{"id":78,"ordinal":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:41","content_modified":"2026-04-17 19:48:41","featured":0,"title":"Charitable Organizations created in 19th-Century Indianapolis","creator":"Jamee West","description":"<p>Indianapolis experienced significant urban and philanthropic initiatives to promote the welfare of others by donating money and organizing assistance in the 19th century. Charitable initiatives included hospital services, community events, and resource centers that provided essential support such as food, clothing, and education. As urban life expanded so did economic depression, disease, and growth of industry. The costs and resources debilitated during the Civil War in the mid-19th century left communities in need of food, clothing, and medical assistance. Groups of citizens formed social networks focusing on supporting those in need and fostering a culture of civic responsibility, the duty of citizens to better the well-being of their community. Many of these organizations originated from churches and neighborhood groups. They were organized by gender with men and women belonging to separate groups. The following tour follows a list of charities in the Indianapolis area in the 19th century that affected social and physical lives in the community. Whether members’ motives were based on moral foundations or caring about the wellbeing of others, many lives were affected by the efforts of philanthropy. Today Indianapolis is home to leading philanthropy organizations such as the Eli Lily Foundation, Wheeler Mission, and the YMCA.</p>","postscript_text":"","tour_img":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/a475964624ef5a7a20cf9e6e3e997e43.jpg","items":[{"id":711,"title":"The YMCA","latitude":39.810327999999998382918420247733592987060546875,"longitude":-86.159060100000004922549123875796794891357421875,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/a475964624ef5a7a20cf9e6e3e997e43.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/a475964624ef5a7a20cf9e6e3e997e43.jpg","subtitle":"Creation and Mission in Indianapolis","address":"33-37 North Illinois Street, Indianapolis, Indiana , 46208","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":713,"title":"The Grand Body of the Sisters of Charity","latitude":39.78161576650855835168840712867677211761474609375,"longitude":-86.1690066754954386851750314235687255859375,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/86052366d0f24255ece573c09bde8f18.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/86052366d0f24255ece573c09bde8f18.jpg","subtitle":"A Charity focusing on Black women","address":null,"custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":712,"title":"The House of the Good Shepard","latitude":39.73655099999999862347976886667311191558837890625,"longitude":-86.1628680000000031213858164846897125244140625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/6f31cf061a0b266dd5c41e95761e5e5c.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/6f31cf061a0b266dd5c41e95761e5e5c.jpg","subtitle":"Creation and Mission","address":null,"custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":710,"title":"The Children’s Bureau","latitude":39.82151540000000267127688857726752758026123046875,"longitude":-86.1573628999999954203303786925971508026123046875,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/6ac9a11f3d396004d40a0edcd34c8caa.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/6ac9a11f3d396004d40a0edcd34c8caa.jpg","subtitle":"Creation and mission","address":"3610 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":709,"title":"The Charity Organization Society of Indianapolis","latitude":39.7688663049304267360639641992747783660888671875,"longitude":-86.157090067890749196521937847137451171875,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/d9edcbb00463b4f98b82465eacfa872a.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/d9edcbb00463b4f98b82465eacfa872a.jpg","subtitle":"Creation and mission","address":"Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":18,"title":"Indianapolis Flower Mission","latitude":39.7799588999999969018972478806972503662109375,"longitude":-86.17968319999999948777258396148681640625,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/89f1a1fe8e07e62d59f29309cdaf8968.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/89f1a1fe8e07e62d59f29309cdaf8968.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":null,"custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":708,"title":"The Indianapolis Benevolent Society","latitude":39.7692738191605030806385912001132965087890625,"longitude":-86.157658696201906423084437847137451171875,"thumbnail":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/square_thumbnails/e9d7a5a9c37e96d765545697ffdd871a.jpg","fullsize":"https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/files/fullsize/e9d7a5a9c37e96d765545697ffdd871a.jpg","subtitle":"Creation and mission","address":"125 Monument Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States, United States","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}}]}