CHAPTER XV
Social Economy Exhibit and Schedule of Awards
SOCIAL ECONOMY EXHIBIT By DELANCEY M. ELLIS Director of Education and
Social Economy
The Department of Social Economy being closely allied with the
Department of Education, and its exhibit being installed in the Palace
of Education, it was placed under the general charge of the Director of
Education, whose title was changed to the Director of Education and
Social Economy.
APPROPRIATIONS
The following appropriations were made for exhibits in this department:
State Commission in Lunacy, —————— $1,800
State Board Of Charities, ——————— 1,200
State Department Of Prisons, —————- 2,000
State Department Of Labor, ——————- 1,000
Craig Colony for Epileptics, Sonyea, —- 500
General expenses, ——————————— 1,000
———-
Total, ————————————————- $7,500
———-
From the last named appropriation was paid the expenses for the exhibits of the State Department of Health and the State Department of Excise, and such other institutions or associations as were properly included in this class.
PREPARATION OF EXHIBITS
All of the exhibits of State Departments were prepared by the departments contributing them, and in the case of the State Commission in Lunacy and the State Board of Charities the exhibits were installed by a special representative. This also is true of the exhibit of the State Department of Prisons, which required the constant attendance of an expert to demonstrate its workings.
During the latter part of the Exposition period William T. Arms, an attache of the State building, was detailed to the Department of Social Economy, and dividing his time among the several State exhibits, added materially to the pleasure and knowledge of visitors concerning New York's institutions.
PLAN OF ARRANGEMENT
The Exposition authorities determined that the exhibits in the Department of Social Economy should be collective; that is, that all the work in the Department of Charities and Corrections from whatever source should be installed together; the same to be true of general betterment movements, hygiene, municipal improvement, etc. This plan precluded the installation of the State's exhibit in this department in one place with a dignified installation, as in the other exhibit departments, and made necessary the placing of the exhibit in several different parts of the building according to the subdivision of the classification under which it fell. Perhaps from the standard of general utility the arrangement was all that could be desired, but from the standpoint of the State it is of doubtful value, as such a disposition of the State's exhibit made no single part of it of any considerable size, nor as impressive as had the State's work in this department been shown together.
No State in the Union approaches the Empire State in its progressive policy in the care of the insane, the destitute and delinquents, in the solving of labor and excise problems, and had the exhibit in this department been installed together, a most effective and striking lesson would have been taught.
STATE COMMISSION IN LUNACY
The exhibit of the New York State Commission in Lunacy was the most suggestive and comprehensive of any shown in the Department for the Insane, and was designed primarily to show the difference between the ancient and modern methods of treating these unfortunates. Two rooms were shown, the first of which represented the primitive methods adopted for treating insanity. The room was barren, dark and not over clean. At the front was shown one of the old peep-doors taken from the Utica Asylum. It was of massive construction and contained a small aperture covered by a heavy wooden blind, through which the attendant could observe the doings of the patient, or, more properly speaking, the prisoner. Within stood one of the so-called Utica cribs built of heavy wood, over which was a cover of wooden bars. In this crib the patient was obliged to remain in a recumbent position, the cover closed and locked. Near by stood a restraining chair, a whirling chair, a straight jacket and shackles, all representing ancient methods of "quieting" the victims of the dread disease.
Adjoining was an airy room, clean and inviting, made cheerful by growing plants and attractive furniture, with every modern appliance for the care of an invalid, resembling closely a room of the better class in a general hospital. There was an entire absence of any kind of restraint. A neat iron bedstead, rocking chairs, invalid table, wash stand, book case with books, and in fact every comfort and convenience was at hand. In this room were also shown the uniforms worn by the nurses and attendants in the State hospitals for the insane, and a series of reference books upon the subject of insanity, The exhibit was supplemented by a series of handsome photographs completely illustrating the various State hospitals for the insane, the daily life of the inmates and the expert attention which they receive.
Glass cases contained a large amount of industrial work done by the inmates. This chiefly consisted of sewing and embroidery. A feature of the exhibit was an oak cabinet containing a series of specimens showing cross sections of the brain prepared at the Pathological Institute in New York city. It was of decided scientific value and interest. Near by was a miniature tent hospital, a complete model of the hospital for the care of insane patients afflicted with tuberculosis which is now in operation at the Manhattan State Hospital, Ward's Island, N. Y.
A striking feature was a copy of the famous oil painting, "Dr. Pinel
Freeing the Insane at La Salpètrière after the close of the French
Revolution." It most graphically told the story of the complete
revolution in treating this dread disease.
STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES
The exhibit of the State Board of Charities was installed under four different subdivisions of Group 139 (Charities and Corrections) of the official classification.
1. Class 784. Destitute, neglected and delinquent children 2. Class 785. Institutional care of destitute adults 3. Class 787. Hospitals, dispensaries and nursing 4. Class 789. Treatment of criminals
The exhibit of the Board in the department for the care of juvenile delinquents was comprehensive in its make up. Photographs of the various State institutions devoted to this purpose were shown, clearly demonstrating the superiority of these institutions as to buildings, equipment and maintenance. These photographs were supplemented by an exhibit of industrial work of the inmates.
The State Industrial School at Rochester and the House of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents at Randall's Island both contributed some exceptional work in wood carving and wrought iron.
In addition to this were shown the uniforms worn in the different institutions and also specimens of the scholastic work which the children are doing.
The State Board of Charities also assumed the responsibility for, and partially prepared, the exhibit of various charity organization societies within the State, by far the most elaborate of which was the exhibit of the Charity Organization Society of New York city. By means of photographs, administrative blanks and reports the great work which this organization is doing was clearly revealed.
The work of the Board in the care of destitute adults was demonstrated by means of a complete set of photographs of the county alms houses of the State of New York. From two to four pictures of each institution were shown, giving a very clear idea of their scope and equipment. These photographs were supplemented by a statistical blank containing valuable data as to the value of the plant, number of employees, of inmates, and such other information as would be useful to the public.
The exhibit of the work of the Board as related to general hospitals of the State consisted largely of a series of photographs, supplemented by valuable statistical matter.
The Board also prepared an exhibit from the various State prisons, the industrial work of which is under the jurisdiction of the State Prison Commission. This exhibit contained photographs of the members of the State Prison Commission, photographs showing the interiors of the different prisons, reports, etc., and revealed the fact that the Empire State is in the front rank in inaugurating reform movements looking toward the health, safety and moral uplift of the inmates.
STATE DEPARTMENT OF PRISONS
The exhibit of the State Department of Prisons probably received as much attention from the public as any single State exhibit prepared. It consisted of a demonstration of the workings of the Bertillon and finger print systems for the identification of criminals. An ornate installation of solid oak, handsomely carved, was built by the inmates of the State Prison at Ossining, and was carried to St. Louis and erected upon the space assigned to this department.
Throughout the season Captain J.H. Parke, an expert on the finger print system, and E.E. Davis, Jr., an expert on the Bertillon system, were present to demonstrate the workings of these systems to Exposition visitors. But few are familiar with the operations of the Bertillon system, and the finger print system is as yet practically unknown.
New York State is the pioneer State of the Union in putting into practical operation the finger print system for the identification of criminals, and it is the only State in which it is at present in use. Although there is a National Bureau of Identification at Washington, D. C., which is conducted through the co-operation of the chiefs of police of many of the large cities throughout the country, it cannot be said to be a department of the United States government, and its system is far from as perfect as that of the Empire State.
STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Probably in no State of the Union does there exist a labor department organized upon such extensive lines as is that of the State of New York. Recently three bureaus were merged forming the State Department of Labor. These were the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Board of Mediation and Arbitration and the office of the Factory Inspector. The exhibit consisted of a complete set of reports of these various bureaus, and of the department erected therefrom, supplemented with a series of graphic charts bearing upon every phase of the labor question, and comparing the economic condition of the Empire State with that of other States of the Union and various foreign countries. The exhibit was a valuable sociological contribution. An especially strong feature was four monographs, entitled "Typical Employers' Welfare Institutions in New York," "Labor Legislation in New York," "The Work of the State Department of Labor," and "The Growth of Industry in New York." These were printed in such quantities as to permit of their distribution among visitors to the Exposition. The graphic charts were reproduced in half-tones and inserted in the monographs.
The exhibit was carefully studied by students of sociology generally as it is recognized that the State of New York speaks with a voice of authority upon questions of this nature.
STATE DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE
The question of controlling the liquor traffic is one of lively interest throughout the civilized world. The exhibit of the State Department of Excise was so prepared as to clearly demonstrate the superiority of the system of State control in licensing this traffic as administered under the New York State Liquor Tax Law. The exhibit consisted of a series of graphic charts showing this statute's moral benefit to the people of the State by reducing the number of drinking places more than twenty per cent and increasing the amount collected from liquor licenses from about three million to about eighteen million dollars annually. By means of a key, which accompanied the charts, the visitor was enabled easily to trace the development of the law since its first enactment and to see the efficiency with which it is enforced.
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
The exhibit of the State Department of Health was made up of a complete set of reports of the department, supplemented by administrative blanks used in the enforcement of the Health Law, and photographs showing the offices of the department, the anti-toxin laboratory and other features of the department's work. A full set of blanks used in the collection of vital statistics and sample specimens of anti-toxin and anti-tetanus, which are distributed without charge by the department, completed the exhibit.
CRAIG COLONY
The exhibit of Craig Colony consisted of a model designed to show the ideal institution for the care, education and treatment of epileptics, towards which Craig Colony in its development is working. The model was skillfully constructed and cost considerably more than the appropriation made by the Commission, the balance being paid from private sources.
MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITS
The New York State exhibit in the Department of Social Economy also contained an exhibit of the Woman's Institute at Yonkers, a philanthropic organization providing for the care of needy families in their homes and promoting several general betterment movements. The exhibit consisted of photographs, blanks and statistics bearing upon the work of the organization.
Close by was an exhibit of the George Junior Republic at Freeville, a unique institution for the care of juvenile delinquents and carried on along the lines of a civic organization. The exhibit consisted of interesting photographs showing the buildings and the plant, also specimens of blanks and samples of the money in use in the institution, and a general account of the work since its inception.
One of the most interesting exhibits was that of the Bank of New York, New York city, which is one of the oldest banks in the United States, having been organized in 1784 and having since enjoyed a most prosperous career. In addition to photographs, original by-laws and figures concerning the present condition of the bank, was exhibited the first ledger of the institution, which contained the accounts of Aaron Burr, Robert R. Livingston and other noted contemporaries. In addition were shown requisitions of Alexander Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury, for loans to the government, and other interesting historical documents.
The State Library prepared and exhibited an interesting compilation of sociological legislation and literature which was designed to show the advanced work done by the library in that direction.
Exhibits were also in place from the Church Association for the
Advancement of the Interests of Labor; the Eastman Kodak Company, of
Rochester, N. Y.; the Blacksmith and Wheelwright; the Sugar Trade
Review, and a volume published by the Mercantile Publishing Company
containing a directory of manufacturers and valuable trade statistics.
Catalogue of Exhibitors in the Department of Social Economy, Arranged by Groups, with the Awards, if Any, Received by Each
GROUP ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-NINE
Study and Investigation of Social and Economic Conditions
Blacksmith and Wheelwright, New York city. Silver medal
Publication
Church Association for the Advancement of the Interests of Labor,
New York city. Silver medal
Photographs
Statistics
Division of Sociology, New York State Library, Albany. Silver medal
A comparative index of sociological legislation and literature
Manufacturers' Publishing Company, New York city. Silver medal
Directory of Manufacturers
Willett & Gray, New York city. Silver medal
Sugar Review
The following awards were made to exhibits not a part of the collective
State Exhibit:
American Book Company, New York city. Grand prize
Text books on economics
R. G. Dunn & Company, Commercial Agency New York city. Silver medal
Statistics
Photographs
Richmond C. Hill, secretary Board of Trade, Buffalo. Silver medal
GROUP ONE HUNDRED THIRTY
Economic Resources and Organization
Charles Hemstreet, New York city. Silver medal
GROUP ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE
State Regulation of Industry and Labor
State Department of Labor, Albany. Grand prize
Graphic charts
Reports
Monographs
The following award was made to an exhibit not a part of the collective
State Exhibit:
American Institute of Social Service, New York city. Gold medal
Charts
Photographs
Statistics
GROUP ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO
Organization of Industrial Workers
State Department of Labor, Albany. Grand prize
Graphic charts
Reports
Monographs
GROUP ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE
Provident Institutions and Banks
National Consumers' League, New York city. Grand prize
Charts
Printed matter
Garments.
Bank of New York, New York city. Grand prize
Historical ledger and documents
Statistics
By-laws
Pictures
GROUP ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX
Housing of the Working Classes
The following awards were made to exhibits not a part of the collective
State Exhibit:
J. B. & J. M. Cornell Company. Gold medal
Model Household Nursery. Gold medal
New York city, tenement house department, Lawrence Veiller,
collaborator. Grand prize
Niagara Development Company, New York city. Silver medal
GROUP ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN
The Liquor Question
State Department of Excise, Albany. Grand prize
Graphic charts
Statistics
GROUP ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT
General Betterment Movements
National Consumers' League, New York city. Gold medal
Charts
Printed matter
Garments
New York Training School for Deaconesses. Bronze medal
Photographs
Prospectus
People's Institute, New York city. Silver medal
Photographs
Prospectus
Reports
Woman's Institute, Yonkers. Silver medal
Photographs
Charts
Statistics
Administrative blanks
Reports
Young Women's Christian Association, New York city. Silver
medal
Reports
Statistics
Administrative blanks
Art work
The following awards were made to exhibits not a part of the collective
State Exhibit:
American Institute of Social Service, New York city. Grand prize
General Electric Company, Schenectady. Gold medal
Institutional charities, collective exhibit. Gold medal
Prepared and installed by American Institute of Social Service
St. Bartholomew's Church, New York city
St. George's Church, New York city
Washington Square M. E. Church, New York city
Church of the Ascension, New York city
Marcy Avenue Church, Brooklyn
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Buffalo
Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society, Albany. Gold medal
Siegel-Cooper Company, New York city. Gold medal
J. H. Williams Company, Brooklyn. Silver medal
The following awards were made to collaborators:
Dr. William H. Tolman, New York city. Gold medal
Dr. William W. Stillman, Albany. Gold medal
Mrs. Florence Kelly, New York city. Gold medal
GROUP ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE
Charities and Corrections
Brooklyn Bureau of Charities. Gold medal
Photographs
Statistics
Buffalo Charity Organization Society. Gold medal
Photographs
Statistics
Charity Organization Society, New York city. Grand prize
Reports
Charts
Statistics
Photographs
Maps
Administrative blanks
Cornell University, Department of Philanthropy and Finance, Ithaca.
Gold medal
Graphic charts
Craig Colony for Epileptics, Sonyea. Gold medal
Model of institution
George Junior Republic, Freeville. Gold medal
Photographs
Charts
Statistics
Reports
Manhattan State Hospital East, Ward's Island, New York city.
Gold medal
Photographs
Statistics
Newburg Associated Charities. Silver medal
Photographs
Statistics
New York City United Hebrew Charities. Gold medal
Photographs
Statistics
State Board of Charities, Albany. Grand prize
Reports
Statistics
Photographs
Industrial work
Administrative blanks
State Commission in Lunacy, Albany. Grand prize
Rooms showing ancient and modern treatment of insane
patients
Reports
Industrial work
Model tuberculosis hospital
Pathological specimens
State Commission of Prisons, Albany. Gold medal
Photographs
Reports
Statistics
State Prison Department, Albany. Grand prize
Working exhibit of Bertillon and Finger Print systems for
identification of criminals
Woman's Institute, Yonkers. Silver medal
Photographs
Charts
Statistics
Administrative blanks
Reports
The following awards were made to collaborators:
Robert W. Hebbard, Secretary State Board of Charities. Gold
medal
T. E. McGarr, Secretary State Commission in Lunacy. Gold medal
Edward T. Devine, New York city. Gold medal
The following awards were made to exhibits not a part of the collective
State Exhibit:
Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, Brooklyn.
Silver medal
Asylum of the Sisters of St. Dominie, New York city. Silver medal
Brooklyn Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Brooklyn.
Silver medal
Catholic Home Bureau, New York city. Gold medal
Children's Aid Society, New York city. Gold medal
Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis, New York city. Grand prize
Department of Finance, New York city. Grand prize
Department of Public Charities, New York city. Gold medal
Hebrew Sheltering Guardian Society, New York city. Gold medal
Rev. Thomas L. Kinkead, Peekskill. Gold medal
Lincoln Hospital and Home, New York city. Silver medal
Long Island College Hospital, New York city. Silver medal
Missionary Sisters Third Order of St. Frances, New York city. Gold medal
Mission of the Immaculate Virgin for the Protection of Homeless and
Destitute Children, New York city. Silver medal
Mount Sinai Hospital for Children, New York city. Silver medal
New York Catholic Protectory, New York city. Gold medal
New York Charity Organization Society, New York city. Grand prize
New York Foundling Hospital, New York city. Silver medal
New York Juvenile Asylum, New York city. Gold medal
New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, New York
city. Gold medal
Orphans' Home, Brooklyn. Silver medal
St. Vincent's Hospital, New York city. Silver medal
Seton Hospital, New York city. Silver medal
Sisters of Mercy, Gabriels. Gold medal
The following awards were made to collaborators:
Miss Lillian Brandt, New York city. Gold medal
Homer Folks, New York city. Gold medal
Dr. D. C. Potter, New York city. Gold medal
GROUP ONE HUNDRED FORTY
Public Health.
Rochester, City Department of Health. Gold medal
Charts
Statistics
Photographs
State Department of Health, Albany. Grand prize
Reports
Administrative blanks
Photographs
Statistics
The following award was made to a collaborator:
Dr. George Goler, Health Officer, Rochester. Gold medal
The following awards were made to exhibits not a part of the collective
State Exhibit:
Adirondack Cottage Sanitorium, Saranac Lake. Grand prize
Dr. Simon Baruch, New York city. Silver medal
Department of Health of the City of New York. Grand prize
Allen Hazen, New York city. Gold medal
Dr. S. Adolphus Knopf, New York city. Gold medal
Kny-Scheerer Company, New York city. Grand prize
Kny-Scheerer Company, Department of Natural Science, New York city. Gold
medal
Sanitorium Gabriel, Saranac Lake. Gold medal
The following awards were made to collaborators:
Dr. E. L. Trudeau, Saranac Lake. Grand prize
Herman Biggs, M. D., New York city. Gold medal
GROUP ONE HUNDRED FORTY-ONE
Municipal Improvement
The following awards were made to exhibits not a part of the collective
State Exhibit:
American Institute of Social Service. Silver medal
Photographs illustrating municipal conditions
City of New York, Art Commission. Gold medal
City of New York, Aqueduct Commission and Department of Water
Supply. Gold medal
City of New York, Children's School Farm. Silver medal
City of New York, Department of Street Cleaning. Grand prize
The following awards were made to collaborators:
Mrs. Ruth Ashley Hirschfield. Gold medal
Model playground and nursery
George W. Waring in recognition of services in the establishment
of the system used in the Department of Street Cleaning, New
York city. Gold medal
THE FOLLOWING IS A RECAPITULATION OF THE AWARDS MADE TO THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL ECONOMY.
Grand Prize.
Group 129……………… 1
Group 131……………… 1
Group 132……………… 1
Group 135……………… 2
Group 136……………… 1
Group 137……………… 1
Group 138……………… 1
Group 139……………… 7
Group 139, Collaborators… 1
Group 140……………… 4
Group 140, Collaborators… 1
Group 141……………… 1
—-
Total………………… 22
===
Gold Medal.
Group 131……………… 1
Group 136……………… 2
Group 138…………….. 10
Group 138, Collaborators… 3
Group 139…………….. 18
Group 139, Collaborators… 5
Group 140……………… 5
Group 140, Collaborators… 2
Group 141……………… 4
—-
Total………………… 50
===
Silver Medal.
Group 129 7 Group 130 1 Group 136 1 Group 138 5 Group 139 13 Group 140 1 Group 141 2 —— Total. 30 ==== Bronze Medal.
Group 138 1 ===
Grand prizes. 22 Gold medals. 50 Silver medals. 30 Bronze medal. 1 ——- Grand total. 103 =====
[Illustration: PALACE OF EDUCATION AND SOCIAL ECONOMY FROM FESTIVAL
HALL]