Three distinct social agencies have been recently developed in
Birmingham, Ala., from one association, the Boys’ Club and Children’s
Aid Society. They are the Juvenile Court with its probation system, the
Children’s Aid Society and the Boys’ Club proper. The story of these
changes is expressive of the development of social organization in the
southern cities.
The parent society has for several years been one of Birmingham’s most
vigorous efforts toward the betterment of the conditions affecting child
life. In 1903 the Boys’ Club had just one room at the City Hall. By 1909
a New Year’s dinner and a summer camp had become regular features. Next
a special reading room and shower baths were added. Children’s aid work
was then undertaken more systematically. Two men and one woman devoted
themselves to the interests of dependent and neglected children.
Probation work was also introduced, and the club has twice moved to
larger quarters.
It was largely through the instrumentality of the Boys’ Club that the
Juvenile Court was established in October, 1912. Following the
suggestion of A. J. McKelway, southern secretary of the National Child
Labor Committee, in his article in the Birmingham number of THE SURVEY
[6] the functions of each of the three new social agencies have been
clearly defined. S. D. Murphy is the judge of the Juvenile Court and
Ralph S. Barrow is chief probation officer. The present superintendent
of the Boys’ Club is Burr Blackburn.