100 years ago in The Record

Tuesday, March 6, 1917

Troy’s charitable organizations plan to coordinate their efforts through a new cooperative organization in order to help the poor more efficiently, The Record reports.

The Young Women’s Christian Association hosts a meeting of social workers representing “various organizations of the city,” including churches, institutions and private philanthropies. They hear a talk from Dr. Robert W. Hill, the superintendent of state and alien poor for the New York State Board of Charities.

Hill “spoke of the work of so-called charities, and urged that the meaning of the word should be remembered as embracing both love and justice,” our reporter writes.

“He urged the unifying of effort of civic and individual organizations, deplored the waste of energy and money which causes overlapping of gifts to some and the neglect of others. He considered the only manner in which the philanthropies and charities may be distributed is by cooperation. United and intelligent effort must be expended.

“He advocated a central office where an organization may meet for conference and effort and gave as keynotes co-operation, careful consideration, investigation, council and added that if the Troy organizations so unite, these will after a time wonder how it would be possible to work otherwise.”