Scope and Content: The Board of State Charities and its successors from 1863 onward oversaw the Massachusetts state immigration and pauper relief functions, as well as the state’s charitable and correctional institutions. In 1866 the board appointed a visiting agent, under its secretary, to track and visit state wards sent out to indenture. The Visiting Agency was made a separate department within the board  in 1869 to investigate applicants wanting to adopt or indenture children, approve placements, conduct visits of children that were adopted, indentured, or otherwise placed out, and provide ongoing follow-up. One of the charges of the state visiting agency from its establishment per St 1869, c 453 was that it was to be notified when state-supported children were to be committed to any state reform institution. Agents were to attend trials and were allowed to recommend juvenile offenders be placed with a family if more suitable.
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