Albany, New York
February 19, 1946
Board of Managers
Albany Home for Children
Albany, New York.
Gentlemen:
As President of the Board of Managers of the Albany Home
for Children, I have not each year submitted an annual report.
The members of the Board were all acquainted with the general
conditions and operations at the Home and an annual report
from myself seemed superfluous.
As Dr. Winne has kindly and generously agreed to assume
the duties of President for 1946, a very general summary of the
four years of January 1942 to January 1946 seems not undesir-
able.
In January 1942 the war had been in progress but one month
and we had not as yet felt much of the impact of that event.
Miss M. Ingeborg Olsen, our social worker, resigned early
that year. For several months we were without the services of
a social worker until Miss Elizabeth B. Campbell was engaged.
Her association with us has been very beneficial to the Home,
and at present it would be possible to replace her at her
present salary.
It was in 1942 that some of the boys who had lived at the
Home went into service. In all 45 have been inducted, of whom
4 have been killed end 7, I believe, have been wounded.
fhe war also ected the staff. Miss Olive Reed, Miss
Elizabeth Black, Miss Gertrude Bloodgood, Miss Charlotte
Bergquist, Miss Muriel Halliday and Mrs. Harriet Rolfe left to
join various branches of the service. A general feeling of
unrest began to permeate the housemothers and assistant house-
mothers. Some left for better paying job The places of
those leaving were filled by available applicants, many of
whom were unsuited either mentally or physically for the work.
In nearly all cases their stay was of short duration and other
women had to be hired whenever possible. It was found necessary
to raise all wages. Our original starting wage of $50. to $5
per month and maintenance, no applicant would consider.
obliged to raise this wage to $60. to $65 nd even tha
to procure the right type of person. Because of wage i
to new staff members it was necessary to overhaul the whole w
structure and put those who had been with us for a period of
time in higher brackets.
Due to the corstant turnover of the staff and general un-
rest throughout the country, the discipline of the children
suffered.
in 1943, gland J. Huddleston, our Activities
Director, join the Navy. This further impaired morale as
his successors, Mr. Wilfred Ackerly and Mr. David Kreher, were
unable to maintain the high standard set by Iir. Huddleston.
During the summer of 1945 1 est S. Brown, who had helped
with activities at one another, was full time director.
i i i well. He left in September
1945 to resume his duties as headmaster of a school at Norwood,
New Jersey. During October and November of last fall ii
McPherson handled this work but in consequence was obliged to
let other of his duties go, as there was not time for both.
In December 1945 we took on a temporary basis Mr. Charles
E. Bromm. He has done well, although he has had no previous
experience working with children. It is with great pleasure,
therefore, that we look forward to the return of Mr. Huddleston
@s soon as the Home provides a suitable apartment for him, his
son and Mrs. Huddleston.
With the beginning of rationing, the Home was faced with
serious problem. We had always bought our staples at a time
when the market was suitable. As t progressed we wer
obliged to pay more for all foods a y lines were unobtz
able. On top of this the 0.P.A. cecre that no iweat packer
could sell cut meat directly to the ul ute consumer. We have
always purchased most of our meat from the Albany a Company,
who have cut it as desired and delivered to the Home. For sonme-
time after the 0.P.A. directive, the Albany Packing Co. continued
to do as formerly, but were finally forced to stop. Since that
tine we have dealt with eee butchers, chiefly Mr. A. D.
Hamele, at iir. Wilson Codling's suggestion, but of cours
increased cost. e Albany Packin; Company and Mr. Cod
however, have continued their generosity in giving the Hone
Thanksgiving turkeys, and at last spring's law party, a 15 pound
h and 24 cans of bacon which were raffled off for a substantial
return for the Children's Fund.
In the purchas i wa erson found great
difficulty in obt: ining re l as he quality was poor,
the price higher than in fori °S, and many items unobtai
able. He tried wholesalers ew Yor} ad other cities without
success it finally became necessary to buy from retail store
sales and Montgomery Ward. Whitney's in Albany has been very
kind in letting the Home know what articles were going on sale
and when.
As the costs of everything went up, surplus commodities
given the Howe by the Federal Gov ment at a cost to the tax-
payers only, wes stopped. Likey ral Govern
subsidy, which was collected for scho« lunches for
terminated.
In addition to increaseda costs of food and clothing, the
price of coal has increased 83.5 88 per ton since 1942 and is of
poorer quality. Before the war, the Home purchased its coal in
carload lots, buying from whichever lo firm submitted the
lowest bid. For several years ori ine 94 i lio was
the lowest bidder. That year no coal cealer w world bid on our
requirements, as ch was limited to about the same tonnage as
in previous years. lorto id there was no tioney in our
business and he wi d to build up more profitable customers
for after the war. Warner Morton reluctantly agreed to supply
our needs at an increase of over $2. per ton. Mr. Olcott took
the imatter up with the Solid Fuels Aduinistration. ir. Frazer,
the then local head of that bureau, said that his department
would see that our supplier, whoever he might be, would receive
the necessary tonnage. We again requested bids, and Blackburn,
being lower than Morton, was given the order. He oe kept us
supplied with coal, although at times not the size we wished
hence at a higher price. Also his price, due to mone mine
costs, has been increased somewhat each year.
The use of soft coal was tried but 3
heating eguipment at the I e is not suitable for this type of
fuel.
In 1945 our allotinent of $9,375. from the Community Chest
was cut 10% along with other Chest Agencie 4 this cut
was restored but no additional funds were Boeke oming. In 1945
the Chest allotted the Home $8,000. but on a petition by Mr. Clark,
Mr. Woodward and lir. Corrie granted us an additional $5,000.
naking a total of $13,000.
through the efforts of the various welfare
agencies of Albsny County, the Department of Public Welfare agreed
to pay $9. per week, coke board, an increase of $2. per child per
week. The Hon si oe xr arrangements with the other counties
who now pay $10. per
E q showed an operating deficit.
Part af the deficit for 2 E years as shown by the annual
financial report, however, was: due capital losses, but the
total deficit each year was charged to unexpended capital funds.
The y 945 sh a marked decrease pulation for the
first several months, O tly a la eficit for
Janua ry » February and i would have zen the case had the
nunber of children at the @ Hon as large as in former years
sive April the number of ad Peat risen, while the number
of discharges has fl uated considerably. The result has been a
net increas n population of about 15 to 20 children over the low
population months at the beginning of 1945.
d
Due to increased board income and extra allotment from the
Community Chest, and various uinor savings, the operations at the
Home have b in the black since May, although we shall ¢ }
show @ deficit for the @mtire y » but less than previous years.
_ Durin : Social Welfare
periodic inspection. They advocated installation of
hiring of ac il social
actual effect r agreement with Albany r n finding
placing in é 3 certain of the children committed
our care.
There wa
ard in the opera s the Hor
3S were too hig should be d.
1 Rathbone Cottage be
where needed , s of a were practical.
plished. J ere was
the number of r cd had Rathbone be
have had to reopen i er else have refused t
children. Had we declined to cept the we would have
cut ourselves off from considerable inc ated a bad impres
ion among the committing agenc and als 31 rking
responsibiliti
1ildings
to be done.
10u1ld be consi
all buil
Trained
naturail
and present who have given their efforts and money to maintain
a Home for Childr
For this reason I believe the Board of a should in
the near future put on a drive for funcs to be ac to the
Hone's endowaent. As any such caupalgn will involve careful
planning and hard work, we all shy away from it looking for an.
easier method to meet our needs. However, if we nave 4 ree
interest and believe in the work which the Hone is d aot
will not be deterred in our efforts to see that the nec
woney is raised.
I wish to thank each member of the Bos
interest and effort in behalf of th
four yeers. I wish particularly to
Dr. Winne for his great generosity i
ren's health, as we could not operate wi
to thank Mr. Corrie for his active intere
the Boy Scouts. Dr. Winne and lir. C
Board Meabers who have had any r conta
and 1 believe it would be beneficial if we
interest in the children.
The dies auxiliary has t spl i ir work
looking after the interior and the
Through their interest and effort
furniture have been instailed, wuch of the furn
painted by the ladies themselves. They have alsc
remade garments for the child 1 otherwise
been used. To Mrs. Boss, tl
i13 E 2 and
gratitude.
1 also wish to ee ay appe tion to
of the staff who fai u Sto us during
years under extreme ( alrs
of invalu
oye ng:
and the department of public welfare.
Mr. McPherson, our superintendent, | i brunt
the work necessary to k in é ie) has workec
long hours under most adverse conditions [ to the instabili
of much of the staff, i 2 e rm tine to obtaining
sufficient workers. 1 » sk Oo 2 d workers and the
ition receiv
or his.effor
lways upp
canuary 1946
Mr. John F. McPherson
Superintendent,
The Albany Home for Children.
My dear Mr. McPherson:
The following is my report as Attending Physician to the Home
on health conditions there during the calendar year of 1945:
The general health of the children has been very satisfactory;
there has been no general illness, barring a prevalence of colds in
times of bad weather, and there has beon almost no serious illness of
individuals. This, too, in the face of the admission of a large
number of new children and a rather unsettled staff situation. Lat-
terly, in the presence of a goneral epidemic in the city of a mild
type of probable influenza, we have had a few casos,
There have becn soveral small outbroaks of digestive disturbance
(nausea and vomiting and occasion: y Giarrhoca) in ono or moro cot-
tages, but carcful checking has failed to reveal the causc. None of
the outbreaks were sovere either in the number of children involvod
or in the degree of illness of tho individuals. ‘There was also an
outbreak of Nonne's dysentory in Lathrop Cottage, involving in all
about 18 children and mostly in the youngest groupe This apparontly
arose from contact with a nowly-admitted child who acted as a carrior.
The outbreak lasted in all about two weeks but only three childron
were really ill.
There have boen only eight cases of what aro generally known as
"contagious" disoases, 5 cases of mumps and 3 cases of chicken pox,
a11 in Lathrop Cottago. Rocently in the same cottage there havo boon
found a few cases of ringworm, some of which are of tho scalp. Those
apparently camo from the same child who introduced the dysentery.
ACCIDENTS =
We have had the usual run of accidents most of which occurred in
play or through falls. Ono boy was accidentally shot in tho ankle
by another boy in the clandestine use of a 22 rifle. Theso accidents,
21 in all were as follows:
Bruise of eyo by a snowballecccccccses
Concussion from eee eee ces seveses
Fractures (claviclo 1, anklo 1) ssese«
Gunshot wound (with slight fracture
of bono) sia vie. codecs
Lacertations requiring suturo ..... 1 but one of these
seGived anti-totanus
Puncture wound of palm (by
Sprains .cceccseccecceces
Tooth injuries (1 extraction roquired)
One boy who had had a rocent operation o:
in a fracas and tho incision broke open,
There were accidents in 1944,
HOSPITALIZA There pave been 25 children hospitalized as
follows
Cellulitis of arm (no operation ......
Capsulectomy . cis Sale alee olalevens .
Chronic abscess thigh (cause undetermined) L
D and C and stem pessary inserted ....
Foreign body (bullet) in ankle ....
Infection hand (nail puncturo)
Ingrown GOO NOLL ceseeccesecves
Mastoidectomy .e.sscerscess o.
Obs SOPVATLON ceecisccceccccseces
(psychiatric 1, kidney 1, throat 1)
Phlobitis Le leg cosseseccssevscceces
Tonsilectomies ....
(with adenoidoct
Injury to groin ..
Rhoumatic hea rt diseaso .
In the Childs Hospital;
HH
QHRPHPHH
Hospitalizations in 1944 - 35
RADIOGRAPHS = These were as follows, 26 in all: 44 in 1944)
Chests....... The chost radiographs
Dental ... were: four check-ups of
Fractures ... 10 (or suspected fracture, possible tuberculosis
various) casos, two of new tubor+
Foreign body. 1 (bullet in ankle) culin-positive children,
G. I. series. 1 two of suspected cardiac
Jo Saige sno dieu. tL and one of a new child
Pee Winaa ge iO giving history of recent
fracture of ribs.
Fluorscopic exams: 2 (chest 1, G.I. 1)
The following CLINIC VISITS were made at the Albany Hospital:
425 in all as compared with 494 in 1944,
ChOSt. cc ceccserveseee L
Ear, Nose & Throat .. 135 i 18
Genito- Urinary cesecs kL . 56
Gynecological 5 rei 85
Medical .. b a
Neuro-psycl i b 45
LY
DENTAL CLINIC - The Drs. DoRisi, who have looked aftor the teeth
of our childron in our own dental clinic for several ye
signed as attonding'dontists on June Sees fee oy
at loast to us, vory pleasant
wore very sorry to have them leave. veeeer s i ere able
socuro tho sorvices of another dontist, on a that different finan-
eee nie
clal basis, in tho perscr ’ Dr, Herman H. pa! has been xept
busy. There have a: 111: roy mn hildren admitted
to the Home this year a 1 ao with but little
previous dontal carc, the work has beon heavy. Under the new ar-
rangement with tho weolfa: roments of the counties sonding child-
ren to us they havo ag make financial reimbursement to us for
the initial work needed beyond a cortain minimum, the expenso of the
aftor-care to be borno by the no as usual in the past. This ar-
rangement has saved the Homo c iderable expenso and has also poer-
mitted an increased stipend to tho dentist.
The total nunber of dental visits was 478, divided as follows:
to Dr. De at our clinic ... 186
to hor private office .....c..s 14
to Dr, Tilman at the clinic .. 278
This compares to 600 visits the previous year,
EYE CASES - Seventy-two visits were made to Dr. Bedell's office
as follow ss
New children for initial examination 24)
Check-ups (two year interval) of others 16) 52 visits
Troatments and accidonts, visits, 15
Post operative visits 5
In 1944 there wore 56 visits,
Tho E. Peters Optical Co. has been very cooperative in looking
after the glasses. Tho children are very caroless with their glasses
and the breakage has beun very great.
SPECIAL EXAMINATIONS and TREATMENT -
As stated above there were 18 visits to the "Public Health"
(venereal disease) clinic. Four of these visits wero check-ups on
two cases of congenital syphilis whose Wassormamreactions are now
negative. The romaining visits were those of the one child in the
Home at presont who still has a positive Wassermann, Sho is a re-
cently admitted case. Of tho 78 Wasscrmann tests on an equal number
of new children this yoar all were negative except that on this ono
child.
Tuberculin tests were done, as usual, on all new children, of
which four were found to react positively, but they showed no other
signs of the disease. Four children visited the chest clinic for
check-ups. have no childron under serious observation at present.
Some of thoso about whom we were concerned formerly have either boen
discharged from the clinic or havo left the Home. Eighty-five tu-
berculin tests in all were made this year - in 1944 there were 28.
Twelve children were vaccinated, Twenty-eight were Shick tested
for susceptibility to diphtheria. The twelve positive reactors wore
&11 immunized with tox Lect ardi re made on for
children with k ¢ t nea A One child ha
basal motabolis 8 One 1d he x-ray therapy troatm
for seborrhoeic eczena,
& total of 168 complote physical examinations were made - 130
in the pediatric clinic and 38 in the medical clinic. Those included
not only the 78 new children but the annual examination of all the
others. In 1944 there wero 138 such examinations.
I made 51 visits to the Home, In my absence or inability to
serve Dr. Otto Faust kindly made two visits, Dr. E. S. Goodwin throe
visits, and Dr. E. N. Kemp one visit.
Miss Marian Fingar has very satisfactorily continued as our
Resident Nurse throughout the y e To hor and to all others wh
have aided in our cfforts to maintain the health program at a high
levol or to care for those children who wero i11 I wish to express
my sincere thanks.
Rospectfully ubnitted,
PY a
ee oe Cant
Charles inher ‘Ned.
Attending Physician
ALBANY HOME FOR CHILDREN
AL REPORT
1945
ir. Theodore W. Dwight
President, Board of Managers
Albany Home for Children
Albany, New York.
Dear Mr. Dwight:
The year 1945 in retrospect seems to be characterized
best by the single word 'change'. Perhaps no other year has
containe 24 so many great issues for the American public. 1945
begen with the worry that a world conflict would be extended
indefinitely and with bitter discouragement following the
failure of optimistic forecasts. Thus at its beginning a
difficult adjustment was required of everyone. Through the
year we felt mixed feelings of gratitude and deep concern as
first the European conflict ended, then the Pacific war with
awe-inspiring suddenness, and we recognized a future destined
to be unlike anything experienced before.
Such an introduction as the above to the report of a hone
for children may seem out of place but i should like to under-
score the fact that everyone found it difficult to approach
life on the basis of his eae! ous experiences. There seemed
always to be many new aspects to everything that needed to be
done.
it is needless to say that children do not su ;
ectly when adults experience such tensions. GC e that
wee wor s ate that they suffer in indirect proportion to
they have of the concerns and worries of
ts and that in times of such ct 2 grownups are prone to
sie no one understands, least of all, children.
Difficulty in ng purchases of ites ne a for every-
Gay existence, co of school teachers regarding overdue
increas in salaries TT of staff that younger people
uld replace them ne ena of the war, concerns about the
lue of one's earnings & savings in a future of higher
prices, have be a few of jew ave caused unrest
among the adult world a I 3 ed a went in which
children felt left out. ; s are now
much wore concerned with behavi E ms and attitudes soe
ever before, is a reflection of th : concerns of tt
young in the cor mand ty at larg
This introduction is made tc i perspective ir
eviewing sone of the trenc bse 2 a past year.
At the beginning of 1945 we experienced « our population
which threatened our financial security. One of the
the decline in population is the incre
celal aid given by State and Federal agencies to
relatives of children enabling many more children to stay in
their own homes or in homes of relatives. Other factors ere
the tendency of enlightened children's agencies to re-establish
broken homes and return children to them, or to place children
in foster homes where this is not possible. Older children who
otherwise have been economic handicaps in normal times found a
great demand for their services in war and related industri
There were reports embarrassing to many of our staff that child-
ren seventeen through twenty were earning more than mature, well-
trained people. It should be recognized that this trend is one
which has been in process for many years but that it has been
offset in the case of our agency by an increase in our services
to counties outside of Albany. The following table suggests
this trend toward a decline in number of children who can be
helped by an agency such as ours.
POPOLATLON TRENDS
Total .escseeee
(Figures are for December of each year)
Both the housing shortage and the opportunity for highly
remunerative employment have reduced the number of foster homes
available and perhaps made some relatives less willing to care
for children whose parents are een dU eee During July the
State of New York effected a prograa by means of which financial
aid could be given to second degree ‘relatives, uncles, aunts,
sisters and brothers for the care of dependent children. Several
children formerly here have benefited from such an arrangement
and are now with relative it is likely, therefore, that this
trend will continue end will parallel the development of adequate
housing needed for foster homes.
The trend towerd a lower population has been offset first,
by an increase in the nunber o ite te see ether counties and
second, by the approval of the Board to cept et pay eae
and temporary care cases & review of the inte ke d
table for the year 1945 outlined he
trend, namely, that children are in our custody f or shorter
periods.
ADMISSIONS and DISCHARGES 1943-1945
2an.Feb.Mar.Apr.hiay June July Aug. Sept.Oct. Nov. Dec. Tet
0 Ke 4 5 4 2
5 13 aac se 2
1945
Because many unusual factors affected family life during
this year and because we instituted a new program, 1945 is not
a typical year. It can be assumed, however, that there will be
an inerease in the number of private pay cases, particularly in
the instances of mothers or fathers who have lost their partners
and whe desire to provide good training for their children but
find that an income from State or Fedetal agencies inadequate
to meet their standards of living. We now have several such
cases. The need for care for children for shorter periods will
continue but perhaps will not be as acute as suggested by the
current year. Because of improving child welfare services it
appears very definite, however, that children will reuain in our
care for much shorter periods than they previously did. In the
future it will be the exceptional case in which a child comes to
us at the age of two, is cared for through its childhood and
adolescence, and is dicharged et some degree of maturity. in the
light of these facts it does got seem that withdrawal of war tine
restrictions, even though the one-year draft program is approved
py Congress, will have any effect on increasing the age range of
our group, nor of giving us the opportunity to train many child-
ren completely over a period of years.
If the above trends continue and if the problems indicated
by them are to be met, this agency should consider seriously the
matter of foster home placewent as an adjunct to its services, or
it should definitely take the attitude that it is solely a re-
training center for children whose needs have to be met temporar-
ily, or for children who need a special kind of attention which
can be provided only in this environment. If we are to do the
second job to the exclusion of the first, if we are to eaphasize
a re-training program and serve our own and neighboring counties
in this way, we will need soon to euploy an expert teacher who
will give children from varying backgrounds, the basic training
they need in order to be assimilated in the public school systen.
It will be noted from the table of intake and discharge listed
above that there was a great influx of children during the year,
particularly in the months of June, August and September, when a
total of 38 children were admitted. It will be recognized that it
is impossible for an agency to proceed normally when one third of
its pepulation changes in so short a period. Because of this
influx our children sensed a radical change. Standards set by our
Children's Committee were strange to a large portion of our. popu-
lation, and our staff, being relatively new, neither. sensed the
problem nor was capable of solving it. . The difficulties both the
children and. staff had to face are suggested by. a review of. the
handicaps which several of the new children brought with them.
A fifteen year old girl who has since adjusted well, was at first
implored to brush her hair and make herself neat in app
Gradually it was learmed that it had not been her cust
for herself, that her great-grandparents with whom she had
living had such a meager standard. that this child.neither knew
how to. use a comb, wash her hair, nor did she know that dishes
were washed after use in most homes, that her clothing needed to
be washed regularly and that she could do it herself. Another
child somewhat younger took a great deal of tine to eat, and had
become a serious problem to the foster pai with whom
been staying. She had lost weight and refused to eat a
amount even though encour: @ to do sc. Left pretty wuch alone by
the houSemother and the o irls when she refused to eat what
was placed before her, her hung ana the normal interest of others
in food gained the upper hand and she has become a healthy, robust
child. A sixteen year old boy who cane fr a fara environment did
not realize that most boys and girls bring school books howe to
study at n t and he still resents this necessity which h
iates with city life. His resistance to school work is comp
by the fact that he has little sese of property value never
having possessed anything which was completely his « At
he applied his ideas of communal living, liberally hel
to trousers from the clothing binets and to the
ether boys. Because he was t
but very effectively.
mm gave hii osition where
school work the rule
for hi be recog
new children are tC achi \ 3
other boys an 1 o have ac ted Wwe life.
should be r Ze too e who have been here longe
who have not learn ike Oo 1 rt to previous patt-
erns of behavi en they a) r old way cf life in the
behavior of a recent i tio: k i
A third trend seems to be
of the older ch x we now receive
probable that
child care in o c i neighboring counti would be cou-
ng to f Te W d receive only children
enough to ( ij y e then
ough to give fine standards of ci i
ununity programs designed to bolster the
increasingly fina places for the young child
hil z ore nearly parallel the child
in our care has been dropping
PSs
pulation in the future therefore will be craym fron
their stay i ce horter duration,
eur job ore intensive on¢ standards of child care do
however an the closing S 3 As trained per
his field there Hh 2 greate 2 for our services
appropr 1 h Li cLe oi ea that our prese
21 worker i ffective i ing others in the
praisal of cur work during it is desirable
of the te 1 cases we There was, for
sisters wh fr VET} > nsibl i
r recognized of y such
when i
and father were
gone for three sonths during which tiwe we « the parents
informed weekly of the progress of the children and the par«
in return kept a steady stre of post cards and letters cot
te the children. The older of the two children was help ed
interpret the teaporary situation to the younger child aged
so that when the parents returned there was only a brief worry
by the mother about her youngest child not recognizing her. After
a day or two with the parents, these children were able to pick
up very closely where they had left off. In another instance an
attractive girl of ten who seemed very old for her years was
helped by us for a period of four months while a neighboring
county checked on relatives who could provide a home for her. The
change in plens for this chila was necessitated by the fact that
she coulé not manage to adjust to a stepmother whom the father
I Led Then there were three boys, children of a
recently ducted into service whose wife expected
and who had to undergo an operation for acute
appendici k é these chil eren for six weeks until
the West issist in the manage-
rived home. T another child wh:
severe nervo isorder requiring shock
J il her mother
id still
schools
escent girls to
the county
erican home. The
where they received
ining and Ri understanding of the way others livec, while a
ained housekeeper taught their mother to manage more ett coe ty
velees sta dards of cleanliness. This family was reunited
five nonths.
it is obvious tha 2 aining of children who co
ger backg grounds and assinilation of children w
short periods of tiwe requires uore careful supervision than a
in which children can be once peace thoroughly and then
helped to adjust to various aspects of life as they face then. it
is significant that there have been many successes among our fanily
of more permanent residents even though the attention of less
experienced staff was required predominantly by a new group of
children. A boy came to us early in the year who was so obviously
rejected by his mother that it was not surprising to us that his
behavior involved stealing, incorrigibleness, uncependability and
lying. Before considering aduission of the chile an attempt was
made in several interviews to help the sicther understand that when
she saw is boy she was thinking not alone of him but of his
CeCnEe who had broken her faith in others. The boy seemed to
express in every way that what he wanted frou i other was her
foen tian and devotion and t : ved from her was critic-
ad lack of attention. € da therefore, to try the boy
in our environuent here. t first week he broke into roon
ana took some funds belonging other child. The housexother
in this case meted out ev punishnent which was sentencing hin
to be trustworthy in a. ma 2 and told him that she was going to
trust hin
to reveal dete ie Y : ‘
that he was re ned E ae ula : > wor.
not her pene for r : g her cer 3 ine
job she had set for elf patier ffort on both sides
enabled this “boy o hi
as one of the
Coucee This. ie Ww
if we can work continuir
stand ee the method e
Most of our older children feel very strongly that their
life would happier in a private home and this is particularly
so when they begin to think of friendships with members of ti
opposite sex in the community. A brother and sister who had been
here for many years were returned to the hovie of their nother
when it was felt that these two could manage fairly well on their
own. itis touching to notice that children return fre-
quently to visit old friends here & > to leave with great
reluctance when their
uch stability in their ho
still have a job to do with th
life in the comunity without d ending so &
Christmas Eve the boy in this ly retumed t 2 Home and
asked to decorate the cottage Christiias tree which he was allowed
to do with the help of others. As the tree was trimmed he
expressed resentuent toward his siother who had not understood
inpertance of a ily Christmas tree which the boy had
+
been
purchased when he learned that there was to be none. He had
thoroughly discouraged when returning from work he found the
tree had been trimmed by his wother and one of her friends.
Much of our success during the year in ws face of great
odds has been due to the large number of friends we have gained
in the cotuunity. Perhaps more people this yest have felt that
ir efforts at i ng others happy should be specific and
tangible. At any rate we have been able to develop lasting
ssociations for a large nuaber of our children who would not be
as successful without them. During the year when help was short,
one lady in a neighboring comcunity telephoned that she had
noticed our ad very frequently and offered her services when an
energency arose. She came in on Sundays and holidays on very
short notice, occasiona lly saying when called, that she would be
in as soon as she had ap ing fo that she had
started at the time, indic
and suggesting the kind of encour
us Subsequently through her p a1 interes _She Bo ede
opportunity for one of our handica bx ]
i nan who ook j
» Showing how
levelop character
y involved has
eo express hin
ing new fe
eviously letely dependent oe who “hac be
by a lack of sustained interest, he has now t
boy who is able to
eccasional guidanc
day he telephoned
on twe
ot knowing whether
out he
not want to carry a crate of live ducks on the bus. After he
returned to the Home, he proudly displayed his new possessions
and announced his decision to start a new business of raising
ducks. There is another boy, one of real talent, whose interest
in school work had flagged and whose need for special attention
we had not been able to meet. He had found it difficult to
spell and uninteresting to read, until a fanily from a neighbor-
ing village agreed to take him on weekends with his school books.
His school work becaue the center of their attention until he
lost his defensiveness and he has since developed a competency
in scheol work which has been surprising to his teachers.
As older boys girls return for visits we are reminded
of the great responsibility we have for the welfare for boys and
girls who receive our care. It seems flattering that they
return here first as they come back fron overseas or from distant
points. until gfe reropnizes that what they are concerned about
most ig what is-left of home, the place they have had in their
minds when the going was difficult. Questions are about forner
staff members and children. One often learns for the first time
of intimate friendships with other boys or girls. They are
anxious to pick up the threads of their life where they dropped
them and they can best do that here.
If there is any common feeling about the year
like that of the young men returning from service.
during 1945 wasn't what we wanted to do but it had to be done and
we lived from day to day doing it. We are anxious now to pick
up the threads of our old life but we find a new fabric woven
of then. Yet we have faith in a successful future because we have
felt the support of new staff members who share our determination
to do the job that needs to be done; because the more experienced
staff have stuck to their posts and retrained new workers;
because the Womens Auxiliary has lent us a real nand in se many ways
and particularly in making our Lawn Festival a financial success;
because the Board of managers has given us support and encouragement
at great rsonal sacrifice in time and effort in a difficult year;
and because there is an increasing number of people in the community
who understand and share in our efforts; because parmts are gr: te-
ful and because young men and young wotien write and come back hon
I am sure you sense my gratitude to you for your untiring
patience anc guidance during these war year end to Mrs. Dwight
who has so graciously relayed messages and rewarmed meals so that
emergencies here could be net.
Sincerely
iv - V/A ‘firap,
(/3om F. licPherson
Superintendent.
BOARD OF siANAGHS
wember Eneritus ...... +» Frederick Townsend
e
L.
Reuben Clark
les Cross
William C. Dearstyne
4. & Henderson
Arthur E. Sayles
John &. Sayles
Waiter S. Steadman
E Kenneth B. Welles
Dr. Charles K. Winne, Jr.
* in Service
TTELS
BABCUTI Vis
Thedore W. Dwight, Chairman
Louis L. Woodward
Douglas W. Olcott
Eamuna W. Corrie
Willian C. bearstyne
Rei m Clark
TTEKS contd.
SPECLAL COs 1
AULL TING
Louis L. nonce ard, Chairman
Se 1 N. Bacon
P ss Carnell, Jr.
wiitDiCaAL
Dr. Charle Wanne, Jr., Cheirman
BU:LDOiNGS AND hePAiKS
Louis Woodward, Chairmen
LNCOU HAG
E. Sayles
Henaerson
ENT OF TALENTRD Chi LDREN
bawund W. Corrie, Chairman
Rev. poe B. Welles
John um. Sayl
Re
iNG
v. Kenneth B. Welles, Chairuan
Walter S. Stedman
Prentiss Carnell, Jr.
AGENCY Rie
C. Dbearstyne, Chairman
Reuben Clark
Dr. Charles Kk. Winne, Jr.
neSENTATIVE to BOAnL .
ALBANY
COmmUNs TY ang WA Che,
Bacon
Samuel N.
ViSiTiNG COs TIERS
February
March
April
September
October
November
Decenber
-. Rev. Kenneth B. Welles
John M. Sayles
secesee Dougl W. Olcott
teuben Clark
Willian C.
Arthur E.
s
ay
ar
Sz
5
L. Woodward
‘Carnell, ore
«++ Loui
Prentiss
Theo
dore W. Dwi
Charles Cros
W. Dwight
Henderson
ott
Olcott
Stedman
sneth B. Welles
Reuben Clark
Rev.
Charles K. Winne, Jr.
W. Dwight
President. ...sceccesssecssee MS. Benjamin Boss
ist Vice President ......... iiss Evelyn Newman
acd President .... Mrs. Chas. Stedman, Jr.
ry ...-. irs. Clarence J. ttcDonough, Jr.
2Crebary .cccccccsccsee Mrs. Harry Judge
TLEASUTET oecceccieeesese Mrs. S. Vint Van Derzee
Elizabeth xcC. Pruyn
Evelyn Newnan
Mrs. Franklin Townsend, Sr.
Miss Helen Wing
Mrs. Frederick Tillinghast
urs. Rollin B. Sanford
rmén A. Murphy
J. Stephens
James F. Adams
Charles F. Van Benthuysen
Gates B. Aufsesser
Benjamin Boss
S. Vint Van Derzee
Albert Vand Veer, 12
Clarence J. mcDonough, Jr.
Roy L. Atwood
rry Judge
Harry Eldridge
Robert E. Whalen
Charles Stedman, Jr.
Williom V. A. Waterman
Chandler T. White
Thomas H. Laine
Anderson
Townsend, Sr., Chairman
mrs. Rollin B. Sanford
wirs. Harry Judge
urs. Sherman A. iaurphy
airs.
irs. Harry Hidridge
Atwood
H. Laine
urs. Charles F. Van Benthuysen, Chairman
airs. Gates B. Aufsesser
urs. Fred J. Stephens
irs. Robert E. Whalen
urs. Anderson mcLeod
FULLEN COTTAGE
miss Elizabeth mcC. Pruyn, Chairman
diss Evelyn Newman
Miss Helen Wing
urs. James F. Adams
RATHBONE COTTAGE
urs. S. Vint Van Derzee, Chairman
s. Clarence J. ucDonough, Jr.
wir
e Mrs. Charles Stedman, Jr.
irs. William V. A. Waterman
Mrs. William mw. Van Antwerp
Ou TTEES contd.
LANSiNG COTTAGE - Closed for duration
RECEPTION UNiT — ADsINiSTRATIiON BLDG.
urs. Fred J. Stephens, Chairman
airs. Robert E.- Whalen
SPrCial COmui TT RES
VAN ALSTYNE mbwORLAL - RbCREATION BLDG.
urs. Gates B. Aufsesser, Chairman
wrs. Jaues F. Adams
urs. Anderson ucLeod
urs. S. Vint Van Derzee
GihL SCOUTS
urs. Chandler T. White, Chairman
ars. Frea J. Stephens
Mrs. Roy L. Atwood
mrs. Gates B. Aufsesser
lirs. Sherinan A. murphy
urs. Benjamin Boss, Ex Officio
HOBBY BKACHANGE
urs. Charles Stedman, Jr., Chairma
mrs. Clarence J. wcDono
Mrs. William uw. Van Antwerp
BULLDiNGS AND KePAiRS
urs. Sherman A. wurphy
SPECLAL COwwiTTEBS contd.
CiwiTHRY
urs. Sherman A. surphy
iirs. Franklin Townsend, Sr.
NEW
irs. Clarence J. scDonough, Chairman
miss Helen Wing
urs. Franklin Townsend, Sr.
mrs. S. Vint Van Derzee
urs. William V. A. Waterman
nirs. Benjamin Boss, Ex Officio
GUibsaNCe AND VOCATLONAL
irs. William V. as. Waterman, Chairman
mrs. Franklin Townsend, Sr.
urs. Fred J. Stephens
urs. Harry Eldridge
ENCOURAGEAwENT OF TALENTED CHiLDOREN
irs. Rollin B. Sanford, Chairman
mrs. Charles Stedman
Mrs. Thomas H. Laine
HOUSE FURNLSHLNGS
Mrs. Sherman A. wurphy, Chairman
irs. Gates B. Aufsesser
urs. Harry Judge
urs. Charles F. Van Benthuysen
PERSONNEL
ADwiNiSTRATiLON BUiLLDiNG
John F. ucPherson
Hliza
Nancy S. Turner
irene W. Templeton
ion Finger
L. Keck
ACTiViTibsS
David L. Kreher
nna bk. Caupbell
* Frances m. werrick
MAINTENANCE
ainard Soper
B. St
LATHROP
Dorothy E. Sutliff
nifred Dieckelmann
Ellen 0. Wood
Ethel Lappeus
mwerion E. Rice
mary Thompson
Penelope Bradford
* Stuaent part time
th B. Campbell
Superintendent
Social Worker
Secretary
Stenographer
Nurse
Teacher
Storekeeper
Director
Asst. Director
Librarian
Foremen
Asst. Fo
Night Fire
Fireman
Farwer
Housemo ther
Asst.
"
9-15-42
5-8-43
2-5-45
11-1-44
10-10-42
12-15-42
11-8-44
Housemo ther
York Relief —" 1-11-45
E, Lansing Asst. " £-5-45
SONS
Dorothy E. Geurtze Housemother 5-24-44
Vacant Relief "
Le Brockett ASSt. ,
y W. Washburn Housemother 16
tet 2. 1
dna m. Goodri " 15
Frier Bouseno ther
Harrand. Relief
Asst. "
Closed for duration
ONiT
Kittie a. Clayton Houseuo ther 4-1-38
ALLIEF
Susan A. Ross 1-15-45
Jane Hagy =
Louise Beplat
aff members
* Former §
Mr. John F. McPherson, Superintendent
Albany Home for Children
Albany, New York.
My dear Mr. McPherson:
I beg to submit herewith my annual report as Attending
Physician to the Home.
In spite of the somewhat upset condition that several of
the cottages have been in at times this past year, due to the
unprecedented but understandable overturn in the staff member-
ship, I cannot see that it has made any difference in the
physical health of the children. There have been some unhappy
psychological results from some of the confusion, but this has
been manifested in behavior and school problems which are not
in my jurisdiction (fortunately for me).
On the whole the health of the children has been excellent.
We have had the usual colds, upper respiratory tract infections,
and digestive disorders commnnto children, but with no untoward
results in any case. There has been no serious illness and
naturally no deaths. This report will therefore be mainly stat-
istical in nature.
We have had but few cases of communicable disease. There
were two cases of scarlet fever (mild), one each of whooping
cough and mumps, and thirteen of German measles. The latter com-
prised a house outbreak in Lathrop Cottage.
There were twenty-three accidents recorded, most of them
received while the children were at play, basket ball and ice
skating being the most common offenders. One child dislocated
his elbow, another his shoulder; there was one fracture of the
upper arm and one of both bones of the lower arm. One boy was
struck in the eye by a stick in the hands of another causing a4
serious haemorrhage in the eye ball from which he has not yet
fully recovered his sight. One girl was bitten in the face by
a@ non-rabid dog. Four children were cut on head or face in
various ways; one child was punctured in the arm while playing
darts. The other injuries were sprains of various joints, --
wrist, knee, fingers, and thumbs.
Thirtyfive children were hospitalized as follows:
Abscess (under arm) (operated upon) .. 1 Scarlet fever .... 2
Appendicitis (one with operation) .... Mastoidectomies .. 2
Dislocated CLbow ..rcsccccccccseees Lobar pneumonia .. 1
Exploratory operation for mass under Myringotomy .. eh *
arm (no pathology found) ...eceerere Tonsilectomies ... 13
Fractured humerus ..ececesceee Otitis media ..... 1
Infectious lymphycytosis ..... Rheumatic fever .. 4
Observation of head injury ... Undescended test-
(child fell from truck while" hooking" icle with oper-
a ride). AtLON ceccenscees
Of these admissions nineteen were operative cases, as noted.
There were 41 children radiographed. Of these 10 were of
the chest in new children with a tuberculous family history or
of children being followed in the chest clinic for @ similar
reason; three were of teeth and four were of the mastoid region.
One gastro-intestinal series was made. The others were of arms,
legs, joints, etc., of the children before-mentioned as accident
cases. Radiographs are routinely taxen of all injured members
where there is any possible question of fracture or dislocation.
Four hundred, ninety-four visits were made to the various
clinics of the Albany Hospital, as follows:
AllOTrey <2 vs siscwsiwwes Neurology eesecesece
Child guidance 2 Orthopedics . °
CHESt cecccevesveceveoe 14 PediatricS wwsrercece
» nose and throat ..123 Physio-therapy ...
£40 UPinery = .c.sceaw LO Public Health ....
Gynecology eoceee Dee te Dermatology .
icine .... i see) eo Surgery
TL BADY .sisisedececna oO
Six hundred dental treatments w*re given in our own dental
clinic, still so satisfactorily conducted by the Drs. De Risi.
In aidition to these ten children received special treatment in
their private office.
There w 56 visits to Dr. Bedell's office; 32 for fitting
ere
of glasses and 24 for various needed trestments.
General physical examinations were made of 138 children,
either at the dome or in the Albany Hospital Clinic. Routine
general examinations are made each year ad each "old" child in
addition to a very careful complete check-up of each "new"
child at once on admission.
No examinations were made of the staff membership this
year for reasons well known to you. Th should be done when
the general situation quiets down to normal or to near that
point.
In addition to the g al examinations mentioned, the
following special examinations were made of certain children:
asal metebolism:...0+-. 1 Sohiok tests ...5....65 )65
lectrocardiograph .... 4 (New 46, repeats 17)
NASSCTMANS .seccceeseee 40 Toxoid was given to 25
Tuberculin tests ...... 28 children
(On new or suspected
children. Of these
none were positive.
