Between 1854 and 1929, over 250,000 orphans and surrendered children were placed out across the country. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose. Riders on the orphan train is an historical novel about a littleknown piece of american history. They were all written up in the same record books and, on the whole.
Message boards topics orphans and orphanages orphan trains orphan train rider from new york to the west message boards search for content in message boards. Foundling hospital records new york city orphan train records. Warren intercuts the story of one childs experience with being an orphan train rider with a general history of the trains. If you had a relative who rode the orphan train to louisiana, i can look up their name in the n. Searching local databases is also a good way to find riders. One boys true story, which won the boston globehorn book award. They started their journey in new york and were given away in train. One of the books protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed onto a train. One of the books protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed.
We then built an itinerary on the remaining scheduled trains using the information in your book. Lesson plans and resources for orphan train table of contents 1. Perhaps few have as great a challenge as descendants of orphan train riders. Those yearning to know more about their origins were left wondering. One is a seventeen years old living in foster care.
Another research source for the movement is the orphan train heritage society of america othsa, which preserves the history of the orphan train era. The orphan train and the children who rode them new england. She has developed public outreach programs for the orphan train heritage society of america, inc. This book illustrates that effect by looking at the fates of orphan train riders in aggregate, and by telling the stories of particular children. Orphan train history here you will find ongoing posts about the history of the orphan train movement in america, as well as updates on my efforts, and the efforts of others, to bring back this lost piece of american history and restore the riders rightful place in our collective conscience. In that seven year period, i wrote two other novels and a nonfiction book, but i also began researching, reading hundreds of articles and interviewing a few of the surviving train riders, by now. This book chronicles the travels of an orphan train child, lee nailling, who rode the train to texas where he was adopted with his brother.
A boy in the nazi death camps, showing how they align with the common core state standards. This list is a small portion of riders that rode the orphan train to the midwest. From the teeming streets of new york among a crush of immigrants. Molly learns that vivian was herself an orphan, an irish immigrant in new york who was put on the orphan train in the late 1920s and tossed from home to home in minnesota.
Orphan train facts the term orphan trains refers to the midnineteenth and earlytwentiethcentury method of placing destitute, urban children in the homes of largely rural families. If you have an ancestor born in the 1854 to 1929 time frame who just appeared in the united states in the midwest, you might want to check into the possibility that he or she was an orphan train rider. Taking place between 1854 and 1930, when more than 200,000 orphaned children were sent west on orphan trains to find new homes, this truelife story describes one boys journey through foster homes, adoption agencies, and homeless shelters. This thorough book gives us the background and facts about the trains. The orphan train and the children who rode them new. The orphan train series hearts on the rails kindle edition by wesson, rachel. This is a complex and amazing part of americas history. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Orphan train memories live on in children of survivors. At this point in her life it has been only a few weeks since the fire that claimed the lives of her family. Surviving train riders are now in their eighties and. Moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances. One boys true story from a pastor at the church i attend when he referenced it during his sermon on grace. The first orphan train riders 14 boys, arrived in dowagiac, michigan on a sunday morning in late september 1854, traveling on the michigan central railroad. Orphan train riders, from the riders on the orphan train multimedia performance at union depot in st. The train passed through erie, pennsylvania on its way to cleveland, ohio. Oct 16, 20 orphan train courtesy of the library of congress searching for ones family history can be rewarding but also frustrating. Wisconsin orphan train rider biographies, research queries, and lists and dates of orphan trains stopping in wisconsin.
This quote is from one of the chaperones for the children on the orphan train. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train. Later, carmella, with the help of two other orphan train survivors, mary busche and marie lenzmeier, started the orphan train reunion. The orphan train movement took place from 18841929, and an estimated 250,000 orphaned, abandoned and homeless children were taken from large cities to rural communities in the united. The national orphan train complex in concordia, ks is a museum and research center dedicated to the orphan train movement, the various institutions that participated, and the children and agents who rode the trains. An orphan train story renee wendinger has written a thoughtful and moving history based on the real life stories of two orphan train riders, johnny and sophia, both orphaned in the early 1900s under heartwrenchingly difficult circumstances. Interview with christina baker kline, author of orphan train. When we had the opportunity over the years to meet these orphan train riders, one of their crying songs was that they dont want to be forgotten, lancaster says. The second narrative of molly, a teen foster child, is marred by the way the author, christina baker kline, portrays her oppressive foster mom. Following the orphan train riders orphan train, orphan, train. Christina baker klines novel orphan train has ridden the new york times bestseller list for the past 15 weeks, becoming a favorite of book clubs across the. One boys true story is an excellent biography penned by a woman who taught both history and english. Orphans abandoned children united states orphan trains nailling, lee, 1917.
In this moving story of one orphaned boy, author andrea warren describes the role of charles loring brace and the childrens aid society in establishing orphan trains. A word here about the private car vivian traveled in. Articles about about orphan train history, rider stories, and organization news. Cas agent oconnin accompanied a very large group on september 11, 1866. Records fill in orphan train riders stories local news. The orphan trains and newsboys of new york was published this year. The year is 2011 and molly is in trouble with the law. Childrens aid society archives, collection of the newyork historical society library. Orphan train research person for this site is clark kidder author of emilys story.
This is an image of orphan train riders taken in nebraska in 1909. For many years, orphan train riders were told that their records in new york had burned. The national orphan train complex opened in 2007 in concordia, kansas and is dedicated to preserving the history of the orphan train movement. Riders on the orphan train is a novel about a little known piece of american history. A good source for finding data about the movement is the national orphan train complex. Recollections of orphan train riders have been published in several sources. Moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship. Andrea warren is the author of many acclaimed nonfiction books for young readers, including orphan train rider. Carmella was also one of the founders of the orphan train riders of new york midwest. Visiting my motherinlaw in fargo, north dakota, for a week with. Orphan train riders stop over in ashtabula 1990, ogs report, vol.
One boys true story by warren, andrea and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Andrea warrens books about children are the result of her passion for history and her interest in young readers. Jul 16, 2014 orphan train is the assigned summer reading for the 300 firstyear students at edgewood college in madison, wis. This hardcover edition of orphan train will feature a deckled edge. The history of these childrens lives has been largely left out of books, as well as the stories they themselves pass along. She has been a professional writer for twenty years and works from her home office in the kansas city area. Christina baker klines novel orphan train has ridden the new york times bestseller list for the past 15 weeks, becoming a favorite of book clubs across the country.
Must have documentation that the person was an orphan train rider to receive additional information. In about 1990, she started giving orphan train talks. Up to 20 books are listed, in descending order of popularity at this site. For example, in an excerpt from the orphan train by andrea warren november 1998 in the washington post, another orphan train rider, lee nailling 81 at the time of the interview, of atlanta, texas, remembers a large farmer sticking his hand into his mouth to see if his teeth were sound. This volume of records from the surrender books of the american female guardian societys home for the friendless in new york spans the years 18801930. The orphan train movement was a supervised welfare program that transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded eastern cities of the united states to foster homes located largely in rural areas of the midwest. Historical fiction books national orphan train complex. Renee wendinger is from minnesota and is the youngest of five children. Christina baker klines most recent novel, orphan train, has spent. Rather, use it as background knowledge to build upon. Andrea warren organized this book in an interesting fashion. More than 200,000 homeless children were sent west on the trains. Riders on the orphan train chronicles the lives of two children among approximately 250,000 young people placed out between 1854 and 1929.
Orphan train is 2020 one book one community selection news. Vivian is on this train on her way to, what she hopes is, a better life. The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about. Mid and latenineteenthcentury reformers were increasingly concerned with the accumulating social ills of an advancing industrial society, including child. Children placed out during the orphan train era 18531929 and their descendants have particular research problems. After my book club chose orphan train for our next meetup, i picked up my copy. Pdf orphan train riders pdf download read online free. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions.
Oh it arrived super quick, i hadnt realised id ordered the roughy cut addition, so was a. Genealogists ride the research rails to find orphan train rider ancestors. Ohio, and illinois had plenty of space, and not enough laborers. The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, abused, or homeless children. A lovely novel about the search for family that also happens to illuminate a fascinating. The event still goes on today in little falls, minn. Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children were sent west on orphan trains to find new homes. Unfortunately, the family did not keep him and he was sent to another family. Entrance records from the american female guardian societys home for the friendless in new york, volume 2 tom riley. By 1927, fortythree michigan towns would also receive orphans from the baby train, as it was sometimes called. This orphan train movement is important for the ancestry researcher because it created a paper trail for these childrenyoung people who might otherwise have been lost to. We hope to educate you a bit on this subject and help you further your research on any ancestors you may have that came to iowa on one of the infamous orphan trains. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Orphans asylum society of the city of new york, kings county.
Between 1854 and 1929, more than 200,000 poor and orphaned were placed out in rural communities in 47 states and canad. Her mother, sophia kaminsky hillesheim, 1917 orphan train rider, was one of the children of the orphan trains taking part in a phenomenal journey from new york city to the midwest. Her first book for houghton mifflin, orphan train rider, won the 1996 boston globe horn book award for nonfiction. Orphan train will hold you in its grip as their fascinating tales unfold. I was just told last night that my father, james franklin litzenberg, was never really adopted but that he arrived in henry county, ohio on the train along with other children from an orphanage in columbus, ohio who were dropped off to work on farms in the area. As a former middle and high school teacher, i found it insightful and rewarding to study the standards and to explore how my books can be used to meet the. Genealogists ride search for orphan train rider ancestors. Located in concordia, kansas, the complex includes a museum and research center.
The orphan trains carrying homeless children to be placed in the west are a little known part of americas history. Molly ayer is living with ralph and dina in their home in spruce harbor, maine. Map of united states showing number of orphan train riders. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more. The delmar depot museum, in delmar, ia, is a restore depot where orphan trains would stop during this era. The production company spent a year and a half in research and searching for photos of the orphan train riders in michigan. Orphan train in michigan did you know 12,500 orphans from new york city and the boston area were placed in michigan from 1854 to 1927. In this moving story of one orphaned boy, author andrea warren describes the role of charles loring brace and the childrens aid society in establishing orphan. She has just completed an historical novel titled riders on the orphan train with a fellowship from the national endowment for the arts. Nov 19, 2010 this project was created for the elementary classroom. Over the next 75 years, many thousands of children were relocated from new york and other eastern cities to new homes in the west. Aug 02, 2015 descendants and relatives of new york orphan train riders, including margaret briley, james douget, warren lafleur, barbara jesclard and florella inhern, tell the stories of some of the children.
The main narrative about vivian, an orphan train rider, was excellent. One of the important things that needs to be considered when we are looking for these individuals is the confusing label of orphan train. Jan 24, 2015 a few days ago i posted my thoughts on orphan train by christina baker kline. Cathy marie buchanan, nyt bestselling author of the day the falls stood still and the painted girls i loved this book. The orphan train by christina baker kline moves back and forth between two stories that of a young orphan girl in the early twentieth century.
Orphan train, a novel by christina baker kline, has been selected as the. We have put together a history of the orphan train, including interviews with several orphan train riders, and some of their children. County, west salem and bangor lacrosse county, bad axe, burns. Oct 14, 2014 moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful tale of upheaval and resilience, second chances, and unexpected friendship. Because many parents in the east saw this as a way to give their child a better future, they gave the nycas permission to place out their child. Several websites are available to help researchers trace those who might have ridden the trains. One boys true story, we rode the orphan trains and for surviving hitler. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading orphan train escape. The childrens names filled three quarters of a page in the cas record book. May 23, 2014 map of united states showing number of orphan train riders in 18531910. I have created author guides for three of my books. She spent years doing more research and her book extra. There are a couple of references to other childrens experiences, but its mostly just the one example. John jackson, who at five years old walked off after a marching band and never found his way home again.
As a midwesterner, i was really interested in this book after hearing it featured on npr. Orphan train in michigan program source international. The brave journey of an orphan train rider, which chronicles the true life story of his paternal grandmother an orphan train rider sent to. Riders of the orphan train preserves the unforgettable. The first orphan train left boston in 1850 and carried 30 homeless waifs to new hampshire and vermont. Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. Foundling hospital census 18701925 and the childrens aid society census 18551925. Pitxer presents book during orphan train rider celebration. Braces children s aid society was the primary agency involved in the orphan train effort although other groups did participate. Two farmhands lived on the property as well, both from ohio and one of them was edward chesley. Marguerite thompson these resources are all available, both separately and together, at. National orphan train complex genealogy familysearch wiki. A brief history of the orphan trail era 18541929 with entrance records from the american female guardian societys home for the. A lovely novel about the search for family that also happens to illuminate a fascinating and forgotten chapter of americas history.
And as i looked back and, talking to train riders who are still alive, there are a lot of mixed feelings about. The main characters are vivian, the orphaned train rider who at 91 years of age. The childrens mission to the children of the destitute sent them. Death of an experiment between 1854 and 1929, 250,000 orphans at peril in the dangerous, overcrowded streets east coast cities were placed on trains and sent west to live with new families. As a recipient of one book resources, the free library requires that you devote one class period. Chesley also appeared in the 1850 census when he was sixteen years old and living with william j.
1482 610 1442 541 897 859 1474 266 639 1488 975 1192 636 554 1067 1480 1385 432 1346 91 512 661 660 1350 502 454 1344 1021 659 1083 479 336 147 1361 370 1091 1340 642 241