A Missing Tradition: Women Managing Charitable Organizations in Richmond, Virginia, 1805–1900

2016

Religions

Studying the intersectionality of religion and social welfare in Richmond, Virginia requires going back to the beginning of the Virginia colony. In the crucible of the colony, the religious and social welfare functions of a parish community were one and the same. However, after the Revolutionary War it was just a matter of time before the entire system was disassembled. The process of disentanglement of church and state created an identity crisis in Virginia. In the late 1700s, the emergence of charitable efforts began with leading men of Richmond who tried to address the temporary needs of travelers, followed by groups of women who discovered new roles they could play through charitable works. The new "system" became a potpourri of societies, congregations, associations, and county units attempting to provide for the social welfare of the populous. The intersectionality of religion and social welfare continued as a diverse landscape of small and large organizations and congregations performing the social welfare functions in Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth emerged. Today, to attempt to separate the church from the state in this conglomerate of agencies is neither possible nor desirable. However, understanding its' historical complexity is essential if one is to engage in contemporary practice within Richmond's health and human service system.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Intersectionality of Religion and Social Welfare: Historical Development of Richmond’s Nonprofit Health and Human Services

2016

Religions

“…In this process, we documented how women founded and managed these agencies within an environment in which men welded the power. Their style of operating was a choreography that combined rational and emotive elements (Netting, O’Connor, & Fauri, 2009). In addition, we identified an incredible range of strategies used by these women to economically support their work, engaging in a diverse set of fundraising tactics that parallel today’s human service development processes (Netting & O’Connor, 2012).…”

Section: Our Experience With Prosopographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Prosopography to Raise the Voices of Those Erased in Social Work History

Coles

2017

Affilia

In this article, we introduce prosopography, a valuable historical research method that can be used by feminist social work scholars. While feminists in various fields use this methodology to investigate background characteristics of women in history through collective studies of how they have established relationships and networks to influence change, our review of the literature suggests that it has been little used in social work. We provide a brief overview of prosopography, strengths and limitations, and an illustration of the method as enacted focusing on the roles of early feminists within the development of nonprofit human service organizations. It is our intent to demonstrate the possibilities of prosopography to identify and understand groups of women who have been erased in social work history.

“…Men were rarely as visible in fund-raising activities, focusing instead on investments, stocks, and endowment planning. In this arena, as well as in other aspects of emerging charitable or human service agency life (Netting et al, 2009), men’s and women’s activities were closely related to the roles held in private life. Men and women used the relationships that grew as a result of their roles to facilitate fund-raising.…”

Section: Implications Of the Gendered Nature Of Early Fund-raisingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To locate historical information, we visited all the city’s state and local museums, libraries, and repositories of historical documents; talked with historians, librarians, and archivists; and contacted leaders in the contemporary versions of these seasoned organizations. We located at least 25 agencies (Netting, O’Connor, & Fauri, 2009) and found that a number of them had donated their records, minute books, and materials to special collections. Others had written histories.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maidens Fair, Matrons Plump, Fat Cats, and Sugar Daddies

2012

Affilia

This article discusses the emergence and development of women’s fund-raising for charitable centenarian agencies in a southern city. These activities set the stage for the diversification of strategies that still have gender and racial overtones in the contemporary fund-raising activities of the city. The findings reveal that women did whatever they could legally do to raise funds and in-kind contributions. Women were active, visible agents, “pounding the pavement” to solicit or beg for funds. Gendered and racial roots of philanthropic activities in these centenary organizations still influence both the intentions and actions of these organizations today and have implications for women in fund-raising positions.