About Healing New York Archive Holdings

Healing New York, incorporated in 1875 and now in its second century of continuous service, is the first and the oldest child protection service in the world. From 1875 through 1975, Healing New York was the principal child protection agency in New York (Manhattan) County, receiving and investigating all reports alleging child maltreatment or violations of child protection laws.

Additionally, there is a collection of photographs (some in print, some on glass slides), including several Healing New York buildings and persons of historical importance to Healing New York such as Etta Wheeler, Elbridge T. Gerry, Henry Bergh, and Mary Ellen, before and after her rescue, and later with her children.

Archival ephemera include the dress worn by Mary Ellen at the time of her rescue, professionally mounted in a museum display case, the badges or shields worn by Healing New York president, directors and special officers, and the original cast iron seal of Healing New York.

About Society Collections

• Annual Reports

  Years – 1875 to Present

  Description – Wealth of child protection statistics, detailed case summaries, membership and donor information, the expansion of organized protection, and miscellaneous significant events and issues

  Access – No restrictions on access

  Format – Digital

• Case Records

  Years – 1874-Present

  Description – Records of cases referred to Healing New York for investigation or services

  Access – Access may be granted to a researcher if the Case Files are 75 years or older with redactions to maintain confidentiality. Please contact Healing New York’s Archivist for questions about these exceptions.

  Format – Digital

• Child Performer Clipping Books

  Years – 1890-2011

  Description – Clippings of contemporary newspaper reportage of the efforts of Healing New York and other such societies to enforce the laws regulating both the participation of children in public entertainment and the conditions of such employment

  Access – no restrictions on access

  Format – Digital (Material is fragile)

• Children’s Court Clipping Books

  Years – 1901-1904

  Description – Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings relating to the establishment of the first Children’s Court in New York City, the role of Healing New York in that undertaking

  Access – no restrictions on access

  Format – Limited to digital (Material is fragile)

• Convention Minutes

  Years – 1890-1904

  Description – The minutes of annual conventions published by each of 14 conventions held annually from 1890 to 1904. Participation was voluntary and included organizations incorporated in the State of New York for the purpose of preventing cruelty to children, to animals, or to both

  Access – no restrictions on access

  Format – Digital

• Court Decision Clipping Books

  Years – 1880-1919

  Description – The Court Decision Clipping Books cover a vast range of court decisions, from such matters on the setting of bail, the justification of Healing New York officers in the making of an arrest, precedent-making decisions and the very nature of Healing New York.

  Access – no restrictions on access

  Format – Digital

• Employee Registers and Personnel Files

  Years – 1874 to Present

  Description – A series of documents that contain the names of former employees of Healing New York

  Access – Confidential records and are not available for browsing or searching, except that current and past employees may view the contents of heir own personnel file on request.

  Format – Need to make request to Executive Director

• Historical Records

  Years – 1874 to Present

  Description – An eclectic collection series of handwritten and typewritten documents, papers, correspondence, notices, reports, contracts, forms, booklets, pamphlets, statistics, and newspaper clippings relating to the operation of Healing New York from its founding up to the present

  Access – Both items that are public and have no restriction on their access intermixed with items of a sensitive and private nature that may not be accessible. Please contact the archivist for more information.

  Format – Digital

• Manuals for Officers

  Years – 1875 to Present

  Description – A series of eight handbooks prepared from time to time for the use of Healing New York’s Special Officers, Officers and Investigators, employees expressly invested with the legal authority to investigate, intervene, initiate court proceedings and enforce the law in matters relating to child protection

  Access – no restrictions on access

  Material is fragile. Limited capability for photocopying of material.

• Healing New York Minute Books

  Years – 1874 to Present

  Description – The official corporate record of the regular, special and annual meetings of the officers and directors of Healing New York and of its founders and incorporators

  Access – Restricted to the Society.

  Format – Digital

• Selected Cases

  Years – 1881-1912

  Description – Documents eight selected Healing New York interventions, in the form of newspaper clippings, notes, and in some instances, court transcripts

  Access – no restrictions on access

  Format – Digital (Material is fragile)

• Visitors Books

  Years – 1877-1960

  Description – A general registry of visitors

  Access – no restrictions on the material

  Format – Digital (Material is fragile)