Lincoln Day Nursery (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records

 

HISTORICAL NOTE

The History of Lincoln Day Nursery as we know it today, details the development of two independent agencies founded in Philadelphia for the care of children: The Harrison Day Nursery founded in 1899 and the Lincoln Day Nursery established in 1906.

The Harrison Day Nursery was founded by a group of civic-minded women to provide care for children of poor white women who had to work to support their families. The Nursery grew from its original site, 1826 Federal Street, to encompass 1822-24 Federal Street. In 1899, Harrison built a new home especially for childcare on the Northeast corner of 19^th and Ellsworth Streets.

The first Lincoln Day Nursery, which was located at 1706 Bainbridge Street, was sponsored by the Philadelphia Association of Nurseries for the purpose of helping working mothers in the Black district of the Seventh Ward. Children between the ages of three weeks to ten years old were accepted at the charge of five cents per day. Day care services were provided from 6:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Great care was given to the children's health: they were vaccinated, bathed and examined at regular intervals. Families were aided with rent, money, coal, food and clothing; the benefits of the Nursery were not confined to the children but permeated each home.

By 1919, Philadelphia had changed. A demographic study showed that most of the families using the Harrison facility no longer lived in the neighborhood. Nineteenth and Ellsworth was now on the fringe of what had become the most densely populated Black section of the city and there were appeals from a number of agencies for Harrison to admit Black children. In response to the need, the Board of Directors of Harrison voted to merge with Lincoln Day Nursery. The merger was finalized on April 1, 1923 and the facility at 19^th and Ellsworth became know as Lincoln Day Nursery.

In the twenties and thirties, the Nursery was still primarily concerned with the social rather than educational aspect of its work. However, during the forties and thereafter an educational component was added to the Nursery's program. The Nursery continued to be a community resource over the years.

In May 1925, the Board was notified that the Nursery had been left a one-third interest in the estate of Charles I. Cragin. Mr. Cragin was a prominent Philadelphia soap manufacturer. From this legacy the Nursery's financial problems were solved for many years. However, during the late sixties because of increased cost of operation and the need for renovations of the building, financial problems rose again.

Because of the need for financial aid in order to continue a quality child care program, the Nursery, in June 1970 applied for and was awarded a contract for child care services through the Department of Public Welfare Title IV-A program in June 1970. This has continued to be the Nursery's major source for operation; today the program is known as Title XX. To help maintain and improve the structure and facilities of the building, a capital improvement drive was instituted in 1970. Through this effort funding was secured from several foundations to complete major renovations of the building that were completed in 1971.

Today the Nursery is supported largely through grants from the Department of Public Welfare, Community Sponsored Projects, parent's fees, fundraising projects, and contributions.

On July 1, 1980, the Nursery extended its program to a second site. The Lincoln Day Nursery Southwest Branch which was located in the Pritchard Memorial Lutheran Church at 6301 Elmwood Avenue was closed in 1989.

Presently, The Nursery provides services to approximately 68 children, ages 2 1/2-12 years of age. The Nursery 's operating hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.. A volunteer Board of Directors comprised of educators, lawyers, business people, historians, clergy, and parents administer and oversee the operations of the Nursery. A staff of teachers and aids carry out the daily functions of the agency.


ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT

This collection is arranged into thirteen series:

Series I. Administration. Materials include Articles of Incorporation, Charter, bylaws, annual reports, administrative correspondence, history and background for Lincoln Day Nursery. This series also includes files that document various activities of the Lincoln Day Nursery Board of Directors. Board of Directors' meeting minutes and agendas; files also include various reports, and correspondence circulated during meetings. NOTE: some of the above materials can be found in the Oversize series XII.

Series II. Personnel. This series includes employment applications, job descriptions, personnel policies, and time cards. This series also contains two boxes of closed records of former employees of Lincoln Day Nursery. This series is closed.

Series III. Financial. This series which is the bulk of the collection consists of banking records, financial statements, invoices, insurance policies, and tax information. This series also includes several oversize journals and ledgers for various programs and activities administered by Lincoln Day Nursery. This series is closed.

Series IV. Grant Contracts and Proposals. Materials include grant applications, proposals and agreements between Lincoln Day Nursery and various city and state agencies.

Series V. Children Records. Series includes records of children who have attended Lincoln Day Nursery between 1979-1995. Files are arranged alphabetically by last name, first name. This series is closed.

Series VI. Program and Activities. This series documents the various programs and activities sponsored by or participated in by Lincoln Day Nursery. Activities of special interest include the Lincoln Day Nursery centennial celebration held in 1989.

Series VII. Lincoln Day Nursery Southwest. Materials document activities held at the Southwest Branch of the Nursery which was in operation from 1980-1989.

Series VIII. Awards and Citations. Materials include tributes and recognition awards presented to Lincoln Day Nursery.

Series IX. Publications. Materials include brochures, newsletters, flyers, newsclippings, and invitations published by Lincoln Day Nursery and other institutions. Series also contains a small collection of music books from the 1940s-1970s.

Series X. Photographs. Photographs depict various activities at Lincoln Day Nursery including celebrations, class portraits and class work.

Series XI. Memorabilia. Materials include buttons, costumes, birthday ribbons and musical teaching aids from various Lincoln Day Nursery activities.

Series XII. Oversize Materials. This series has one folder containing bylaws, charter and articles of incorporation for Lincoln Day Nursery.

Series XIII. Posters. This series contains three oversize posters from programs held at Lincoln Day Nursery.



INVENTORY

SERIES I: ADMINISTRATION 1897-1995

BOX 1

1 Annual Reports 1910, 1920, 1922
2 Annual Reports 1923
3 Annual Reports 1956-1963
4 Annual Reports 1968-1969
5 Annual Reports 1972-1973
6 Annual Reports 1973-1974
7 Annual Reports 1975-1976
8 Annual Reports 1976-1977
9 Annual Reports 1977-1978
10 Annual Reports 1984-1985
11 Annual Reports 1985-1986
12 Annual Reports 1987-1988
13 Annual Reports 1994-1995
14-16 Bylaws 1907, 1970,
17 Charter and Articles of Incorporation See OV-Box 48
18 History and Background

Board of Directors

19 Attendance Records 1982-1992

Committees

20 Centennial Committee 1989
21 Education Committee 1976-1977
22 House Committee 1964
23 Parents’ Committee 1952-1967
24 Personnel Committee 1972-1974
25 Program Committee 1976-1987
26 Publicity Committee 1962-1963
27 Social Service 1954-1961
28 Sub-Committee on Planning N.D.
29 Executive Directors’ Reports 1961-1963
30 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1897-1904
31 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1896-1899
32 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1899-1907
33 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1924, 1925, 1930
34 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1946
35 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1947
36b-42 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1949-1955
43-46 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1960-1964

BOX 2

Board of Directors

1-2 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1965-1966
3 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1967
4-5 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1968
5-6 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1969
7-9 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1970
10-13 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1971
14-16 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1972
17-18 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1973
19-20 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1974

BOX 3

Board of Directors

1 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1975
2 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1976
3 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1977
4 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1979
5 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1980
6 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1982-1983
7-8 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1983-1984
9 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1984-1985
10 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1986-1987
11 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1987-1988
12-13 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1989
14-15 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1990
16 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1991
17 Meeting Minutes and Agendas 1992
18 Miscellaneous Meeting Minutes and
Agendas (Handwritten Notes) 1973-1978
19 Membership Lists 1963-1990
20 Retreats 1989-1990

BOX 4

Board of Directors

1 Correspondence, General 1935
2 Correspondence, General 1951-1956
3-20 Correspondence, General 1962-1979
21-22 Correspondence, General 1984-1985
23-25 Correspondence, General 1987-1988

BOX 5

Board of Directors

1-2 Correspondence, General 1989
3 Correspondence, General 1990
4 Correspondence, General 1991
5 Correspondence, General 1992
6 Correspondence, General 1993
7 Correspondence, Peat, Mawick, Mitchell 1966-1971


SERIES II: PERSONNEL 1969-1992

BOX 6

1 Employment Applications 1985-1992
2 Job Descriptions 1975-1977
3 Policies
4 Resumes
5 Retirement Records 1987-1990
6 Salary Scale for Employment
8 Staff Schedules 1988
9 Staff Annual Reports 1969-1970
10 Time Cards 5-6/1985
11-17 Time Cards 5-12/1987
18 Time Cards 12/1987-1/1988

BOX 7

1-6 Time Cards 7-12/1989
7-11 Time Cards 1-6/1980
12 Time Sheets 1986-1987

BOX 8

Former Employee Records- Closed 1971-1991
Adams-Perkins

BOX 9

Former Employee Records-Closed
Pugh-Z 1971-1991


SERIES III: FINANCIAL

BOX 10

1 Bank Check Records 1984-1986
2 Bank Check Records 1986-1988
3 Bank Check Records 1990-1991

Banks:

4 Equibank 1985-1986
5 Girard Bank 1984-1985
6 Mellon Bank-Activities Account 1985-1986
7 Mellon Bank-Activities Account 1986-1987
8 Mellon Bank-Activities Account 1989-1990
9 Mellon Bank- Activities Account 1991-1992
10 Mellon Bank-Activities Account 1992-1993
11-17 Mellon Bank-Bank Reconciliation’s 1984-1993
18-23 Mellon Bank-Checking Statements for Account # 2052710 6-12/1986

BOX 11

Banks

1-12 Mellon Bank-Checking Statement for Account # 2052710 1-12/1987
13-18 Mellon Bank-Checking Statement for Account #2052710 1-6/1988
19-20 Mellon Bank-Checking Statement for Account#2052710 6-8/1991

BOX 12

Banks:

1-4 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account# 2052710 9-12/1991
5-10 Mellon –Checking Statements for Account#2052710 1-6/1991
11-16 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account #2523256 6-12/1985
17-28 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account #2523256 1-12/1986
29-37 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account#2523256 1-12/1987
38-42 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account#2523256 6-12/1991
43-47 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account#2523256 1-6/1992
48 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account#2187987 7/984-6/1985
49 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account#2187987 6/1987-4/1988
50 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account#2187987 1987-1988
51-53 Mellon-Checking Statements for Account#2187987 2/1988-6/1988

BOX 13

Banks:

1 Mellon-Checking Account Analysis Statement 5-6/1992
2-18 Mellon-Fee Deposit Sheets 1983-1994
19 Mellon-Investment Advisory 7/1984-6/1985
20 Mellon-Investment Advisory 1985-1986

BOX 14

Banks:

1-6 Mellon-Investment Advisory 1986-1993
7-8 Mellon-Money Market Account 1991-1994
9-10 Mellon-Special Fund 1991-1993
11 Metropolitan Federal Savings 1985-1986

BOX 14

Banks:

11-12 PSFS 1985-1986
13-14 PSFS 1991-1993
15-17 Computer Input Sheets 1984-1987
18-21 Computer Input Sheets 1989-1993, N.D.
22 Federal Taxes-990 Form 1985
23 Federal Taxes-W4s' 1982-1987
24 Federal Taxes-Tax Reports 1968-1978
25 Federal Taxes-Tax Reports 1980-1987

BOX 15

Financial Statements

1-3 Balance Reports 1967-1969
4-6 Balance Reports 1973-1976
7 Balance Reports 1985-1986
8 Budget Reports 1957-1962
9 Budget Reports 1969-1970
10 Budget Reports 1982-1983
11 Budget Reports 1985-1986
12 Deloitte, Haskin, and Sells 1974, 1975, 1977
13-17 Deloitte, Haskin, and Sells 1983-1989

BOX 16

Financial Statements

Statement of Revenue and Expenses 1982-1988 (see Oversize Box 22)
1-12 Statement of Revenue and Expenses 1990-1992 13 Insurance 1936, 1937, 1967
14-18 Insurance 1970-1990

BOX 17

1 Invoices-General 1911-1912
2-7 Invoices-General 7-12/1986
8-19 Invoices-General 1-12/1987
20-31 Invoices-General 1-12/1988

BOX 18

1-2 Invoices-General 1-2/1989
3-5 Invoices-General 4-6/1989
6 Invoices-General 1989-1991
7-12 Invoices-General 7-12/1992
13-21 Invoices-General 1-9/1993
22-24 Invoices-General 10-12/1993

BOX 19

1-5 Invoices-General 1-5/1994
6-7 Invoices-General 4-5/1996
8-9 Invoices-General 7-8/1996
10 Invoices-City of Philadelphia-DHS 1985-1986
11 Invoices-City of Philadelphia-DHS 1987
12 Invoices-City of Philadelphia-DHS 1989-1990
13 Invoices-City of Philadelphia-DHS 1992
14 Invoices-City of Philadelphia-DHS 1992-1993

BOX 20

1 Invoices-Commonwealth of Pa-DPW 1985-1986
2 Invoices-Daycare for Center City and
South Philadelphia 1992-1993
3 Invoices-Dental 1975-1976
4 Invoices-Families in Need of Daycare 1989-1990
5 Invoices-Families in Need of Daycare 1991-1992
6-41 Invoices-Food 1985-1989

BOX 21

1-29 Invoices-Food 1992-1996
Ledgers and Journals
30 Payroll-Journal and Ledgers 1-12/1991
31 Payroll-Journal and Ledgers 1-12/1992
(For Oversize Payroll Journal and Ledgers see Box 23)
32-35 Payroll-Taxes 1984-1987
36-37 Payroll-Taxes 1991-1992
38-40 Other Cash Accounts 1984-1988
41 Paine Webber 1985-1986
42-43 Paine Webber 1991-1993
44-48 Utilization Reports 1986-1993

BOX 22

Oversize Financial Materials

1 Journals and Ledgers-General 7-12/1983
2 Journals and Ledgers-General 1-7/1984
3 Journals and Ledgers-General 8-12/1984
4-9 Journals and Ledgers-General 1985-1993
10-13 Record of Checks Drawn On 1984-1988
14 Record of Checks Drawn On 1992-1993
15-28 Statement of Revenue and Expenses 1982-1987

BOX 23

Oversize Financial Materials:

1 Payroll Compensation Records 1983-1985
2-5 Payroll Ledgers 1984-1987

BOX 24 (Box Missing)

Oversized Financial Materials:

1-37 Cash/Sales Received Journals 1983-1988


SERIES IV: GRANT CONTRACTS/PROPOSALS 1970-1991

BOX 25

Grant Contracts:

1 Board of Education 1970-1973
2 City of Philadelphia-DHS 1984-1991
3-6 Pennsylvania Department Public Welfare 1981-1989
7 School District of Philadelphia 1973-1974
8-15 Proposals-General 1970-1978

SERIES V: CHILDREN RECORDS 1979-1995

BOX 26

1-23 Children's Information Cards, A-Z

BOX 27

1-63 Children Records –Abdul-Brid

BOX 28

1-70 Children Records- Bri-Davis

BOX 29

1-50 Children Records- Day-Foster

BOX 30

1-60 Children Records-Foushee-Henry N.

BOX 31

1-68 Children Records-Herr-Kinslow

BOX 32

1-77 Children Records-Knox- Mitchell

BOX 33

1-60 Children Records-Mitchum- Press

BOX 34

1-50 Children Records-Price- Samuels

BOX 35

1-55 Children Records-Savage-Sommerville

BOX 36

1-68 Children Records-Spaid-Vann

BOX 37

Children Records-Woodard-Z


SERIES VI: PROGRAM AND ACTIVITIES 1900-1997

BOX 38

1 Agency Evaluation 1973-1974
2 Anniversary Celebrations 1980
3 Anniversary Celebrations 1982
4-6 Anniversary Celebrations-Centennial 1988-1989
7 Building Renovations 1970-1973
8 Bid Information 1980-1984
9 Bid Information 1986-1987
10 Career Exploration Program (CEP) 1987-1988
11 Fire Drills 1983

Food Program:

12 Archdiocese of Philadelphia-Food Inventory 1989
13 Blank Forms
14 Contract Agreements and Catered Foods for South West 1985-1986
15 Correspondence 1981-1985
16 Food Commodities-Donated Food 1986-1988
17 Food Menus N.D.
18 Invoices 1983-1984

BOX 39

Food Program:

1 Service Contracts 1980
2 Service Contracts 1980-1981
3 Service Contracts 1983-1984
4 Graduation Diplomas and Invites
5 Home for Colored Children 1981-1987
6 Inspections 1973-1990
7 Luncheons 1983-1993
8 Luncheons 1997
9 Monitors' Report 1995
10 Nursery Statistics 1900-1904
11 Operations Manual 1981-1982 (missing)
11A Operations Manual 1986 (missing)
12 Parent's Meeting 1988-1989
13 Pritchard Memorial Lutheran Church 1981-1989
14 Property Ledgers 1971-1980
15 Renovations, Kitchen 1977

BOX 39

16 Retirement Dinners-Madeline Ballard 1995
17 Retirement Dinners-Miscellaneous 1981-1987
18 Summer Program 1966-1976
19 Summer Program 1974
20 Summer Program 1984
21 United Way Campaign 1980-1990
22 Food Program Service Contract 1985


SERIES VII: LINCOLN DAY NURSERY SOUTHWEST 1980-1988

BOX 40 (Box Missing)

1 Achievement Program 1985-1986
2 Building Contracts, Renovations, Plans 1980-1981
3 Child Attendance Records 1982
4 Child Attendance Records 1988
5 Enrollment Materials 1988
6 Fundraising 1982
7 Miscellaneous Materials-Survey Forms,
Meeting Minutes etc. 1985-1987
8 Newsletter Material 1987
9 Publications and Forms
10 Public Health Inspection 1982-1988
11 Site Visit 1983
12 Social Service Plan 1982
13 Summer Program 1982-1986


SERIES VIII: AWARDS AND CITATIONS 1978-1991

BOX 41

1 Certificate of Appreciation From Mayors' Summer Employment Program 1978
2 Outstanding Service Award from the PA Hall of Fame Champions of Older Workers 1991
3 Partnership in Education Program Recognition Award/ Nestle-Beich N.D.
4 Resolution Recognizing the Centennial Celebration of Lincoln Day Nursery 1989
5 Citation from the Senate of Pennsylvania 1989
6 Tribute from the City of Philadelphia 1978
7 Tribute from the City of Philadelphia 1982
8 Tribute from the City of Philadelphia 1989
9 United Christmas Bazaar Honorable Mention to Lincoln Day Nursery 1987


SERIES IX: PUBLICATIONS 1940s-1980s

BOX 42 (Box Missing)

Miscellaneous Newsletters, Brochures, Invitations, Newsclipping
published by or contain information
about Lincoln Day Nursery. 1970-1980
4-5 Publications from Other Organizations
no folder# Collection of Music Books 1940s-1970s


SERIES X: PHOTOGRAPHS 1960s-1980s

BOX 43

1-12 Photographs detailing Lincoln Day Activities including Holiday Parties, Flea Markets, Birthday Parties, Fashion Shows. Class Portraits, Individual Childrens' Portraits, and Classroom Activities. Materials include images taken at Lincoln Day Nursery Southwest. 1960s-1980s

BOX 44

See Description for Box 43

BOX 45

See Description for Box 43

BOX 46

See Description for Box 43


SERIES XI: MEMORABILIA

BOX 47

Buttons-Second Achievement Award
Happy Birthday Ribbons from Lincoln Day Nursery
Costume and Mask
Musical Teaching Aids
Plastic Graduation Caps
Replica of U.S. Dime


SERIES XII: OVERSIZE

BOX 48

1 Charter and Articles of Incorporation


SERIES XIII: POSTERS

Three Oversize posters from Lincoln Day Nursery Program Activities. Posters are located in third floor hall closet.