Scope and Content: Massachusetts state almshouse inspectors had the power to place out for indenture minor almshouse inmates per St 1852, c 275, s 7. From 1863 they came under the jurisdiction of the Board of State Charities, which oversaw the Massachusetts state immigration and pauper relief functions, as well the state’s charitable and correctional (reformatory only from 1870) 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. Visitation work was continued by the Dept. of Indoor Poor, responsible for adults in state institutions and juvenile wards of the state over three years of age,  upon formation of the successor State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity in 1879.
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