Report on the defective, dependent, and delinquent classes of the population of the United States, as returned at the tenth census
Collected as part of the 1880 census, this work focuses on individuals suffering from physical or mental disabilities, convicted criminals, those living in poverty, and homeless children. The stated purpose of this specialized data collection was to understand the scope and scale of individuals receiving financial assistance from the government. As an official government document, this census has long since become outdated for its initial purpose. However, this historical record now offers primary source evidence for how the government and public at large framed issues of disability, crime, poverty, and homelessness. Government documents such as this can help modern researchers construct an understanding of how social welfare in the United States has developed.
United States Census Office. Report on the Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes of the Population of the United States, as Returned at the Tenth Census (June 1, 1880)
Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/00011845009
A version of this text has been digitized and is available through Hathitrust.