Brackett, Jeffrey Richardson (1860-1949)

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Received by (1)
Mentioned in (1)
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National Conference of Charities and Correction

Jane Addams to Jeffrey Richardson Brackett, November 30, 1909

Commission on International Implications of Social Work member list, ca. April 1928

Comments

Birth Date

1860-10-20

Death Date

1949-12-04

Birthplace

Quincy, MA

Biographical Text

Jeffrey Richardson Brackett attended Harvard University, graduating in 1883. He then studied at Johns Hopkins University, receiving his Ph.D. in history in 1889. He was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Relief Commission, and was a member of the Board of Charity Organization Society of Baltimore, the Henry Watson Children’s Aid Society, the Advisory Committee of the New York School of Social Work, and served as a member of the committee for the pioneer summer training course under the New York Charity Organization in 1898. He was also a Trustee of the Poor of the City of Baltimore from 1896 until 1898, the first president of the Board of Supervisors of City Charities, and president of the National Conference of Charities and Correction, which became the National Conference of Social Work under his influence. In 1895, Brackett founded the Instructive Visiting Nurse Association (IVNA) of Baltimore City. In 1904, he became the head of the Boston School for Social Workers, becoming Instructor in Charity, Public Aid, and Corrections and Professor of Theory and Practice of Philanthropic Work. From 1906 to 1935, he was a member of the Massachusetts State Board of Charities, and from 1906 to 1937 he was a member of the Advisory Board of the Department of Public Welfare of Massachusetts, serving as chairman from 1919 until 1937. Brackett also organized the Massachusetts Conference of Social Work and was a member of the Boston Associated Charities and the Massachusetts Civic League. In 1909, he was elected incorporator of the National American Red Cross, and he was also involved in the formation of the Department of Social Services at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1910 he was named the chairman of the Committee on Education in the Department. From 1921 to 1933, Brackett served as Director of the Family Service Society. He was also very involved with the church, serving as vestryman and clerk for Trinity Church in Boston. In 1920 he was named to the Social Service Commission of the Diocese and served as president of the church. Brackett also wrote books on social work and philanthropy, including The Negro in Maryland: A Study of the Institution of Slavery and Supervision and Education in Charities.

Brackett married Susan Katharine Jones in 1886. Susan died in 1931, and in 1935 Brackett remarried to Louisa de Berniere Bacot. Brackett died in 1949.

Occupation

Educator

Professor

Social worker

Collection

People

Map

Edited By

Huntley, Kyle

Lichon, Sara Catherine

Rights

Public domain

Gender

Male

First appears

1909

Bibliography and Links

SNAC

Social Welfare History Project

Citation

“Brackett, Jeffrey Richardson (1860-1949),” Jane Addams Digital Edition, accessed January 17, 2026, https://digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/items/show/3998.