American Home-Finding Association.

In 1909 Board of Administration succeeded to executive and administrative duties formerly held by trustees of all state charitable institutions (l. 1909, p. 102). Besides appointing managing officers of all state charitable institutions Board was required to visit and inspect each institution under its jurisdiction. After investigating treatment given to inmates and examining physical facilities and records, visiting Board members reported findings at next Board meeting.

Board of Administration cooperated and consulted with new Charities Commission which assumed functions of Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities and which had concurrent investigative authority for whole system of public charitable institutions in state (l. 1909, p. 110).

Board of Administration also exercised wide range of powers in area of social welfare, such as authority to investigate, inspect and license institutions and facilities in which individuals were treated for nervous or mental diseases; to examine institutions which cared for dependent, englected, or delinquent children; to visit children placed in family houses; to certify home-finding associations; and to inspect and investigate correctional institutions in order to gather statistics and information on treatment of insane.

Board of Joint Estimate, composed of Board of Administration's fiscal supervisor and managing officers of charitable institutions, was established with Board of Administration to plan for purchase of large quantities of institutional supplies. Approval of bids and emergency purchases were handled by three-member Purchasing Committee of Board of Joint Estimate.

In 1917 Board of Administration was abolished and its responsibilities were transferred to Department of Public Welfare (L.1917, p.2).

From the description of American Home-Finding Association application register, 1898-1905. (Illinois State Archive). WorldCat record id: 37127120