The Chosen Ones: A Revisionist History of Paternalism, Admissions, and Maternal Agency at the London Foundling Hospital (1739-1869)

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dc.contributor.advisorRogers, Nicholas
dc.contributor.authorGrimaldi, Virginia Lynn
dc.date.accessioned2024-11-07T11:12:12Z
dc.date.available2024-11-07T11:12:12Z
dc.date.copyright2024-07-10
dc.date.issued2024-11-07
dc.date.updated2024-11-07T11:12:12Z
dc.degree.disciplineHistory
dc.degree.levelDoctoral
dc.degree.namePhD - Doctor of Philosophy
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation studies the evolution of the London Foundling Hospital's (LFH) admissions process over 130 years (1741-1869), examining archival documents to unveil the dynamics of the institution's operations and the societal forces influencing its policies. The first chapter challenges prevailing narratives of the LFH's founding, debunking the notion of its militaristic origins and highlighting the paternalistic motivation of its early leaders. The second chapter introduces the concept of "institutional paternalism," arguing that the LFH was driven by paternalistic impulses, with implications for understanding charitable institutions more broadly. The third chapter traces the evolution of the LFH's admissions policy, a subject that has never been rigorously explored before. It reveals significant shifts in societal attitudes towards motherhood and philanthropy and the institution's pivotal role within this landscape. The final chapter explores the LFH's transition towards aiding 'respectable' women rather than simply those in dire need and investigates the intersection of institutional power and maternal agency, showcasing the resilience of marginalized women in negotiating the boundaries of Victorian morality. Each chapter is contextualized with a review of relevant historiography, providing essential background for the analysis.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/42472
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectHistory
dc.subjectEuropean history
dc.subjectGender studies
dc.subject.keywordsSocial history
dc.subject.keywordsLondon Foundling Hospital
dc.subject.keywordsFoundling Hospital
dc.subject.keywordsBritish history
dc.subject.keywordsSocial history
dc.subject.keywordsGeorgian London
dc.subject.keywordsVictorian London
dc.subject.keywordsChange over time
dc.subject.keywordsGender
dc.subject.keywordsCoram, Thomas
dc.subject.keywordsPhilanthropy
dc.subject.keywordsHistory of charity
dc.subject.keywordsWorking-class
dc.subject.keywordsRespectability
dc.subject.keywordsFiscal military state thesis
dc.subject.keywordsPaternalism
dc.subject.keywordsPetitions
dc.subject.keywordsGoffman, Ervin
dc.subject.keywordsDavis, Natalie Zemon
dc.subject.keywordsFoucault, Michel
dc.subject.keywordsBarry, Helen
dc.subject.keywordsHistoriography
dc.subject.keywordsLondon history
dc.subject.keywordsTimeline
dc.subject.keywordsAgency
dc.subject.keywordsMaternal agency
dc.subject.keywordsWomen's studies
dc.subject.keywordsBrownlow, John
dc.subject.keywordsBrewer, John
dc.subject.keywordsCharitable giving
dc.subject.keywordsOrphanages
dc.subject.keywordsChildren's charities
dc.subject.keywordsBenevolent Fund
dc.subject.keywordsIndigent Fund
dc.subject.keywordsInvalid Fund
dc.subject.keywordsRoberts, David
dc.subject.keywordsApprenticeships
dc.subject.keywordsHealthcare
dc.subject.keywordsChildren's care
dc.subject.keywordsBalloting
dc.subject.keywordsPetitioning
dc.subject.keywordsAdmissions
dc.subject.keywordsMothers
dc.subject.keywordsPoor mothers
dc.subject.keywordsIllegitimate children
dc.subject.keywordsLegitimate children
dc.subject.keywordsHistory of medicine
dc.subject.keywordsEighteenth century
dc.subject.keywordsNineteenth century
dc.subject.keywordsTale-telling
dc.subject.keywordsNegotiation
dc.subject.keywordsWorking women
dc.subject.keywordsWorking mothers
dc.subject.keywordsCenturies compared
dc.titleThe Chosen Ones: A Revisionist History of Paternalism, Admissions, and Maternal Agency at the London Foundling Hospital (1739-1869)
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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