Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/638

462 ground in the back is situated in a beautiful grove where all kinds of children's games can be indulged in.

Since its organization the society has appointed three superintendents, the first being Mr. E. T. Dooley, who served for about one year from 1891 to 1892. Mr. Dooley was for twenty years preceding his appointment, superintendent of the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society of California, situated in San Francisco. During his incumbancy he organized this work and formulated methods for its prosecution and opened books in which was entered the history of the children coming under the care of the society. Mr. Dooley was succeeded by Mr. Joseph Misner, who served from February, 1893, at which time the present superintendent, W. T. Gardner, was appointed, and who has served ever since in this capacity.

The present assistant, Mrs. Mary J. Graham, was the first matron employed, to which position she was appointed in February, 1892.

The work of the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society is state wide. Children are committed to the society from every county in the state. Since its organization it has received and cared for three thousand, seven hundred and twenty-three children and deducting those who have become of age, children adopted, and those sent to relatives or discharged for other causes, they have now upwards of five hundred children under the direct care of the society. About fifty-five of this number are at the Receiving Home awaiting placement and the balance are placed in family homes throughout the state of Oregon. One hundred and fifty of this number being for the most part girls between the age of ten and eighteen years, are placed in family homes within the corporate limits of the city of Portland. The younger ones are attending school and receiving their board and clothing in return for service rendered while the older ones are working in families at regular wages.

Mrs. Mary J. Graham acts as city visitor and has in charge girls whom she visits at regular intervals and pays particular attention to their conditions and treatment.

The southern Oregon district is under the care and supervision of Miss Myrtle E. Pease, while the eastern Oregon district is looked after by Mr. J. C. Kilpack, thus, all the wards of the society are systematically cared for after being placed in family homes.

The result of the work can be seen throughout the entire state of Oregon and it is hard to find a better equipped child placing agency than the Boys' and GirlsAid Society in the United States.

Portland's home for deserted orphaned babies, located at East 36th and Ellsworth streets, was organized in 1888. The first officers being: Mrs. Mary D. Halsey, president; Mrs. Kate Mendenhall, vice-president; Mrs. R. N. Robb, secretary; Mrs. Jane Abraham, treasurer.

The institution was incorporated in 1889, with a capital stock of one thousand dollars, divided into one hundred shares of ten dollars each. And of this incorporation Mrs. Sarah Kern was president; Mrs. J. C. Warner, vice-president; Mrs. A. J. Wells, secretary; Mrs. A. L. Keenan, treasurer; and Mrs. E. R. Harbin, each being a member of the board of five directors.

A block of eight city lots was donated to the institution by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Kern, for a building site, and opened a house for the little charges then at hand, and commenced business with ten children.

In May, 1910, in order to enlist a larger circle of interest, senior and junior auxiliaries were added to the board of directors, consisting of, for the seniors: Mrs. Walter Burrell, president; Mrs. Frank Ransom, vice-president; Mrs. Whitney L. Boise, secretary; Mrs. W. J. Van Schuyver, treasurer, with seventy-five lay members. And for the juniors, Miss Maida Hart, president; Miss Marguerita Hume, vice-president; Miss May Coon, secretary; Miss Ruth Beach, treasurer; and fifty lay members.