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Children's Center of Metropolitan Atlanta records

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS616

Scope and Contents

This collection contains records from Atlanta Child’s Home (ACH) and Child Service Association, Inc. (CSA) as well as the organization they merged to form, Children’s Center of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc. (CCMA). There is also material from associated organizations such as Community Chest of Atlanta, Child Welfare League of America (CWL), Community Council of the Atlanta Area, and Family Counseling Center. The collection documents the merger, development of a group foster home, advocacy work, legal and licensing issues, public relations, and reaccreditation. Papers include financial records such as budgets; institutional records such as executive reports and committee minutes; publications and marketing ephemera; newspaper clippings; and correspondence. Of particular note are blank adoption and foster forms and requirements, service reports with placement data, and studies on social blight that have census tracts, statistics, and maps of Atlanta.

Dates

  • 1930-1976, undated

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research.

Restrictions on Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.

Biographical / Historical

The Atlanta Child’s Home (ACH) opened in 1907 when Laura Robinson (1853-1947) began caring for orphaned children in her home. ACH was incorporated in 1915 and operated on Angier Avenue until moving in 1923 to Hightower Road in northwest Atlanta. Robinson served as its director until her death, after which an elected board of trustees oversaw operations. The Child Welfare Association, Inc. (CWA) was organized in 1930 as an outgrowth of the Georgia Children’s Home Society. CWA facilitated collaboration between orphanages and child welfare organizations in Atlanta, Fulton County, and DeKalb County, including ACH, the Carrie Steele Pitts Home for Negro Children, and the Florence Crittendon Home. In 1951 CWA reorganized as the Child Service Association, Inc. (CSA). It expanded to include Cobb County in 1959, and Clayton and Gwinnett Counties in 1962. On March 26, 1964, ACH merged with CSA to become the Children’s Center of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc. (CCMA), thereby expanding its reach and increasing services.

Extent

2.5 linear ft. (six document cases)

Language

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically according to titles supplied by staff.

Acquisition Information

Gift, 1984

Bias in Description

As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information. We choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not accurately convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. In working with this collection, we often re-use language used by the former owners of the material. This language provides context but often includes bias and prejudices reflective of the time in which it was created. The Kenan Research Center’s work is ongoing to implement reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete.

Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or descriptions, please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.

Processing Information

This collection was reprocessed in 2023.

Title
Children's Center of Metropolitan Atlanta records
Author
Emily J. Curl
Date
June 2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040