Forms of charitable activities of the Saratov Zemstvo: Social protection of childhood (1870–1910s)

Abstract

The article presents a case study of one of the important and least researched areas of self-government bodies’ social policy – charitable activities of the Zemstvo in Saratov province. The main attention is paid to the forms of childhood protection and the process of building up a system of Zemstvo’s assistance to orphans and children left without parental care. The paper places a significant focus on the history of creation of the Zemstvo’s orphanage and other institutions of social care for foundlings.

Keywords

• charity
• social policy
• zemstvo
• children
• foundlings
• illegitimate children
• zemstvo’s orphanage
• “nursery”
• patronage