NATIONAL DEPRESSION, THE POOR, AND POOR RELIEF - LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, 1896-1897, A CASE-STUDY

Historians view the national depression in the 1890s as changing the p erception of the cause of poverty from one of individual fault to one that recognized social factors and, therefore, as altering poor relief practices and policies. An examination of the characteristics of the poor, public relief practice and policy, and private charities in a sm all Indiana city during this period found that, although the poor cont inued to be misperceived, responses of public and private relief agenc ies did change to allow minimal assistance for the involuntarily unemp loyed, but only if they were local residents.