Katharine Felton facts for kids
Katharine Conway "Kitty" Felton (born July 7, 1873 – died August 8, 1940) was a very important person in San Francisco. She led an organization called Associated Charities around the year 1900. She was known for helping people in need.
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Early Life and Family
Katharine Felton was born in Oakland, California, on July 7, 1873. Her family was well-known in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her father, John Brooks Felton, was a judge and even the mayor of Oakland. The town of Felton, California in Santa Cruz County is named after him.
Kitty Felton was often called "the conscience of the city." This was because she cared deeply about helping others. She dedicated her life to what is known as social work. Social work means helping people and communities improve their lives.
Helping San Francisco's Families
In 1901, when she was 28 years old, Kitty Felton became the director of Associated Charities. This organization is now known as the Felton Institute. It used to be called the Family Service Agency of San Francisco.
Creating Foster Care
Just one year later, in 1902, Kitty Felton started something new. She created the Children's Service Agency of San Francisco. This agency did something amazing: it developed the very first foster care system in California. Foster care helps children who cannot live with their own families. It places them in safe, temporary homes.
Shaping State Laws
Kitty Felton also played a big role in creating laws. She wrote almost all of California's early laws about welfare and relief. These laws helped people get the support they needed. Her work was very important for the state's social programs.
Building a Place to Help
In 1928, Kitty Felton worked with her friend, a famous architect named Bernard Maybeck. Together, they built an office building for the Family Service Agency. This building was located at 1010 Gough Street in San Francisco. It was a special place where people could come for help.
Later Life
Katharine Felton passed away from cancer on August 8, 1940. Her work left a lasting impact on San Francisco and California. She helped create many systems that still support families and children today.
