Almost Worthy: The Poor, Paupers, and the Science of Charity in America, 1877-1917

284 Pages·2012·3.96 MB·English

by  Brent Ruswick

A lmost
Worthy
• •
The Poor, PauPers, and The
science of chariTy
in america, 1877–1917
Philanthropic and Nonprofit Studies
Dwight F. Burlingame and David C. Hammack, editors
A lmost
Worthy
• •
The Poor, PauPers, and The
science of chariTy
in america, 1877–1917
Brent ruswick
Indiana University Press
Bloomington and Indianapolis
This book is a publication of Manufactured in the United States
of America
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street Library of Congress Cataloging-in-
Bloomington, Indiana 47404- 3797 USA Publication Data
iupress.indiana.edu Ruswick, Brent.
Almost worthy : the poor, paupers, and
Telephone orders 800-8 42-6 796 the science of charity in America, 1877-
Fax orders 812-8 55-7 931 1917 / Brent Ruswick.
p. cm. — (Philanthropic and non-
© 2013 by Brent Ruswick profit studies)
Includes bibliographical references and
All rights reserved index.
ISBN 978-0-253-00634-9 (clo : alk. paper)
No part of this book may be reproduced — ISBN 978-0-253-00638-7 (eb)
or utilized in any form or by any means, 1. Poor—Services for—United States—
electronic or mechanical, in cluding History. 2. Charities—United States—
photocopying and recording, or by History. 3. Nature and nurture—United
any information storage and retrieval States—History. 4. Poverty—United
system, without permission in writing States—History. I. Title.
from the publisher. The Association of HV91.R87 2013
American University Presses’ Resolution 362.5'57632097309034—dc23
on Permissions constitutes the only 2012026049
exception to this prohibition.
The paper used in this publication
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meets the minimum requirements of
the Ameri can National Standard for
Information Sciences—Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials,
ANSI Z39.48- 1992.
For my students
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conTenTs
Acknowledgments ix
1 Introduction: Big Moll and the Science of
Scientific Charity 1
2 “Armies of Vice”: Evolution, Heredity,
and the Pauper Menace 35
3 Friendly Visitors or Scientific Investigators?
Befriending and Measuring the Poor 70
4 Opposition, Depression, and the
Rejection of Pauperism 105
5 “I See No Terrible Army”: Environmental Reform
and Radicalism in the Scientific Charity Movement 143
6 The Potentially Normal Poor: Professional Social Work,
Psychology, and the End of Scientific Charity 179
Epilogue 204
Appendix 1. Course Syllabus, Alexander Johnson: Study Class
in Social Science in the Department of Charity 211
Appendix 2. Course Syllabus, Mrs. S. E. Tenney: The Class
for Study of the Friendly Visitor’s Work 215
Notes 217
Selected Bibliography 245
Index 259
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acknowledgmenTs
The kernel that grew into Almost Worthy has been with me since Oc to-
ber 2000. As the project grew, it touched every significant element of my
life. Too of en, I fear, it intruded into space that ought to have been re-
served for dear friends, family, and colleagues. It is fitting that they now
have the opportunity to encroach upon Almost Worthy’s turf.
Victor Hilts, Lynn Nyhart, Joyce Coleman, Christina Matta, Joshua
Kundert, Neil Andrews, and Steve Wald have been with me since my
arrival in Madison, Wisconsin. As advisors and friends, Vic and Lynn
have been unerring in their guidance, unfailing in their support. Along
with my closest friend, Joyce, I can see their influence on the entirety of
my book and life. Christina, Joshua, Neil, and Steve similarly deserve a
special place and recognition for more than twelve years of insight and
laughter.
The University of Wisconsin provided a seemingly endless source
of criti cal and sage advisors. Chucho Alvarado, Libbie Freed, Jonathan
Seitz, Dan Thurs, Rebecca Kinraide, Erika Milam, Paul Erickson, Rima
Apple, Ronald Numbers, Richard Staley, and John Milton Cooper all of-
fered formative insight. John Rensink, Peter Susalla, Bridget Collins, Kris-
ten Hamilton O’Neill, Judy Kaplan, Dana Freiburger, Jocelyn Bosley,
Amrys Williams, Jessica Goldberg, Fred Gibbs, Kellen Backer, and Mitch
Aso have all been sources of timely help. Dan Hamlin and Katie Rein-
hart possess an uncanny ability to offer their encouragement and enthu-
siasm when it is most needed. The John Neu fellowship and University
of Wisconsin fellowships provided much needed financial s upport.
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