Institutional Care for Orphaned Children in the Kingdom of Hungary (From Private Charity to a State System)
Institutional Care for Orphaned Children in the Kingdom of Hungary (From Private Charity to a State System)

Summary/Abstract: The study provides a synthetic view of the history of institutional care for orphans in the Kingdom of Hungary from the mid-18th century to the final decades of the 19th century. The first orphanages in the country emerged at the beginning of this period, with objectives that were overwhelmingly defined in religious terms. At the end of this period about a hundred orphanages existed in the country and there was extensive debate in society about the need to create, with the support of the state, an efficient system that would provide care to all groups of children in need, not only of orphans but also rejected, abandoned and neglected children. The state did not regulate the institutional care for orphaned children in any manner; the admission criteria, level of care and the education provided was entirely dependent on the wishes of the founder or administrator.

• Details
• Contents