The orphan train movement was a supervised welfare program that transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded eastern cities of the united states to foster homes located largely in rural areas of the midwest. Between 1854 and 1929, an estimated 150,000250,000 children were relocated from the overcrowded streets of eastern cities like new york and boston to smaller cities, towns and rural communities throughout the midwest and southern united states. I gave this book to my mother, whose cousins were also orphan train riders. Jun 12, 2019 the orphan train movement transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded eastern cities of the united states to foster homes located in rural areas of the midwest. The authors of this book are relatives of some of the orphan train riders who grew up in or near opelousas. The orphan train children lined up to board the orphan train this train came through arkansas when my mother was young. Orphan train download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. One of their books was a childrens nonfiction story about a young boy who was sent west on an orphan train in 1926. I chose to contrast the story of the orphantrain rider with that of a teenager in the currentday foster care system, which to my knowledge hasnt been done before. In these pages meet him as the author did through personal letters, anecdotes from friends and neighbors who knew him, and the authors sentimental journey to. These children traveled on what became popularly called orphan trains. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history. The orphan train and the children who rode them new england.
The orphan train and the children who rode them new. Discusses the placement of over 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children in homes throughout the midwest from 1854 to 1929 by recounting the story of one boy and his brothers. Pueblo, colorado cnn orphan train rider stanley cornells oldest memory is of his mothers death in 1925. Not all orphan train riders went to an unknown destination. At the peak of the orphan train movement, 3,0004,000 children a year were traveling west. The orphan trains carrying homeless children to be placed in the west are a little known part of americas history.
The orphan asylum was a type of group home for orphaned children. For more than 75 years, one answer was the orphan train. It is said that 2,000,000 americans are descended from orphan train riders. Many orphan train riders came through this institution. Most children thought that the train ride, which could last from days to weeks. Vivian traveled from nyc to minnesota as a young girl on one of the infamous orphan trains that was used to get orphans out of the cities into the country where they might have a better opportunity to find families and to be able to make a good life. Louisiana orphan train museum opelousas 2020 all you. Between 1854 and 1929, an estimated 200,000 or more homeless and. Some were young enough that they lost knowledge of their families, ages and even their names. We were part of the greatest childrens migration known in the history of the world, possibly numbering as many as 350,000.
Just before dutchy goes home with a farmer in minneapolis, minnesota, he and niamh promise to find each other again someday. One is a seventeen years old living in foster care. They take niamh to the childrens aid society, and the agency sends niamh out to the midwest on an orphan train. This book illustrates that effect by looking at the fates of orphan train riders in aggregate, and by telling the stories of particular children. In 1926, a fouryearold orphan named lorraine williams and other children were scrubbed, dressed in new clothes and put onto an orphan train leaving grand central station. One boys true story, which won the boston globehorn book award. They put together an exhibit on the orphan trains for the plainsman museum in aurora, neb. A short but very interesting book telling the history of the famous orphan trains or migration of so called orphan children from the american cities to the west of the. Between 1850 and 1930, over 200,000 children were relocated from the east to the west coast on trains. Some were adopted by loving families but others were not as fortunate, often used as nothing but farm hands and servants.
Between the years of 1853 and 1929, an estimated 250,000 orphans were relocated from major east coast cities such as new york city, to new homes throughout the united states and canada. Mac orphan train rider honored news mcphersonsentinel. In this segment from the west by orphan train documentary, orphan train rider stanley cornell recounts the story of he and his brothers. I have found that this book attracts a broad readership, from teens to octogenarians to history buffs way beyond my usual women 3060 demographic. Andrea warren is the author of many acclaimed nonfiction books for young readers, including orphan train rider. Orphan train movement, social experiment of childrens aid sociey and new york foundling hospital, carried 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children from. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train. Orphan train girl tells the story of a young foster girl who forms an unlikely bond with a ninetyoneyearold woman, who had been an orphan train rider as a young girl. They had no idea that they were on an orphan train or that they had become. As a former middle and high school teacher, i found it insightful and rewarding to study the standards and to explore how my books can be used to meet the.
Directory the story behind the writing of orphan train orphan train historical background vivian dalys 1929 orphan train journey the story behind the writing of orphan train dear reader, one holiday season, about a decade ago, an unexpected blizzard changed the course of my life. Riders of the orphan train preserves the unforgettable. Orphan train historical background christina baker kline. Mary ellen worked tirelessly for thirty years to bring the stories of the orphan train riders to light. View all restaurants near louisiana orphan train museum on tripadvisor. From 1854 to 1930, the orphan trains took homeless children from cities in the east to new homes in the west, the midwest, and the south. A boy in the nazi death camps, showing how they align with the common core state standards. These early forms of the american foster care system are gaining popularity thanks to the fictional story, orphan train by christina baker kline. Wisconsin orphan train rider biographies, research queries, and lists and dates of orphan trains stopping in wisconsin. Riders on the orphan train chronicles the lives of two children among approximately 250,000 young people placed out between 1854 and 1929. In recent years, some of the riders have begun to share their s. Othsafounded in 1986 in springdale washington and benton countiespreserves the history of the orphan train era, a period when thousands of children were relocated across the country. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
One boys true story, we rode the orphan trains and for surviving hitler. Adapted and condensed for a young audience, it includes an authors note and archival photos from the orphan train era. At this point in her life it has been only a few weeks since the fire that claimed the lives of her family. When we had the opportunity over the years to meet these orphan train riders, one of their crying songs was that they dont want to be forgotten, lancaster says. All three were riders on the hundreds of orphan trains that would carry more than 200,000 children between 1854 and 1929 from east coast cities to the wild west in search of better lives. In 2001, fred engert swedenborg and his brother howard engert hurd belonged to the othsa. Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children were sent west on orphan trains to find new homes. This title examines an important historic event the orphan train movement. Art smith, orphan train rider, in his own words at age 71, i was shocked to discover that in december 1922, my eleven companions and i were not just an isolated 12 orphanswending our way westward by train to find a home. An exquisite novel about a forgotten piece of history off. Charles frederick illinois 1888 irma craig missouri 1901 john j.
See the fact file below for more information about the orphan train movement or download the entire 15 page premium worksheet pack. Readers first met him as the hero of train to red cloud, a small boys journey. The following entries in the log books dated april, 1884 the childrens aid society. There is even a book about the famous orphan train,the book is called the orphan train quartet,in the face of danger. Orphan trains brought homeless nyc children to work on.
Orphan train is a specifically american story of mobility and rootlessness, highlighting a littleknown but historically significant moment in our countrys past. The national orphan train complex in concordia, kans. Stanley cornell, right, and his younger brother, victor, were adopted from an orphan. Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned. Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three most common questions that clubs have asked her about the novel. Jane eyre by charlotte bronte, harry potter and the sorcerers stone by j.
More than 200,000 homeless children were sent west on the trains. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more. Vige and others wrote the 89 biographies that are in this book. The children didnt know where they were going, but their destination was likely to be better than where theyd been. A short but very interesting book telling the history of the famous orphan trains or migration of so called orphan children from the american cities to the west of the country. Charles was placed with j f bickford, in westford, mn martin county. The brave journey of an orphan train rider, which chronicles the true life story of his paternal grandmother an orphan train rider sent to. Vivian is on this train on her way to, what she hopes is, a better life. John jackson, who at five years old walked off after a marching band and never found his way home again.
The national orphan train complex in concordia, ks is a museum and research center dedicated to the orphan train movement, the various institutions that participated, and the children and agents who rode the trains. Sep 14, 20 cane hill family adopts 3 who rode orphan train from new york duration. In order to read online or download orphan train riders ebooks in pdf, epub, tuebl and mobi format, you need to create a free account. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains transported more than 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children many of them firstgeneration irish catholic. Orphan train rider stories national orphan train complex. This is an image of orphan train riders taken in nebraska in 1909. Christina baker klines novel orphan train has ridden the new york times bestseller list for the past 15 weeks, becoming a favorite of book clubs across the country. The solutions for parentless and unparented children have varied tremendously over history and they vary, in part, based on the particular technological, economic, and cultural realities of the time. The term orphan train refers to a time in american history from 18541929. Riders of orphan train meet to tell life stories the. Childrens aid society archives, collection of the newyork historical society library. The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, abused, or homeless children.
Many arkansans can trace their roots to children who were relocated to arkansas. Visiting my motherinlaw in fargo, north dakota, for a week with. Her first book for houghton mifflin, orphan train rider, won the 1996 boston globe horn book award for nonfiction. Big brother by annie fellowjohnson, an 1893 childrens fiction book. The orphan train movement was the largest mass migration of children in united states history. Mary ellen wrote a series of books called orphan train riders. They started their journey in new york and were given away in train stations in every state in the. Since then, ive wanted to learn more about this often forgotten piece of history. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Molly ayer is living with ralph and dina in their home in spruce harbor, maine. One boys true story houghton mifflin, 1996, winner of the horn book award for nonfiction. The year is 2011 and molly is in trouble with the law.
Back in the mid1800s, there were not a lot of options for poor, homeless, abused, andor neglected children other than orphanages or almshouses. The history of these childrens lives has been largely left out of books, as well as the stories they themselves pass along. The intent of the program was not adoption as its now known but foster care. One boys true story and millions of other books are available for instant access. Louisiana orphan train museum opelousas 2020 all you need. Historical fiction books national orphan train complex.
So, when i found christina baker klines acclaimed novel orphan train, i immediately picked. We cannot guarantee that orphan train riders book is in the library, but if you are still not sure with the service, you can choose free trial service. Click on the names below to view a story of an orphan train rider. Rowling, orphan train by christina baker kline, bud. See more ideas about orphan train, orphan and train. The orphan trains operated between 1853 and 1929, relocating about 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children. Art smith, orphan train rider in his own words at age 71, i was shocked to discover that in december 1922, my eleven companions and i were not just an isolated 12 orphanswending our way westward by train to find a home. Some had been preplaced already and rode the train to a predesignated home.
Chas hendricks, american, age 11 nyo ny orphan asylum. Over the next 75 years, many thousands of children were relocated from new york and other eastern cities to new homes in the west. Orphan train rider museum opelousas interviews youtube. Aug 08, 2016 i first learned about americas orphan train riders when i was interning for a literary agency. Orphan train rider by andrea warren scholastic teacher store. She and her friends also started the louisiana orphan train society, inc. The orphan train community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Between 1854 and nearly a quarter of a million children from the east coast of the united states were resettled under what came to be known as the orphan train. Orphan train riders, from the riders on the orphan train multimedia performance at union depot in st.
This quote is from one of the chaperones for the children on the orphan train. Their own stories on the subject, capturing the individual stories of many orphans. Easytoread, compelling text explores the history of the childrens aid society and the development of the brace school, lodging houses, and industrial schools, the conditions that led to child abandonment in the 1800s, problems with institutional care and child labor laws, the roles the. The sisters sorted out and matched each child on this train to new homes before they boarded the train. Orphan train research person for this site is clark kidder author of emilys story. Andrea warrens books about children are the result of her passion for history and her interest in young readers. Orphan train summary from litcharts the creators of. Riders on the orphan train is a novel about a little known piece of american history.
New york state, where the the era of the orphan trains began and from where 273,000 children were transported by rail, has yet to memorialize the childrens journey. The statue, located near the majestic theater in concordia, is the 14th orphan train rider statue in concordia, established through a partnership with the national orphan train complex partnered with the marian d. The orphan train heritage society of america continued to hold reunions in different states. Click download or read online button to get orphan train book now.
Between 1854 and 1929, over 250,000 orphans and surrendered children were placed out across the country. From the teeming streets of new york among a crush of immigrants. A true story from the great depression, are all independent book award recipients. Pdf orphan train riders ebooks includes pdf, epub and. She has been a professional writer for twenty years and works from her home office in the kansas city area.