George Junior Republic
Encyclopedia
George Junior Republic was an American
industrial institution, situated near the small village of Freeville
, in Tompkins County
, New York
, U.S., 9 miles east-north-east of Ithaca
, at the junction of the Sayre-Auburn and the Elmira-Cortland branches of the Lehigh Valley railway.
, a village near Freeville, who as a businessman in New York City became interested in the Fresh Air Fund
charity supervised by the New York Tribune
, took charge of summer outings for city children (1890–1894), and, becoming convinced that such charities tended to promote pauperism and crime among the older of their protégés, devised first (1894) the plan of requiring payment by the children in labor for all they received during these summer jaunts, then (1895) self-government for a summer colony near Freeville, and finally a permanent colony, in which the children stayed for several years.
There were Woman's Aid societies in New York City, Ithaca, Syracuse, Buffalo, Boston and elsewhere, to promote the work of the Republic. A republic for younger boys, begun at Freeville, was established in Litchfield, Connecticut
; and a National Junior Republic near Annapolis Junction, Maryland
, and a Carter Junior Republic at Readington, near Easton, Pennsylvania
, are modelled on the George Junior Republic. In 1908–1910 new states were established at Chino, California
, Grove City, Pennsylvania
, and Flemington Junction, New Jersey. In February 1908 the National Association of Junior Republics was formed with Mr. George (its founder) as its director, its aims being to establish at least one republic in each state of the Union, and in other countries similar institutions for youth and miniature governments modelled on that of the country in which each state is established, and to establish colonies for younger children, to be sent at the age of fifteen to the Junior Republic.
The George Junior Republic changed its name to The William George Agency for Children's Services in 2006. It is still located in Freeville, NY. It now serves a more psychiatrically and cognitively impaired population of 177 teenage boys. It has cottages for the treatment of mentally ill/hard to place residents, residents who are both mentally retarded and mentally ill, juvenile sex offenders, and residents who are stepping down from juvenile detention or have otherwise been court ordered to placement due to school issues or criminal acts.
For further reading see: Juvenile Reform in the Progressive Era by Jack M. Holl.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
industrial institution, situated near the small village of Freeville
Freeville, New York
Freeville is a village in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 505 at the 2000 census.The Village of Freeville is in the Town of Dryden and is east of Ithaca.-History:Dryden was in the former Central New York Military Tract....
, in Tompkins County
Tompkins County, New York
Tompkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and comprises the whole of the Ithaca metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,564. The county seat is Ithaca, and the county is home to Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, U.S., 9 miles east-north-east of Ithaca
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
, at the junction of the Sayre-Auburn and the Elmira-Cortland branches of the Lehigh Valley railway.
Overview
The George Junior Republic formed a miniature state whose economic, civic and social conditions, as nearly as possible, reproduce those of the United States, and whose citizenship is vested in young people, especially those who were neglected or wayward. The founder, William Reuben George (born 1866), was a native of West DrydenDryden (village), New York
Dryden is a village in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 1,832 at the 2000 census. The name was assigned by a clerk interested in the classics to honor John Dryden, poet and playwright....
, a village near Freeville, who as a businessman in New York City became interested in the Fresh Air Fund
Fresh Air Fund
The Fresh Air Fund is a not-for-profit agency that provides free summer vacations in the country to New York City children from disadvantaged communities. Each year, thousands of children visit volunteer host families in 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada through the Friendly Town...
charity supervised by the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
, took charge of summer outings for city children (1890–1894), and, becoming convinced that such charities tended to promote pauperism and crime among the older of their protégés, devised first (1894) the plan of requiring payment by the children in labor for all they received during these summer jaunts, then (1895) self-government for a summer colony near Freeville, and finally a permanent colony, in which the children stayed for several years.
There were Woman's Aid societies in New York City, Ithaca, Syracuse, Buffalo, Boston and elsewhere, to promote the work of the Republic. A republic for younger boys, begun at Freeville, was established in Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
; and a National Junior Republic near Annapolis Junction, Maryland
Annapolis Junction, Maryland
Annapolis Junction is an unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, United States.-Demographics:The ZIP Code for Annapolis Junction is 20701. 2000 Census for 20701*Population 40*Median age 31.5 years*Single family homes 6...
, and a Carter Junior Republic at Readington, near Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
, are modelled on the George Junior Republic. In 1908–1910 new states were established at Chino, California
Chino, California
Chino is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the western end of the Riverside-San Bernardino Area and it is easily accessible via the Chino Valley and Pomona freeways....
, Grove City, Pennsylvania
Grove City, Pennsylvania
Grove City is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, approximately north of Pittsburgh. It is the home of Grove City College, a private conservative Christian liberal arts college; General Electric; Instron; USIS; George G. Howe Co.; and a number of small businesses. It is also the home to...
, and Flemington Junction, New Jersey. In February 1908 the National Association of Junior Republics was formed with Mr. George (its founder) as its director, its aims being to establish at least one republic in each state of the Union, and in other countries similar institutions for youth and miniature governments modelled on that of the country in which each state is established, and to establish colonies for younger children, to be sent at the age of fifteen to the Junior Republic.
The George Junior Republic changed its name to The William George Agency for Children's Services in 2006. It is still located in Freeville, NY. It now serves a more psychiatrically and cognitively impaired population of 177 teenage boys. It has cottages for the treatment of mentally ill/hard to place residents, residents who are both mentally retarded and mentally ill, juvenile sex offenders, and residents who are stepping down from juvenile detention or have otherwise been court ordered to placement due to school issues or criminal acts.
For further reading see: Juvenile Reform in the Progressive Era by Jack M. Holl.
External links
- The William George Agency for Children's Services webpage
- George Junior Republic in Grove City, PA
- "The Junior Republic; Its History and Ideals" by William R. George Discussion of the founding of the original George Junior Republic in New York by founder. Has some interesting insights into what life was like at the institution between its founding circa 1895 and 1908.
- "THE YOUNG MALEFACTOR; A STUDY IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ITS CAUSES AND TREATMENT" BY THOMAS TRAVIS, PH.D. 1907 Thesis which also studys the original George Junior Republic in New York