Financial Situation of Orphanages in the Nizhny Novgorod (Gorky) Region in the Second Half of the 1940s and early 1950s

Abstract

The struggle against children’s homelessness and organizing the work of orphanages after World War II had extremely important social value. The number of orphanages in the city of Gorkii doubled during the 1940s, and in 1948 there were 19 budgetary and 6 departmental orphanages. There were 102 orphanages in the Gorky oblast in 1946. Material conditions for accommodating pupils in orphanages were difficult, and so boards of trustees were established and patrons were attached to the orphanages. Using documentary sources from the State Socio-political Archive in the Nizhny Novgorod oblast, this article describes the complex of problems at orphanages in the post-war period. Materials from inspections of orphanages create a general image of children’s lives. The purpose of inspections was to identify problems and assistance to the orphanages, to promote the experiences of the best orphanages, and to control patronage work and boards of trustees. The problem of overpopulation in orphanages was solved in several ways. The first was children who had parents to their homes. However, this was not always possible, as many parents might be sick or disabled. Another strategy was employing children 14 years or older and giving them accommodations in enterprise hostels, although enterprise directors did not always agree to accept children. There is not enough documentary material on the organization of supply and food in orphanages in the second half of the 1940s, and data both of city and oblast orphanages at the beginning of the 1950s are sporadic.