Summer 2026 OLLI Digital Catalog – under construction

ORPHAN TRAIN MOVEMENT 1854-1929 (G321)

G – History

Learn the history of this 75-year social experiment, now recognized as our nation’s first foster care system. This movement transported 250,000 homeless children from the streets of east coast cities to farming communities in the Midwest in search of homes. Each class will delve into a specific aspect of this era, including social reformers of the 19th century, placing agencies (their missions and practices), and first-person accounts of actual orphan train riders.

This offering meets for a total of 3 session(s).

INSTRUCTOR: Donna Nordmark Aviles

NORDMARK AVILES, DONNA — A member of the Delaware Humanities Speakers Bureau, as well as the National Orphan Train Historical Society. An award-winning author and orphan train descendent, she has extensive knowledge of this era, and is passionate about sharing her expertise; bringing to life an important part of our history. (G321)

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