University Settlement Society of New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
University Settlement Society of New York
|
|
University Settlement Society of New York
|
|
 Location in Lower Manhattan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 184 Eldridge Street Manhattan New York City |
|---|---|
| Architect | Howells & Stokes |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002515 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1986 |
The University Settlement Society of New York is an organization in New York City. It helps immigrants and families who don't have a lot of money. They offer many educational and social services. The main building is at 184 Eldridge Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
This organization was started in 1886. It was the very first "settlement house" in the United States. Settlement houses were places that helped new immigrants settle into their new country.
Contents
A Look Back: History of University Settlement
University Settlement began in 1886. It was first called The Neighborhood Guild. It was founded by Stanton Coit, Charles Bunstein Stover, and Charles Barzillai Spahr. They started it in a basement on Forsyth Street.
Settlement houses like this one were very important. They were like community centers for hundreds of thousands of immigrants. These immigrants arrived in the U.S. in the late 1800s and early 1900s. University Settlement helped them learn new things. They offered classes on many topics. These included politics, the English language, and even basketball.
The University Settlement House also had a library. It had a kindergarten for young children. It even had some of the first public baths. These places were also key in the Progressive Era. This was a time when people worked to improve society.
When it first started, only men worked at University Settlement. They were usually recent college graduates. Many of these men were writers. They used their writing to speak out about social problems. They wanted to help make things better.
Between 1900 and 1907, several famous writers lived and worked there. These included William English Walling, who helped start the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Ernest Poole, a Pulitzer Prize winner, also lived there. Other notable residents were Howard Brubaker, Arthur Bullard, Hamilton Holt, and Walter Weyl. They wrote articles and books. These writings focused on the living and working conditions of people. They especially cared about women and children on the Lower East Side.
Many of the writers at University Settlement were interested in events in Russia. Many immigrants they met were Jews from the Russian Empire. These people often faced harsh treatment under the ruler, Nicholas II of Russia. Because of these interactions, some residents became strong supporters of change in Russia. In 1905 and 1906, Poole, Walling, and Bullard traveled to Russia. They reported on the 1905 Russian Revolution. They helped connect writers in the U.S. with Russian reformers.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt once spoke about University Settlement. He called it "a landmark in the social history of the nation." This shows how important it was.
What University Settlement Does Today
University Settlement still helps people on the Lower East Side. Now, they have programs in 31 different places. These locations are in Manhattan and Brooklyn. They help people of all ages.
Their programs include many helpful services. They offer child care and pre-school for young kids. They help people find housing. They also provide mental health services. Older students can get help with college and career planning. They offer support during difficult times. There are activities for seniors. They also host arts events. People can take English classes. After-school programs and summer camps are also available.
Famous People Connected to University Settlement
- Howard Brubaker – columnist for The New Yorker
- Nicholas Murray Butler – won the Nobel Peace Prize
- Andrew Carnegie – a famous businessman
- George Gershwin – a well-known musician
- Ira Gershwin – a well-known musician
- Joseph Benson Gilder – editor for The New York Times Review of Books
- Samuel Halpert – an artist
- Hamilton Holt – a journalist
- Henry Holt – a publisher
- Seth Low – Mayor of New York City
- Pauline Arnoux MacArthur – a clubwoman and supporter of women's right to vote
- Clara Pasvolsky – a concert singer
- Gifford Pinchot – Governor of Pennsylvania
- Ernest Poole – won a Pulitzer Prize
- Peter Riegert – an actor
- Eleanor Roosevelt – former First Lady of the United States
- Elihu Root – won the Nobel Peace Prize
- Jean Toomer – author of "Cane"
- Carl Schurz – a US Senator and Cabinet member
- Jacob Schiff – a banker and giver of money to good causes
- Barney Sedran – a Basketball Hall of Famer
- Charles Bunstein Stover – New York City Parks Commissioner
- Mary van Kleeck – a social feminist
- William English Walling – helped start the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- Walter Weyl – author and founding editor of The New Republic
- Jacob Javits – an American lawyer and politician
- Abraham Beame – Mayor of New York City
See also
In Spanish: University Settlement Society of New York para niños
- New York Association for New Americans
- Settlement and community houses in the United States
