Check out the lists to find information about orphans, orphanages, children’s homes, asylums, and other institutions for children. Through the years, many of these homes changed their names, sometimes multiple times. Some records addressed the home with a partial name or a similar name. When possible indications are made as to the name changes. Many times research has not eliminated the possibility of another home with a similar name, perhaps in a different town.
According to
The first orphanage documented in the area that became the United States was opened in New Orleans in about 1727. The Ursulines provided an institution for the poor children of New Orleans. As in many orphanages, the children that were cared for were not all orphans. Many children had lost one parent or had parents unable to provide for them. It has been estimated that by 1915 only 15% of children found in the records of the New Orleans Board of Prisons and Asylums were full orphans. Orphanages did not accept all children. Many rejected children younger than age five due to the high death rate. Children, particularly adolescents, were also rejected for behavioral problems.
1930 Federal Census Records with Orphanage in the New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Many institutions that are not otherwise included on this page are listed here. This is a USGen Web project.
1930 Soards’ New Orleans City Directory Hospitals, Sanitariums, etc. provides street addresses for many orphanages. Contains institutions not yet listed in OrphanFinder.com
Asylums, Homes of Refuge- Orphanage
Children and Charity: Orphanages in New Orleans, 1817-1914 JSTOR article
Louisiana Birth Records as early as 1790
Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana 1892 Contains information about multiple orphanages
Louisiana Records, The Newberry Library – Digital Collections
Louisiana Societies – A database with information about many societies that provided relief to the poor. List of some institutional records available through The University of Warwick.
Louisiana Orleans Parish Census Records for many years for orphanages and other institutions years covered seem to be 1718-1930, created by USGenWeb Project
Louisiana Societies, Southern Charities Project lists 93 Societies
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Birth Records index, 1790-1915 on Ancestry
Orphan Asylums of Old New Orleans with photos
Records of the Disposition of Destitute Orphans Transcription, 1875, 1857, 1885
Religious Records
Archdiocese of New Orleans – has orphanage records and church records
Catholic Diocese of Shreveport
- Notarial Archives Records Office, 1340 Poydras Street, Suite 500,New Orleans, LA 70112 Filing: Mon-Fri, 9:00am-4:00pmResearch: Mon-Thurs, 7:30am-6:00pm Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
- Historical Documents: Notarial Archives Research Center1340 Poydras Street, Suite 360, New Orleans, LA 70112Mon-Fri, 9:00am-4:00pm Telephone: (504) 568-8577 Fax: (504) 599-1443
Orphanages:
Asile De La Ste. Famille, (colored children) Google Book Google Book
Asylum for Destitute Boys Manuscripts
Asylum for Destitute Orphan Boys, St. Charles between Dufossat and Bellecastle, , Jefferson City
Asylum for Homeless Boys
Asylum for Relief of Destitute Boys, New Orleans, also known as the Waldo Burton Memorial Boys’ Home, 3320 South Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118-4561 (504) 482-3202 image, photo, memories, A Study of the Waldo Burton Memorial Home
Asylum of the Societe Frangaise de Bienfaisance, Saint Ann, near Roman, papers, page 4
Baptist Orphanage photo Facebook photo
Beauregard Asylum, Pauline (between St. Claude and N. Rampart)
Bethany Home, 1643 N. Claiborne Ave.
Blind Babies Home, photo
Boys’ House of Refuge, Metairie Rd., between Bienville and Conti 1860 census records
Boys Orphan Asylum, New Orleans document
Cabrini High School and Orphanage
Camp Street Orphan Asylum (1840) Replaced St. Patrick’s Female Orphan Asylum – Sisters of Charity (elementary aged girls) (F)
Catholic Institute, The, Ecole Des Orphelins Indigents and the Couvent School, or The Catholic School for Indigent Orphans, New Orleans (1840) free education to African-American orphans, history
Catholic Male Orphan Asylum or Catholic Asylum for Relief of Male Orphans, New Orleans (1835)
Celeste Society for the Relief of Destitute Widows and Orphans, New Orleans (1835)
Children’s Home, near corner of Jackson and Chipewa (Protestant Episcopal) (M/F)
Devereux Hall photo Haunted Halls
Episcopal Home, corner of Jackson Ave. and St. Thomas St – Sisterhood of the Protestant Episcopal Church (F)
Faith Home for the Aged and Destitute, Pitt, corner of Robert
Father Turgus Asylum, St. Claude, corner of Pauline (widows and orphans of the South)
Female Asylum of the Immaculate Conception, 871 N. Rampart, corner of Elmira
Female Orphan Asylum, Camp and Prytania Sts. – Sisters of Charity (1836) Records
Fink Home, 3653 Camp, was also known as Fink Asylum, between Antonine and Amelia photo, manuscript (for Protestant Widows and orphans)
Firemen’s Charitable Association, The (1835) (sickness, misfortunes, widows and orphans)
Gaudet Episcopal School and Home, Manuscript collection
German Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Orphan Asylum Association Manuscripts
German Lutheran Orphan Society Manuscripts
German Orphanage Records for this institution , see page 3
German Protestant Orphan Asylum
German Protestant Home for the Aged and Infirm, 5919 Magazine at State St. – Monastery of the Poor Clares, Discalced Carmelite Nuns
Girod Asylum, Metairie Rd., between Conti and St. Louis
Hebrew Benevolent Society,
Home for the Aged and Infirm, Annunciation, corner Calliope (orphanage?)
Home of the Aged and Destitute, Magnolia, corner of Laharpe (orphanage?)
Home for the Incurables, next to monastery on Henry Clay Ave. , Louisiana Kings; Daughters (orphanage?)
Home for Homeless Young Women, 1434 Polymnia
Hope Haven, 1101 Barataria Ave., Marrero, photo News story Building renovation Preservation History Nostalgia Wiki photo photo photo
House of Refuge for Boys (1848) (under age 15)
House of Refuge for Girls (1853) (under age 15)
House of Refuge for Destitute Girls, Annunciation, corner of Calliope
House of the Good Shepherd, Bienville, between North Dohonde and North Broad
House of Good Shepherd, Bienville Street (was also known as Boys House of Refuge)
Immaculate Conception Orphan Girls’ Asylum, 871 N. Rampart St. (Catholic)
Immaculate Conception Asylum and House of Industry for Orphan Girls
Indigent Colored Orphan Asylum, 393 Dauphine
Industrial School and Model Farm of Our Lady of the Holy Cross, North Peters, corner of Reynes
Isidore Newman Manual Training School – Jewish Widows and Orphans Home Association – Jewish Widows’ and Orphans Asylum, Jackson, Corner of Chippewa
Jewish Children’s Home, Jefferson Ave. (1855) Hebrew Benevolent Association photo photo photo Manuscripts
Jewish Orphan’s Home, Jackson Avenue and Chippewa Streets
Jewish and Widows and Orphans, 5342 St. Charles Ave., unknown location architectural drawing
John Berchman Asylum for Girls, 733 Orleans 1893 – Thomy Lafon photo
King’ Daughters and Sons Nursery for Protestant Baby Boys, 1131 Genl Pershing
Ladies of Providence Asylum for Widows and Chilidren (1851) (widows and children, as well as the sick) Soceite de la Femmes de laProvidence (Women of Providence), New Orleans Catholic Archdiocesan Archives (Ursuline St. New Orleans)
Lafayette Asylum for Destitute Boys, Society for the Relief of Destitute Orphan Boys (1846)
Lafon Home for Boys, (1893-1906) St. Peter photo photo
Les Dames De La Providence (1839)
Liners Orphans’ Home, 2538 Delachaise
Little Sisters of the Poor, N. Johnson corner Laharpe and 3618 Prytania (homes for aged and infirm men and women (orphanage too?) photo
Louise Day Nursery, Colliseum between Clio and Erato,
Louisiana Freedmen’s Asylum, 3105 Audubon, (orphanage?)
Louisiana Retreat Insane Asylum, corner of Magazine, Nashville (1864) (orphanage?)
Louisiana State Baptist Orphanage, Corner of Bank St. and 7th St., Lake Charles (1900) later became a Catholic Brotherhood for Boys School, then called Landry Memorial School. Image
The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home (1899) Monroe, LA 71203-3954, Phone: 318-343-2244 photo
Louisiana Baptist Orphanage, photo
Louisiana Methodist Orphanage, Ruston, photo photo
Madonna Manor industrial farm (1932) (M/F) (under age 12) (later only for boys) Catholic photo history Wiki photo photo photo
Manual Industrial School
Margaret’s Baby House, Magazine and Race Sts., Sisters of Charity, (infants, babies, all babies accepted)
Memorial Home for Destitute Girls, 1913 Gentilly Rd.,
Methodist Children’s Home (1902) Bunkie, later relocated to the Ruston community – 904 DeVille Lane, 866-255-5830 or 318-255-5020 (1904) photo Lightning Strike, 1941, Complete Abandonment, and Historic Frustration. Facebook website Archives and History for United Methodist Church
Milne Asylum for Destitute Orphan Boys, Milneberg by Alexander Milne, also was known as Milne Boys Home, (1839) photo
Milne Asylum for Destitute Orphan Girls, Milneberg by Alexander Milne (1839)
Milne Orphan Asylum, The, (1839) (M/F) (orphans) Legal records containing history
Miss Sophie B. Wrights Free Night School for Boys, corner of Camp and Race Sts. (M)
Mount Carmel Female Orphan Asylum 53 Piety St., near Dauphine (Catholic) (F) Manuscripts includes lists of girls – names and ages. Sisters of Mount Carmel
Municipal Boys’ Home, 5201 Canal Blvd.
New Orleans Day Nursery Association , Richard & Annunciation Sts.
New Orleans Maternity Home, 1221 Annunciation
New Orleans Female Orphan Asylum, also was known as Poydras Asylum (1840) Sisters of Charity, Catholic (female orphans under age 15) photo JSTOR ScholarWorks Finding Aid for records, Minute Book in Associated Catholic Charities, New Orleans
Newsboys Home, New Orleans
Orphan Boys Home, New Orleans, architectural drawing
Orphanage of the Immaculate Conception
Poydras Asylum, 5354 Magazine St., also was known as New Orleans Female Orphan Asylum (1817) (F) (daughters of widows) photo history
Poydras Female Asylum, 5354 Magazine St. and Peter’s Avenue photo Manuscript records in the Special Collections of Tulane University Library; 11th Annual Report, Louisiana Advertiser (New Orleans, LA) Monday, January 21, 1828; Fortieth Annual and First Printed Report of the Poydras Female Asylum, together with the Medical Report of B. Stille, M.D. (New Orleans, Clark and Brisbin, 1857). Forty Fourth Annual Report of the Poydras Female Asylum for the Relief of Widows and Orphans (New Orleans: Published at the Office of the True Witness and Sentinel, 1861).
Podryas Male Orphan Asylum, Poydras Male Orphan Asylum, St. Charles Avenue and Dufossat Street – The Society for the Relief of Destitute Orphan Boys (1824) (orphans and any destitute boy) photo
Providence Asylum for Colored Female Chldren, corner of North Tonti
Protestant Children’s Home Manuscripts Minutes, 1853-onwards, Protestant Orphans Home, Fourth District; The Third Annual Report of the Orphans Home, Corner of Constance and Fourth Streets, Fourth District (New Orleans, Daily Delta Steam Press Print, 1856).
Protestant Episcopal Children’s Home, 609 Jackson Ave. (1860) Manuscripts
Protestant Home for Babies, 1233 8th,
Protestant Orphans Home, corner of Constance and 7th St. (epidemic of 1853) Howard Association, (M/F) (orphans, half-orphans when a parent cannot provide)
Protestant Orphans Home, East Baton Rouge Parish, (1847) also known as The Protestant Girls Home or the Female Orphan Asylum Records 1848-1930
Rescue Workers Home, 1548 Magazine (women and children)
Sacred Heart Orphanage, Esplanade
Sacred Heart Orphanage, New Orleans photo
St. Alphonsus Orphan Asylum 4th, corner of St. Patrick
St. Ann’s Asylum, corner of St. Mary and Prytania Sts., – Dr. Mercer (Catholic) Charter of St Anna’s Asylum 1851, Historic New Orleans Collection
St. Elizabeth House of Industry (1855) (F) (admitted at 12/13 until age 18) children from St Vincent’s Infant Asylum were transferred and educated here) Finding Aid – many collections of records, philanthropy of Margaret Haugery
St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage, 1314 Napoleon Ave. New Orleans Parish
St. Elizabeth’s Asylum, or St. Elizabeth’s Female Asylum (House of Industry) 1314 Napoleon Avenue and Coliseum Street (1855) – Sisters of Charity
Saint Isidore’s Institute, North Peters, corner Reynes, Farm School
St. John’s Asylum, 2709 Gentilly Rd, (F)
St. Joseph Academy
St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum, Josephine, 2044 Laurel, Sisters of Mercy
Saint Joseph’s German Boys’ and Girls’ Orphan Asylum, 2044 Laurel St. (Catholic) (1853)
St. Joseph German Protestant Asylum, State, between Camp and Chestnut, Burtheville, Cemetery Certificate
St. Mary’s Orphan Boys’ Asylum, 4111 Chartres St. near Mazant and Frence Ave., (1835) Sisters Marianites of the Holy Cross (infant to age 15) (M) photo, Registers from 1853 in Associated Catholic Charities, New Orleans.
St. Mary’s Orphanage photo photo
St. Patrick’s Female Orphan Asylum (1837-1840) Replaced by Camp Street Orphan Asylum in 1840
St. Philip Street Orphanage – First Communion
St. Theresa’s Asylum
St. Vincent’s Home for Boys, Society of St. Vincent de Paul (1836) (maintain half-orphan boys) Farm
St. Vincent Asylum for half-orphan girls, Cambrone and Third St.
St. Vincent Asylum, Cambronne, between 2nd and Burthe, Carrollton
St. Vincent’s Home, Donaldsville
St. Vincent Infant Asylum, 1507 Magazine St. , corner of Race, New Orleans- Sisters of Charity photo architectural plans, history and image
St. Vincent Infant Asylum (1862) infant to age seven) (girls transfer to Camp Street Orphan Asylum, boys to ?)
St. Vincent’s Orphanage (1858) Sisters of Charity
Seventh Street Protestant Orphans Home, 3020 Magazine, between 7th and 8th St.
Society for the Relief of Destitute Females and their Helpless Children
(1852)
Annual Report of the Society for the Relief of Destitute Females and their Helpless Children (New Orleans: Office of the Picayune, 1852) [Copy in Hoole Rare Books Collection, University of Alabama Library]
Society for the Relief of Destitute Orphan Boys
Founded in 1824 by protestant men, Opened an Asylum for Destitute Orphan Boys that later became the Waldo Burton Home.
Admission Records 1824 onwards in Special Collections of Tulane University Library.
Society for the Relief of Destitute Widows and Indigent Females
Female voluntary society (1834) also known as the Female Asylum
Touro-Shakspeare Almshouse, 5700 Danneel St. between Joseph St. and Nashville Ave.(1895) (penniless and decrepit poor) Boys’ House of Refuge photo photo photo, update with photo (almshouse and an infirmary for sailors with yellow fever) news article with history, history and image gallery, Records 1855 and after in New Orleans Public Library; additional records at Tuoro Infirmary Archives.
Societe de Secours Mutuels des Enfants de la FRance (1908-1918) Manuscripts
Societe Francaise De Bienfaisance Asylum, St. Ann, between North Derbigny and North Roman
Colored Waif’s Home, New Orleans photo (colored boys) image Louis Armstrong was sent here as a boy, more about the home and Louis Armstrong
Ursuline Orphanage (1727) (orphan girls, poor children) (provided education)
Waldo Burton Memorial Boys’ Home, 3320 South Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118-4561 (504) 482-3202 image, photo, memories, A Study of the Waldo Burton Memorial Home, Manuscripts
Warrington Home for Boys, Inc., 700 Orleans St., photo, home records 1823-1965 – handwritten and typed correspondence, stamped envelopes, daily logs, admittance books, account books, receipts, records of medical conditions and prescriptions, case histories
West Feliciana Asylum
YWCA of New Orleans, (1911-1966) Manuscripts
Associations:
Female Orphan Association of Baton RougeYoung Men’s Excelsior Benevolent Association
Young Men’s Howard Association, (1837) (provided relief to the indigent and sick)
Young Men’s Mutual Benevolent Association
Young Men’s Philanthropic Association
Young Sons of Louisiana