The Ladies' Relief Society, Seattle's oldest charity, was begun in April 1884 to aid orphaned children. With the donation of two lots from David Denny (1832-1903) and Louisa (Boren) Denny (1827-1916), the society opened their first location, a house at Fourth Avenue and Harrison Street. On April 13, 1905, the society opened a new, larger building on Queen Anne Hill at 901 West McGraw Street, with room for 100 children. By the 1950s the society had shifted its emphasis from orphaned to troubled children, allowed men to join the society's board, and changed the society's name to Seattle Children's Home (SCH). Beginning in the 1980s, SCH provided comprehensive treatment and services to troubled youth. In 2012, SCH merged with Navos, and continues to provide community mental health services throughout Washington.
In this image, about 65 children who appear to be between the ages of four and 15 are eating in the dining room in the building at 901 West McGraw Street. The building shown was built in 1932 and replaced in the 1960s.
Handwritten on verso: Boarding school dining room? Stamped on verso: Walter P. Miller, Commercial Photographer, phone MAin 8878, 1 Stewart Building, Seattle, Washington
Caption information source: "Seattle Children's Home," by Dave Wilma, HistoryLink.org Essay 3399
Physical Description: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 19.75 x 15.75 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
Credit: MOHAI, Seattle Children's Home Scrapbooks, 1960.1876.3
