New Homes for Old

The material in this volume was gathered by the Division of Adjustment of Homes and Family Life of Studies in Methods of Americanization.

Americanization in this study has been considered as the union of native and foreign born in all the most fundamental relationships and activities of our national life. For Americanization is the uniting of new with native-born Americans in fuller common understanding and appreciation to secure by means of self-government the highest welfare of all. Such Americanization should perpetuate no unchangeable political, domestic, and economic regime delivered once for all to the fathers, but a growing and broadening national life, inclusive of the best wherever found. With all our rich heritages, Americanism will develop best through a mutual giving and taking of contributions from both newer and older Americans in the interest of the commonweal. This study has followed such an understanding of Americanization.

FOREWORD

This volume is the result of studies in methods of Americanization prepared through funds furnished by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. It arose out of the fact that constant applications were being made to the Corporation for contributions to the work of numerous agencies engaged in various forms of social activity intended to extend among the people of the United States the knowledge of their government and the obligations to it. The trustees felt that a study which should set forth, not theories of social betterment, but a description of the methods of the various agencies engaged in such work, would be of distinct value to the cause itself and to the public.

The outcome of the study is contained in eleven volumes on the following subjects: Schooling of the Immigrant; The Press; Adjustment of Homes and Family Life; Legal Protection and Correction; Health Standards and Care; Naturalization and Political Life; Industrial and Economic Amalgamation; Treatment of Immigrant Heritages; Neighborhood Agencies and Organization; Rural Developments; and Summary. The entire study has been carried out under the general direction of Mr. Allen T. Burns. Each volume appears in the name of the author who had immediate charge of the particular field it is intended to cover.

Upon the invitation of the Carnegie Corporation a committee consisting of the late Theodore Roosevelt, Prof. John Graham Brooks, Dr. John M. Glenn, and Mr. John A. Voll has acted in an advisory capacity to the director. An editorial committee consisting of Dr. Talcott Williams, Dr. Raymond B. Fosdick, and Dr. Edwin F. Gay has read and criticized the manuscripts. To both of these committees the trustees of the Carnegie Corporation are much indebted.

The purpose of the report is to give as clear a notion as possible of the methods of the agencies actually at work in this field and not to propose theories for dealing with the complicated questions involved.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Publisher's Note v

Foreword vii

Table of Contents ix

List of Tables xiii

List of Illustrations xv

Introduction xvii

CHAPTER I. FINDING THE NEW HOME 1 The First Adjustments 1 Homes Studied 6 Dissolving Barriers 14

II. FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS 19 Separated Families 20 Keeping Boarders 23 The Man Without a Family 27 The Single Woman 29 The Migrant Family 32 From Farming to Industry 34 The Wage-earning Mother 39 Changed Duties of a Mother 43 Paternal Authority Passing 47

III. THE CARE OF THE HOUSE 54 New Housekeeping Conditions 54 Demands of American Cookery 58 Water Supply Essential 60 Overcrowding Hampers the Housewife 62 Women Work Outside the Home 65 Housing Improvement 66 Government Building Loans 75 Instruction in Sanitation 80

IV. PROBLEMS OF SAVING 85 Present and Future Needs 85 Unfamiliarity with Money 88 Irregularity of Income 91 Reserves for Misfortunes 92 The Cost of Weddings 98 Christenings and Fête Days 103 Buying Property 105 Building and Loan Associations 109 Postal Savings Banks 111 Account Keeping 115