History

1901 - 1950

1902

The Hebrew Relief Association helps organize The Federated Jewish Charities (now the Milwaukee Jewish Federation).

1905

The first trained superintendent is employed.

1906

Russian Aid Society of Milwaukee is formed.

1908

Charles Friend is elected president. He serves for thirty-two years.

1914

The first woman is elected to the Board of Directors.

1916

The Agency locates its first permanent office at 10th and Walnut Street.

1918-21

A trained nurse is hired, "To give mothers instructions".

1919

The Hebrew Relief Association helps organize the Society for the Care of Dependent Jewish Children.

The Agency's concern about the lack of medical care leads to the establishment of medical services. This becomes the nucleus for the Outpatient Department at Mt. Sinai Hospital

1920

The Sol Fein Memorial Dental Clinic is established by the Agency.

1921

The Hebrew Relief Association is renamed the Jewish Social Service Association and moves to 10th and North Avenue.

1922

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Milwaukee Jewish Orphans Home is formed.

1924

The Jewish Children's Home is opened at 403 N. 21st Street.  Many of the residents are refugee children.

The Agency receives its first child welfare license from the State. 26 children are placed in foster or boarding homes.

1926

The first nursery school is established by the Agency and Abraham Lincoln House becomes the nucleus of the present UWM Nursery School and Day Care Center.

The Agency hires its first trained social worker.

1933

Rebecca Tennenbaum is employed as executive director and serves until 1966.

1934

The Agency arranges its first "recorded" adoption.

1936

The Agency moves to third and North Avenue.

1937

The Great Depression necessitates new vocational programs that later become Jewish Vocational Services. A Self-Help Fund assists the unemployed and immigrants to establish their own small businesses.

1938

The Agency establishes a separate and distinct Refugee/Migration Department.

1939

The Agency expands children's services to include psychological testing and child guidance.

The Agency becomes licensed to place children for adoption.

1941

At the urging and with the support of the Federal Works Progress Administration, the Agency and its Ladies Auxiliary create a nursery school and day care center. It later emerges as the Edith Babbitz Nursery School.

The Jewish Orphan Home name changes its name to Milwaukee Jewish Children's Home.

1943

The Agency moves to 2218 N. Third Street.

1946

The Sunshine Club begins and becomes forerunner of the present Golden Age Club.

1946-47

The end of World War II brings a flood of Hitler's Jewish victims and another increase in refugee and immigration services. The Agency resettles several unaccompanied minors.

1948

The Agency expands services to children through a merger with Milwaukee Jewish Children's Home. This merger is acknowledged with a new name -- Jewish Family & Children's Services.

1949

Family counseling services are broadened and a psychiatric consultant is added to the staff.

The Agency is accredited and joins Family Service of America.

The Agency honors Persion Family for serving as foster parents for 25 years and caring for over 20 children.

1950

Margaret Miller is the first woman to be elected president of the agency.

The Jewish Children's Home moves to 50th and Wright Street.