Voluntary Action History Society

 

The greatest philanthropic tradition on earth?
Measuring the extent of voluntary activity in London, 1874-1914 

Annual General Meeting and Seminar

Thursday 9 February 2006
Graham Wallace Room, Old Building, London School of Economics
AGM 5.30 – 6pm
Seminar 6pm followed by Drinks Reception

All are welcome to attend the AGM and seminar which marks the re-launch of VAHS and the start of a new seminar series. Our guest speaker is Dr. Susannah Morris, London School of Economics.

Abstract

The greatest philanthropic tradition on earth? Measuring the extent of voluntary activity in London, 1874-1914
 

Establishing the scale and scope of voluntary activity before the development of the welfare state is a perennial problem for historians. Opinions differ widely with some regarding the late nineteenth century as representing the golden age of Victorian voluntarism and others arguing that voluntary activity was woefully inadequate for the needs of a urbanised and industrialised economy. Many of these claims have been made on the basis of remarkably little empirical evidence and this research therefore seeks to test various propositions about the vitality of voluntarism by examining the income and activities of London voluntary organisations in comparison with trends in national income and poor law provision.