St. Joseph's Protectory for Homeless Boys

Dates:

Established - April 19, 1893

Closed - 1950-56 ?

Locations:

1st site - Vine Street (Hill District)

2nd site - 552 Vallejo Street

3rd site - 552 Protectory Place

Also Known As:

Founder:

Bishop Richard Phelan

Sponsoring Agency:

Franciscan Brothers

Brothers of Our Lady of Lourdes

Diocesan Clergy

Notes:

Industrial home for boys.

The first trade, printing, was introduced in 1896.

In 1904, Catholic children were removed from non-Catholic institutions and placed either in St. Joseph's Protectory or St. Paul's Orphan Asylum.

Location of Records:

At least some of the records of the St. Joseph's Protectory are held by the Catholic Archives. These include a list of the boys, plus physical description, training, reason for entrance to the home, and where they worked following release.

Sources:

PA Department Vertical Files (Orphanages)

1895 Greater Pittsburg Handbook

1933 Directory of Social Agencies

1943 Directory of Social Resources

1950 Directory of Community Services

Catholic Pittsburgh's One Hundred Years, pp. 55, 63, 182-83, 185