A detailed, data‑driven snapshot of a midwestern city in transition.
This nonfiction work gathers field findings on nine major areas of social life in Springfield, Illinois, revealing how public policy, education, health, housing, and recreation shaped everyday opportunities.
This edition presents the Springfield Survey as a coordinated, research‑driven effort that combined local leadership with national expertise to document conditions and propose improvements. It offers a window into early 20th‑century urban life, showing how data informed discussions about schools, charities, and municipal services.
- An overview of the city’s schools, public services, and housing in the early 1900s
- Discussion of how community groups and institutions cooperated to study and improve conditions
- Historical context for social reform and urban planning in a typical American city
- Guidance on how findings were used to stimulate public action and policy changes
Ideal for readers of urban history, social policy, and early community surveys seeking a grounded, source‑based look at how a city assessed itself and planned for improvement.