Journal of Sociology and Social Work

The Last Flight of an Angel: A Historical Ethnography ofThe Salvation Army’s Home for Unwed Mothers
Kimber M. Wickersham, Denise M. Green

Abstract
At the turn of the twentieth century The Salvation Army looked upon unwed pregnant women as sisters in need of a helping hand. These fallen females needed rescuing. The first maternity homes were therefore called Rescue Homes. The Salvation Army Rescue Home for Women in Birmingham, Alabama, established during the first decade of the twentieth century, was the first and last rescue home in the Southeast. Although there were several changes in address, changes in name, changes in clientele, and changes in service delivery, there was never a change in the mission. The length of stay and the criteria for admission changed to accommodate the public’s needs. The facility and staff were adjusted as social attitudes changed. However, the mission to assist females in need, and thereby help the community as a whole, never changed. This paper is a historical ethnography of the sole Salvation Army Maternity Home and thechanges in society’s perception of unwed pregnant girls and the opportunities afforded them.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v2n2a11