| Abstract: | The West Side Community House was founded in 1890 in Cleveland, Ohio, by Methodist deaconesses. Early services included nursing, industrial, and domestic classes. Ongoing services included day care, clubs and classes for both boys and girls, Sunday school, vacation Bible school, Christian reading clubs, an Americanization program, and classes in citizenship and English. In 1944 the Community House became non-denominational and adopted a professional social service approach. The collection consists of views of the Methodist Episcopal Deaconess Home and West Side Community House, a social settlement house in Cleveland, Ohio; portraits of staff members and clients; views of institutional buildings; and images of participants in recreational and education programs, including day care, industrial arts, home economics, and camping. | |