The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home 1

The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home

Brianna L. Leith

Seton Hill University

The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home 2

Abstract

The progressive era had many impactful movements and important people running

them. The topic of focus that has been chosen is the Orphan Train that was introduced by

Charles Loring Brace. The number of children living in poverty was increasing rapidly and

the streets were filled with children. To address this situation Charles Loring Brace, a

minister in New York wanted to make a difference. He and a team of wealthy families

organized the Orphan Train Movement to decrease the number of children on the streets. The

orphan train helped a select few children but the majority of children few mistreated and

abused. The purpose of the paper will be to try and understand Charles Loring Brace’s ideas

and how they succeeded or failed the impoverished children.

The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home 3

The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home

During the progressive era, America was growing and changing hoping to create more

jobs for all of the unemployed. The parents struggled to find jobs and maintain a healthy life

for themselves and their children. The impoverished children lined the streets of New York

dying left and right. The parents were unable to care for themselves and struggled to raise

their children. Many of the children lost their parents from dangerous work, illness or

abandonment and so they were left to survive on their own. The children struggled to find

food and shelter, they also were deprived of education and social activities. Other people in

society tried to push them away and ignore them so they were no longer welcomed in many

places. The orphaned children played, ate, and slept in the streets until a volunteer or worker

from the Children’s Aid Society took them in to provide care. The Children’s Aid Society

(CAS) was a group of people who noticed the issue of childhood homelessness and decided

to take action (Blakemore, 2019).

The children were multiplying quickly and the need for homes was increasing rapidly.

The CAS took as many children as they could and sent them to new families for a better life.

The founder of the CAS was Charles Loring Brace, a minister in New York City, he saw the

children that filled the streets and gathered a group of people to take action alongside him.

Brace and his followers officially began the Orphan Train Movement in 1854, even though

they were helping many children prior (N.O.T.C. Museum, 2007). The goal of the trains was

to move the orphans to other places in America to be fed, clothed and given and place to live.
The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home 4

Though Brace and the CAS had good intentions the trains may have done more damage than

good to the children.

Comparison with Segal. The Segal textbook used throughout this course provided

little information about the direct results of the movement, it covered more so of the origins

and goals of the Children’s Aid Society (CAS). The text also discussed briefly the reformers

and the items they were able to accomplish, such as child protection rights and child labor

laws. The social reformers wanted a better life for the children and at the time, did the best

that they could with their resources.

Charles Loring Brace sought out a solution to the growing number of children living

on the streets. According to Erikson Charles, “tried to eliminate poverty by discovering its

causes and removing those causes from society” (1987). The findings throughout the

research aligned with the Segal text readings. Segal explained that there were groups of

workers and volunteers that wanted to change the environment they were living in. The

research supported that in also stating that the CAS workers were only some of the workers

that wanted to see changes. The CAS workers led by Charles Loring Brace began running the

trains throughout the country to remove children from society.

The movement resulted in changes to the treatment of children throughout the

country. The reformers were able to “advocate the end of child labor laws through the

National Child Labor Committee” (Segal, 2016, p.299). The research led to finding changes

in the Child Labor Laws since the movement ended in 1929. The Fair Labor Standards Act

was put in place in 1938, which set a minimum working age at 16 for general work and 18
The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home 5

years old for more dangerous positions (Children's Bureau Timeline). Also the creation of the

Children’s Bureau in 1912, which follows the information and data about children in the U.S.

They also provide support for the children to ensure their health and safety. There have been

many laws and new programs put in place since the Orphan Train movement ended and

hopefully, future ones will be able to eliminate the maltreatment of children.

Implications in social welfare. The following implication in social welfare

demonstrates the progress made throughout history in America. The Children's Bureau

Timeline explains in 1912 how the bureau was created. The Children’s Bureau began to

investigate and report the information gathered on children in the United States. Before the

bureau, there was little enforced documentation of the children and their living conditions.

Children had very little support from the government and the support provided was not in the

majority of areas. The Children’s Bureau's goal was to obtain information and data about

children to build programs designed for particular areas and then have them implicated.

Shortly after the Children’s Bureau was created the Child Welfare League of America

in 1920 was formed. The league was not a part of the Federal government but it still had an

impact on the lives of the children in America. The league’s purpose is “to make children a

priority in the U.S.” They promote the well-being of all children and ensure the safety of

children. They also hold all people: communities, organizations, and all levels of the

government, accountable for the treatment of children in America (Our Story).

From 1920 until 1938 many other social welfare policies, laws and acts were

implicated into society at all levels of the government. Some include the Maternity and
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Infancy Act, Aid to Dependent Children, and the Maternal and Child Health Services.

Another important social welfare implication was the Fair Labor Standards Act that was

passed in 1938 (Children's Bureau Timeline). The Fair Labor Standards Act has a direct

correlation, though, with the Orphan Train movement. This act declared the federal

regulation of child labor which was in large part due to the physical labor the orphans were

put through during the movement. Since this act was passed, the working-age has continued

to be 16 for general jobs and 18 for the more dangerous work. Children no longer will be

working in dangerous conditions due to the creation of these changes in social welfare.

The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare (AACW) Act of 1980 was put in place to

further ensure the safety of children. (AACW Act of 1980) The children during the orphan

train movement were taken from their families and friends and placed in new environments.

There was no say or decision by the family or child as to where or whom they would go to.

The children were told, “Your parents are not your parents and your past is not your past your

life begins when you are chosen” (The Orphan Trains, 2015). The AACW ensures that

children will no longer be removed from their homes for being poor and they may have a say

in their relocation. It made sure that the family and children receive proper resources and

assistance from the government. The adoption agencies must make an effort to avoid

removing a child from their home unless it is unsafe for the child and is unable to receive

proper care by their parent or guardian.

The impact on the children. The orphan train movement was supposed to create a

better life for the children but many of them were maltreated in their new placement. John
The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home 7

Brady was one of the orphan train riders who was forever grateful for the movement and was

able to grow up into a successful man and own land and create a family name for himself. “I

shall ever acknowledge with gratitude that the Children’s Aid Society has been the

instrument of my elevation. To be taken from the gutters of New York City and placed in a

college is almost a miracle. - John Brady, orphan train rider” (O’Connor, 2001). Brady was

one of the few children that were grateful for his time during the movement. The majority of

the children were treated like slaves and were owned until they were 21 years old. During

that time people did not live as long so being owned until 21 was a lifetime of suffering.

John Jackson, another train rider, was one of those children treated as a slave and

owned by a farmer. “‘I wasn’t treated right any way.’ and ‘he pulled the shirt over my head,

and beat me over the back with a hickory stick, as fast as he could lick. I was all over blood.’

-John Jackson, orphan” (O’Connor, 2001). Jackson’s story was moving and emotional. He

was found on the streets by the police and arrested for being poor, the police station treated

him well and Jackson felt safe and he could trust them. The police soon place him in an

orphanage and he was later selected by a man who would change his life forever. The farmer

that chose him turned him into a slave for labor. Jackson, like many other children, was

beaten and forced to do manual labor.

Conclusion

The Orphan Train movement was the beginning of a very long history of child

welfare and labor laws. There have been many changes since the children were chosen off

the streets to work on farms far away from their families. The policies and laws that have
The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home 8

been implicated throughout history have gone through changes and still need revisions. Other

researchers may be able to find errors in the current policies and find a solution to the issue.

The orphan trains began the changes so maybe one day there will be another movement that

will spark ideas in other leaders to take a stand and have policies changed throughout their

current generation.

Critique

This research process provided prioritizing and presentation skills that will contribute

to any future career. Many careers will require leaders to take initiative and be organized as

they contribute to the team. This specifically relates to my future as a social worker since I

will have the opportunities and skills to lead a team through large changes and movements

similar to the Orphan Trains. Though, I will be able to learn from other mistakes throughout

history and contribute accordingly.

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References

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Blakemore, E. (2019, January 28). 'Orphan trains' brought homeless NYC children to work

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trains were the brainchild,late 19th century created unemployment.

Children's Bureau Timeline. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.childwelfare.gov/more-tools-resources/resources-from-childrens-bureau/t
imeline1/.
DiPasquale, C. A history of the orphan trains. Retrieved from
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Erikson, A. G. (1987). Family Services. Encyclopedia of social work, Vol. 1, pp.589-593.

Silver Spring, MD: National Association of Social Workers, Inc.

N.O.T.C. Museum (2007). Retrieved from

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O'Connor, S. (2001). Orphan trains : The story of charles loring brace and the children he

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The Orphan Trains: Taking A Train Home 10

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Our Story. Retrieved from https://www.cwla.org/about-us/history/.

Segal, E. A. (2016). Social welfare policy and social programs: a values perspective (4th

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