Youth Behavioral Health Programs and Safe Streets

In the 1960s and 1970s, Catholic Charities became the repository for the records of dozens of Baltimore orphanages, dating back to the 1870s and earlier.  These records are often just old ledgers, which have minimal information about the children.  None of these records are digitized and the logic of their organization is obtuse. The residents of these orphanages were not adopted, and generally either “aged out” of the orphanage system, or were returned to their biological parents. Later in their lives, many residents contacted Catholic Charities, wanting to know more about this period in their lives. Often, they were too young to remember, or only remembered fragments of their experience. We offer what information we can.

If ancestry or local history is an interest of yours, we can use your help. We are seeking a couple of sharp volunteers to become familiar with these archives and respond to inquiries for information. The time commitment varies, but should not exceed two hours, twice a month. 

After a period of training, volunteers will work independently in an office setting. The Adoptions Coordinator will supervise and support. It is preferred if you have your own computer for correspondence.