DescriptionThis collection of Whittier House Boys Club membership cards records children's names, parent's names, places of birth, nationalities, family members, occupations, church affiliations, and addresses. This card belonged to 17-year-old Greek American, Walter Graca. Graca, who worked instead of going to school, lived with his mother, who was originally from Greece. The Whittier House Social Settlement, the first settlement house in New Jersey, was established in Jersey City, N.J. (Hudson County) in 1894. Founded by Cornelia Foster Bradford, who would remain with the organization as headworker until 1926, Whittier House was based on the settlement house, Toynbee Hall, in England. Whittier House provided various recreational and educational programs, along with much needed social services, for the immigrant populations of Jersey City. Many of these successful services were used as models for large-scale social reform movements through the state. In 1935, the Whittier House was taken over by the Boys' Club of Jersey City.