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North Idaho Children's Home, Inc. records, 1908-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator
North Idaho Children's Home, Inc.
Title
North Idaho Children's Home, Inc. records
Dates
1908-1984 (inclusive)
Quantity
5 linear feet
Collection Number
MG 137
Summary
Administrative and financial records; photographs, scrapbooks and printed material of a Lewiston, Idaho, care facility for children.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

In 1908, a Congregational minister in Lewiston, Charles B. Chase, began taking abused and abandoned children into his home prior to their being placed in foster care. The Idaho Children's Home and Finding Aid Society in Boise had asked his help because of distance and transportation difficulties. Chase quickly found that the number of children sent to him by the courts was more than he could adequately care for himself. In 1909, he and other community leaders formed a permanent organization, the Northern District of the Idaho Children's Home Finding and Aid Society of Boise. Funding for the new organization was provided by several public service organizations such as the Commercial Club of Lewiston and the Women's Clubs in Northern Idaho. The children continued to live with Rev. Chase who was named superintendent (a post he held until 1918). Permanent housing was obtained in 1911, when Hurlbut House was bought for $14,000. This was the home of the organization for more than fifty years.

In 1935, the organization separated from Boise and became the Children's Home Finding and Aid Society of North Idaho, Inc. Following World War II the Children's Home faced financial difficulties stemming from the shift in emphasis from private charity to public responsibility for social services. In the 1960's, large permanent care facilities, such as orphanages and mental hospitals, were increasingly replaced by smaller, more specialized units. The Child Protective Act of 1963 gave responsibility for the placement of dependent children to the Idaho Department of Health (later Health and Welfare). These were functions which had been performed by organizations such as the Children's Home. Because of these changes, the children's home redefined its purpose. No longer an "orphanage," it became a treatment center and temporary home for children who could not stay in their own homes but were not suited for foster care. This change in function eased the Homes' financial crisis. In addition to money from Department of Health contracts, the Home continued to receive private contributions. The George F. Jewett's donated a six-bedroom house, 22 acres of land and fifty thousand dollars to the Children's Home. The move to the Jewett estate was made in 1969.

In 1973, the organization became the North Idaho Children's Home, Inc., (NICH) an organization which continues to provide services for children, much as it did in 1909.

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Content Description

The records of NICH span the years from 1908 to 1983 with the bulk of the material covering the years 1912 to 1930; there is little information about the period from 1930 to 1960. The records include scattered correspondence, some of which refers to financial bequests and contracts with Health and Welfare, and annual and monthly reports. The records also contain the minutes of the Board of Directors (1909-1959), as well as several bookkeeping ledgers and the Superintendent's day books. Approximately one quarter of the records consist of photographs. Also included are scrapbooks and printed materials such as NICH promotional literature and newspaper clippings.

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Other Descriptive Information

Scrapbooks transferred to folders.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

FOR PHOTOS: Photographer, "Title," date. Collection name, object ID. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.

FOR DOCUMENTS: Author, Description or "Title" of item, date. Collection name, collection number, box, folder. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Some materials were returned to North Idaho Children's Home, Inc. upon review.

Acquisition Information

The records of North Idaho Children's Home, Inc. were donated to the University of Idaho by the Children's Home in August of 1984.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Series 1: General

    • Description: Booth Memorial Hospital: Unwed mothers
      18 items
      Dates: 1964-1967
      Container: Box 1, Folder 1
      Location: Series 1: General
    • Description: Catholic Family Services
      8 items
      Dates: 1965-1967
      Container: Box 1, Folder 2
      Location: Series 1: General
    • Description: Fundraising
      7 items
      Dates: 1950
      Container: Box 1, Folder 3
      Location: Series 1: General
    • Description: Internal Revenue Service
      2 items
      Dates: 1953
      Container: Box 1, Folder 4
      Location: Series 1: General
    • Description: Investments
      83 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 1, Folder 5
      Location: Series 1: General
    • Description: Tag Day
      30 items
      Dates: 1922-1923
      Container: Box 1, Folder 6
      Location: Series 1: General
    • Description: Rose Wahl Correspondence
      18 items
      Dates: 1971-1975
      Container: Box 1, Folder 7
      Location: Series 1: General
    • Description: Other Correspondence
      4 items
      Dates: 1912-1962
      Container: Box 1, Folder 8
      Location: Series 1: General

  • Series 2: Legal

    • Description: Nels Halgeson Estate
      4 items
      Dates: 1929
      Container: Box 1, Folder 9
      Location: Series 2: Legal
    • Description: Walter Hickerson Estate
      1 items
      Dates: 1914
      Container: Box 1, Folder 10
      Location: Series 2: Legal
    • Description: Charles W. Mount Estate
      1 items
      Dates: 1925
      Container: Box 1, Folder 11
      Location: Series 2: Legal
    • Description: I. Pickering Estate
      13 items
      Dates: 1927-1930
      Container: Box 1, Folder 12
      Location: Series 2: Legal
    • Description: Ana Trimble Estate
      2 items
      Dates: 1925
      Container: Box 1, Folder 13
      Location: Series 2: Legal

  • Series 3: Special Projects

  • Series 4: Administrative

    • Description: Articles of Incorporation
      3 items
      Dates: 1919-1935
      Container: Box 1, Folder 21
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: By-Laws
      1 items
      Dates: 1942
      Container: Box 1, Folder 22
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: List of North Idaho Society Members
      5 items
      Dates: 1920
      Container: Box 1, Folder 23
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Policy Statements
      53 items
      Dates: 1961-1975
      Container: Box 1, Folder 24
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Annual Reports
      39 items
      Dates: 1930-1970
      Container: Box 1, Folder 25
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Board of Directors Minutes 1
      1 items
      Dates: 1909-1910
      Container: Box 1, Folder 26
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Board of Directors Minutes 2
      1 items
      Dates: 1910-1920
      Container: Box 1, Folder 27
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Board of Directors Minutes 3
      1 items
      Dates: 1920-1923
      Container: Box 1, Folder 28
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Board of Directors Minutes 4
      110 items
      Dates: 1923-1930
      Container: Box 1, Folder 29
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Board of Directors Minutes 5
      117 items : incomplete
      Dates: 1930-1949
      Container: Box 1, Folder 30
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Board of Directors Minutes 6
      73 items
      Dates: 1956
      Container: Box 1, Folder 31
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Board of Directors Minutes 7
      81 items
      Dates: 1957
      Container: Box 1, Folder 32
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Board of Directors Minutes 8
      64 items
      Dates: 1958
      Container: Box 1, Folder 33
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Board of Directors Minutes 9
      1 items
      Dates: 1959
      Container: Box 1, Folder 34
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Budget 1
      1 items
      Dates: 1968-1969
      Container: Box 1, Folder 35
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Budget 2
      4 items
      Dates: 1969-1970
      Container: Box 1, Folder 36
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Budget 3
      10 items
      Dates: 1970-1971
      Container: Box 2, Folder 37
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Budget 4
      7 items : file copy
      Dates: 1970-1971
      Container: Box 2, Folder 38
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Budget 5
      6 items
      Dates: 1972-1973
      Container: Box 2, Folder 39
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Current Budget 1
      3 items
      Dates: 1973-1974
      Container: Box 2, Folder 40
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Current Budget 2
      3 items
      Dates: 1974-1975
      Container: Box 2, Folder 41
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Current Budget 3
      3 items
      Dates: 1975-1976
      Container: Box 2, Folder 42
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Financial Reports 1
      33 items
      Dates: 1911-1917
      Container: Box 2, Folder 43
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Financial Reports 2
      1 items
      Dates: 1928
      Container: Box 2, Folder 44
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Financial Reports 3
      4 items
      Dates: 1931
      Container: Box 2, Folder 45
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Financial Reports 4
      28 items
      Dates: 1948-1956
      Container: Box 2, Folder 46
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Monthly financial statements
      56 items
      Dates: 1909-1914
      Container: Box 2, Folder 47
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Summaries of Bills and Vouchers 1
      9 items
      Dates: 1919-1924
      Container: Box 2, Folder 48
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Summaries of Bills and Vouchers 2
      5 items
      Dates: 1925-1926
      Container: Box 2, Folder 49
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Audit Report
      4 items
      Dates: 1921-1928
      Container: Box 2, Folder 50
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Other Financial Papers
      10 items
      Dates: 1925-1981
      Container: Box 2, Folder 51
      Location: Series 4: Administrative
    • Description: Payroll and income tax information
      97 items
      Dates: 1960-1961
      Container: Box 2, Folder 52
      Location: Series 4: Administrative

  • Series 5: Ledgers

    • Description: Expense Ledger 1
      1 items
      Dates: 1975-1976
      Container: Box 2, Folder 53
      Location: Series 5: Ledgers
    • Description: Journal
      1 items
      Dates: 1931-1934
      Container: Box 2, Folder 54
      Location: Series 5: Ledgers
    • Description: Expense Ledger 2
      1 items
      Dates: 1975-1975
      Container: Box 2, Folder 55
      Location: Series 5: Ledgers

  • Series 6: Photographs

    • Description: NICH-Hurlbut Mansion
      12 items
      Dates: 1911-1968
      Container: Box 2, Folder 56
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Friendship Hall
      18 items
      Dates: 1914-1932
      Container: Box 2, Folder 57
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: NICH
      1 items
      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box 2, Folder 58
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Special Care Project
      1 items
      Dates: 1980
      Container: Box 2, Folder 59
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: NICH Entrance sign
      1 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2, Folder 60
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Uprooted Tree
      1 items
      Dates: 1969
      Container: Box 2, Folder 61
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Craft Center
      13 items
      Dates: 1971-1973
      Container: Box 2, Folder 62
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Room interiors
      10 items
      Dates: 1918-1978
      Container: Box 2, Folder 63
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Education Center
      6 items
      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box 2, Folder 64
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Family Resource Center
      3 items
      Dates: 1977
      Container: Box 2, Folder 65
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Cedar House
      1 items
      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box 2, Folder 66
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Jewett House
      8 items
      Dates: 1968-1982
      Container: Box 2, Folder 67
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: North House
      3 items
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box 2, Folder 68
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Pool House
      4 items
      Dates: 1968-1969
      Container: Box 2, Folder 69
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Prospect House
      4 items
      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box 2, Folder 70
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: South House
      4 items
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box 2, Folder 71
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Moving Day
      18 items
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box 2, Folder 72
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Swimming pool
      7 items
      Dates: 1968-1978
      Container: Box 2, Folder 73
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Religious service
      2 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2, Folder 74
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Chase, Samuel B and Mary
      4 items
      Dates: 1930-1958
      Container: Box 2, Folder 75
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Board of Directors
      15 items
      Dates: 1940-1978
      Container: Box 2, Folder 76
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children's Home Finding and Aid Society
      1 items : certificate of incorporation [photo]
      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box 2, Folder 77
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Commercial Club
      2 items
      Dates: 1909
      Container: Box 2, Folder 78
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Staff
      28 items
      Dates: 1963-1979
      Container: Box 2, Folder 79
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Former residents
      7 items
      Dates: 1940-1975
      Container: Box 2, Folder 80
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Art contest winners
      5 items
      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box 2, Folder 81
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Auction
      4 items
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box 2, Folder 82
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Play (Hansel & Gretel)
      1 items
      Dates: 1977
      Container: Box 2, Folder 83
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Memorial Book
      1 items
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box 2, Folder 84
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Vehicles
      4 items
      Dates: 1971-1973
      Container: Box 2, Folder 85
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Volunteers
      8 items
      Dates: 1961-1970
      Container: Box 2, Folder 86
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Gifts
      4 items
      Dates: 1970-1972
      Container: Box 2, Folder 87
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children 1
      20 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2, Folder 88
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children 2
      28 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2, Folder 89
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children 3
      31 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2, Folder 90
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children 4
      24 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2, Folder 91
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Youth 1
      3 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2, Folder 92
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children 5
      28 items
      Dates: 1917-1960
      Container: Box 2, Folder 93
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children 6
      38 items
      Dates: 1942-1963
      Container: Box 2, Folder 94
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children 7
      50 items
      Dates: 1963-1979
      Container: Box 2, Folder 95
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Youth 2
      21 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2, Folder 96
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Youth 3
      24 items
      Dates: 1920-1968
      Container: Box 2, Folder 97
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Youth 4
      30 items
      Dates: 1968-1970
      Container: Box 2, Folder 98
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Youth 5
      25 items
      Dates: 1970-1979
      Container: Box 2, Folder 99
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: 35mm slides
      4 items : bw negatives of portratis and groups of people
      Dates: 1975-1983
      Container: Box 2, Folder 100
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: 35mm negatives
      8 items : bw negatives of portratis and groups of people
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2, Folder 101
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: People
      148 items : bw photos of groups; couples; outdoor activities
      Dates: 1914-19788
      Container: Box 2, Folder 102
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: BW contact sheets
      1 items : classrooms; people on playing field
      Dates: 1960
      Container: Box 2, Folder 103
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Open House Guest Book
      1 items
      Dates: 1949
      Container: Box 2, Folder 104
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Scrapbook
      1 items
      Dates: 1920
      Container: Box 3, Folder 105
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Scrapbook, National Conference of Social Workers
      1 items
      Dates: 1936
      Container: Box 3, Folder 106
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children's Home Finder
      58 items
      Dates: 1912-1935
      Container: Box 3, Folder 107
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Flashes
      2 items
      Dates: 1978, 1983
      Container: Box 3, Folder 108
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Christmas Brochures
      8 items
      Dates: 1913-1931
      Container: Box 3, Folder 109
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Old Christmas Letters
      29 items
      Dates: 1960-1982
      Container: Box 3, Folder 110
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Calendars
      3 items
      Dates: 1982-1984
      Container: Box 3, Folder 111
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Promotional Literature
      19 items
      Dates: 1924-1984
      Container: Box 3, Folder 112
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Student Publications
      2 items
      Dates: 1977
      Container: Box 3, Folder 113
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Children's Home pamphlet
      1 items : Day, Sam. "Children's Home Society in Crisis"
      Dates: 1960
      Container: Box 3, Folder 114
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Obituaries of Founders
      11 items : Eugene Cox;Theron S. Ward; Carl E. Harris; Bessie V. Clarke; Daisy T. Babb; S.C. Skillern; Frank Morris; William Bollinger
      Dates: 1952-1963
      Container: Box 3, Folder 115
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Newspaper Clippings
      80 items : childen's welfare
      Dates: 1940-1960
      Container: Box 3, Folder 116
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Flashes Journal
      106 items
      Dates: 1935-1981
      Container: Box 3, Folder 117
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Scrapbook
      1 items
      Dates: 1973-1976
      Container: Box 4, Folder 118
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Brown Scrapbook 1
      1 items
      Dates: 1960-1972
      Container: Box 4, Folder 119
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Brown Scrapbook 2
      1 items
      Dates: 1960-1972
      Container: Box 4, Folder 120
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Blue Scrapbook
      1 items
      Dates: 1960-1963
      Container: Box 4, Folder 121
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: North Idaho Children's Home photographs
      7 items : Rendering of the Children's Home exterior; 1978 color aerial photo of the home
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box O.S., Folder 122
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Expense Ledger 1
      1 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box O.S., Object 123
      Location: Series 6: Photographs
    • Description: Expense Ledger 2
      1 items
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box O.S., Object 124
      Location: Series 6: Photographs

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Other Creators

Finding aid prepared by Emmy Lou Forster; updated by Ariana Burns 2025
1985

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