Dodge, Grace H. (Grace Hoadley), 1856-1914

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Social welfare worker; Philanthropist; Educator

From the description of Grace Hoadley Dodge papers, 1882-1995 (bulk 1882-1915) (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 460740016

Grace Hoadley Dodge was born on May 21, 1856 in New York City into a wealthy family with a strong tradition of philanthropic and evangelical activity. She was the oldest of six children born to Sarah Hoadley and William Earl Dodge, Jr. Dodge received most of her education at home from private tutors, but spent two years at Miss Sarah Porter's School in Connecticut (1872-74).

On her return to New York City, she began teaching Sunday School at the Madison Square Chapel and later in industrial schools for the Children's Aid Society. Dodge's interactions with the evangelist Dwight L. Moody, who stayed with the Dodges during his 1876 campaign in New York City, had a profound effect on Grace's decision to dedicate her life to social service work. Her approach was committed and businesslike. She came to regard her work for a wide variety of causes and organizations as full-time employment, with a salary that had been "paid in advance" through her family's business successes.

"Miss Grace H. Dodge's Evening Chat," 1890

Drawn to ventures that allowed for close personal association, Dodge often acted as a facilitator, but not a leader of informal clubs. In 1881 she formed a club with factory girls around her own age. Their weekly meetings for "fellowship and discussion" gradually came to include a headquarters, library, recreation rooms, and classes. Within a decade, the concept grew into a national Association of Working Girls' Societies. Her mantra was always to work with, rather than for, working women. Some of the friendships formed in this first club lasted throughout Dodge's life.

Dodge also worked to promote vocational education and practical training as a means of combating poverty. She founded the Kitchen Garden Association in 1880 which was reorganized into the Industrial Education Association in 1884. These groups offered classes in "household arts," manual training, and later, teacher training. The Industrial Education Association was eventually reorganized into Teachers College in 1889 with Dodge as its first Treasurer.

Dodge developed somewhat of a specialty of encouraging organizations with similar missions to join forces in order to increase their effectiveness. In 1906 she brought together two warring national associations of YWCAs to form a single national association. Grace Dodge served as the new Association's first president until her death.

Other organizations benefiting from these talents included the New York Travelers Aid Society, formed in 1907, and the American Social Hygiene Association in 1912.

Grace Dodge died suddenly in her home on December 27, 1914.

From the guide to the Grace Hoadley Dodge Papers MS 603., 1882-1995, 1882-1915, (Sophia Smith Collection)

Social welfare worker, educator, philanthropist.

Dodge was a founder and early trustee of Teachers College; treasurer of the Board of Trustees of Teachers College, 1893-1904; founder and director of the Association of Working Girls' Societies; president of the National Board of the Young Women's Christian Association; was appointed a member of the New York City Board of Education in 1886; and headed, funded, or otherwise participated in other projects and organizations concerned with social welfare, education, and other concerns.

From the description of Papers, [ca. 1874-1914]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122308855

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Autograph File, D, 1586-1975. Houghton Library
referencedIn Barrows family papers, 1861-1931. Houghton Library
referencedIn Records, [ca. 1883-1982]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Speer Family Papers, Bulk, 1883-1943, 1802-1982 Bryn Mawr College
referencedIn Papers, [ca. 1897-1927]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Papers, [ca. 1874-1914]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn National Board predecessors and formation of National Board, 1876-1961. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914. Branson-Jackson Family Papers, 1794-1962. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
referencedIn Papers, [ca. 1890-1898]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Henry L. Dawes Papers, 1833-1933, bulk 1833-1903 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Travelers Aid Association of America records, 1910-1975 University of Minnesota Libraries. Social Welfare History Archives
referencedIn Riverdale Neighborhood House (Riverdale, N.Y.). Records ca. 1883-1982. Lehman College Library, Leonard Lief Library
creatorOf Grace Hoadley Dodge Papers MS 603., 1882-1995, 1882-1915 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Papers, [ca. 1880-1944]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn YWCA of the U. S. A. Records MS 324., 1860-2002, 1906-2000 Sophia Smith Collection
creatorOf Dodge, Grace H. (Grace Hoadley), 1856-1914. Grace Hoadley Dodge papers, 1882-1995 (bulk 1882-1915) Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Travelers Aid Society of New York Records, 1917-1979 New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Miscellaneous records, [ca. 1819-1983]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Dodge, Grace H. (Grace Hoadley), 1856-1914. Letter to Mrs. Murphy regarding Madison Hall [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Special collections, 1871-1970, 1906-1960 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A. YWCA of the U.S.A. Records 1860-2002 (bulk 1906-2000) Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Dodge, Grace H. (Grace Hoadley), 1856-1914. Letter to Mr. Gilder, April 18, 1888 / Grace H. Dodge. University of Wisconsin - Madison, General Library System
referencedIn McCormick, Nettie Fowler, 1835-1923. Nettie Fowler McCormick correspondence, 1775-1939. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Education manuscripts, [ca. 1682-1983]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith 38th Street Working Girls' Society (New York, N.Y.). Three Ps Circle. corporateBody
correspondedWith Barrows family. family
associatedWith Columbia University. Teachers College. corporateBody
associatedWith Cooley, Anna M., 1875-1955. person
correspondedWith Dawes, Henry L. (Henry Laurens), 1816-1903 person
associatedWith Hervey, Walter L. (Walter Lowrie), 1862-1952. person
associatedWith Kitchen-Garden Association corporateBody
associatedWith McCormick, Nettie Fowler, 1835-1923. person
associatedWith Milbank Memorial Library. corporateBody
associatedWith New York Association of Working Girls Societies corporateBody
associatedWith New York Association of Working Girls Societies corporateBody
associatedWith New York (N.Y.). Board of Education. corporateBody
associatedWith Riverdale Neighborhood House (Riverdale, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Riverdale Neighborhood House (Riverdale, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Russell, James Earl, 1864-1945. person
associatedWith Teachers College (New York, NY) corporateBody
associatedWith Travelers Aid Association of America corporateBody
associatedWith University of Virginia. Madison Hall. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Wisconsin--Madison. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections. corporateBody
associatedWith Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A. corporateBody
associatedWith Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A.-History corporateBody
associatedWith Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A. National Board. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
New York (N.Y.)
New York (N.Y.)
United States
Subject
American literature
Civic improvement
Manual training
Manual training
Moral education
Moral education
Occupational training for women
Occupational training for women
Philanthropists
Philanthropists
Women
Women
Women
Women domestics
Women in charitable work
Women in charitable work
Women philanthropists
Women philanthropists
Working class women
Working class women
Working-women's clubs
Working-women's clubs
Occupation
Women educators
Women philanthropists
Women social workers
Activity

Person

Birth 1856-05-21

Death 1914-12-27

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