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‘Growing up with a City’: Exploring Settlement Youth Work in London and Chicago, c. 1880–1940

Bradley, Kate (2009) ‘Growing up with a City’: Exploring Settlement Youth Work in London and Chicago, c. 1880–1940. London Journal, 34 (3). pp. 285-298. ISSN 0305-8034. (doi:10.1179/030580309X12496474607066) (KAR id:22878)

Abstract

The first university settlements were founded in East London in 1884,bringing young graduates to the area to live and to work for the benefit of impoverished local communities. The settlement model was soon adopted by social reformers around the world. This article considers the question of whether settlements should be seen by historians as a coherent body with shared values, or as institutions whose character and interests were uniquely shaped by their local neighbourhoods — and thus what the study of individual settlements can contribute to our understanding of working class life in East London and elsewhere. This is examined through a comparative study of settlements in London and Chicago and their work with children and young people. This article also considers how settlements attempted to develop associational cultures and social capital among children and young people.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1179/030580309X12496474607066
Additional information: Research Article
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
F History United States, Canada, Latin America > F1 United States local history
H Social Sciences > HS Societies: secret, benevolent, etc.
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Kate Bradley
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2009 16:38 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:01 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/22878 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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