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History of Social Welfare Policies & Programs Up to the 1930s

This guide focuses on resources that you can use when seeking information on the history of social welfare policies and programs in the U.S. up to the 1930s.

Target Populations: Immigrants

Encyclopedia of American Immigration
James Ciment, Immanuel Ness, editors. Armonk, N.Y., M.E. Sharpe, 2000. 4 vols.
Immigration history; immigration issues (causes, demographics, acculturation, laws and legislation, politics, economics, etc.); and immigration documents (laws, treaties, court cases, reports, etc.).Volumes 3 and 4 contain articles on specific immigrant groups in America. Available?
Immigration to the United States, 1789-1930
Online collection of approximately 2,200 books and pamphlets as well as 7,800 photographs, 200 maps and 9,600 pages from Harvard manuscript and archival collections. Emphasis on 19th century materials. An amazing resource!
Executive Summary: U.S. Immigration: A Legislative History
"Highlights the history of U.S. immigration legislation and the parallel rise and fall in numbers and changing ethnic makeup" up to 2004. From the Population Resource Center.
Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign-Born Population of the United States: 1850 to 1990
22 Detailed tables
"The Foreign Immigrant in New York City,"
Kate Holladay Claghorn. Reports of the Industrial Commission 15, 1901, 465-492.
Eugenic Laws Restricting Immigration
Virtual exhibit with accompanying essay by Paul Lombardo. From the Image Archive on the American Eugenics Movement
Biological Aspects of Immigration
Testimony of Harry L. Laughlin before the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, April 16-17, 1920.