The Dallas Day Nursery: “Bring On Your Babies” — 1919
by Paula Bosse
“Inmates and their nurse-mother” (click for larger image)
by Paula Bosse
This photo appeared in the pages of The Dallas Express, the main source of news for the city’s black residents. The caption, below (click for larger image).
Dallas Express, Nov. 22, 1919
This “day nursery” organized by the Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, must have been a relief to working women who had young children that needed supervision. At the nominal fee of 10¢ a day (equivalent to about $1.35 today), the community service was affordable to many working families. A few weeks after the above photo appeared in its pages, an editorial appeared in the Express, urging support for the Dallas Day Nursery and explaining why it was important not only to families, but to the greater community.
Dallas Express, Dec. 16, 1919
***
The nursery appears to have been run out of a residence at 2417 Caddo Street, which would now be located in the CityPlace Market parking lot, behind the Office Max.
Google Maps
*
Copyright © 2015 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
[…] THE DALLAS KINDERGARTEN AND NURSERY ASSOCIATION has conducted four stations during the year – the Clara Chaison Kindergarten at the Neighborhood House on Cedar Springs Road, the South Dallas Kindergarten near Trinity Play Park, the Cora Street Nursery, formerly under the supervision of the City Federation of Women’s Clubs, and the Alamo Nursery at Hickory and Alamo streets. The average enrollment at all stations was 205. In connection with each station a day nursery is maintained where mothers with employment may leave their young children from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. An average of fifty mothers take advantage of these nurseries each day, and a bath, wholesome dinner, nap and play constitute the day’s program. [A similar nursery, specifically for the black community, was the Dallas Day Nursery.] […]
LikeLike