ST. VINCENT'S ORPHAN ASYLUM.

115

service, if the limited income did not make it necessary to refuse admission to the increasing applications. The receipts from all sources for the year were about $13,000 and the expenses were something over $14,000, thus making an encroachment on the invested funds of the institution. An earnest appeal is made to the public for increased gifts. One reason for the extended space that has been given to the history of the Washington City Orphan Asylum is to show how large a work has been done without Government aid and also to call attention to the fact that the accommodations of the asylum are sufficient for an increased number of inmates, thus suggesting the idea that instead of starting new institutions it might be well for those benevolently inclined to build on foundations already firmly laid.

II.

St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum was established by the Rev. Father Matthews and the Roman Catholics of Washington about the year 1825, and was incorporated by the act of February 25, 1831, which named as incorporators William Matthews, Matthew Deagle, Peter S. Shreiber, Thomas Carberry, and William Hickey. The act makes the provisions usual at that time as to acquiring and holding real and personal property, but provides that "the clear annual income of property to be acquired by the corporation shall at no time exceed the sum of $5,000." The act further provides for a yearly meeting in the month of June of the regular annual contributors, at which those persons by the by-laws qualified to vote shall elect 9 female managers, who shall appoint a first and second directress. Parents, guardians, or friends of children may place them in the asylum until they reach the age of 21 years, if males, or 18 years, if females; and the asylum may receive children who have neither friend nor protector. The power of binding out children was given, and provision was made for schools. The asylum was located at the corner of Tenth and G streets northwest, the site now occupied.

The only aid ever received from the General Government was that granted by the act of July 14, 1832, which directs "the commissioner of public buildings to select and value such of the building lots and parts of lots owned by the United States in the city of Washington as he shall think may be brought to market and sold to the greatest advantage, to the amount of $20,000, which he shall divide and separate into two parcels of $10,000 worth each, one of which, at his election, he shall convey to the Washington City Orphan Asylum and the other to the St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum of Washington, and to the successors of each forever." These lots were exempted from taxes for five years, unless sooner disposed of, and might be sold or leased, the proceeds of the sale or rents not to be applied to any other objects than the purposes of the institutions named.1

United States Stat. L., vol. vi, p. 512.

III.

The St. Joseph's Male Orphan Asylum was organized at a meeting held October 13, 1854, and was incorporated by the act of February 6, 1855, the incorporators being Thomas Carberry, James S. Harvey, Thomas Feran, Gregory Ennis, Nicholas Callan, Hugh B. Sweeny, John Carroll Brent, Richard H. Clark, and William H. Ward. The object of the institution was charity and education. The incorporators were empowered to hold property not exceeding in value $100,000 at any one time. The corporation was forbidden to issue any note, token, device, scrip, or other evidence of debt to be used as currency, and each of the trustees was made liable in his or her individual capacity for all the debts and liabilities of the company, however contracted or incurred, to be recovered by suit as other debts or liabilities before any court of competent jurisdiction.

The asylum was established by the united contributions of the different Catholic congregations in Washington and was placed under charge of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. The institution was first opened in a house on the southwest corner of H and Thirteenth streets, on the 14th of September, 1856, where it was continued for about three years. It was then moved to a house on the north side of G, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, and subsequently removed to a building purchased by the trustees, on the corner of Tenth and F streets, where it remained until removed to a house on I street, between Ninth and Tenth streets, bought from the Washington Orphan Asylum. In 1867 the asylum supported 60 orphans and half orphans, and a day school for small boys was also maintained.

The institution occupies 18,770 square feet, which is assessed for $24,401. The assessed value of the buildings and other improvements is $20,000. The only aid received from Congress is an annual appropriation of $1,800. The number of inmates on January 1, 1897, was 105, of whom 33 have been admitted during the year. The number of children placed in free homes during the year was 11, and the number restored to parents or relatives 31. Male white children between the ages of 6 and 14 are admitted. Besides the Congressional appropriation of $1,800, $3,455.28 was received during 1896 from solicitation, subscription, and donation, and $1,056.22 from private gifts, making a total income of $6,311.50.

For forty-two years after the incorporation of the asylum the total amount of money received from the Government was about $7,200, and the average number of boys cared for was 127. Orphans come mainly from St. Ann's Infant Asylum, being turned over to St. Joseph's at the age of 6 years, and retained until they are 14 years of age, when positions are obtained for them if possible. The institution is under the management of Sister Euphrasia.

NATIONAL SOLDIERS AND SAILORS' ORPHAN HOME. 117

IV.

The National Soldiers and Sailors' Orphan Home owed its existence to the philanthropic efforts of the ladies of Washington City, prominent among them being Mrs. J. S. Carlisle, Mrs. William B. Todd, and Mrs. Robert Farnham. The object of the institution was to provide a home and education for orphans and half orphans of soldiers and sailors who have been in the service of the United States. Children of either sex under 12 years of age were received. The project took shape at a meeting held January 10, 1866, and the first board of directors consisted of Mrs. William B. Todd, Mrs. David T. Patterson, Mrs. E. C. Carrington, Mrs. James Harlan, Mrs. Gideon Welles, Mrs. David A. Hall, Mrs. James Speed, Mrs. Robert Farnham, Mrs. J. C. Smith, Miss Sarah Wood, and Miss L. Howard. The directors and friends of the charity projected a large fair to be held in Washington to raise funds for the purposes indicated. Committees were formed, and an organized canvass was made through the States and Territories for contributions to the fair and general fund. A temporary frame building was erected on the public reservation at the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Seventh street, where the fair was held with good success.

In September, 1866, the institution was opened, and in the following November a more desirable house was obtained at the corner of B street north and Second street east.

The institution was at first entirely dependent for support upon the funds raised from the fair and voluntary contributions by its friends throughout the United States. During the first year it provided for about twenty-six children, the orphans of soldiers and sailors, admission being through the members of the board of directors. The officers of the institution were Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, president; Mrs. William T. Sherman, first vice-president; Mrs. General Williams, second vicepresident; Mrs. Henry D. Cooke, treasurer; Mrs. H. C. Fahnestock, assistant treasurer; Mrs. J. C. Carlisle, secretary; Mrs. Charlotte Taylor, assistant secretary; Miss Ann Sherman, matron; Dr. S. J. Todd, physician; Dr. N. S. Lincoln and Dr. G. M. Dove, consulting physicians.

The first appropriation made by Congress for the support of this institution was contained in the act of March 30, 1867, the amount being $5,000. In 1868 an appropriation of $10,000 was made, a like sum being appropriated in 1869, with the provision that the funds should be disbursed under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior instead of under the direction of the officers of the institution. The appropriations for 1870, 1871, 1872, and 1873 were $15,000 each year. In 1874 the appropriation was $11,350.97, the next year $12,000, and in 1875 $10,000.

The National Soldiers and Sailors' Orphan Home was organized under the act of July 25, 1866; amended by the act of February 22, 1867.