Advent of American Orphanages

The first orphanage type of institutions are traced back to the seventh century in Europe. Prior to the establishment of institutions, many infants were being abandoned in open places with the hopes of rescue. Oftentimes, foundlings were left with tokens to aid in reclaiming the infant to ensure proper treatment.   Orphanages and foundling homes were established by religious orders, conformities, and municipalities due the Bubonic Plague and intense poverty.

By the twelfth century, establishments become more institutionalized and accommodations were rather primitive. The main goal was to keep the infant alive. As the number of abandoned infants rose, a system of foundling homes spread throughout Europe. Most of these orphanages were located throughout Western and Southern Europe. In Northern and Eastern Europe, the local church took care of abandoned and illegitimate infants.

The first orphanage, Hopital du Saint-Espirit-en Greve, was established in Paris in 1366. In 1444, Florentine-Innocenti, was established in Italy. In England, children without kin were cared for by the Catholic Church until King Henry seized the church's property in 1535. The children then became the responsibility of the government and the common-law courts.

 In 1552, Britain re-established the foundling hospital and opened Christ's Hospital and welcomed any orphaned or abandoned child. By the mid-1660s, Britain began to feel pressure from religious organizations and they ceased to accept illegitimate infants.

 In 1601, Queen Elizabeth enacted her 43rd Law (Poor Law of 1601). Under this law, the public was taxed to provide support to the poor, destitute, and abandoned. The English countries were divided into parishes and became responsible for tax collection. Justices of the Peace were appointed to oversee the distribution of assistance. The type and amount of relief was dependent on the age and/or overall well-being of an individual. Money was provided to the most needed and subsidized work projects were provided for the able-bodied. Older and healthier children were indentured; and the younger, unhealthier children were farmed out to the lowest bidders or they were placed into poorhouses.

By the nineteenth century, over 100,000 infants were placed in foundling hospitals. Parents were able to remain anonymous by utilizing a "wheel". The parent would place the infant on a horizontal turning wheel to rotate the infant into the institution. The ideal was to place the infant into a paid foster home. As the infants aged, continuation of payments was based solely on the institution's decision. Most often, females remained wards of the foundling home until marriage and males were cut off from all support when payment ended.