Illinois Humane Society
Encyclopedia
The Illinois Humane Society (now the Bright Promises Foundation), founded in 1869 just after the Civil War
, has a rich history dedicated to service of disadvantaged animal
s and child
ren.
As one of the first agencies in the country to deal with abused
and neglect
ed children, it was a pioneer in advocating for legislation
to address child protection in the workplace and society. Over the years, IHS operated full-scale family service offices in Chicago.
From 1973 to 2007, IHS has acted as a private society that provides seed money to new projects serving disadvantaged children in Illinois, leaving the care of animals to the many animal organizations that have sprung up since the Illinois Humane Society was formed. In 2008, it adjusted its mission to address the most important issues facing disadvantaged children in Illinois, changing its name in 2009 to the Bright Promises Foundation.
on the streets of Chicago
to obtain fresh drinking water
. In 1877 the Illinois Humane Society began erecting public drinking fountains. They commissioned a design "both pleasing and practical" by which water would flow at three levels, first accommodating thirsty people at the top, then horse
s and finally dog
s and small animals near the ground level. The cost was $70 per fountain and $60 for a hookup to the city water pipes, including the services of a plumber
and stonemason.
The fountain in the photograph, which is undated, was outside the Mary McDowell Settlement House at 4630 S. McDowell Street, in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Sixty-seven such fountains were maintained throughout the city at tone time. One is still in use at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Michigan Avenue
, opposite the Water Tower
and a second fountain is on display in the Museum of Science and Industry
.
, Philip Armour, and George Pullman
, purchased a home at 1145 S. Wabash to serve as the Society's headquarters.
. A fixture from the building was removed and rehung at the new Polk Street offices of the Society's Children Service Division.
Standing in front of the building are, left to right, board members Benjamin Gingiss, Judge Hubert Will and Norman Pierce, with Mayor Richard J. Daley
.
for new, innovative programs serving the needs of disadvantaged children in Illinois.
The records of IHS are archived at the University of Illinois at Chicago
and a collection of IHS papers are at the Illinois State Historical Library in Springfield
. A book detailing IHS history is available from the IHS office.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, has a rich history dedicated to service of disadvantaged animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s and child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren.
As one of the first agencies in the country to deal with abused
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
and neglect
Neglect
Neglect is a passive form of abuse in which a perpetrator is responsible to provide care for a victim who is unable to care for himself or herself, but fails to provide adequate care....
ed children, it was a pioneer in advocating for legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
to address child protection in the workplace and society. Over the years, IHS operated full-scale family service offices in Chicago.
From 1973 to 2007, IHS has acted as a private society that provides seed money to new projects serving disadvantaged children in Illinois, leaving the care of animals to the many animal organizations that have sprung up since the Illinois Humane Society was formed. In 2008, it adjusted its mission to address the most important issues facing disadvantaged children in Illinois, changing its name in 2009 to the Bright Promises Foundation.
A fountain outside Mary McDowell Settlement House
There were few opportunities a century ago for travelersTransport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
on the streets of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to obtain fresh drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
. In 1877 the Illinois Humane Society began erecting public drinking fountains. They commissioned a design "both pleasing and practical" by which water would flow at three levels, first accommodating thirsty people at the top, then horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s and finally dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s and small animals near the ground level. The cost was $70 per fountain and $60 for a hookup to the city water pipes, including the services of a plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
and stonemason.
The fountain in the photograph, which is undated, was outside the Mary McDowell Settlement House at 4630 S. McDowell Street, in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Sixty-seven such fountains were maintained throughout the city at tone time. One is still in use at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue (Chicago)
Michigan Avenue is a major north-south street in Chicago which runs at 100 east south of the Chicago River and at 132 East north of the river from 12628 south to 950 north in the Chicago street address system...
, opposite the Water Tower
Chicago Water Tower
The Chicago Water Tower is a contributing property in the Old Chicago Water Tower District landmark district. It is located at 806 North Michigan Avenue along the Magnificent Mile shopping district in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois...
and a second fountain is on display in the Museum of Science and Industry
Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood adjacent to Lake Michigan. It is housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
.
Headquarters of the Society, 1912
In 1893 friends of the Illinois Humane Society, including Marshall FieldMarshall Field
Marshall Field was founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores.-Life and career:...
, Philip Armour, and George Pullman
George Pullman
George Mortimer Pullman was an American inventor and industrialist. He is known as the inventor of the Pullman sleeping car, and for violently suppressing striking workers in the company town he created, Pullman .-Background:Born in Brocton, New York, his family moved to Albion,...
, purchased a home at 1145 S. Wabash to serve as the Society's headquarters.
Marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one, 1965
The Illinois Humane Society building at 1145 S. Wabash Avenue was closed and later demolishedDemolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
. A fixture from the building was removed and rehung at the new Polk Street offices of the Society's Children Service Division.
Standing in front of the building are, left to right, board members Benjamin Gingiss, Judge Hubert Will and Norman Pierce, with Mayor Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
.
The Illinois Humane Society today
The Illinois Humane Society continues its work today by providing seed money grantsGrant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
for new, innovative programs serving the needs of disadvantaged children in Illinois.
The records of IHS are archived at the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
and a collection of IHS papers are at the Illinois State Historical Library in Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
. A book detailing IHS history is available from the IHS office.