The Grand Body of the Sisters of Charity was created in 1874 by the Bethel African American Episcopal (AME) church. The organization served as a resource for black families moving to Indiana after the Civil War (1861-1865). The organization provided food, clothing, and medical treatments. In 1911, charity opened a hospital for the Black community. The Sisters also formed a home for the elderly and a women’s improvement club. Clubs allowed black women to have autonomy and participate in the social gospel movement.
]]>Originally, the Sisters of the Good Shepard opened in France in 1835. In 1873, the House of the Good Shepard was opened in Indianapolis from young women and girls who were misbehaving or going against social norms. The mission of the organization was to provide shelter and moral guidance to young women in danger or need. Evidence reveals that the organization treated women harshly and operated like a correctional facility. Indianapolis was the 15th city to have one of these homes.
The House of the Good Shepherd was meant to help women from all backgrounds. Some were prostitutes, unmarried, or pregnant. Others were considered at risk of engaging in immoral behavior, including orphans and those born out of wedlock. Families or priests sent their family members there. Eventually Marion County sent women there who were charged with minor crimes for reform. The House was partially funded by the city. It operated a Magdalene Laundry which was essentially the women who were forced to stay there working for free in the Laundry. The House profited from their work. Conditions were harsh and women who gave birth there had their children taken and forced into adoption.
]]>The YMCA, also known as the Young Men’s Christian association, started in 1844 in London, England. The association made its way across the sea to Indianapolis in 1854 when a group of evangelical protestants opened a building there. Being a religious association, the mission and membership revolved around church members. Their programs included readings, services, and charity work. In 1871, the YMCA opened a building on North Illinois Street. The YMCA separated itself from the church and shifted its focus toward helping the poor and charity work. Members played a role in establishing institutions such as the Home for Friendless Women, the Indiana Boys’ and Girls’ Schools, and a shelter for newsboys.
Over time, the YMCA expanded to include social and recreational activities that were accessible with a paid fee. The membership fee gave access to a park, bowling alley, swimming pool, gym, and a night school. As recreation and community activities increased their mission and charity work decreased. Today there are several YMCA locations available to the public for a fee that continues to provide pool, gym, and sport activities.
]]>The Indianapolis Benevolent Society created the Widows and Orphans Friends’ Society in 1850. Originally, it paid private families to take in and care for individual orphans. The Widows and Orphans Friends’ society bought a residence and, in 1855, opened the Indianapolis Orphans Asylum at 14th and Capitol Streets. It helped over one hundred children. IBS supported the use of asylums to impose control and order over citizens affecting social norms. These asylums helped churches and families in need of placing the responsibility of care in another’s hands. Children and sometimes mothers would board at the orphanage, which acted less like an institutionalized asylum despite its name. Fundraising helped support the Indianapolis Orphans Asylum. In a newspaper from 1858, an exhibition of Italian paintings was displayed so the admission proceeds of 50 cents each person could benefit the asylum.
In 1875 the Indianapolis Orphans Asylum became its own organization providing resources for children and advocated better working conditions, access to basic education, and reforms in child marriage laws. The organization expanded to three additional institutions before a 1934 financial struggle caused by the Great Depression led the Orphan Asylum and the Family Welfare Society to combine. This resulted in the creation of the Children's Bureau of the Indianapolis Orphan Asylum. The bureau focused primarily on adoptions.
]]>The Charity Organization Society of Indianapolis was founded in 1879 after Reverend Oscar McCulloch invited Reverend Gurteen to speak to the Indianapolis Benevolent Society. Both Reverends advocated for Indianapolis philanthropy to switch to a scientific and non-religious charity approach. Rev. Oscar McCulloch, Mayor Caven, and four businessmen founded the Charity Organization Society of Indianapolis (COS) and elected McCulloch as president. IBS and COS became co-operating charity organizations creating the largest nonprofit social service in Indianapolis. McCulloch served as the leader of the Church of Plymouth in Indianapolis, where the organization was headquartered.
Initially, its membership consisted exclusively of men; over time, women became actively involved in its charitable efforts. Women were particularly dedicated to advancing the compassionate agenda. The Charity Organization Society operated with a constitution of guidelines and relied on donors to strengthen and expand its initiatives. The organization established committees and appointed investigators that assessed cases to determine where assistance was needed. Their evaluations prioritized efforts deemed urgent and identified individuals or groups considered ‘worthy’ of support. Member of COS were often from important families and connected men and women through similar civic and moral ideals. The value system assigned to those in need by COS spoke to the rich and middle class who supported self-independence and good behavior.
The Charity Organization Society assigned value based on contributions to society and themselves as a person in need. Charity came in many forms whether through donations or projects. In partnership with a local farmer one charity project planned by the Charity Organization society was to grow potatoes and then give them to the poor.
]]>The Indianapolis Benevolent Society was created on Thanksgiving Day in 1835 by James Blake, James Ray, and Calvin Fletcher. IBS was one of the first private charity organizations to impact individuals and families in Indianapolis. Benevolent societies appeared around the country and were intended to be non-religious. Most, though, were influenced by religious organizations. The Widow’s and Orphan Friends Society, for example, was comprised of church members who donated time and money to their causes. Women were allowed to participate while men led the efforts. They offered advice on home care and religious morals. The Marion County government had few funds for the poor. Private organizations stepped in to supplement public services providing clothing, food, and money. While it was admirable that members of these charity societies cared for the poor, their involvement also elevated their social standing. The Benevolent Society, like the Charity Organization of Indianapolis, supplied donations and assistance based on individual case evaluations and perceived need. They placed particular emphasis on supporting widows, children, and those suffering from illness. The society struggled financially to assist the public, new charities, along with the evolving public and private funding.
On the fiftieth anniversary of the Indiana Benevolent Society (IBS), roughly fifteen thousand members gathered to commemorate the organization's legacy. Led by reverends, the meeting reflected on the impact the society had made over its fifty-year history. At the time of IBS’s founding, Indiana was still a developing state, lacking essential resources such as railroads, schools, and a large population. As the city expanded, so did the needs of its residents, prompting a change in charitable efforts.
During the meeting, John M. Butler discussed that modern charity was increasingly influenced by self-interest and superficial desires. Change was necessary. The Indiana Benevolent Society remained committed to aiding those in need and identifying the deeper societal issues requiring resolution, intending to serve as active and engaged members of their community.
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