Summary Information
Family Service Association of La Crosse Records
1912-1966
- Family Service Association of La Crosse (Wis.)
La Crosse Micro 9; Micro 724
2 reels of microfilm (35 mm)
UW-La Crosse Murphy Library / La Crosse Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Scrapbooks of news clippings on a La Crosse, Wisconsin, social service organization established in 1881, and successively known as the La Crosse County Branch of the Wisconsin Humane Society, the Social Services Society, and the Family Welfare Association. It is now affiliated with the National Family Service Association of America. The Association's programs include marital and family counseling; physical relief during times of illness, unemployment, and other crises; and Travelers' Aid. The clippings describe the activities of the Family Service Association and its predecessor organizations, and other La Crosse charities. The collection documents efforts by charitable organizations to combat the effects of economic depression and communicable diseases such as tuberculosis.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr0724 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Family Service Association of La Crosse was founded March 28, 1881 as the Organized Committee for the Wisconsin Humane Society of La Crosse. Its original purpose was the prevention of cruelty to animals, but from the beginning the organization actively worked to ameliorate the lot of unfortunate human beings. Children and the elderly, in particular, benefited from the Society's work. From 1904, the Humane Society cooperated in the work of Associated Charities, Inc., of La Crosse, which was responsible for oversight and cooperation among city charities. Both groups received funding from the County Board. By 1908 the Society's activities included anti-tuberculosis and anti-rabies programs, provision of aid and clothing for the destitute, and attempts to establish a “pest house” and earlier closing hours for saloons. Funds were raised to sponsor a visiting nurse, and in 1911 the first trained and salaried executive secretary and social worker was hired.
In 1921 the organization became the Social Services Society, and in addition to its own fund-raising, received grants from the City Council, La Crosse Community Council, civic groups, and an annual Charity Ball. The board of directors authorized increased cooperation with other city charities, and in 1922 the Society helped form the Community Chest. During the 1930s and 1940s, the Society, and its successor, the Family Welfare Association, housed and fed transients and local families, distributed food and clothing, and placed children in foster homes. Other programs and work included child welfare, marriage and family counseling, better housing, relief for military personnel, Travelers' Aid, securing a mother's pension and a dance hall ordinance, and funding a school nurse and a probation officer. Because of its casework files, the agency became a clearinghouse in La Crosse to which other community groups could turn for information.
The name Family Service Association was adopted in 1955. The organization is now a member of the La Crosse Community Chest and is affiliated with the National Family Service Association of America. Today its sphere of activities includes counseling of marital, parent-child, unemployment and emotional illness problems, and problems related to old age and youth; and physical relief during times of illness, emergency, and natural disaster.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of scrapbooks of news clippings detailing the work of the Family Service Association and its predecessor organizations. Also included among the clippings are many describing the activities of other local charities, and items of local and general interest unrelated to charities.
The articles trace the development and history of charitable societies in La Crosse from 1912 to 1966, But the collection is most complete up to 1937. The later scrapbooks deal primarily with the work of the Family Service Association. Many of the articles were in fragile condition when acquired, and some losses occurred before microfilming. The 1931 scrapbook had already been mutilated.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by the Family Service Association via executive director David K. Hendricks, 1978. Accession Number: M78-541
Processed by Menzi Behrnd, December 13, 1978.
Contents List
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La Crosse Micro 9 / Micro 724
Reel
1
Frame
1-311
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1912-1926
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Reel
1
Frame
312-667
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1926-1929
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Reel
1
Frame
668-848
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1930-1932
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Reel
2
Frame
1-256
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1930-1932
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Reel
2
Frame
257-541
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1933-1936
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|
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Reel
2
Frame
542-592
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1937-1939
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|
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Reel
2
Frame
593-631
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1940-1942
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|
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Reel
2
Frame
632-686
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1943-1945
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Reel
2
Frame
687-750
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1946-1951
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|
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Reel
2
Frame
751-820
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1952-1959
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|
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Reel
2
Frame
821-846
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1960-1966
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