| Creator | Bardwell, Francis, 1867-1950 |
| Title | Francis X. Bardwell papers |
| Dates | 1937 |
| Identification | MS 51 |
| Quantity | 0.25 linear feet (1 half manuscript box) |
| Collection Abstract | This collection consists of a scrapbook presented to Francis Bardwell by employees of the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare upon his retirement in 1937. It contains one photo and 112 letters written for the occasion by fellow employees, professionals in Bardwell's field from across the country, and others. |
| Historical Abstract | Francis X. Bardwell, born December 11, 1867 in Boston, was a farmer and social worker in Sherborn, Massachusetts, where he served as Overseer of the Poor and, later, State Visitor of Almshouses. He was active in the emerging profession of social work and in 1926 published the book The Adventure of Old Age in which he recounted his experiences with older people. |
| Language | Material in English. |
| Location | Collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Archives staff for more information. |
Collection is open.
Copyright for materials resides with the creators of the items in question, unless otherwise designated.
Please contact the College Archivist with requests to publish any material from the collection.
[Identification of item: description and date], Francis X. Bardwell papers, MS 51, Simmons College Archives, Boston, MA, USA.
Transferred from the Simmons College School of Social Work Library, 1985
Accession number: 84.016
Processed by Jeffery D. Marshall, November 1986
Supervised by Megan Sniffin-Marinoff, November 1986
This collection guide was encoded as part of the LEADS project by David Freas, July 2013
Francis X. Bardwell was born in Boston on December 11, 1867, to a family involved with the China trade. Bardwell became a farmer in his home town of Sherborn, Massachusetts. As a result of his interest in the poor people of Sherborn, he was appointed Overseer of the Poor. In 1908, Bardwell became the State Visitor of Almshouses, a job which took him to every almshouse or poor farm in the Commonwealth. He was very active in the emerging profession of social work, presenting several papers at annual meetings of the Massachusetts Conference of Social Workers. Bardwell recounted some of his experiences with older people in his 1926 book The Adventure of Old Age. In 1931, he organized the Massachusetts Bureau of Old Age Assistance and became its first superintendent. The retirement scrapbook he received in 1937 is a testimony to the respect of his peers for his work. Francis X. Bardwell died on January 8, 1950 in Natick, Massachusetts.
Biographical information taken from Francis Bardwell The Adventure of Old Age Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1926.
The scrapbook was presented to Francis Bardwell by employees of the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare upon his retirement in 1937. It contains one photo and 112 letters written for the occasion by fellow employees, professionals in Bardwell's field from across the country, and others. Most of the correspondents are from Massachusetts. Three clippings concerning Bardwell's retirement are included, along with two articles: "The Poor He Has With Him Always," by Mary Mullett for The American Magazine, August, 1927 and "Who Takes Care of the Dependents?" by Francis Bardwell for The Adult Bible Class Magazine, November, 1927.
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
This scrapbook, containing one photograph and 112 letters, was presented to Francis Bardwell by employees of the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare upon his retirement in 1937.
Letter from Walter V. McCarthy, Commissioner, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from George Crompton, Worcester, Mass.
Letter from Jeffery Brackett, Director, Simmons College School of Social Work, Boston, Mass.
Letter from Francis Curtis, Manchester, Mass.
Letter from A.C. Ratshesky, [President?] U.S. Trust Co., Boston, Mass.
Letter from Ada E. Sheffield, Cambridge, Mass.
Letter from Mary P.H. Sherburne, Brookline, Mass.
Letter from Richard K. Conant, Director, Division of Social Work, School of Religious and Social Work, Boston University
Letter from Robert W. Kelso, Director, Curriculum in Social Work, University of Michigan
Letter from David C. Adie, Commissioner, Department of Social Welfare, State of New York
Letter from Charles H. Alspach, Regional Representative, Bureau of Public Assistance, Social Security Board
Letter from Robert P. Barry, Director, Catholic Charitable Bureau, Archdiocese of Boston
Letter from Sophonisba P. Breckinridge, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago
Letter from A.A. Buffington, Welfare Council of New York City
Letter from [associates], Bureau of Old Age Assistance, Mass.
Letter from Flora E. Burton, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Richard C. Cabot, Lecturer on Social Economy, Simmons College School of Social Work, Boston, Mass. and Founder, Medical Social Service Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.
Letter from Richard Cadbury, Margaret Morris, Dorthy M. Sharp, Clarissa Nichol, Elizabeth Stilwell Ripton, and Rose Cooperman Wallach, New York State Department of Social Welfare
Letter from Mary E. Callahan, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Robert Callahan, Former Chairman, Board of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Ida M. Cannon, Chief of Social Services, Massachusetts General Hospital
Letter from Annie L. Chesley, Cambridge, Mass.
Letter from Edmund S. Cogswell, First Deputy Commissioner, Department of Banking and Insurance
Letter from Mary H. Connors
Letter from Caroline J. Cook, Boston, Mass.
Letter from Roy M. Cushman, Executive Secretary, Boston Council of Social Agencies
Letter from Robert C. Dexter, Department of Social Relations, American Unitarian Association
Letter from Florence G. Dexter, Supervisor, Division of Incorporated Social Service Agencies, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Lee Dopkin, Board of State Aid and Charities, Maryland
Letter from William J. Ellis, Commissioner, Department of Institutions and Agencies, New Jersey
Letter from Abraham Epstein, Executive Secretary, American Association for Social Security, Inc.
Letter from Homer Folks, Secretary, New York State Charities Aid Association
Letter from Alice Fosdick, General Secretary, Fitchburg Family Welfare Association
Letter from John B. Gallagher, Supervisor of Relief, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Frank W. Goodhue, Director, Division of Aid and Relief, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Margaret W. Griffith, Home for Aged Women, Boston, Mass.
Letter from Helen D. Guertin
Letter from Katharine D. Hardwick, Boston, Mass.
Letter from E.T. Hartman, Consultant on Planning, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Augusta Hawley, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Ruth Hill, 3rd Deputy Commissioner, Division of Old Age Assistance, Department of Public Welfare, City of New York
Letter from William Hodson, Commissioner, Department of Public Welfare, City of New York
Letter from Jane M. Hoey, Director, Bureau of Public Assistance, Social Security Board
Letter from "Hogie", Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Elizabeth L. Holbrook, Assistant General Secretary, Family Welfare Society of Boston
Letter from Charles H. Johnson, State Board of Social Welfare, New York
Letter from Frederic L. Kelly, Division of Aid and Relief, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Winifred A, Keneran, Director, Division of Child Guardianship, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Louise S. Kolb
Letter from Kate [Kosten?], Boston, Mass.
Letter from Theresa M. Lally, Boston, Mass.
Letter from Robert T. Lansdale, New York School of Social Work
Letter from George W. Leadbetter, Commissioner, Department of Health Welfare, Maine
Letter from Katharaine Van Etten Lyford, Executive Secretary, Massachusetts League
Letter from John J. [Lysagh?], Bureau of Old Age Assistance, Town of West Springfield, Mass.
Letter from Carrie, S. Marsh
Letter from Jane R. McCrady, Ellis Memorial, Boston, Mass.
Letter from Thomas McElhone, President, Western Massachusetts Public Welfare Association
Letter from Alice M. McIntire, Supervisor, Division of Incorporated Social Service Agencies, Department of Public Welfare, Mass.
Letter from Christine [McLeod?], Executive Secretary of Social Work, Home for Aged Men, Brookline, Mass.
Letter from Elizabeth F. Moloney, Supervisor of Aid to Dependent Children, Department of Public Welfare, MA
Letter from Elizabeth F. Morrison, Executive Secretary, Family Welfare Society of Cambridge
Letter from Elizabeth, D. Nash, Greenfield, MA
Letter from Hazel Newton, General Manager, Boston Cooperative Workrooms
Letter from Mortimer W. Newton, Chief, Division of Old Age Security, Department of Public Welfare, Rhode Island
Letter from Malcom S. Nichols, General Secretary, Family Welfare Society of Boston
Letter from Helen Osgood, Executive Secretary, Associated Charities of Lynn
Letter from Harry O. Page, Division of Relief, Board of Welfare and Relief, New Hampshire
Letter from Cornelius A. Parker, Boston, Mass.
Letter from Herbert C. Parsons, Director, Massachusetts Child Council, Inc.
Letter from William H. Pear, Boston, Mass.
Letter from John Pearson, Regional Director, Social Security Board
Letter from Amy S. Powell, Secretary, Fields Memorial, Family Welfare Society of Boston
Letter from Howard, C. Raymond, Manager, Industrial Aid Society, Boston
Letter from Edward, H. Reeves, Director, Bureau of Old Age Assistance, Office of the Commissioner of Welfare, Connecticut
Letter from Alice Flexner Rothblatt, Secretary, Section on Care of the Aged, Welfare Council of New York City
Letter from Harry J. Schell, Secretary, New York State Association of Public Welfare Officials
Letter from Channing B. Simmons, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Letter from Arthur W. Simpson, Director, Old Age Assistance Commission, Old Age Assistance Department, Vermont
Letter from Mary Galbraith Southard, [Associated Charities]
Letter from Edward J. Sullivan, Assistant Director, Catholic Charitable Bureau, Archdiocese of Boston
Letter from Maurice Taylor, Executive Director, The Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Pittsburgh
Letter from Wendell P. Thore, Special Recess Commission, Mass.
Letter from Evan C. Thorpe, President, Massachusetts Association of Relief Officers
Letter from Joseph J. Tillinghast
Letter from F.C. Walcott, Commissioner, Welfare, Connecticut
Letter from Richard W. Wallace, Director of Public Assistance, of Social Welfare, State of New York
Letter from Charles H. Welch, Agent, First Church of Christ Scientist, Boston
Letter from Eva Whiting White, Women's Educational and Industrial Union
Letter from Laura G. Woodberry, Director, Social Service Index, Boston Council of Social Agencies
Letter from Lucy Wright
Letter from Thomas Gilroy, President, Matrons and Wardens Association
Letter from Frank and Grace Warren, Warden and Matron, Adams, Mass. Town Infirmary
Letter from Barney McEnroe, ["Barney of Andover"]
Letter from Julia Cary, Lizzie Putnam, "Little Lizzie"
Letter from Addie L. Hoyle, Attleboro, Mass.
Letter from Amelia Brown, Matron, Brockton City Infirmary
Letter from Mrs. Sinai Simard, Matron, Chelmsford
Letter from Edith A. Eldridge, Fairhaven, Mass.
Letter from Anne K. McFadden, Malden, Mass.
Letter from Mr. and Mrs. T.E. Keating, Medford Infirmary
Letter from George and Margaret Norcross, Keeper and Matron, Town Infirmary, Nantucket Board of Public Welfare
Letter from Katherine E. Brown, Superintendent, New Bedford City Infirmary
Letter from Thomas F. Gilroy, Superintendent, Peabody CIty Infirmary
Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wilson, Spencer Infirmary
Letter from Alice Robinson, West Barnstable Infirmary
Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Andrew SLeeper, West Townsend, Mass.
Letter from Mr. and Mrs. George Hughs, Superintendent and Matron, West Barnstable Infirmary
Letter from Renah P. Ellis, Matron, Westfield, Mass.
Letter from Thomas Curran, Master, Woburn Infirmary
Letter from Abraham Epstein, Executive Secretary, American Association for Social Security, Inc.
Letter from A.R. Johnson, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Louisiana Public Welfare Association; Neil H. Mixon, President, Louisiana Public Welfare Association; Judson Hardy, Secretary, Louisiana Public Welfare Association
[Clippings]
Letter from Richard R. Flynn, Office of the Commissioner of State Aid and Pensions, Mass.
"The Poor He Has With Him Always," by Mary B. Mullett
Three loose items, associated with but not part of the scrapbook.
