The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889

By Dr. O. David Gold and Martha Gold

AN UNTOLD STORY OF THE CIVIL WAR

Thousands of soldiers were killed during the American Civil War.

But what happened to the children?

Since a member of the bureaucracy wrote a self serving history of the Soldiers' Orphan Schools in 1877, this is the only modern investigation of this state system of relief.

Initially, only one Northern state took on the task of caring for the Civil War Orphans.  Through the efforts of Pennsylvania's Governor in 1864, at state expenses, private boarding schools for the soldiers' orphans were created.  The schools were supervised by a state bureaucracy to ensure that the children would be safe and educated.

The pressures of the late 19th century took their toll on the revolutionary program.  The problems of industrial education, centralized, non-private state control, and factional politics brought the schools to an end in the late 1800's.  The notorious "Scandal of 1866"  turned the citizens of the Nation against this philanthropic enterprise.  Accusations of child abuse as well as unspeakable acts of corruptions closed the doors of these orphanages forever.... but their story is not forgotten.

SORROW, SCANDAL & SURVIVORS

Extensive research of the records and letters of the state system - along with the investigation of hundreds of newspaper accounts document this history of the Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889.  Over 170 Archival photos and prints bring this almost tragic, but dramatic tale to life.

A BONUS CHAPTER on the ILL FATED GETTYSBURG HOMESTEAD ORPHANGE recounts the story of the infamous private orphanage in Gettysburg which came about after the discovery of a dead soldier clutching the picture of his three children.  This section includes never before published letters from the orphans who resided there under the care of the notorious headmistress,  Rosa Carmichael.  Carmichael was later charged with child abuse, including keeping the children in an underground "torture chamber."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pendragon Publishers
• Release date: Apr 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781943293056