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'''Travelers Aid International''' is a global network that serves as a human services support system worldwide by facilitating interactions between social service agencies, airports, train stations, and other transit hubs in order to help children and adults who become stranded while traveling or are in distress or at risk of harm as a result of travel.
The '''Travelers Aid''' movement began in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], under the leadership of Mayor [[Bryan Mullanphy]]. Its purpose was to provide assistance to American pioneers and new immigrants who became stranded on their journeys. At his death in 1851, Mullanphy left a bequest of one half million dollars in his will to help "aid travelers going west."


== History ==
By the 20th Century, Travelers Aid Societies had sprung up in major cities across the country. The programs protected stranded travelers, especially women and children, from others who would use, abuse, or victimize them. The primary fear was that young women travelers, native born and immigrant alike, would be kidnapped and turned into "white slaves" (defined as white women forced into prostition). Therefore, Travelers Aid Societies, most famously the Travelers Aid Society of New York, provided social work to vulnerable travelers at train stations and piers in order to prevent their falling victim to the white slave trade and related vices.<ref>{{cite news|last=Baker|first=Orin|title=Philanthropic Effort to Save 50,000 a Year|url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F30E11F8345813738DDDAE0A94D8415B828DF1D3|accessdate=6/9/2011|newspaper=New York Times|date=10/27/1912}}</ref> Although many of the Travelers Aid programs were started by religious communities, services were often provided regardless of beliefs. It is the oldest non-religious social welfare organization in the United States.
The Travelers Aid movement began in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], under the leadership of Mayor [[Bryan Mullanphy]]. Its purpose was to provide assistance to American pioneers and new immigrants who became stranded on their journeys. At the time of his death in 1851, Mullanphy left a bequest of a half million dollars in his will to help "aid travelers going west."


By the 20th century, Travelers Aid Societies had sprung up in major cities across the country. The programs protected stranded travelers, especially women and children, from others who would use, abuse, or victimize them. The primary fear was that young women travelers, native born and immigrant alike, would be kidnapped and turned into "[[white slavery|white slaves]]" (defined as white women forced into prostitution). Therefore, Travelers Aid Societies, most notably the Travelers Aid Society of New York, provided social work to vulnerable travelers at train stations and piers in order to prevent their falling victim to the white slave trade and related vices.<ref>{{cite news |last = Baker |first = Orin |title = Philanthropic Effort to Save 50,000 a Year |url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/10/27/100596710.pdf |accessdate = 2011-06-09 |newspaper = The New York Times |date = 1912-10-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last = Cimino |first = Eric |title = The Travelers' Aid Society: Moral Reform and Social Work in New York City, 1907–1916 |journal = New York History |year = 2016 |volume = 97 |issue = 1 |page = 35 |url = https://www.academia.edu/31095225/The_Travelers_Aid_Society_Moral_Reform_and_Social_Work_in_New_York_City_1907-1916 }}</ref> Although many of the Travelers Aid programs were started by religious communities, services were often provided regardless of beliefs. It is the oldest non-religious social welfare organization in the United States.
The founder of the [[Travelers Aid Society of New York]] (TAS-NY), [[Grace Hoadley Dodge]], had hoped to unite other Travelers Aid Societies to form a national association, but she died before this could be accomplished (she died in 1914).<ref>{{cite news|title=Grace Dodge Dead|accessdate=6/9/2011|newspaper=New York Times|date=12/28/1914}}</ref> Due primarily to the efforts of TAS-NY General Secretary [[Orin Clarkson Baker]], national unification was finally accomplished in 1917.<ref>{{cite book|last=McCall|first=Bertha|title=History of the National Travelers Aid Association, 1911-1948|year=1950|location=New York}}</ref> This association provided a "chain of service," with one agency helping another when inter-city transportation of a client was required. Travelers Aid was one of the original "[[United Service Organizations]]" ([[USO]]) that provided assistance to traveling service men and women, operating 175 troop transit lounges. Today, Travelers Aid responds to the specific needs of the community. Although each member agency shares the original service of assisting stranded travelers, many Travelers Aid agencies provide shelter for the homeless, transitional housing, job training, counseling, local transportation assistance, and other programs.


The founder of the [[Travelers Aid Society of New York]] (TAS-NY), [[Grace Hoadley Dodge]], had hoped to unite other Travelers Aid Societies to form a national association, but she died in 1914 before this could be accomplished.<ref>{{cite news |title = Grace Dodge Dead |newspaper = The New York Times |date = 1914-12-28 }}</ref> Due primarily to the efforts of TAS-NY General Secretary [[Orin Clarkson Baker]], national unification was finally accomplished in 1917.<ref>{{cite book |title = History of the National Travelers Aid Association, 1911–1948 |year=1950 |last=McCall |first=Bertha |location=New York |publisher=National Travelers Aid Association |pages=1–269 |oclc=23956563 |url = {{Google books|Ts_NAAAAMAAJ|plainurl=y}} }}</ref> This national association provided a "chain of service", with one agency helping another when intercity transportation of a client was required. Travelers Aid was one of the original "[[United Service Organizations]]" ([[USO]]) that provided assistance to traveling service men and women, operating 175 troop transit lounges. Today, Travelers Aid responds to the specific needs of the community. Although each member agency shares the original service of assisting stranded travelers, many Travelers Aid agencies provide shelter for the homeless, transitional housing, job training, counseling, local transportation assistance, and other programs.
==References==
{{Reflist}}


Similar organizations were founded in other countries; in Great Britain and many other countries it is spelled as "Travellers' Aid Society", and originally was closely associated with the [[YWCA]].<ref>{{cite news |url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19935365 |title = English Notes |newspaper = [[The Queenslander]] |volume = XXXIV |issue = 675 |location = Queensland, Australia |date = 8 September 1888 |accessdate = 15 May 2016 |page = 419 |via = [[National Library of Australia]] }}</ref>
==External links==

*[http://www.travelersaid.org/ Travelers Aid International]
== See also ==
* [[Travelers Aid Family Services of Boston]]
* [[L. M. Gillespie]] (Travelers Aid Society worker)
* [[Mary D. Diehl]] (Travelers Aid Society worker)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


== Further reading ==
[[Category:Travel-related organizations]]
* {{cite journal |last1=Cimino |first1=Eric |title=The Travelers Aid Society |journal=New York Archives |date=2020 |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=24–28 |url=https://www.academia.edu/43641273/The_Travelers_Aid_Society}}
* {{cite journal |last = Cimino |first = Eric |title = Safeguarding the Innocent: Travelers' Aid at the Panama-California Exposition |year = 2015 |journal = Journal of San Diego History |volume = 61 |issue = 3&4 |pages = 455–74 |url = https://www.academia.edu/20419097/Safeguarding_the_Innocent_Travelers_Aid_at_the_Panama-California_Exposition_1915 }}
* {{cite thesis |last = Cimino |first = Eric |title = On the Border Line of Tragedy: White Slavery, Moral Protection, and the Travelers' Aid Society of New York, 1885-1917 |degree = Ph.D. |institution = [[Stony Brook University]] |year = 2012 |url = https://www.academia.edu/32398358/On_the_Border_Line_of_Tragedy_White_Slavery_Moral_Protection_and_the_Travelers_Aid_Society_of_New_York_1885-1917 }}
* {{cite thesis |last = Hill |first = Kathryn Louise |title = Just Where Do You Think You're Going?: Maternalism and Social Work of the Travelers' Aid Society of Virginia|degree = M.A. |institution = [[College of William and Mary]] |year = 2010 |url = https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5881&context=etd}}
* {{cite thesis |last = Horan |first = Marion |title = Trafficking in Danger: Working-Class Women and Narratives of Sexual Danger in English and United States Anti-Prostitution Campaigns, 1875-1914b |degree = Ph.D. |institution = [[Binghamton University]] |year = 2006 |chapter = Chapters 5 & 6 }}
* {{cite journal |last = Phillips |first = Richard |title = Unsexy Geographies: Heterosexuality, Respectability, and the Travelers’ Aid Society |journal = ACME: An International E-Journal for Critical Geographies |year = 2006 |volume = 5 |issue = 2 |pages = 163–90 |url = https://www.acme-journal.org/index.php/acme/article/view/755/615 }}
* {{cite journal |last = Stadum |first = Beverly |title = Female Protection and Empowerment: Travelers Aid Services, 1919-1934 |journal = Affilia |date = Fall 1997 |volume = 12 |issue = 3 |pages = 278–96 }}


== External links ==
{{charity-org-stub}}
* [http://www.travelersaid.org/ Travelers Aid International]


LAX fires 250 Travelers Aid volunteers, June 2010
[[Category:Travelers organizations]]
[[Category:International charities]]

Latest revision as of 22:08, 27 February 2024

Travelers Aid International is a global network that serves as a human services support system worldwide by facilitating interactions between social service agencies, airports, train stations, and other transit hubs in order to help children and adults who become stranded while traveling or are in distress or at risk of harm as a result of travel.

History

[edit]

The Travelers Aid movement began in St. Louis, Missouri, under the leadership of Mayor Bryan Mullanphy. Its purpose was to provide assistance to American pioneers and new immigrants who became stranded on their journeys. At the time of his death in 1851, Mullanphy left a bequest of a half million dollars in his will to help "aid travelers going west."

By the 20th century, Travelers Aid Societies had sprung up in major cities across the country. The programs protected stranded travelers, especially women and children, from others who would use, abuse, or victimize them. The primary fear was that young women travelers, native born and immigrant alike, would be kidnapped and turned into "white slaves" (defined as white women forced into prostitution). Therefore, Travelers Aid Societies, most notably the Travelers Aid Society of New York, provided social work to vulnerable travelers at train stations and piers in order to prevent their falling victim to the white slave trade and related vices.[1][2] Although many of the Travelers Aid programs were started by religious communities, services were often provided regardless of beliefs. It is the oldest non-religious social welfare organization in the United States.

The founder of the Travelers Aid Society of New York (TAS-NY), Grace Hoadley Dodge, had hoped to unite other Travelers Aid Societies to form a national association, but she died in 1914 before this could be accomplished.[3] Due primarily to the efforts of TAS-NY General Secretary Orin Clarkson Baker, national unification was finally accomplished in 1917.[4] This national association provided a "chain of service", with one agency helping another when intercity transportation of a client was required. Travelers Aid was one of the original "United Service Organizations" (USO) that provided assistance to traveling service men and women, operating 175 troop transit lounges. Today, Travelers Aid responds to the specific needs of the community. Although each member agency shares the original service of assisting stranded travelers, many Travelers Aid agencies provide shelter for the homeless, transitional housing, job training, counseling, local transportation assistance, and other programs.

Similar organizations were founded in other countries; in Great Britain and many other countries it is spelled as "Travellers' Aid Society", and originally was closely associated with the YWCA.[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Baker, Orin (1912-10-27). "Philanthropic Effort to Save 50,000 a Year" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-06-09.
  2. ^ Cimino, Eric (2016). "The Travelers' Aid Society: Moral Reform and Social Work in New York City, 1907–1916". New York History. 97 (1): 35.
  3. ^ "Grace Dodge Dead". The New York Times. 1914-12-28.
  4. ^ McCall, Bertha (1950). History of the National Travelers Aid Association, 1911–1948. New York: National Travelers Aid Association. pp. 1–269. OCLC 23956563.
  5. ^ "English Notes". The Queenslander. Vol. XXXIV, no. 675. Queensland, Australia. 8 September 1888. p. 419. Retrieved 15 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]