The Poor Law and charity : the Charity Organisation Society in the provinces 1870-1890
The thesis studies the response of provincial Charity Organisation Societies (COS's), and similar institutions, to the Poor Law crusade against outdoor relief, 1870-1890. The Societies investigated include those at Birkenhead, Birmingham, Brighton, Leainington, Liverpool, Manchester and Salford, Oxford, Reading, and Southampton. Powerful individualistic propaganda, and support from influential elites, created an aura of COS authority on social affairs which has persisted for more than a century. The research exposes the reality of failure and contradiction in the English provinces behind the facade of unrestrained COS pronouncements. It is shown that provincial COS's were shunned by Poor Law guardians, philanthropists, the clergy, and by the poor themselves. This left scant chance for the Government's intended close working relationships between the official relief and organised voluntary sectors. The thesis examines the disappointing response to COS appeals for lady visitors, and discusses the financial difficulties of many COS's. Within their economic constraints, provincial organising Societies attempted a miscellany of relief methods, some contravening COS principles. The COS ridiculed Poor Law doles for
Humphreys, Robert
The Poor Law and charity : the Charity Organisation Society in the provinces 1870-1890. The thesis studies the response of provincial Charity Organisation Societies (COS's), and similar institutions, to the Poor Law crusade against outdoor relief, 1870-1890. The Societies investigated include those at Birkenhead, Birmingham, Brighton, Leainington, Liverpool, Manchester and Salford, Oxford, Reading, and Southampton. Powerful individualistic propaganda, and support from influential elites, created an aura of COS authority on social affairs which has persisted for more than a century. The research exposes the reality of failure and contradiction in the English provinces behind the facade of unrestrained COS pronouncements. It is shown that provincial COS's were shunned by Poor Law guardians, philanthropists, the clergy, and by the poor themselves. This left scant chance for the Government's intended close working relationships between the official relief and organised voluntary sectors. The thesis examines the disappointing response to COS appeals for lady visitors, and discusses the financial difficulties of many COS's. Within their economic constraints, provincial organising Societies attempted a miscellany of relief methods, some contravening COS principles. The COS ridiculed Poor Law doles for
poor_law charity charity organisation society province study response provincial charity organisation societies similar institution poor_law crusade outdoor relief societies investigate include birmingham brighton liverpool manchester oxford reading southampton powerful individualistic propaganda support influential elite create authority social persist century expose reality failure contradiction english province behind pronouncement show provincial poor_law guardian philanthropist clergy poor themselves leave scant chance government intend close work relationship official relief organise voluntary_sector examines response appeal lady visitor discuss financial difficulty many within economic constraint provincial organise societies attempt relief method principle poor_law