1. Pre-Merger, 1891-1963

This series documents the history of the settlements before they merged to become United South End Settlements. Documentation includes the actions taken by the South End Area Planning Group, which consisted of the South End, Hale, Lincoln, and Harriet Tubman Houses, and Ellis and Morgan Memorial, in response to the Community to the Community Fund survey; the subsequent formation of the Federation of South End Settlements in 1950; and the incorporation of South End, Hale, Lincoln, and Harriet Tubman Houses, and the Children's Art Centre in 1960. Also documented are the creation of the Children's Art Centre, its programs, activities, and exhibitions from 1915-1963; and the purpose and creation of the Andover House Association in 1891, its residents, and its four years of activity before being renamed the South End House. In addition this series contains a history of the South End House, its programs, committees, activities, and role in the community from 1895-1959; and histories of Hale, Lincoln, and Harriet Tubman houses; and early references to urban renewal in the South End.

Records include annual reports of the Children's Art Centre from 1922-1963; annual reports of the Andover House Association from 1891-1894; South End House annual reports from 1892-1907 (reports for 1943-1950 are missing); the 25th anniversary report for years 1891-1917, the 30th anniversary report for years 1892-1922, and the 50th anniversary report for years 1891-1942. Minutes of the Federation's directors, South End Planning Group, and Boston Social Union meetings are also included. In addition, the series contains reports from the South End Area Planning Committee regarding the programs and services of the individual settlement houses and their consolidation; the Community Fund survey; by-laws of Andover, Hale, Lincoln, and South End houses; and budgets and treasurer's reports. Also included is correspondence to and from the settlement house directors and members of the Board of Directors regarding the consolidation, and Federation of South End Settlement newsletters. Articles and reports contain information on the settlement house movement, urban renewal, the South End, and the Children's Art Center.

Of special interest are the minutes of the South End Planning Group, which describe the programs and activities of all the houses and contain discussions regarding consolidation (Box 1); responses and correspondence by the settlement houses to the Community Fund survey (Box 1); and the manuscript and research notes for The Zone of Emergence, Robert Woods' and Albert Kennedy's only book about Boston's neighborhoods (Box 2). Also of special interest are the South End House reports from 1982-1907 written by Robert Woods, which provide a thorough but concise history of the South End House. Included with these reports are the Andover House reports from 1891-1894 written by William J. Tucker (Box 2).

Also of note are the correspondence regarding the international exhibition of the art work from Children's Art Centre (Box 1); correspondence between Robert Woods and Ester Barrow (Box 2), in which they discuss Miss Barrows returning to the South End House as Head Worker; correspondence from Maria Chapman Weston regarding Harriet Tubman (Box 1); and the correspondence between Eleanor Woods and Charles Ernst in which they discuss the history and the future of the South End House (Box 2). The material documenting the dedication of the Stone Family Library (Box 2), explaining the relationship between the Woods and the Stones and giving a history of the South End House (Box 2), as well as the speech given by William Cole in memory of Robert Woods are also of interest (Box 2).

In addition, there are three scrapbooks in this series. The first is a scrapbook of the Chester Park Neighborhood Association (Box 1), which was established by the South End Planning Council and active in the South End during the 1950s. The second scrapbook contains newspaper clippings from 1910-1931 and provides information about the South End House's programs and activities; some of this information nor found in other parts of the collection. The third scrapbook is of photographs of early South End House programs that were administered out of the South Bay Union and the 48 Rutland Street centers, including kindergarten classes, May Day celebrations, the roof garden, and flower delivery. Also included are photographs from the summer camp in Wellesley and Bristol Farms (Box 1). The original scrapbook was photocopied to preserve the arrangement; actual photographs are located in Series 7, Audio-visual and Memorabilia.