Institutionalization of reform movements and social work btwn the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth century
Hi everyone! We are two PhD students (Ava at Columbia, Katie at NYU) hoping to present a panel presentation at the 2026 NACBS conference in Pasadena. Though working on different areas, our research interests overlap around the institutionalization of reform movements and social work between the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth century.
I’m hoping to present a paper on Adelaide Procter (1826-1864), examining her role within the Langham Place Circle and her work on behalf of unhoused women at the Providence Row Night Refuge as a window into the broader mid-Victorian shift from women's philanthropy towards institutionalized social work. Katie plans to present a paper on Eilidh MacDougall (1882-1959), examining the shift from voluntary initiatives to rationalized social work and police involvement in sexual offenses against children through the lens of her career.
We would love to bring in anyone else who is interested in overlapping topics. If you have a paper that’s close but not exactly in the same area/time frame/etc, feel free to reach out regardless. We are happy to consider shifting/broadening our focus!
Thanks so much!
Write me at aah2225@columbia.edu if interested/with any questions!