The legacy of the famed Orphan Trains that began during the first days of the Children’s Aid Society in New York lives on today. An estimated 150,000 children took part in the Orphan Train Movement from 1854 to 1929, giving them new lives and a bright future by removing them from the poverty and danger of the city streets. 
Charles Loring Brace, the founder of the New York’s Children Aid Society was the leader of the Orphan Train model. He believed that in order to give children a chance of escaping a lifetime of suffering, that they should be placed with morally upright farm families. Charles Brace’s work with the Orphan Train movement is fascinating history – living history – as the lives and legacies of his efforts continue today.
The Orphan Train Heritage Society of America Inc (OTHSA) is an organization formed in 1987 to provide a clearinghouse of information of the lives and legacy of the Orphan Train experience. OTHSA maintains the Orphan Train Riders Research Center, a museum with an archive of newspapers, census records, oral histories, letters, and photographs pertaining to the Orphan Train accounts. These genealogists and historians seek to salvage and share information on the Orphan Train riders, and the extended biological families that are alive today.
An estimated 30,000 children were homeless in New York City in the 1850s, when Charles L. Brace began this historic effort. That’s a lot of personal stories, and after a century and a half, generation after generation of families tie their roots back to the Orphan Trains. For more on the stories of Orphan Train riders, click here.
Tags: adoption, Charles Loring Brace, Children's Aid New York City, Orphan Train Movement, Orphan Train Riders Research Center, orphans, The Orphan Train Heritage Society of America Inc
By David
This spring at the Philip Coltoff Center, theatergoing children and adults alike were enthralled by the sight of a young-at-heart dad dragged off by monsters for a dose of discipline. The play, “Wild Thing” by Resident Playwright Monica Flory, was put on by The New Acting Company, The Children’s Aid Society’s theater company and school soon to celebrate its 10 year anniversary.
Inspired by the well-loved children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, this play was well suited for children ages 4 through Adult. The costumes and staging just added to the fun as Rohana Elias-Reyes from nytheatre.com said, “The New Acting Company takes producing for kids seriously; they don’t skimp on lighting, costumes, sound and set and this creates a real theatergoing experience.”
This is just the latest installment from The New Acting Company, which specializes in exciting productions for families, including “The Jungle Book”, “Sideways Stories from Wayside School” & “Alice In Wonderland” just a few favorites from previous seasons. The New Acting Company, created, founded and lead by Artistic Director, Stephen Michael Rondel is a fun, safe and creative place for students of all ages to explore the world of acting.
Tags: Alice In Wonderland, Children's Aid New York City, Maurice Sendak, Monica Flory, Philip Coltoff Center, Stephen Michael Rondel, The Jungle Book, The New Acting Company, Where the Wild Things Are, Wild Thing
By Caroline
Pictured: C. Warren Moses (far right) with the student stars of "The Orphan Train" at The Elisabeth Morrow School.
The eighth grade students at The Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood, New Jersey mounted a production of Aurand Harris’ “The Orphan Train” play on May 6th and 7th. In lieu of charging admission, the young actors requested donations for The Children’s Aid Society. The students raised almost $690 – and awareness amongst their friends and families – for Children’s Aid.
Charles Loring Brace, the founder of The Children’s Aid Society, began the Orphan Train movement in the 1850s to combat the harsh life faced by many children on the streets of New York City. He proposed that these children be sent by train to live and work with families on farms out west. More than 120,000 children were moved between the 1850s and 1920s.
C. Warren Moses, the CEO of Children’s Aid, was a special guest on the play’s opening night. Mr. Moses thoroughly enjoyed the production, which chronicled the stories of several children who traveled on the Orphan Trains to the Midwest seeking adoptive families. After the play, he spoke to the audience about the history of the Orphan Trains and Children’s Aid’s current work in New York City.
Photo courtesy of The Elisabeth Morrow School
Tags: Aurand Harris, C. Warren Moses, Charles Loring Brace, Children's Aid New York City, children's aid society, Orphan Trains, The Elisabeth Morrow School
By Children's Aid Society
New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) recently marked the beginning of National Foster Care Month with a commemoration to raise New Yorkers’ awareness about foster care, celebrating generous New Yorkers who have opened their hearts and homes as foster and adoptive parents. The Children’s Aid Society in New York, which partners with ACS, began its efforts to help the thousands of homeless, abused and orphaned children living on the streets of the city in 1853. That program, called the Orphan Train Movement, is still recognized as the foundation of the modern-day foster care system in the United States.
Today adoption and foster care constitute one of The Children’s Aid Society’s largest service divisions, and among our highest priorities, as we continue to work for the nearly 17,000 children living in foster care in New York. National Foster Care Month is a great opportunity to highlight this continuing need — thanking foster families and social workers who care for children — and encouraging New Yorkers to become foster parents, volunteers or mentors. Many foster care alumni have taken that crucial early support and mentoring to go on to many great things in life.
New York’s Children’s Aid Society finds safe and nurturing homes for more than 640 needy children a year, a powerful statement of commitment and care. In addition, we also provide many specialized services for youths and families in the foster care system. Learn more about becoming a foster parent.
Tags: adoption, children's aid society, Foster Care, foster parents, national foster care, new york city, orphan train
By David
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