Kelso, J. J. (1864-1935) Also known as: Kelso, John Joseph

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Benjamin Barr Lindsey to Julian William Mack, June 18, 1906

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Birth Date

1864-03-31

Death Date

1935-09-30

Birthplace

Dundalk, Ireland

Biographical Text

J. J. Kelso was born in Ireland. After a fire destroyed his father's starch manufacturing business, Kelso's family immigrated to Toronto, Canada. He enrolled at Jarvis Collegiate and graduated within one year, then becoming a journalist. He first worked as a proofreader for The World and then worked his way up to police reporter for The Globe. As a journalist, he witnessed children living in poverty, which led him to found the Toronto Humane Society in 1887 in order to protect children from cruelty and prevent them from turning to crime. He served as the organization's treasurer from 1918 to 1935. In 1891, Kelso was elected the first president of Toronto's Children's Aid Society and Fresh Air Fund. In 1893, he became the first provincial Superintendent of Neglected and Dependent Children in Ontario, directing children's aid societies and integrating them into other provinces. Kelso was also an advocate for special juvenile courts, mothers' allowances, the legalization of adoption, closing reformatories and creating playgrounds. By 1895, he was considered Canada's leading expert in child welfare and was nicknamed the "children's friend." In 1911, Kelso, Arthur Burnett, George Bryce, and Elizabeth Neufeld founded Central Neighborhood House, the second settlement house in Toronto, and Kelso served as its first chairman.

Kelso was married to Irene Maddin Martin. They had two children together: Martin MacMurray and Irene. Kelso died in 1935.