee - Miscellaneous Social Welfare Organizations, 1919-1960
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Milwaukee Parental School - Miscellaneous, 1904-1906; 1967
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Box
3
Folder
7
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Milwaukee Youth Aid Bureau - Reports, 1946-1949
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Juvenile Court
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Denver (Colorado) Juvenile Court - Reports and Clippings, 1902-1956
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Drafts of Juvenile Court Law, 1901-1905
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Miscellaneous, circa 1901-1949
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Box
3
Folder
11
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Statistics and Studies, 1900-1920
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Box
3
Folder
12
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Visiting Committee - Reports, 1922; 1924
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Legislative Papers
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Children's Code Committee - Working Papers of Bills, circa 1928-1929
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Box
4
Folder
2
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Legislative Committee on Child Welfare - Meeting Minutes, 1919 January - April
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Child Laws of Wisconsin - Index, 1901-1928
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Draft of Bills
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Assembly
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Box
4
Folder
4
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1907, January 31 - 1929, April 26
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Box
4
Folder
5
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1929, May 7 - 1970, February 5
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Box
4
Folder
6
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Senate, 1907, February 2 - 1969, December 17
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Working Papers
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Box
4
Folder
7-8
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Drafts, 1909-1919, undated
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Box
5
Folder
1
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Miscellaneous, circa 1907-1919
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Miscellaneous
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Box
5
Folder
2
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American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology - Miscellaneous, 1909-1910
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Milwaukee SC 5
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Manuscripts by Ogden on early Milwaukee and Delafield, Wis., and on the Ogden Family
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Milwaukee SC 48
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Draper Hall Photographs and Essay, 1935-1960, undated
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