Orphan Trains

The Orphan Train Movement (1854–1929) was a massive and unprecedented social welfare effort that relocated over 200,000 orphaned, homeless, or neglected children from crowded Eastern U.S. cities—most notably New York—to rural communities in the Midwest and beyond. For genealogists, these relocations can present both intriguing opportunities and unique challenges. If your family lore includes an ancestor who arrived by orphan train, or you suspect that an elusive relative may have entered a Midwestern community as part of this program, understanding the movement’s history, documentation, and record-keeping methods can help guide your research. The following guide explains the Orphan Train Movement’s history and offers detailed steps, strategies, and resources to help you trace these difficult but often rewarding genealogical trails.

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Understanding the Orphan Train Movement’s Historical ContextUnderstanding the Orphan Train Movement’s Historical Context

Origins of the MovementOrigins of the Movement

In the mid-19th century, the rapidly growing urban centers of the Northeast were home to tens of thousands of children who had lost one or both parents or whose families could not support them. Child welfare agencies such as the Children’s Aid Society (founded in 1853) and the New York Foundling Hospital (founded in 1869) developed a system of relocation known as “placing out.” The guiding idea was that children would have better futures if placed with rural families who could offer them a wholesome environment and an opportunity to learn trades.

Key Organizations and Their MethodsKey Organizations and Their Methods

Children’s Aid Society (CAS): One of the earliest and most influential organizations, CAS sent children west by rail, supervised by an agent, and placed them with pre-selected families or held “placement events” where local residents could choose children.
New York Foundling Hospital (NYFH): Operated by the Sisters of Charity, the Foundling Hospital maintained careful oversight, often placing children in Catholic families and checking in on them periodically.

Geographic Scope and Social ClimateGeographic Scope and Social Climate

These children arrived primarily in states like Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas, and beyond. Communities were frequently small, agrarian towns. The program reflected the era’s emphasis on “productive” childhoods, moral upbringing, and assimilation into middle American values.

End of the MovementEnd of the Movement

By the early 20th century, changing social welfare policies, the rise of foster care systems, and reforms in child labor and adoption laws gradually diminished the Orphan Train Movement. Its last “runs” occurred in the late 1920s.

What Kind of Records Were Created?What Kind of Records Were Created?

Agency RecordsAgency Records

Children’s Aid Society: Maintained registers, intake forms, letters, and occasionally follow-up reports. Many of these records are now preserved at the New-York Historical Society.
New York Foundling Hospital: Kept baptismal records, intake ledgers, and correspondence. Some of these materials are archived and can be accessed through Catholic Charities or the NYFH’s records where available.

Railroad and Transportation DetailsRailroad and Transportation Details

While train companies did not typically keep detailed passenger lists specifically for these children, some agency notes might mention train numbers, departure and arrival dates. Newspapers frequently advertised impending arrivals of orphan trains, which can provide contextual clues.

Local Family and Community HistoriesLocal Family and Community Histories

Once settled, children might appear in census records as “boarders,” “servants,” or “adopted children” in a household. Church records, school enrollment logs, and county histories may mention these children’s arrival or later achievements.

Newspaper AccountsNewspaper Accounts

Many local newspapers covered orphan train arrivals. Articles might list names or partial descriptions of children, the sponsors involved, and occasionally the families they joined. Obituaries and wedding announcements in local newspapers sometimes mention a person’s unique origin story.

State and County RecordsState and County Records

Adoption records, guardianship papers, and probate files could hold valuable data. Although official adoptions were not always formalized at the time, in later years some families filed delayed adoption or guardianship papers, leaving a paper trail.

How to Begin Your Genealogical ResearchHow to Begin Your Genealogical Research

Start With Known Family DataStart With Known Family Data

Begin by reviewing any oral histories, family Bibles, photo captions, letters, or diaries that might mention an ancestor’s childhood journey. Clues like “arrived on a train,” “raised by adoptive parents in Iowa,” or “sent from New York” can help confirm suspicions about orphan train origins.

Identify the Timeframe and Possible OriginsIdentify the Timeframe and Possible Origins

If you know your ancestor’s approximate birth year and can locate them as a child in a census record—particularly if they appear in one location in 1900 but family lore says they were from elsewhere—this can help narrow down their involvement in the movement. Work backward: If they showed up mysteriously in a Midwestern household around 1870–1920, the Orphan Train scenario becomes more plausible.

Check Census Records CarefullyCheck Census Records Carefully

In the U.S. Federal Census from 1850 onward, note relationships to the head of household. Although early censuses often do not clearly state “adopted child,” a child with a different surname living with a family could signal an informal arrangement. Later censuses (especially post-1900) sometimes included notes about relationships that may confirm or hint at non-biological ties.

Contact the New-York Historical Society (NYHS) and Other Archives:Contact the New-York Historical Society (NYHS) and Other Archives:

Children’s Aid Society Records: The NYHS holds a substantial collection of CAS records. Inquiries can be made online, and research appointments can be requested. Although access to detailed case files may be restricted, staff may help confirm whether a record exists for a known child.
New York Foundling Hospital Records: Some NYFH records are also available via Catholic Charities. Privacy rules may apply, so be prepared to demonstrate your relationship to the individual you are researching.

Use Online Databases and RegistriesUse Online Databases and Registries

Orphan Train Heritage Society of America (OTHSA): This organization, though no longer active, left behind a legacy of collected information and may direct you to successor organizations or partner archives.
National Orphan Train Complex (Concordia, Kansas): This museum and research center offers archives, databases, and knowledgeable staff who can guide your research.
Genealogical Subscription Databases: Websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Newspapers.com may have digitized materials—newspaper clippings, historical journals, and rare documents—that mention orphan train children.

Local Historical and Genealogical Societies:Local Historical and Genealogical Societies:

Once you know the town or county where the child was placed, contact the local historical society. Volunteers and archivists might be familiar with family names and adoption stories from that era. They may have scrapbooks, local directories, and community records not found elsewhere.

Check Church and Parish RecordsCheck Church and Parish Records

Baptism, communion, confirmation, and marriage records from Catholic parishes (particularly relevant to NYFH placements) and various Protestant denominations can hold clues. Sometimes these records note unusual family origins or guardianships. Contacting the diocese archives might yield valuable leads.

Examine Probate and Guardianship RecordsExamine Probate and Guardianship Records

If the child’s new family filed any official paperwork, the county courthouse may have guardianship documents. These might reference when and how the child arrived and from which agency they were placed out. Probate files for the adoptive parents might also list the child as an heir or ward, providing insights into their legal status.

Interview Family MembersInterview Family Members

Before older relatives are no longer available, ask them about any family legends, unusual name changes, or whispered tales of “adoption.” Even fragments can lead you to more concrete records.

Tips for Overcoming Common Research ChallengesTips for Overcoming Common Research Challenges

Name Changes and Inconsistent Spellings: Many children arrived with no known last name, or their name was changed by the agency or adoptive family. Research multiple name variations. Consider phonetic spellings and nicknames.
Lack of Formal Adoption: Before the early 20th century, adoptions were often informal. Don’t rely solely on “adoption papers.” Focus on census data, newspaper references, and personal correspondence.
Privacy and Restrictions on Records: Not all records are open to public scrutiny due to privacy laws. Prepare to show proof of direct lineage to the individual you’re investigating. Persistence, tact, and patience are essential.
Scanty Documentation: Not every orphan train rider left a trail of official documents. In such cases, triangulate multiple sources—church records, local histories, school rosters, and DNA testing to find genetic cousins who may have preserved stories or records.

Utilizing DNA TestingUtilizing DNA Testing

If the paper trail goes cold, consider DNA testing through major consumer genetic genealogy companies. By building a DNA match list, you may connect with relatives who know more about the family’s history. A shared DNA connection might confirm that your ancestor originated in a specific New York family or ethnic community.

ConclusionConclusion

Researching an ancestor associated with the Orphan Train Movement requires historical context, creativity, persistence, and resourcefulness. By starting with your family’s known clues, examining census and community records, reaching out to specialized archives like the New-York Historical Society, and employing modern tools such as DNA analysis, you can gradually piece together your ancestor’s journey. Although not all mysteries will be fully resolved, the effort often yields a richer understanding of your family’s past and the extraordinary circumstances that brought them together.

Learn more about orphan trainsLearn more about orphan trains

Descendants of the Orphan Train Facebook Group
National Orphan Train Complex
Orphan Train DNA
Orphan Trains. VitaBrevis
Orphan Trains: A Brief History and Research How-to. New York Genealogical & Biographical Society]
All Aboard with Orphan Train Research. Family Tree Magazine

References