(BUREAU FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH 
OF THE 
SEYBERT INSTITUTION 
PHILADELPHIA 
UNMARRIED GIRLS 
WITH SEX EXPERIENCE 
CAROL ARONOVICI, PH. D. 
DIRECTOR 
BULLETIN I 
'PRICE 25 CENTS BUREAU FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH 
OF THE 
SEYBERT INSTITUTION 
Unmarried Qirls with Sex Experience 
CAROL ARONOVICI, PH. D. 
DIRECTOR 
BULLETIN 1 
PRICE 25 CENTS THE UNMARRIED GIRL WITH SEX EXPERIENCE 
In dealing with the subject of the unmarried girl with sex experi- 
ence, it is imperative that we discriminate between the immoral* girl, 
who, because of a desire for gain, sells her body for immoral purposes, 
and the girl who, through a strong sex instinct, or because prompted by 
a genuine sense of the romantic, yields to the man who consciously or 
unconsciously makes himself responsible for her moral downfall and its 
attending consequences. As we read the records of the scores of cases 
that we were able to study, and regarding which information was rea- 
sonably full and accurate, we were increasingly of the belief that the 
problem of the immoral girl is far more complicated than we have been 
able to realize, and that we have been too quick to place the stamp of 
immorality upon acts which, although anti-social in character, were 
prompted by conditions that, in at least a limited number of instances, 
could hardly have been avoided by efforts made by either parents or 
institutions. 
Another important aspect of the problem of the girl with sex ex- 
perience is the failure to realize that a very great deal of the immorality 
that is present in the community fails to come within the jurisdiction or 
control of institutions or other social agencies. It should also be recog- 
nized, in this connection, that the danger of spread of moral as well as 
physical contamination from this class of girls is a far greater menace 
to the community than that from the girls who do fall within the juris- 
diction of some of the social agencies maintained for their assistance, 
restraint, and reform. The immoral girl under institutional care should, 
therefore, be considered only as a manifestation of a far-reaching 
social and biological problem, the existence of which is evidenced by 
the discovery of certain individual cases, whose misfortune it has been 
to fail to conceal or to be unable to conceal a personal weakness or 
an anti-social act. 
With this preliminary statement, which is intended to bring to the 
attention of the reader the larger aspects of a social problem, which 
has a biological foundation, which the community must always face, 
and whose control is far beyond the limited precincts of the best of 
our institutions, we are prepared to discuss the problem before us with 
an adequate sense of perspective. 
* Immorality in thia report will be used in sense of sex immorality only. 
3 FIELD OF STUDY 
This investigation does not lay claim to completeness, as far as the 
study of the whole problem of immorality in Philadelphia is concerned. 
Such an inquiry would not only take us far afield and beyond the 
original scope of the work undertaken by this Bureau, but would be 
impossible without an appropriation of at least twenty thousand dol- 
lars to be expended during a period of two or more years. What we 
have endeavored to do, is to discover from existing records the causes 
that may justly be assigned to the cases which we have been able to 
study adequately. 
The agences to whose records we were able to obtain access and 
which were handling cases of immorality among girls, were as follows: 
Number 
Accommodated 
Number 
Studied 
House of Correction 
1197* 
392 
Midnight Mission 
11 
22 
Magdalen Home 
16 
55 
Door of Hope 
8 
Salvation Army Home 
40 
House of Good Shepherd (Roman Catholic) 
400 
Court Aid Association (Cuthbert House) .. 
23 
• • 
Personal Service Bureau (Use of Cuthbert 
House) (Jewish) 
• . 
• . 
Colored Women's Protective Association 
(Maintains House) 
House of Refuge (S 1 e i g h t o n Farms) 
average 
463 
147 
- - - 
- ■ ■ 
2158 
616 
The Magdalen Home and the Midnight Mission received special 
attention from the point of view of the character of service rendered, 
but their records relating to causes and conditions prior to commitment 
were inadequate for a scientific study. The record of the Sleighton 
Farms and the House of Correction, on the other hand, proved very 
valuable in the discussion of the adequacy of treatment and causes. 
SLEIGHTON FARMS 
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF CASE RECORDS 
The most important agency dealing with girls under 21 years of 
age classed as immoral is Sleighton Farms. This is a semi-public 
institution, which draws its inmates from the courts of Philadelphia 
and the eastern section of the State of Pennsylvania. Its inmates are 
in every way representative of the general average of girls dealt with 
by institutions of this type, because they come from a wide geographic 
area of the State and from practically every class of society. 
♦Total commitments of women in year 1914. 
4 Residence and 
P's Liv. 
Both 
Father 
Mother 
Parents 
Divorce 
Divorce 
Parents Step 
Morality 
Together 
Dead 
Widower 
Widow 
Divorced 
F. Remar. 
M. Remar. 
Separated Father 
W. Col. 
W. Col. 
W. Col. 
W. Col 
W. Col. 
W. Col. 
W. Col. 
W. Col. W. Col. 
Philadelphia Immoral . . . 
4 0 
1 2 
0 1 
2 1 
0 0 
0 0 
2 0 
4 0 3 1 
Philadelphia Moral 
7 3 
0 2 
6 0 
1 2 
0 0 
0 0 
0 0 
0 3 10 
Outside Immoral 
8 0 
2 I 
3 1 
4 0 
0 0 
1 0 
0 0 
4 0 5 0 
Outside Moral 
17 2 
3 0 
5 0 
1 0 
0 0 
0 0 
2 0 
3 0 3 1 
Total 
36 5 
6 5 
14 2 
8 3 
0 0 
1 0 
4 0 
11 3 12 2 
Totals % 
32.72 13.51 
5.45 13.51 
12.73 5.4 
7.27 8.1 1 
0 0 
.91 0 
3.64 0 
.10 8.11 10.91 5.4 
Grand Total 
Residence and 
Morality 
41 II 16 11 ]4 14 |4 
(Ch. 111.7) Mother was 
Step Father Mother P's Mother Single, now Not 
Mother Deserted Deserted Unknown Single Married Stated Total No. Total % 
W. Col. W. 
Col. W. 
Col. W. 
Col. W. 
Col. W. 
Col. W. 
Col. W. 
Col. W. Col. 
Philadelphia Immoral. .. . 
.... 1 1 1 
1 0 
0 0 
2 0 
1 0 
0 1 
0 19 
10 17.27 27.02 
Philadelphia Moral 
0 0 0 
1 1 
1 0 
3 0 
1 0 
0 0 
2 16 
18 14.55 48.64 
Outside Immoral 
4 0 1 
0 0 
0 1 
0 2 
1 1 
0 0 
0 36 
3 32.73 8.11 
Outside Moral 
3 2 1 
0 0 
0 0 
0 0 
0 0 
0 1 
1 39 
6 35.45 16.23 
- - i i» a 
- - - 
- - -- 
■ - - - 
» - i 
■ I I ■ 
Total 
.. .. 8 3 3 
2 1 
1 1 
5 2 
3 1 
0 2 
3 110 
37 
Totals % 
7.23 8.11 2.73 
5.4 .91 
2.7 .91 
13.51 1.82 
8.11 .91 
0 1.82 
8.11 ... 
100 100 
Grand Total 
. ... II 5 
2 
6 
5 
1 5 
147 100 
MORALITY AND RESIDENCE BY PARENTAL CONDITIONS 
SLEIGHTON FARMS 
TABLE I In order to secure the most accurate data concerning a certain 
number of cases, with histories extending over a number of years, we 
studied records of the girls admitted to the institution during the year 
1909. These records were analyzed from the point of view of the 
offenses committed, the moral character of the girls, and the family 
conditions of the homes from which the girls came. 
For the purposes of the present study, it was deemed necessary to 
separate the girls with sex experience from those without sex experi- 
ence, and we have attempted to study their family records. 
An analysis of Table I, relating to the conjugal relationship of the 
parents of the girls, such as desertion, divorce, step-parentage, and 
widowhood of either parent, shows the following distribution of the 
families of the girls committed to Sleighton Farms during 1909: 
Normal Family 
White Negro 
36 5 
32.76% 13.51% 
Abnormal Family 
White Negro 
74 32 
67.24% 86.49% 
The above distribution of family conditions would seem to indicate 
that, at least as far as the records of Sleighton Farms show, there was 
a very high ratio of abnormal family conditions in the homes of the 
girls who were admitted during 1909. 
Table I shows the more minute distribution of these cases, accord- 
ing to the morality of the girls and the type of family disturbance in 
their homes. The records for 1909 were selected in preference to a 
more recent year because they afforded an opportunity for the study of 
results accomplished, which recent records would not contain. 
It is also evident from the figures contained in Table I that the 
girls coming from the homes in which the family relationships are dis- 
turbed, are more frequently immoral.* We find that among the girls 
coming from Philadelphia, 43.75 per cent, among the white girls classed 
as moral belonged to normal families, while among the immoral girls 
only 21.05 per cent., or less than one-half that proportion, came from 
families in which the parents were living under normal conjugal condi- 
tions. In the case of the girls outside of the City of Philadelphia, prac- 
tically the same proportion prevails, as we find that 22.22 per cent, of 
the white immoral girls belonged to normal families, as compared with 
43.52 per cent, of white moral girls coming from normal families. 
The significance of the tables showing the distribution of family 
conditions, according to morality of girls, is quite striking, as it indicates 
clearly that the family relationships in the home have a close relation- 
ship to the moral character of the girl. It would follow from this fact 
that a distinct and somewhat new line of service is necessary in order 
to control existing conditions and for the prevention of conditions that 
result in the commitment of the girls to institutions dealing with de- 
♦Sex immorality. 
6 linquents. Although this line of service will be dealt with in detail 
later, we venture to note it briefly at this point. 
When a case of family disturbance is reported or is discovered by 
a welfare agency or institution, public or private, an effort should be 
made to discover the causes that produced the condition, and there 
should be supervision and care of the children (especially girls), with 
a view to furnishing whatever advice, education, assistance or service 
may be needed to protect the girls of the family against the influences 
of the home, or against the relaxed control that such a home is likely 
to afford. This could be carried out through a social service agency, 
which would take it upon itself to make for the girl the proper con- 
nections between herself and the social agencies of the community and 
neighborhood. In cases where a church or any other neighboring social 
institution can be made responsible for the family's or the girl's welfare, 
this responsibility should be placed upon them by the agency which 
assumes the responsibility for the social rehabilitation of the girl in the 
disturbed family. 
Some light as to the relation between the institutional care and 
the home may be derived from an analysis of the cases admitted to 
the House of Refuge during 1909, and the placement and return of 
cases. 
Table II indicates this distribution. 
Out of a total of 110 discharged white girls, only 28, or 25.6 per 
cent, were placed with their families, while in the case of the 37 colored 
girls, 7, or 18.91 per cent, were placed in their own homes. This would 
seem to indicate either that there was danger in the home, or that the 
family was not sufficiently intelligent to deal with the individual girl 
after discharge. That no effort was made during the absence of the 
girl from home to rehabilitate the family, is another conclusion to be 
drawn from the very limited number of girls who were placed in their 
own homes, as compared with those who, even under the most favorable 
conditions, must be placed out, and, therefore, remain outside of a 
normal family life. 
When we distribute the placements of the institution during the 
year, we find that only 57, or 51.82 per cent, of the white girls re- 
mained where they were first placed, while, among the negroes, there 
were 19 girls who did not return to the institution, or 51.35 per cent. 
The reasons for the return of the girls is seldom found to be 
immorality, but rather the difficulty of placing in the right environment, 
incompetency, or both. To what extent the incompetent girls would 
be rendered efficient by a wider range of training and placement in 
occupations other than domestic service, could not be ascertained. 
As the cases studied were five years old, the workers of Sleighton 
Farms were able to determine the number of girls who, after discharge 
NUMBER RETURNED 
7 Cause of Return 
Home 
Service 
Relative 
Pr. 
W. 
Agency 
Col. 
Oth. Inst. 
All Others 
Total 
Total 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
Misplaced 
2 
0 
18 
1 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
22 
I 
20. 
2.7 
Incompetent 
0 
1 
4 
5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
4 
6 
3.64 
16.23 
Immorality 
2 
0 
5 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
7 
0 
6.36 
.0 
Misconduct 
1 
0 
13 
8 
0 
2 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
14 
10 
12.73 
27.02 
All others 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
1 
5.45 
2.7 
Not Returned 
23 
6 
14 
5 
2 
1 
8 
0 
4 
6 
6 
1 
57 
19 
51.82 
51.35 
Total 
28 
7 
60 
20 
2 
3 
10 
0 
4 
6 
6 
1 
110 
37 
100 
100 
Totals % 
. .. .25.46 
18.91 
54.54 
54.05 
1.82 
8.11 
9.09 
0 
3.64 
16.23 
5.45 
2.7 
... 
100 
Grand Total 
.... 35 
80 
5 
10 
10 
7 
147 
SHOWING FIRST PAROLE PLACEMENTS ACCORDING TO CAUSES Or kETURN 
SLEIGHTON FARMS 
TABLE II from the institution, did well, and those that failed to show any per- 
manent improvement. 
Table III shows the distribution of the girls, according to the 
success they attained after leaving the institution. 
In the case of the immoral white girls, out of a total of 55, 34, or 
61.81 per cent., did well, while, in the case of the colored girls, 8 out 
of 13, or a little less than two-thirds, did well after discharge. In the 
case of the girls whose moral character was not subject to question, 
only 29 out of a total of 55, or 52.72 per cent., did well, while, in the 
case of the colored, only 10 out of 24, or 41.67 per cent., were con- 
sidered as doing well. These figures would seem to indicate that the 
reformatory influences upon the girls with a record of immorality proved 
more effective than the influences exercised upon the girls without such 
a record. This would lead to the belief that the conditions which 
fostered or made possible immorality as soon as placed under control, 
tend to yield results. It may not be wholly a contradiction of the 
facts to believe that immorality is, in a considerable number of in- 
stances, merely a misdirected natural instinct, while other delinquencies 
represent abnormal mentality. 
The results attained in dealing with the girls whose records did 
not show immorality, raise the question as to whether it is necessary to 
keep the girls with records of immorality for a longer period of time 
in the institution. The figures contained in Table IIIA. show that there is 
no perceptible difference in the length of stay of the moral girls, as 
compared with that of the girls with records of immorality. This, it 
seems to us, points again to the fact that immorality is the result of 
special conditions, which, although dependent upon temperament and 
other personal characteristics, do not constitute a problem that is more 
difficult to deal with than any other type of delinquency. The classifi- 
cation of the offenses committed, according to the records of the courts, 
are of little value, as they are merely technical charges, which facilitate 
the carrying out of a commitment. 
MENTALITY 
The classification of the girls, according to mental condition, was 
on the basis of the Binet-Simon test, which, although not wholly re- 
liable independently, is sufficient in cases where the subject is under 
observation for long periods of time, as is the case at Sleighton Farms. 
It is clear from a study of the 147 cases of girls who were com- 
mitted to the House of Refuge during 1909 that feeble-minded girls 
were more numerous among the inmates coming from Philadelphia, 
whose moral character was not to be questioned. Among the girls 
coming from other parts of the State, on the other hand, we find that 
feeble-mindedness was slightly more frequent among the immoral than 
amrong the moral girls.' 
That none cf the figures are conclusive, or have any bearing on 
9 Doing Not 
F.M. 
Inst. 
W. Col. 
Had 
Child 
V/. Col. 
Preg. 
W. Col. 
Still at Runaway, 
"Farm" Unknown 
W. Col. W. Col. 
Dead 
Total No. 
Total % 
Well Doin 
W. Col. W. 
j Well Unknown 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
Home 9 2 1 
1 
1 
2 
1 
1 . . 1 
1 
1 
15 
6 
27.27 
25.00 
At Service ..12 8 I 
6 
3 
1 
1 
1 
3 1 1 
26 
12 
47.28 
50.00 
With Relat 1 
.. .. .. . . 
1 
1.82 
With Pri. Ag. 6 
1 
7 
12.73 
Another Inst. 1 
2 
2 
3 
2 
5.45 
8.33 
All others. .1 
2 
2 
2 
3 
4 
5.45 
16.67 
Total 29 10 3 
1 
1 1 
9 
1 
2 
I 
5 1 2 
1 
3 
55 
24 
100 
too 
% 52.72 41.67 5.45 
4.16 
20 
37.5 
1.82 .. 
3.64 .. 
1.82 .. 
9.09 4.17 3.64 .. 
1.82 
12.5 
100 
100 
Doing 
Well 
W. Col. 
Not 
Doing Well 
Unknown 
F.M. 
Inst. 
W. Col. 
Had 
Child 
W. Col. 
Preg. 
Still at 
"Farm" 
W. Col. 
Runaway 
Unknown 
Dead 
Total No. 
Total % 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
Home 7 
3 
3 
13 
1 
24.46 
7.69 
At Service. .27 5 
1 
1 
1 
i 
2 
3 
i 
34 
8 
61.81 
61.54 
With Relat. . . 2 
1 
i 
1 
3 
1.82 
23.08 
With Pri. Ag 
2 
i 
3 
5.45 
Another Inst 
i 
1 
7.69 
All others.... 
3 
1 
4 
6.46 
No 34 8 
4 
1 
8 
2 
2 
2 
5 
2 
. - 
55 
13 
100 
too 
Totals % . .61.81 61.55 
7.27 
7.69 
14.55 
15.38 
3.64 . . 
3.64 
• • 
. . 
9.09 
15.38 
100 
100 
Grand No.... 81 
9 
30 
3 
2 
3 
6 
9 
4 
147 
PLACEMENT BY PRESENT STATUS ACCORDING TO MORALITY 
SLEIGHTON FARMS 
TABLE III 
MORAL 
FIRST PAROLE PLACEMENT Morality and 
Residence 
Under 
1 yr. 
W. Col. 
18 
W. 
12- 
mos. 
Col. 
18 
2 
W. 
mos.« 
yrs. 
Col. 
2 
W. 
2 
% 
yrs. 
Col. 
2^- 
3 yrs. 
W. Col. 
Over 
3 yrs. 
W. Col. 
Not 
Stated 
W. Col. 
Total 
W. 
No. 
Col. 
Total % 
W. Col. 
Phii. Moral 
15 
12 
27 
18 
72 
65.45 
7 
1 
1 
19 
10 
17.27 
27.02 
1 
2 
| 
2 
16 
18 
14.55 
48.64 
Phil. Moral 
Outside Immoral . 
2 
1 
2 
1 
3 
2 
1 
4 
2 
1 
2 
*4 
1 
| 
2 
1 1 
36 
39 
3 
6 
32.73 
35.45 
8.1 1 
16.23 
Outside Moral . . 
No 
Totals, % 
Grand, No 
1 
. 2 2 
. 1.82 5.4 
4 
5 1 
9 8 
8.18 21.61 
17 
15 5 
13.64 13.51 
20 
89 
17 
45.97 
6 
5.45 .... 
6 
2 
1.82 
2 
5.4 
4 
~4 3 
3.64 8.11 
7 
110 
147 
37 
100 
100 
100 
100 
i 66 
Totals, % 
MORALITY BY TIME SERVED AT SLEIGHTON FARMS 
SLEIGHTON FARMS 
TABLE III A immorality, must be admitted, but the very frequent assertion that 
feeble-mindedness is largely the cause of immorality, is not borne out 
by the facts revealed by this study. 
In recent years much has been said regarding the close relation- 
ship between immorality and feeble-mindedness. A discussion of the 
validity of the theory of immorality as a defect would be out of place 
in a report of this character. We have, however, felt it necessary to 
study our records from this point of view, in order to ascertain to what 
extent such a theory is applicable to the cases that came under our 
observation and analysis. 
The general conclusions which one must unavoidably reach from 
an analysis of the figures relating to the girls committed to Sleighton 
Farms during 1909, are that there is no definite relation here shown 
between feeble-mindedness and the frequency of immorality; that the 
girls who have had a record of immorality appear to have made better 
records when discharged, and, finally, that in a large proportion of the 
homes from which the girls came the family life had been disturbed 
either by an abnormal relationship between the parents, or by some 
other unavoidable condition, due to illness or death, that made family 
life abnormal. 
The study of the work of the House of Refuge was based upon 
the records of 147 girls committed during 1909, in order to render 
possible the following up of the results accomplished in each case. The 
records of the House of Refuge were sufficiently complete to permit a 
study of this character, but, as far as we were able to ascertain, the 
records of the other agencies in the city dealing with similar cases 
would not lend themselves to a similar study. This has made it neces- 
sary for us to use more recent data, namely, of 1914, which, while 
showing certain conditions comparable with the facts gathered in con- 
nection with our study of the House of Refuge, do not lend themselves 
to a measurement of results accomplished. 
The figures relating to the 55 girls dealt with by the Magdalen 
Home during 1914 have been derived from the original records in the 
institution. 
The examination of the records concerning the conditions of family 
life that prevailed m the homes of the girls at the time of their com- 
mitment, revealed family disturbances which are indicated by Table 
IV. The records of these cases show that in only one-fifth of the homes 
from which the girls came to the Magdalen Home were the parents 
living together in what might be called a normal family life. That 
these figures may be wholly above the actual number of families with 
normal family life is not doubtful, as very frequently, even with the 
father and mother living in the home, poverty, drink, infidelity and 
other conditions of similar character, tend to show that normal family 
life in the homes of these girls is practically nil. 
THE MADGALEN HOME 
12 CONJ. COND. OF FATHER 
Unknown 
Single 
Married 
Deserted 
Unk. 
.. 2 
Single 
Mar. 
i i 
i 
Desert. 
*3 
| 
CONJ. COND. 
Dead Div. 
1 
*i '' 
1 
OF MOTHER 
Imp. Inst. 
Sep. 
Wid. 
Total 
No. 
5 
15 
3 
Total 
% 
9.09 
2*7.27 
5.45 
Dead 
. . 1 
5 
7 
2 
15 
27.28 
Divorced . ., . , 
1 I 
2 
3.64 
Imprisoned 
Institution 
' i 
• • 
2 
i 
i 
• • 
4 
1 
7.27 
1.82 
Separated 
Widowed 
• • 
io " 
• • • • 
• • 
• • 
io 
1*8*. i 8 
No 
3 
2 
18 
4 
23 1 
1 
1 
2 
55 
Totals % 
... 5.45 
3.64 
32.72 
7.27 
41.82 1.82 
1.82 
1.82 
3.64 
100 
CONJUGAL CONDITION OF FATHER BY THAT OF MOTHER 
MAGDALEN HOME 
TABLE IV In 31, or 56 per cent, of the cases, either one or both parents 
were dead; in one-fifth (11, or 20 per cent.) of the cases only were 
both parents living together under what might appear as normal con- 
jugal conditions. 
Passing from this striking proportion of abnormal family condi- 
tions in the homes of the girls to the study of the moral and mental 
character of the parents, we find that in 30 out of the 55 cases the 
moral and mental record of the parents was not stated. In the 25 cases 
where it was stated, shiftlessness, drink, incest, larceny, and other 
characteristic criminal tendencies prevailed both among the mothers 
and the fathers. That the records were wholly incomplete for a 
thorough study of the distribution of conditions relating to parentage 
was admitted by those connected with the institution, but as many of 
the cases came from outside of the city, this is possibly excusable, al- 
though the whole background, upon which reformatory work should 
be done depends upon complete records of home surroundings. In 
one-fifth of the cases coming from Philadelphia, however, the moral 
and mental condition of the parents was not recorded. How important 
a knowledge of the home condition is, both in the treatment of the 
girl and in her placement after discharge, is readily realized by even the 
most casual observer. 
TABLE V 
MAGDALEN HOME 
MORAL RECORD OF FATHER AND MOTHER OF GIRLS 
MORAL RECORD, 
FATHER 
MORAL RECORD. MOTHER 
Total Total 
Not 
Stated 
Dr. 
Im. 
Suicide 
No. 
% 
Not Stated 
30 
1 
8 
. - 
39 
70.9 
Shiftless 
1 
• • 
1 
2 
3.64 
Drink 
3 
1 
i 
5 
9.09 
Immorality 
1 
i 
• • 
2 
3.64 
Prison Record . . . . 
1 
a a 
a a 
1 
1.82 
Cruelty 
1 
a . 
a a 
1 
1.82 
Incest 
1 
2 
a a 
3 
5.45 
Thief 
2 
a a 
2 
3.64 
Suicide 
a . 
a a 
a . 
a a a a 
No 
- 
- 
- 
-- 
- 
। । । 
38 
2 
14 
1 
55 
Totals % . . . 
69.09 
3 64 
25.45 
1.82 
• • • 
100 
A careful analysis of the facts contained in the records and con- 
ferences with the workers in the institution, show that there was a 
very close relation between the character of the parents and the treat- 
ment accorded the girls in their homes. In order to emphasize the 
most striking features of the home life of the girl, we have, as shown in 
Table VI A, distinguished eight distinct conditions, and it was found 
that in 18, or 32.73 per cent, of the cases the home conditions were 
unknown. In one-quarter of the cases the main problem of the home 
was immorality, while in one-tenth of the cases the parents were not 
able to control their children. 
14 TABLE VI A 
HOME CONDITIONS BY RESIDENCE 
MAGDALEN HOME 
Home Conditions 
Residence 
Total 
No. 
Total 
% 
Phila. 
Outside 
Unknown 
8 
10 
18 
32.73 
No Discipline 
1 
5 
6 
10.91 
Poverty 
1 
3 
4 
7.27 
Immorality 
6 
8 
14 
25.46 
Low Standards 
2 
2 
4 
7.27 
1 
2 
3 
5.45 
Drunkenness 
2 
1 
3 
5.45 
Fair Conditions 
1 
1 
1.82 
Strict Discipline 
2 
2 
3.64 
No 
22 
33 
55 
Totals % 
40. 
60. 
100 
ido 
TABLE VI B 
MENTAL CONDITION BY RESIDENCE 
Mental Conditions 
Residence 
Total 
No. 
Total 
% 
Phila. 
Outside 
Normal 
6 
25 
33 
60. 
Backward 
1 
1 
2 
3.64 
Borderline 
2 
4 
6 
10.91 
Feeble-minded 
2 
a . 
2 
3.64 
Unknown 
9 
3 
12 
21.81 
No 
22 
33 
55 
- - - - 
Totals % 
40. 
60. 
• • • 
100 
Passing from the relation of the parent to the child, as expressed 
in the example shown by the parent, to the character of the girls, we 
find that out of a total of 55 girls 12 had not been subjected to an 
adequate test as to their mentality. Of those whose mentality was 
ascertained, 33, or 60 per cent, were normal, while only 2 were feeble- 
minded and 6 were border-line cases. These figures would seem to 
show that feeble-mindedness is not especially characteristic of girls 
with immorality records. It is true, of course, that many of the most 
pronounced cases of feeble-mindedness go to special institutions, but 
the border-line cases, at least, would be found more frequent among 
immoral girls, if there were any pronounced relationship between the 
two conditions. As the figures derived from the House of Refuge, 
dealing with cases five years old, seem to show a similar lack of re- 
lationship between feeble-mindedness and immorality, we are inclined 
to the belief that the cases of immorality are generally the result of 
causes other than subnormal mentality, and, furthermore, that the girls 
who come under the jurisdiction of institutions do so not because they 
are the exception in committing immoral acts, but because their home 
conditions are such as to make difficult for them the concealment of 
their acts and to bar them from the protection of the home, which, as 
we have pointed out, is so frequently abnormal or subnormal. The 
15 question may reasonably be raised as to the disproportion between the 
normal and feeble-minded or border-line cases in the institutions studied 
or compared with the proportion of similar abnormalities in the popu- 
lation as a whole; our only reply is the well-known fact that the chil- 
dren coming from similar abnormal family conditions Would show the 
same high proportion of mental deficiency, whether they be committed 
for delinquencies or not. Our facts, while not conclusive or proving 
complete absence of relationship between feeble-mindedness and im- 
morality, at least tend to question the more or less generally accepted 
dictum that immorality is a trait especially due to feeble-mindedness. 
As there is a distinct difference between the classification of the 
girls, according to the reason for commitment and their moral character, 
we have made an effort to distinguish between the two groupings. 
While we could not ascertain the reason for the commitment of 3 out 
of the 55 girls committed. Table VII shows the distinction between the 
two classifications. Although about one-third of the girls were com- 
mitted for incorrigibility, and another third for immorality, the records 
fail to show the manner in which the immoral acts were committed. 
There is, undoubtedly, a clear distinction between the acts of girls 
who, because of relations with a particular individual, are classed as 
immoral, and the girls who are promiscuous in their relations with men. 
It is our impression, after reading some of the records and from 
the experience gained in a separate study of illegitimacy, which the 
Bureau for Social Research is now pursuing, that while many of the 
girls have become guilty of immoral acts with some particular indi- 
vidual, these acts are frequently due to conditions, religious, social or 
economic, which make permanent and socially sanctioned sex rela- 
tionships almost impossible. It is also evident that illicit intercourse 
may at times be the expression of a much purer sentiment than social 
workers and institutions are generally willing to admit. Let us also 
add that such relationships are frequently sanctioned by the families, 
or at least by one of the parents, and that an effort to commit to an 
institution is made only when the particular girl becomes an economic 
burden upon the family, or where disciplinary measures are resorted 
to because of family dissensions. 
In stating these convictions, which are the result of a careful and 
detailed analysis of the records, but the evidence for which is not 
amenable to statistical demonstration, we do not wish to be understood 
as holding a brief for the girl who indulges in promiscuous sex rela- 
tionships, but to point out the fact that in dealing with girls we must 
analyze the minutest details relating to the girl and her family before 
assuming to blame an inexperienced girl, or attempting to solve the 
complicated problems in a constructive and permanent manner. 
Of the 55 girls dealt with by the Magdalen Home during 1914, 
only one-fifth were promiscuous and prostitutes, while the balance who 
committed immoral acts, the seriousness of which we were unable to 
measure, but which, undoubtedly, should be classed in a group apart 
16 Charge 
Morality Unknown 
Moral 
Unknown 
. .. 2 
1 
Immor. 
1 
Incorrig. 
5 
4 
5 
2 
Larceny 
1 
Depend. 
3 
Runaway 
Neglect 
1 
Totals No. 
13 
Totals % 
23.64 
Immoral 
' 8 
• • 
*3 
i 
• • 
6 
10.91 
Loose 
3 
19 
34.55 
Promiscous 
6 
1 
• • 
• • 
4 
7.27 
Prostitute 
2 
1 
?9 
34.55 
• • 
• • 
• • 
7 
12.72 
Had llleg. Child 
No 
.. 3 
18 
32.73 
1 
3 
5.45 
- 
' i 
4 
2 
7.27 
3.64 
Totals % 
.. 5 45 
6 
10.91 
1 
1.82 
5 
55 
idd ■ 
9.09 
• • 
MAGDALEN HOME 
MORALITY BY CHARGE 
TABLE VII from either those who made their sex a source of revenue or lent 
themselves to promiscuous relationships. 
We would be inclined to think that this indiscriminate mingling 
of cases, as evidenced by the information furnished by the records of 
the Magdalen Home, is one of the most dangerous methods of dealing 
with offenders of this type. 
Before closing the discussion of the cases dealt with by the Mag- 
dalen Home during 1914, a word should be said regarding the number 
of girls from outside of the City of Philadelphia. The total number of 
girls dealt with was, as stated above, 55, and of this number only 22 
came from Philadelphia. This is especially worthy of attention, as the 
support of the institution has come very largely from local sources, 
while more than one-half of the inmates came from outside the city. 
During the current year it was found that at times there were only two 
inmates coming from homes in Philadelphia, while the other 15 inmates 
were from various other communities of the State, especially Lancaster. 
At the end of the year 1914 the inmates of the Magdalen Home were 
all cases imported from places other than Philadelphia. 
That the judges of other counties are glad to avail themselves of 
the Magdalen Home as an institution for the commitment of girls be- 
cause their counties do not assume any financial responsibility for the 
support of these girls during their commitment, is hardly to be doubted. 
Commitment to the House of Refuge involves the payment of part of 
the support of the girl, and the counties endeavor, whenever possible, 
to avoid this financial obligation. 
THE MIDNIGHT MISSION 
Jointly, with our study of the Magdalen Home, we undertook an 
examination of the records of the 22 girls who were cared for during 
1914 by the Midnight Mission. The method of classification of the 
cases was, as far as possible, the same as that used in the study of 
the cases dealt with by the House of Refuge and the Magdalen Home. 
Of the total of 22 girls dealt with by the Midnight Mission, it was 
found that only 8, or 36.3 per cent., came from homes where the family 
was, from a conjugal point of view, normal. When we analyzed the 
figures, relating to the moral record of the parents, we found, as in- 
dicated by Table VIII, that one-half of the cases came from families in 
which either one or both parents showed abnormal moral traits, or 
were actually of the criminal class. That the eleven cases, for which 
data had not been obtained, do not represent normal percentage in 
many instances, is hardly to be doubted, when we realize how difficult 
it is to obtain such information and how incomplete many of the rec- 
ords were found to be. 
A reading of the original records shows that even where the family 
life was normal, as far as the moral standards of the parents was con- 
18 cerned, there were many other conditions of bad health, poverty, con- 
gestion, etc., which tended to lower the moral standards of the children. 
The number of girls cared for in the Midnight Mission is so very 
small that it would hardly be wise to go into a detailed statistical 
analysis of the figures relating to the 22 cases, 10 of which were from 
outside of Philadelphia. We are appending the tables, containing a 
detailed classification of the cases, which show a distribution of con- 
ditions similar to the conditions revealed in the analysis of the figures 
relating to the House of Refuge and the Magdalen Home. 
TABLE VIII 
MIDNIGHT MISSION 
CONJUGAL CONDITION OF FATHER BY THAT OF MOTHER 
CONJUGAL COND. ( 
3F FATHER 
CONJUGAL COND. 
OF MOTHER 
Unknown . 
Single 
Married 
Single 
1 
Mar. 
1 
Dead 
Sep. 
Wid. Total No. 
1 3 
8 
' i 
• • 
9 
Dead 
Separated 
Widowed 
2 
2 
' i 
*2 
3 
7 
2 
1 
No 
Totals % 
1 
4.55 
1 1 
50. 
4 
18.18 
2 
9.09 
4 
18.18 
22 
100 
HOME CONDITIONS BY RESIDENCE 
Residence 
Total 
Home Conditions 
Phila. 
Outside 
No. 
% 
Unknown 
1 
3 
4 
18.18 
No Discipline 
3 
3 
13.63 
Poverty 
1 
i 
2 
9.09 
Immorality 
Low Standards 
2 
2 
4 
18.18 
Drunkenness 
I 
2 
3 
H 64 
Ill Treatment 
1 
1 
4 55 
Fair Conditions 
1 
i 
2 
9.09 
Strict Discipline 
2 
1 
3 
13.64 
- - 
--- 
- 
No 
12 
10 
22 
Totals % 
54.55 
45.45 
100 
MENTALITY BY RESIDENCE 
Residence 
Total 
Total 
Mentality 
Phila. 
Outside 
No. 
% 
Normal 
3 
3 
6 
2 7 27 
Backward 
1 
3 
4 
18.18 
Borderline 
3 
3 
13.64 
Feeble-minded 
1 
1 
4 55 
Unknown 
4 
*4 
8 
36.36 
No 
12 
10 
22 
Totals % 
54.55 
45.45 
100 
19 THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION 
Passing from the institutions for girls under 21 years of age to 
the House of Correction, which deals with older girls and women, we 
find an entirely new class of people with a distinctly different point of 
view and different histories, as far as we were able to ascertain. 
During 1914 the House of Correction received 1197 commitments 
of women under three distinct charges, namely, "street walking," 
vagrancy, and drunkenness. It is not to be assumed that these charges 
were in every case accurate, since in many instances where a charge of 
immorality is difficult to prove in court, a charge of vagrancy or drunk- 
enness is not. This results in the commitment of many women who are 
guilty of immorality by proffering against them charges of vagrancy or 
drunkenness, or both. The total number of women committed for im- 
morality was 392, of whom 52 were committed two or more times dur- 
ing the same year. 
In order to secure data concerning the types of girls who are 
committed to the House of Correction for offenses against morals, we 
have studied all the records in the hands of the local authorities re- 
lating to each individual girl, and the results are herein presented. 
Table IX shows the distribution of ages of the girls who were 
committed during the year. It will be noted that the girls between 
the ages of 20 and 24 are most numerous, and that they constitute 
34.16 per cent, among the whites and 39.47 per cent, among the 
negroes. The next group, in order of its numerical importance, is be- 
tween the ages of 25 and 29, with a larger proportion of this age being 
negroes, as in the case in the former group. It appears also, from these 
figures, that prostitution or immorality of the type that results in arrest 
by the police is common among women of over 35 more frequently 
among the whites than among the negroes. 
The statement is frequently made that the prostitute is generally 
imported from other communities, and that the problem of controlling 
prostitution is one that relates mainly to the keeping out of the city 
elements that come to carry on their trade in places that are remote 
from their homes. It is evidenced by the figures contained in Table 
X that 43.34 per cent, of the white women were residents of Phila- 
delphia for periods ranging from five years and upward. Thirty-two 
per cent, of the women had been in the city less than one year. The 
evidence shows, however, that those who had been in the city less 
than one year had House of Correction records of re-commitments of 
four times or more, involving 54.5 per cent, of the women who had 
been in Philadelphia less than one year. These figures would seem 
to indicate that, while the most recent stay of these women in Philadel- 
phia dated back only a short time, they were actually residents of the 
city, who had been driven out for a time by the activity of the police, 
who make it a practice to arrest these women when they know them 
20 HOUSE OF CORRECTION 
SENTENCES BY COLOR Age 
No 
Under 20 
W. Col. 
.. . . 5 12 
20-24 
W. Col. 
68 38 
25 
W. 
28 
29 
Col. 
21 
30-34 
W. Col. 
13 7 
35 
W. 
16 
-39 
Col. 
1 
40 and over 
W. Col. 
6 3 
Totals 
W. Col. 
136 84 
% Totals 
W. Col 
56 67 55.26 
1 st Com. % 
. ... 3.68 
14.29 
2 
50. 
6 
45.23 
11 
20.59 
12 
25. 
5 
9.56 
6 
8.33 
2 
1 1.76 
3 
1.19 
3 
4.41 
3 
5.96 
1 
100 
30 
100 
24 
12.5 ' 
15.79 
2d Com. % 
. .. . 1 
8.33 
20. 
5 
45.83 
6 
40. 
5 
20.83 
5 
20. 
1 
8.33 
3 
10. 
2 
12.51 
2 
10. 
2 
4.17 
I 
100 
16 
100 
1 7 
6.7 
u'.id 
3 d Com. % 
No 
.... 6.25 
. . j. 
31.25 
35.3 
3 
31.25 
3 
29.41 
6.25 
5 
17.65 
1 
12.5 
1 
11.76 
1 
12.5 
2 
5.88 
100 
1 1 
100 
6 
4.54 
3.95 
4 th Com. % 
No 
16.66 
' 2 ' 
50. 
2 
27.28 
2 
' 10 ' 
45.45 
2 
16.67 
3 
9.09 
4 
16.67 
1 
18.18 
8 
' i * 
100 
18 
100 
1 7 
y.s1 
rr. i 9 
5-9 Inc. % 
No 
.... 
11.11 
11.76 
11.11 
1 
58.83 
1 
1 l.l 1 
I 
17.65 
22.22 
5 
5.88 
I 
44.45 
13 
5.88 
2 
100 
20 
100 
4 
8.33 
y.62 
10-24 Inc. % 
No 
.... 
.... 
.... 
5. 
25. 
5. 
25. 
4 
25. 
65. 
5 
50. 
100 
9 
100 
3J5 
25 and over, %.... 
.... 
.... 
.... 
44.44 
.... 
55.56 
.... 
100 
.... 
Total 
Totals % 
. .. . 6 
... 2.5 
15 
9.87 
81 
34.16 
60 
39.47 
51 
21.25 
42 
27.63 
28 
11.67 
16 
10.53 
35 
14.58 
9 
5.92 
39 
15.84 
10 
6.58 
240 
100 
152 
100 
'ido 
' iod 
Time in City 
Under 
1 mo. 
1- 
12 mo. 
1 - 5 yrs 
5-9 yrs. 
Over 
10 yrs. 
Total 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col 
W. 
Col. 
W. 
Col. 
No 
8 
1 
16 
1 1 
18 
22 
21 
9 
73 
41 
136 
84 
1 st Com. % 
.. 5.87 
1.19 
11.76 
13. 
13.23 
26.19 
15.44 
10.81 
53.7 
48.81 
56.67 
55.26 
No 
2 
7 
9 
16 
9 
6 
4 
1 
30 
24 
2d Com. % 
8.33 
23.33 
37.5 
53.34 
37.5 
20. 
16.67 
3.33 
12.5 
15.79 
No 
1 
4 
4 
1 I 
9 
1 
2 
i 
16 
17 
3 d Com. % 
5.88 
25. 
23.52 
68.75 
52.94 
6.25 
11.76 
5.88 
6.7 
11.19 
No 
1 
1 
5 
3 
4 
2 
1 
11 
6 
4th Com. % 
. . 9.09 
16.67 
45.46 
50. 
36.36 
33.33 
9.09 
.... 
.... 
.... 
4.54 
3.95 
No 
2 
2 
9 
9 
6 
6 
1 
18 
17 
5-9 Inc. % 
. . 11.11 
11.76 
50. 
52.94 
33.33 
35.3 
5.56 
7.51 
11.19 
No 
5 
1 1 
3 
4 
1 
20 
4 
10-24 Inc. % 
.. 25. 
55. 
75. 
20. 
25. 
8.33 
2.62 
No 
5 
4 
. . 
. - 
. . 
. . 
9 
. . 
25 and over, % 
.. 55.56 
44.44 
.... 
.... 
.... 
3.75 
• • • • 
No 
21 
7 
56 
39 
59 
49 
30 
15 
74 
42 
240 
152 
Total % 
.. 8.75 
4.56 
23.33 
25.57 
24.58 
32.57 
12.5 
9.87 
30.84 
27.63 
100 
100 
NUMBER OF COMMITMENTS BY TIME IN CITY 
HOUSE OF CORRECTION 
AGE BY COMMITMENT 
TABLE IX 
TABLE X  
All 
u. s. 
Irish 
German 
Russian 
others 
Total 
Black 
111 
6 
3 
10 
6 
136 
84 
81.62 
4.41 
2.21 
7.35 
4.41 
56.61 
55.26 
23 
2 
2 
3 
30 
24 
76.66 
6.67 
... - 
6.67 
10. 
12.5 
15.79 
12 
4 
16 
17 
75. 
25. 
... - 
6.7 
11.19 
7 
3 
1 
1 1 
6 
63.64 
27.27 
9.09 
4.54 
3.95 
1 1 
5 
.. j. 
1 
18 
17 
61.11 
27.79 
5.55 
5.55 
7.51 
11.19 
12 
7 
1 
20 
4 
60. 
35. 
5. 
8.33 
2.62 
2 
5 
"i' 
1 
9 
.... 
3.75 
178 
32 
5 
12 
13 
240 
152 
74.15 
13.33 
2.1 
5. 
5.42 
100 
100 
NATIONALITY 
TABLE XII 
COMMITMENT BY SENTENCE AND NATIONALITY 
HOUSE OF CORRECTION 
3 months 
W. Col. 
over 3 months 
W. Col. 
Total 
W. Col. 
No 
1st Com. 
% 
... 134 
. . . 98.53 
84 
100 
2 
1.47 
136 
56.67 
84 
55.26 
No 
2d Com. 
% 
28 
. . . 93.33 
21 
87.5 
2 
6.67 
3 
12.5 
30 
12.5 
24 
15.79 
No 
3d Com. 
% 
15 
. . . 93.75 
14 
82.35 
1 
6.25 
3 
17.65 
1 6 
6.7 
17 
11.19 
No 
4th Com. 
% 
8 
... 72.73 
5 
83.33 
3 
27.27 
1 
16.67 
1 1 
4.54 
6 
3.95 
No 
5-9 Inc. % 
18 
100 
15 
88.24 
2 
11.76 
18 
7.51 
17 
11.19 
No 
10-24 Inc. 
% 
18 
... 90. 
3 
75. 
2 
10. 
1 
25. 
20 
8.33 
4 
2.62 
IMO 
25 and over, % . .. 
100 
3.75 
• . . • 
No 
Total 
% 
. .. 230 
. .. 95.83 
142 
93.42 
10 
4.17 
10 
6.58 
240 
100 
152 
100 
SENTENCE 
TABLE XI and recognize them. By stating this, we do not mean to assume that 
the police make arrests without cause, but that the women with recent 
police records are more easily detected, and consequently are more 
liable to arrest. 
In the case of the negro women, we find that the length of resi- 
dence in Philadelphia is shorter, and that the number of rearrests is 
less frequent. Whether the reformatory influence of the House of Cor- 
rection is more effective in the case of the negroes than in the case 
of the whites, we are not prepared to say. The evidence, as shown by 
the figures, would seem to indicate such a tendency. 
When we consider the sentence imposed for immorality, we find 
that in 95.83 per cent, of the white cases, and in 93.42 per cent, of the 
negro cases, the period of commitment is three months. The difference 
between the races is in favor of the whites, although, from the point of 
view of repeating cases, the whites have the larger proportion. 
If we consider the 240 white women, we find that 74.15 per cent, 
are Americans, and 13.33 per cent, are Irish, or a total of 87.48 per 
cent. English-speaking people, while the balance are non-English 
speaking. It is among these two groups that the largest number of 
repeaters is found, while the Germans, Jews and Italians represent a 
very small minority of the cases. It would seem, therefore, that the 
immorality problem, from the point of view of the adult women of the 
streets, is very largely a problem of dealing with American rather than 
foreign elements. From the point of view of religious divisions, the 
Roman Catholics show the largest number of women, and the Protest- 
ants are next in order. 
If we consider the civil status of the women, we find that about 
one-half had been married or were married at the time of their arrest, 
and that 18.33 per cent, of the whites and 15.03 per cent, of the 
negroes had children. This is a very striking distribution, and may 
show that immorality very frequently comes after marriage. It must 
be remembered, however, that some prostitutes doubtless state that 
they are married and have children in order to get a lighter sentence, 
and that the accuracy of these statements could not be verified. 
The occupation of the Women indicates that housework, whether 
in the homes of the women themselves or domestic service, yields the 
largest number of prostitutes and women of the streets. In the case of 
the white women, 69.57 per cent, were reported as doing housework, 
and 4.17 per cent, we^e waitresses. In the case of the negroes, 81.02 
per cent, were doing housework, and 1.31 per cent, were waitresses. 
Whether at times housework is a means of avoiding the statement that 
no occupation is pursued, or whether these figures are accurate, is 
difficult to ascertain; it is certain, however, that many of the women 
are engaged in domestic service, or are living at home, and are getting 
additional incomes, or are using their spare time in immoral practice 
carried on for purposes of gain. 
24 HOUSE OF CORRECTION 
OCCUPATION BY COLOR  
Occup. 
Hwk. 
W. Col. 
Waitress 
W. Col. 
Laundress 
W. Col. 
Dr. Mkr. 
W. Col. 
Factory 
W. Col. 
St., Clerk 
W. Col. 
All other 
W. Col. 
Total 
W. Col. 
No. 
1 st 
Com. 
% 
. 82 
. 60.02 
70 
83.34 
7 
5.15 
2 
6.67 
1 
6.25 
10 
4.17 
1 
1.19 
4 
3.94 
6 
7.14 
1 5 
11.05 
4 
4.76 
13 
9.56 
2 
2 
2.38 
8 
5.87 
7 
4.41 
1 
1 
1.19 
1 
136 
56.67 
30 
84 
55.26 
24 
No 
2d Com. % 
No 
3d Com. % 
No 
4 th Com. % 
No 
5-9 Inc. % 
No 
10-24 Inc. % . .. . 
No 
25 and over, % . . 
No 
Total % .... 
20 
. 66.67 
10 
. 62.50 
. 10 
. 90.91 
17 
. 94.45 
19 
.. 95. 
9 
100 
. 167 
.. 69.57 
22 
91.66 
12 
60.59 
5 
83.33 
1 1 
54.71 
3 
75. 
123 
81.02 
' ' i ' 
16.67 
2 
1.31 
3.33 
5 
2.08 
' 'i' 
17.65 
' T 
17.65 
1 
25. 
14 
9.12 
13.33 
1 
6.25 
20 
8.33 
. . j . 
5.88 
'' i ' 
5.88 
6 
3.95 
6.67 
4 
25. 
1 
9.09 
1 
21 
8.76 
2 
1.31 
8 
3.33 
- 
3.33 
' T 
5. 
9 
3.76 
4.17 
1 
5.88 
' i' 
11.76 
5 
3.29 
12.5 
16 
6.7 
11 
4.54 
18 
7.51 
20 
8.33 
9 
3.75 
240 
100 
15.79 
17 
11.19 
6 
3.95 
17 
11.19 
4 
2.62 
152 
100 
OCCUPATION BY NUMBER OF COMMITMENTS ACCORDING TO COLOR 
HOUSE OF CORRECTION 
TABLE XIII The fact that 71 per cent, of the women who had illegitimate 
children in 1914, according to the records of the Philadelphia Bureau 
of Vital Statistics,* were either girls living at home or employed in 
domestic service, would lead to the belief that the domestic occupations 
are very much more dangerous, from the moral point of view, than 
the trades in which women are frequently engaged. Table XIII shows 
that only a very small number of the women committed to the House 
of Correction were engaged in industrial occupations. 
It may be stated in passing that the next largest group of women 
giving birth to illegitimate children was found among the textile mill 
operatives, who furnished 102 cases, or 9.9 per cent, of the total num- 
ber of registered illegitimate births in Philadelphia during 1914. That 
the whole of the figures of illegitimate births in Philadelphia must be 
considered as below the actual number of births classed as illegitimate, 
was evident from the fact that a number of cases that came to our 
attention were not found registered in the Bureau of Vital Statistics. 
The evidence which we have been able to gather relative to the 
relationship that exists between the frequency of illegitimacy and im- 
morality among girls living at home or working in domestic service, is 
so clearly in contradiction to the hitherto approved policy of placing 
this type of woman in domestic service that we have felt it necessary 
to examine the records of the Children's Bureau of Philadelphia with 
a view of obtaining further evidence in the matter. 
Table XIV, in this report, shows the distribution of the 600 illegiti- 
mate children studied by the Bureau for Social Research, in connection 
with an investigation of the work of the Children's Bureau of Phila- 
delphia. Out of a total of 350 illegitimate white children dealt with 
by the Children's Bureau during 1914, it was found that 152, or 43.43 
per cent, had mothers who were living at home or Were housekeepers, 
and 111, or 31.71 per cent, were domestic servants. The proportion, 
75.14 per cent, of children of mothers either living at home or em- 
ployed in domestic service, is very close to the proportion of this type 
of cases found in the city as a whole. Among the colored, it was found 
that out of a total of 250 children, 82, or 32.8 per cent, were from 
mothers living at home, and 61.2 per cent, were from mothers em- 
ployed in domestic service. 
A further analysis of the figures shows that children coming from 
mothers who have had more than one illegitimate child were more 
numerous in the cases where the mother was either employed in do- 
mestic service or was working at home (18.2 per cent.) than in children 
coming from mothers employed in other occupations, and having had 
more than one illegitimate child (16.3 per cent.). 
We have dealt at length with the cases of women committed to 
the House of Correction because we have felt that there is a close 
♦The exact figures are 53 7 girls, or 47.8 per cent., living at home or house- 
keepers, and 260, or 23.2 per cent., domestic servants. See page 41, Bureau of 
health Review of Year's Work, 1914. 
27 Occup. 
At home or 
not stated 
Dom. 
Ser. 
Mill Fact'y 
Laundry 
Waitress 
Cook 
Clerical 
Dr. Mkr. Clerks 
All 
other 
Number 
Total % 
Cloth 
(stores) 
W. Col. W. Col. 
W. W. 
W. Col. 
W. Col. 
W. Col. 
W. 
W. Col. 
W. 
W. Col. 
W. Col. 
W. Col. 
Illeg. C.. 1 
125 57 90 
121 
17 15 
8 2 
7 2 
4 4 
7 
3 2 
3 
10 . . 
289 188 
82.57 75.2 
Illeg. C..2 
15 14 II 
22 
1 2 
. . ■ . 
1 . . 
1 3 
1 
. . . . 
2 . . 
34 39 
9.71 15.6 
Illeg. C..3 
8 10 6 
9 
1 1 
1 
i 
1 
17 21 
4.86 8.4 
Illeg. C..4 
3 1 2 
. . • • 
1 
i 
7 1 
2. .4 
Illeg. C.. 5 
1 1 
2 
.57 .... 
Illeg. C..6 
1 
i 
. . • • 
1 1 
.29 .4 
Illeg. C..7 
• • • • 
• ••• • • . . 
Illeg. C..8 
. . 
No 
152 82 HI 
153 
19 18 
9 3 
8 2 
5 7 
8 
4 2 
4 
12 1 
350 250 
100 100 
Total % 
43.43 32.8 31.73 61.2 
5.43 5.14 
2.57 1.2 
2.28 .8 
1.43 2.8 
2.28 
1.15 .8 
1.15 3.43 .4 
100 100 
Grand No. 
234 
264 
19 18 
12 
LO 
12 
8 
6 
4 
13 
600 
Total % 
39. 
44. 
3.16 3. 
2. 
1.67 
2. 
1.33 
1. 
.67 
2.17 
100 
. • • • 
NUMBER OF ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN BY OCCUPATION AND COLOR 
CHILDREN'S BUREAU 
TABLE XIV relationship between the conditions determining the frequency of this 
type of case that comes before the authorities after the twenty-first 
year, and those concerning the girl who is committed before that age. 
As the evidence accumulates, we are impressed with the fact that the 
young girl is not always temperamentally vicious, and that even after 
she has reached the point where sex experience becomes a part of her 
daily life, she is the victim of conditions which could be controlled by 
a constructive method of handling the causes of her condition, whether 
they be within or outside of the home. The most striking fact in this 
connection is to be found in the result obtained by a comparison of 
the names of the girls who left Sleigh ton Farms with those of the 
House of Correction inmates-out of a total of 147 commitments to 
Sleighton Farms during 1909, only two cases were found that had 
been since committed to the House of Correction. 
It is true that about one-half of the girls are still too young to 
have been committed to the House of Correction after their discharge 
from the House of Refuge, but even under those conditions the pro- 
portion of commitments is very small. 
TRAINING OF GIRLS 
In the course of our discussion, relating to the girls dealt with 
by the House of Correction, we have pointed out the fact that the 
girls coming under the jurisdiction of this institution mainly belong 
to the domestic service class and those living at home. An analysis 
of the figures relating to the illegitimate births in Philadelphia during 
1914, shows that over 70 per cent, of the girls and women giving 
birth to illegitimate children were either domestic servants or were 
living and working at home. The figures relating to the cases dealt 
with by the Children's Bureau during 1914, also militate against 
domestic service and home work, since 75 per cent, of the white and 
94 per cent, of the colored illegitimate children had mothers who had 
been in either domestic service or were working in their own homes. 
The evidence in this direction is so clearly against the generally ad- 
vanced opinion that industrial life stimulates immorality, and shows so 
clearly the danger of lack of occupation or domestic service that we 
cannot resist questioning the advisability of training girls in institu- 
tions only or mainly for domestic service. The chance for marriage 
among such girls immediately after being discharged from an institu- 
tion is not very good, while occupation as a domestic servant seems 
to present a very dangerous field of activity, at least from the moral 
point of view. Although domestic service under supervision may 
show satisfactory results, the girls are never anxious to persist in this 
work, and leave as soon as their paroles are over. 
It is our belief that some work along the line of placing these 
girls in legitimate industrial occupations, with guidance and supervision, 
for a period of time, is necessary in order to place them in normal 
29 contact with a regular industrial environment. Domestic service places 
the girl in an abnormal environment, and as soon as the period of 
parole has expired the girl is again faced with the need for adjusting 
herself to new conditions, this time without the guidance of any one. 
INSTITUTIONS DEALING WITH IMMORAL GIRLS 
In the course of our inquiry, we have endeavored to secure in- 
formation concerning the character of work carried on by each of the 
institutions dealing with immoral girls. This we have done with a view 
to securing a clear conception of the adequacy of the provision of the 
city for this work, and also for the purpose of ascertaining to what 
extent any of these institutions may be replaced, or the character of 
their work changed. 
There are at present eight institutions dealing with girls who 
have been committed either by the courts, or in some other manner, to 
reformatory institutions. Of all the institutions studied the Magdalen 
Home is the only one that has had a large number of girls from outside 
of the City of Philadelphia. This would tend to show that the Mag- 
dalen Home, from the point of view of Philadelphia's problem, is not 
filling a place that could not be taken adequately by some of the 
existing agencies. 
CONCLUSIONS 
In the course of our discussion, we have endeavored to state, as 
nearly as possible, the conclusions which each fact or group of facts 
warranted. A careful reading of these conclusions suggests the fol- 
lowing summary of the situation: 
1. The girls who were committed to the Magdalen Home and 
to the House of Refuge came, in a large majority of cases, from fam- 
ilies in which the relationships between parents were abnormal, or where 
at least one of the parents was away from home. 
2. The frequency of poverty, delinquency, or low moral stand- 
ards of the parents-the absence of a normal family life-in the 
cases studied is very striking. 
3. No evidence of any material frequency of feeble-mindedness 
influencing the moral character of the girls could be detected from the 
records studied. 
4. Sex immorality, in the case of the House of Refuge girls 
did not seem to have any bearing upon the success or failure of the 
girls when discharged from the institution. 
5. A very limited number of the girls discharged from the 
institutions are returned home, but, so far as we were able to ascertain, 
no effort has been made to improve the home immediately after the 
girls had been removed and before they were returned, or after they 
30 returned-even where the home conditions were known to be espe- 
cially bad. 
6. The fact that such a small number of girls are actually in 
institutions, and the fact that as soon as we pass the age limit of 21 
years there are many hundreds of women who are committed to the 
House of Correction for immorality, would tend to show that there are 
many girls who, during their early days of pubescence, may have sex 
experience or be actually immoral without any one detecting their 
condition. The knowledge, too, that most of the girls come from a low 
type of home, appears to prove that the environment and the oft- 
occurring low economic and social condition of the family expose the 
girl to arrest and commitment, whereas, if the same type of girl had 
more favorable home conditions she would receive protection, and 
would, therefore, not be exposed to arrest and commitment. 
SUGGESTIONS 
The conclusions reached in the course of the present inquiry lead 
to the belief that something more than institutional care of the girls 
is needed. As a matter of fact, we are of the opinion that the Mag- 
dalen Home, the Court Aid, or some other agencies in a position 
to reorganize their present institutional work, and which are deal- 
ing with a very limited number of cases from Philadelphia, should 
reorganize, with a view to meeting the existing needs for handling the 
problem of the immoral girl, according to the plan outlined below. It 
is also evident that any additional service needed because of the change 
in the work of one institution can be rendered just as well if not bet- 
ter by the House of Refuge which places the financial burden upon 
the counties which it serves. 
The resources of the institution closed could, therefore, be em- 
ployed very much more profitably in some other constructive service, 
which would not only show more satisfactory results, as far as the 
city itself is concerned, but could assist in increasing the efficiency of 
the other agencies dealing with the type of girl under discussion. 
Our proposals may be stated as follows: 
The evidence we have been able to gather shows that the ma- 
jority of the girls come from abnormal family surroundings; the main 
problem, therefore, is to deal with the family and the girl through 
three distinct lines of service. 
I. Service to family and girl before institutional care is required. 
II. Service leading towards rehabilitation of family during the 
institutional care of the girls. 
III. Service after return of girl from institution. 
In order to adjust these three types of service to the needs of the 
individual cases, whether they be actual or potential, the following 
activities should be developed: 
31 I. When a condition of abnormal family life involving potential* 
ly delinquent girls is discovered by any of the welfare 
agencies of the city, which are rendering service of any 
kind to families, or by the Courts dealing with delinquencies, 
etc., these agencies or Courts should have the case taken in 
hand by some agency especially equipped for the handling 
of the social rehabilitation of that family. 
2. Suitable social connections for the members of the family, 
especially the girls, should be found in the form of a definite 
connection with a church, a settlement, or any other social 
institution, or some individual that could be of help in the 
social rehabilitation of the family. 
3. All girls should be removed from their homes during a critical 
period in the life of the family, or of the girl, and such girls 
should be placed temporarily in a suitable home and at 
suitable work while the adjustments are being made in the 
family. This is to be done by finding employment and by 
affording attractive home surroundings at a low cost. While 
this may at first seem an unusual procedure, it could, un- 
doubtedly, be carried out under the direction of skilled 
workers. To exercise our influence upon the family after 
the girl has become the victim of her environment is 
socially wasteful. There is no reason to believe, how- 
ever, that where conditions endanger the girl's moral and 
physical welfare we should hesitate to render in advance 
the service that is to act as a preventive against the 
development of evils which are responsible for the insti- 
tutional care. It is vastly more costly to provide for the 
victims whose downfall we have failed to prevent. 
4. As we have found that in most instances the girls could not be 
sent back to their homes, but had to be placed in domestic 
service, or in other employment, away from their own 
homes, it is evident that nothing effective had been done 
with the home after the girls were removed to the institu- 
tion. This leads to the conviction that faithful and con- 
tinuous work with the family after the girl is removed should 
be done in order to insure the discharged institutional girl 
from ultimately returning to vicious surroundings, to which 
she had previously succumbed. 
5. Supervision and assistance for girls who should not go home 
after discharge from reformatory institutions at the end of 
their probationary term, could be rendered by finding em- 
ployment and providing temporary homes, in which they 
could live while employed. 
6. Girls should be placed in contact with special agencies in 
their own neighborhood, so as to afford them proper op- 
32 portunities for the use of their leisure time instead of 
leaving them to their own resources for recreation and 
amusement. 
7. Proper employment or a proper training, which would afford 
opportunities for employment outside of the domestic serv- 
ice lines, should be found; these chances for employment 
need not be in highly skilled industries, but may be in 
some of the semi-skilled occupations, which would yield 
a reasonable wage, and, at the same time, allow the girls 
to live in an environment more or less normal, rather than 
at domestic service. 
METHOD 
The method, whereby we believe that the service which we sug- 
gest could be rendered, is as follows: 
The joining of the Magdalen Home with the Court Aid Association 
and the Bureau of Personal Service into one strong organization, for the 
purpose of dealing with the problem of Philadelphia as a whole. This 
organization, which might be designated as "The Protective League," 
should be placed in charge of one superintendent or director, if pos- 
sible, with experience in family, placing out, and institutional work. 
The work of the organization should be divided into two distinct de- 
partments, with the following functions: 
I. The Personal Service Department should have the following 
functions: 
1. Receiving of reports from welfare agencies of familes in 
which abnormal home conditions exist, and which might 
have a detrimental effect upon the moral standards and 
conduct of girls of the families with a view to: 
(a) Rehabilitating the family through the finding of 
employment for the various members of the 
family of working age. 
(b) The establishment of a connection with social 
agencies in the community or neighborhood, 
with a view to taking care of the leisure time, 
and thereby establishing an automatic super- 
vision of the family on the part of the very 
agencies whose function it is to render this 
type of service (settlements, playgrounds, 
etc.), but which, in most instances, give their 
attention to such families only casually. 
(c) The affording of opportunities for training in 
various lines of gainful endeavor for the girls 
showing aptitude in certain directions, and 
where the family would not permit of the 
needed training. 
33 (d) The proper housing of girls outside of their own 
homes and the furnishing of supervision over 
such girls while work for the rehabilitation of 
the family is going on. 
2. Receiving of reports from institutions or from welfare 
agencies of the city dealing with morally delinquent 
girls, where the girl has not been committed to an insti- 
tution, with a view to: 
(a) Caring for the girls' social and recreational life 
by securing the assistance of settlements, 
churches, missions, etc. 
(b) Finding proper employment or providing facil- 
ities for the learning of a trade or a trade 
process, as the case may be. 
(c) Providing temporary homes where the removal 
of the girl from the home is necessary while 
the family is being rehabilitated. 
(d) The establishment of a connection between the 
family and the social agencies of the com- 
munity or neighborhood-churches, such as 
settlements, missions, schools, playgrounds, 
etc. 
3. Receiving reports from Institutions with no parole system 
at time of discharge, or when the parole system could no 
longer be continued, with a view to: 
(a) Finding employment for girl in some suitable 
occupation. 
(b) Training her for work for which she shows 
special aptitude or is especially suited. 
(c) Finding a temporary or permanent home when 
the parents and home are not suited to the 
needs of the girl. 
(d) Assisting girl in making connection with social 
agencies and recreational facilities in the 
neighborhood. 
4. The handling of families where the girl has been removed 
from the home to some reformatory or penal institution 
with a view to preparing this home for the return of the 
delinquent girl after she has served her sentence or after 
her probation period has expired. This would be of 
special service to the reformatory institutions because 
it would be a means of securing an adequate basis for 
judgment as to whether or not, and when, the girl 
could be safely returned to her own home. 
At the present time there is no adequate machinery for giving the 
34 families of the girls the necessary attention during the period covered 
by the delinquent girl's absence from home, and even though an inspec- 
tion is made before the return, it must be admitted that the accurate 
facts are difficult to ascertain. It is also true that nothing is generally 
done for the benefit of the family prior to the discharge of the girl 
from the institution. The evidence gathered showed that few of the 
girls are returned to their homes, and this is undoubtedly due to the 
fact that no means are provided for the betterment of the family prior 
to the return of the girl. 
That the proper connections with social agencies and a careful 
supervision of the conduct of the parents would be of great benefit is 
hardly to be questioned. It is also true that such a policy is closely in 
accord with the recognized fact that the parents are contributory 
offenders where the moral record of the girl can be attributed wholly 
or in part to the home conditions. 
The carrying out of this work would involve at the beginning the 
following facilities: 
I. Co-operation on the part of the agencies dealing with indi- 
vidual girls as well as the agencies dealing with families 
found to be living under abnormal conditions. 
2. A staff of from five to eight workers with experience in pro- 
bation work and in the work of dealing with whole families. 
3. A small temporary home with a capacity of from ten to 
twenty beds where emergency cases could be cared for. 
4. Close co-operation with the courts so that probation of the 
parents where a commitment has not been effected might 
be secured as necessity demands. 
5. Foster homes of high character providing supervision for the 
girls and charging low rate for board and room. 
If some kind of a merger between the Magdalen Home and the 
Court Aid could be brought about, the problem of the temporary home 
could be easily and cheaply met, as the Court Aid is already conducting 
Cuthbert House, the aim of which is very similar to the aim of the 
temporary home which we are suggesting. 
II. The Preventive Work Department. 
Aside from the individual work conducted by such an agency as 
we are suggesting, there is need in the City of Philadelphia for an 
agency that will deal with the broader preventive work of the com- 
munity. This work should consist of the following lines of service: 
1. The development in connection with local agencies of special 
group services that may best serve the needs of the types 
of girls and their families as dealt with by the organization 
(Protective League). As for examples where churches or 
settlements exist, it would be the function of the workers of 
the Protective League to urge and assist in the formation 
35 of dubs and dasses for the use of the girls in the neighbor- 
hoods where such dasses are most needed. 
2. In neighborhoods where facilities for leisure time do not exist 
the Preventive Department of the League should stimulate, 
and, where necessary, assist in the organization of such 
work as may appear most necessary-playgrounds, settle- 
ments, clubs, etc. 
3. The department should also study the records of the organiza- 
tion and other agencies for the purpose of locating the spe- 
cific conditions that seem to be productive of cases of im- 
morality among girls. This is necessary in order to insure 
securing the necessary evidence for dealing with neighbor- 
hood problems, whether they be due to the rooming house 
evil, the saloon, the street gang, the poorly policed park 
or alley, the unscrupulous hotel keeper, badly supervised 
dance halls, or any other factor that may act as a cause of 
immorality among girls of the district. 
4. Whenever the laws of the State of Pennsylvania or the 
Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia, or their enforcement, 
are found to be inadequate for the needs of the locality, 
this department should assist in draughting and subsequent- 
ly urging the passage and enforcement of necessary new 
laws or amendments which would meet the needs. 
5. The Department of Prevention should promote and assist in 
the promotion of sex education through whatever agency 
seems best and when necessity demands, should carry out a 
constructive policy for such education through clubs, 
tracts, etc. 
It is not our purpose at this time to outline in further detail what 
is needed in the city by way of a strong preventive agency; our evi- 
dence seems to point clearly to the need for beginning the reformatory 
work, before, and not after, the girls become delinquents and place a 
financial burden upon the State and a moral blight upon the com- 
munity and themselves. How the work should be done will readily be 
learned from experience and that experience should be gained through 
the best and most efficient workers that can be secured for this service. 
As indicated by the letter from Mr. John Hampton Barnes, Presi- 
dent of the Court Aid Association, to Miss Pelly, the Court Aid sees 
its opportunity and is cognizant of the larger local needs. The Mag- 
dalen Home is now in a stage of its career where it could best effect 
a material change in its organization and service. Through the merg- 
ing of the two agencies-strong as they both are-a great service could 
be rendered to the young victims of immorality in this city and at the 
same time a financial burden could be lifted from the shoulders of the 
State of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia. 
In framing our recommendations we have assumed that a merger 
36 between the Court Aid and some other agency or home for immoral 
girls would be possible. If unforseen obstacles should lie in the way 
of such a merger it might be possible to so divide the field of service 
which we outline that the service that is so greatly needed could be 
rendered without effecting the merger, but by the reorganization and 
further development of the work of the Court Aid Association. 
The Midnight Mission should not be disturbed from its present 
work. It is possible that with the development of the service which 
we outline the Midnight Mission will find its greatest use as an experi- 
mental or observation home, which could be used as a sort of labora- 
tory for the Protective League. For the present, however, the 
preventive work should demand our attention and the experience 
gained during the first year should be used as a basis in further 
reorganization work of other agencies dealing with unmarried women 
with sex experience. 
37 APPENDIX. 
The information contained in the Appendix was derived from a series 
of interviews with superintendents and other executive officers of agencies 
dealing with immoral girls. As far as possible the exact language of the 
person interviewed was used and is presented in this report as a means 
of indicating prevailing opinion 'among workers in this field rather than 
as conclusions accepted by the Bureau for Social Research. 
MIDNIGHT MISSION 
129 East Walnut Lane, Germantown 
PURPOSES OF THE INSTITUTION 
The institution is a reformatory for immoral and incorrigible girls. 
Every girl is cared for two years. Girls are taken from 14 up (the 
majority are between 15 and 17 at the time of admission). 
SOURCES OF APPLICATION 
Applications come through probation officers and the courts. Few 
applications come from social agencies. 
EXAMINATIONS 
Every girl is examined before her admittance for venereal disease. 
No girl with syphilis or with an active case of gonorrhea is accepted. 
Although by preference they will take no girl with a venereal disease, 
the authorities realize that many of the girls discharged as cured from 
the Philadelphia Hospital cannot possibly be so, and the condition is 
only arrested for the time being. They believe that the institutions that 
claim not to take girls with venereal diseases do get these girls, and 
their policy is to say frankly that they do get them. Every precaution 
is taken in the home to keep the girls from infection. There is a 
mental examination of every girl. 
TRAINING 
There is in connection with the institution a laundry where outside 
work is done. It is a common impression that this training is of no 
advantage to the girls afterward, as they are rarely placed in laundries 
to work, and it is hoped that the laundry can be abolished in time. 
The girls do all the work of the house, and the Matron tries to 
arrange so that each girl gets some experience in all branches. 
38 Occasionally people come in from the outside to sew with the girls. 
The Matron thinks it is most important for them to come into contact 
with people from the outside, as this makes their lives more normal 
and relieves the monotony of the two years that they must be inmates. 
RECORDS 
At present a card form of records is kept 
REGISTRATION 
None as yet. 
INVESTIGATION 
The agency which places the girl in the Mission is depended on 
for investigation previous to entrance. 
The Matron keeps in personal touch with the girls and their 
families after they leave the institution. While a girl is in the institu- 
tion the Matron tries to establish friendly relations with her family so 
that they will co-operate with her when the girl leaves. 
FOLLOW-UP WORK 
WORK WITH ILLEGITIMACY 
Many of the girls have had illegitimate children. Several girls have 
had two children. In these cases, children are with the girls' families. 
No distinction at all is made in the treatment or training of these girls. 
CLASS OF GIRLS 
Many are girls with very bad records. A great number are 
mentally deficient. 
AFTER RESULTS 
The Matron has not been in the home long enough to be able to 
say much about after results. Most of her girls who leave return to 
their families, and as yet she has not had one who has not some 
definite place to go. 
STATEMENT OF MATRON REGARDING CAUSES 
Causes go far back. Home conditions have a great deal to do 
with it, and she thinks that from 50 to 60 per cent, of the girls in 
institutions of this sort are mentally deficient. 
The one great need of the community is a permanent home for 
deficient girls, where they can be kept until they are past child- 
bearing age. 
COMMUNITY NEEDS 
39 COURT AID ASSOCIATION 
1704 Summer Street 
PURPOSES OF THE INSTITUTION 
The purposes of the association, as defined by its charter, are 
to "render aid and assistance to women under charges in the courts, 
or held for hearing thereby, or by any legal authority, and to maintain 
a house for the care of such women and other women in need of 
temporary shelter or protection." The Court Aid Association does 
not deal with Jewish girls, although the house maintained by them 
(Cuthbert House) also receives girls through the Personal Service 
Bureau, which has its headquarters in the office of the Court Aid. 
Colored girls are not dealt with excepting temporarily, all such girls 
being turned over to the Colored Women's Protective and Probational 
Association, which maintains its own quarters for girls. The insti- 
tution admits girls between the ages of 16 and 21, girls over 21 
not being accepted, simply because there is no legal control after that 
age. The care given is distinctly temporary, although there is no 
time limit set to the stay of an inmate. The majority of cases referred 
to the association never enter Cuthbert House at all, but are cases for 
outside supervision of girls in their homes or whatever place they may 
be living. 
Court Aid receives its applications through the courts, through the 
various charitable agencies and institutions, and through relatives and 
friends of the girls. Occasionally personal applications are received. 
The court work has been practically abolished since the establishment 
of the Misdemeanants' Court, and the work is being broadened along 
preventative lines. 
SOURCES OF APPLICATION 
EXAMINATION 
Every girl on entering Cuthbert House is examined immediately 
by the physician for venereal disease. If this is found to be present 
she is transferred to the Philadelphia Hospital. 
The girls are also submitted to a mental examination, made by a 
physician connected with the House. Although there is no rule about 
examinations of girls who do not become house patients, whenever it 
is deemed wise by the workers a mental and physical examination is 
given. 
While in the House the girls do the work of the institution, always 
under supervision. 
TRAINING 
Full records are kept of every case in regular record form. 
RECORDS 
40 REGISTRATION 
Every case is registered in the Registration Bureau. 
INVESTIGATION 
A thorough outside investigation is made of every case dealt with, 
so that a constructive plan may be made. The parents are consulted 
whenever possible, and the Court Aid Association does not commit any 
girl to an institution without the consent of her parents or guardian. 
FOLLOW-UP WORK 
Both the outside cases and the cases of the girls who have been 
in Cuthbert House are followed up as long as it seems wise; in some 
cases even after the girls reach 21 years of age. 
The staff of the Court Aid consists of a general secretary, four 
outside investigators and two stenographers. Cuthbert House has a 
superintendent who is responsible to the general secretary. The 
superintendent has two assistants and a kitchen matron. There is also 
a night watch employed. 
STAFF 
The building is equipped to accommodate 23 girls, although a 24th 
girl can be accommodated at a pinch. The House is entirely under 
the management of the superintendent. 
BUILDING EQUIPMENT 
STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY REGARDING 
CAUSES 
Much of the cause of the girls' going wrong is due to mental 
deficiency, much is due to immorality of parents, lack of training at 
home and weak character. Although some of the girls could not 
actually be called mental defectives, they are mentally retarded, and 
for this reason not fully responsible for their actions. 
SUGGESTIONS OF THE SECRETARY AS TO COMMUNITY 
There is need of a place where girls could be sent in early 
pregnancy, especially such girls as ought not to be at work at this time. 
Most of the present maternity homes will not take girls in an early 
condition of pregnancy. The need is also felt for a place where a girl 
can remain for an unlimited length of time after her child has been 
born. There is need for a permanent place for border line girls with 
illegitimate babies where they can be taught to care for the babies 
and can remain until the child-bearing age is over. (This statement 
made particularly with regard to work with unmarried mothers. A 
small percentage of the Court Aid work is with this type of girl.) 
NEEDS 
41 PERSONAL SERVICE BUREAU 
(Under Council of Jewish Women) 
PURPOSES OF THE INSTITUTION 
The purpose of the institution is much the same as that of the 
Court Aid Association, with whom it has its headquarters, but is not 
otherwise connected. It does work with delinquent girls between the 
ages of 16 and 21. It also does the parole work for the Jewish girls 
dismissed from Sleighton Farms. It maintains no house of its own, 
but has the use of the house maintained by the Court Aid Association. 
Its work is among the Jewish girls brought to the house, but the larger 
amount is outside preventive Work. 
SOURCES OF APPLICATION 
Girls are received through the courts, from various charitable 
agencies, by personal application and application of relatives. Also, 
as stated above, the paroled girls from Sleighton Farms. 
EXAMINATION 
The girls admitted to Cuthbert House receive an immediate 
examination for venereal disease, and when this is found to be present 
are transferred to the Philadelphia Hospital. All girls in the house also 
receive a mental examination. The outside girls are examined both 
physically and mentally if these is any suspicion of the need. 
TRAINING 
While in Cuthbert House the girls assist in the work in the House 
under supervision. 
RECORDS 
There is a printed record form, and full records of each girl are 
kept. 
Cases are registered in the Registration Bureau. 
REGISTRATION 
INVESTIGATION 
Thorough investigation is made in regard to every girl from the 
viewpoint of making a constructive plan. 
FOLLOW-UP WORK 
No record is closed until the girl reaches the age of 21. Records 
are closed at this time because there is no legal control over the girls; 
however, the personal interest is frequently kept up. 
42 CLASS OF GIRLS 
The secretary considers that many of the girls are of the immoral 
class, others are young girls who have made their first blunder and 
mcthy are mental defectives. 
AFTER RESULTS 
As the cases are closed when the girl reaches 21 years of age, and 
the Bureau has only been in existence two years and a half, no informa- 
tion about after results was obtainable. 
STAFF 
The staff consists of a secretary, two paid agents and a 
stenographer. 
BUILDING EQUIPMENT 
For report on this, see Court Aid Association report. 
STATEMENT OF SECRETARY IN REGARD TO CAUSES 
The secretary considers the causes to be varying; bad company 
and dance halls are one cause. She thinks that among Jewish girls 
misunderstanding at home and too great strictness of the parents are a 
larger factor in the girl's downfall. She thinks that the parents 
frequently object to a normal friendship of a Jewish girl and a Gentile, 
and this leads to secret meetings with the opportunity for illicit relation- 
ship. An undoubted cause is mental deficiency. 
SUGGESTIONS AS TO COMMUNITY NEEDS 
A great need is felt for a temporary place where a girl with a 
baby can go who has not been in a maternity home during pregnancy, 
as most of the maternity homes prefer not to receive a girl after the 
birth of her child unless she has been there during pregnancy. (State- 
ment made in regard to unmarried mothers.) 
DOOR OF HOPE 
1 736 North 22nd Street 
It is a Christian institution for young white girls who have fallen, 
particularly girls who are on the verge of becoming prostitutes or have 
already become so. No pregnant girl is admitted, and no girl with a 
child. Girls are preferably received between the ages of 16 and 20. 
Occasionally an older girl is admitted. A few of the girls are married, 
and about one girl a year has had an illegitimate child. No distinction 
whatever is made between these girls and any others. There is no 
fixed time for the stay. The Home likes to keep the girls as long as 
anything can be done for them. No girls are commited, so that the 
Home has no actua) power to keep them. 
PURPOSE OF THE INSTITUTION 
43 SOURCES OF APPLICATION 
Girls are received through individuals who hear of the institution, 
through weekly visits made by the Matron to the venereal ward of the 
Philadelphia Hospital and through the Court Aid Association. The 
latter is practically the only social agency of the city that uses the 
Door of Hope, probably because it is not well known. 
EXAMINATION 
Examination is made for venereal disease. If a girl is found to be 
infected, she is sent to the Philadelphia Hospital until it is safe to have 
her with other girls. No mental examination is made except in an 
unusual case. 
The girls do all the work of the House, and are taught plain 
sewing. There is no school work done, although at present a few of 
the girls are being taught individually. Great emphasis is laid on 
religious work. 
TRAINING 
Records are kept really in the form of a diary of the superin- 
tendent. 
RECORDS 
REGISTRATION 
None. 
INVESTIGATION 
Very little investigation is done, as the institution feels that its 
Work is with the girls while there. Positions for the girls are always 
obtained before the girls are dismissed, usually at service. Few girls 
are returned to their families. 
FOLLOW-UP WORK 
The institution tries to keep in touch with the girls as long as 
possible, chiefly through the girls often coming back to the institution 
as their home. Although no statistics are available on the subject, 
some of the girls keep straight and do well. There are, undoubtedly, 
some who go back to the old life, while others are lost sight of. 
CLASS OF GIRLS 
Girls are mostly of American birth, though there are occasionally 
Irish, German and other nationalities. The institution is non-sectarian. 
The girls received are, many of them, young girls who are just getting 
into bad life, and are, therefore, the most hopeful class. Many of the 
girls are mentally deficient; two out of the present eight are decidedly 
so, while another one has been so neglected that she seems to be. 
Even when not mentally deficient, there seems to be something lacking 
in most of the girls. 
44 AFTER RESULTS 
A number of the girls marry. Many of them do very well at 
service. Some, undoubtedly, go back to the old life and a number 
are lost sight of. 
STAFF 
The staff consists of a matron and an assistant matron. 
BUILDING EQUIPMENT 
The building, which is simply a private house in a row of houses, 
is equipped to accommodate eight girls. Two rooms contain three beds, 
and one room two beds. The Matron considers the home influence 
everything, and the workers and girls live like one large family. This 
home atmosphere was very apparent. 
STATEMENT OF SUPERINTENDENT REGARDING CAUSES 
On account of the absence of the superintendent, this statement 
was made by the Missionary, who has been connected with the institu- 
tion for some time, and who has had considerable experience in work 
with fallen girls. She considers that the lack of right home training 
is a large factor. Lack of restraint at home and the fact that the 
girls were allowed to go out so young, the shocking freedom of manner 
between boys and girls, and the immodest dress of the present-day girls 
are also factors. 
SUGGESTIONS AS TO COMMUNITY NEEDS 
There is a need for a place of the same sort for older women. 
It is also a deplorable fact that there is no hospital other than the 
Philadelphia where there is a ward for venereal diseases. There is 
also need of an institution for deficient girls. 
Roman Catholic Institution, 35th and Fairmount Avenue 
HOUSE OF GOOD SHEPHERD 
PURPOSE 
The institution is a reformatory for girls and women who have 
led disorderly lives. It is non-sectarian, but the greater number are 
Roman Catholics. 
SOURCES OF APPLICATION 
Most of the cases are received by commitment; some are received 
through social agencies and others of the inmates come voluntarily. 
EXAMINATION 
No girl is accepted with venereal disease. If the girl is found 
to be suffering from venereal disease she is taken to the Philadelphia 
Hospital. No regular mental examination is made except in special 
cases. If a girl is found to be deficient she is not kept. 
45 TRAINING 
The institution is divided into two classes; the older and worse 
class, and the more hopeful class. The younger girls do sewing, 
cooking, fancy work and do the work of caring for their quarters. 
There is a laundry where the older women work. All the work of 
the institution is done under the careful supervision of the Sisters. 
RECORDS 
There is no regular form of record. Some record is kept of all 
the inmates. 
None. 
REGISTRATION 
INVESTIGATION 
None. This is not necessary, as most of the inmates have been 
committed. Occasionally, where an inmate comes voluntarily, her 
people are sent for. 
FOLLOW-UP WORK 
None. A woman or girl is not dismissed without permission of 
the interested agency. If the girl has no place to go to, a shelter is 
hunted up. A good many of the girls come back; some write. This 
is the only touch that is kept with them. The Sister expressed herself 
as regretting that they were not able to do more in this line. 
CLASS OF GIRLS 
A great many of the women in the institution are married. The 
girls of the younger class are from 14 to 21 years of age, and are 
completely separated from the older women. There are many drinking 
women. The very fact that the girls are in the institution means that 
they have been difficult. There are very few out-of-town girls; a number 
are foreigners. At present, 25 out of 180 women in the older class 
are of foreign birth. 
AFTER RESULTS 
There is not definite knowledge of after results, because of the 
lack of follow-up work. Some of the women come back to the 
institution. 
BUILDING EQUIPMENT 
The building accommodations are for 400 women. There are 
about 325 inmates at present. 
CAUSES 
The way girls go around at nights has much to do with their 
downfall; also, lack of amusement at home and a bad example. Many 
are mentally and morally deficient, and much is due to inheritance. 
Visitor was not permitted to go through the institution. 
46 SLEIGHTON FARMS 
Glen Mills School For Girls, Darling, Pennsylvania 
PURPOSES OF THE INSTITUTION 
Sleighton Farms is the state reform school for girls under the age 
of 21 for eastern and middle Pennsylvania. As a rule, every girl 
remains in the institution for two years and is under the probation of 
the institution until she reaches the age of 21. 
SOURCES OF APPLICATION 
Every case received must come through court commitment. 
EXAMINATION 
Every girl is given a thorough mental and physical examination 
at the time of her admission. Any girl who has an active venereal 
disease is transferred to the Philadelphia Hospital until she is in a 
condition to be returned to the farm. 
There is a school in connection with the farm which the majority 
of girls attend. Particular emphasis is laid on the training of the girls 
in their two years or more at the institution. Each girl goes through a 
thorough training in the different branches of the household arts. On 
account of the cottage system, there is an opportunity for every girl 
to have training in the laundry and kitchen and various other depart- 
ments. Plain sewing and needlework are taught. 
In addition to this, the girls do the work of the large farm in 
connection with the institution under the guidance of trained agricul- 
turists. Besides the regular farm, where all the produce is raised, 
there is a hothouse and a poultry farm, both of which are cared for 
by the girls, always under supervision. As a rule, no form of industrial 
training is given except in the domestic branches. However, any girl 
who expresses a particular desire or shows unusual ability is given a 
chance to prepare herself in any line for which she seems fitted. 
RECORDS 
A full record is kept of every girl, usually until her parole expires 
at the age of 21. 
INVESTIGATION 
The girls, being received through court commitment, no previous 
investigation is possible. However, the home conditions and surround- 
ings of every girl are investigated, as far as possible, as are the homes 
in which the girls are placed on leaving the institution. 
47 FOLLOW-UP WORK 
Under the parole system, practically every girl is kept in touch with 
until she reaches the age of 21, or until she passes out of the care of 
the institution for some adequate reason. The institution employs 
trained probation officers, whose entire time is spent in following up 
the girls out on parole. BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
OF 
SEYBERT INSTITUTION 
B. FRANKLIN PEPPER, President 
CHAS. L. McKEEHAN 
THEODORE E. BROWN 
ALBERT P. GERHARD 
Mrs. F. S. JANNEY STODDART 
DAVID PEPPER. Jr. 
ROY SMITH WALLACE, 
Executive Secretary 
ADVISORY COUNCIL 
BUREAU FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH 
CHAS. L. McKEEHAN, Chairman 
RILEY M. LITTLE 
ALBERT CROSS 
ROBT. D. DRIPPS 
DR. HENRY H. GODDARD 
FREDK.P. GRUENBERG 
PROF. JAS. P. LICHTENBERGER 
DR. BRUCE D. MUDGETT 
PROF. SIMON N. PATTEN 
EDWIN D. SOLENBERGER 
ROY SMITH WALLACE 
PROF. FRANK G. WATSON 
CAROL ARONOVICI, PH. D., Director 
Cooperating staff in present study 
EARL C. WARBURTON 
HELEN C. W ALLERSTEIN