College Settlement

settlement agency, New York City, New York, United States

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July 22, 2026

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The College Settlement was a neighborhood social welfare agency established in New York City in 1889 by Jane E. Robbins and Jean Fine. It was part of the broader social settlement movement, which aimed to improve life in urban neighborhoods.1

Unlike other agencies focusing on specific services, social settlements addressed the overall well-being of a neighborhood. Staff members worked with individuals, families, and groups, offering informal counseling, home visits, and sponsoring various activities like clubs, classes, and sports. When specialized help was needed, they could employ experts such as psychologists or vocational counselors.1

The settlement movement began in London in 1884 and spread to the United States, with early examples including Neighborhood Guild (now University Settlement) in New York City (1886) and Hull House in Chicago (1889). These organizations were particularly active in assisting new immigrants and advocating for social reforms like juvenile courts and regulations on child labor.1

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social settlement
Spahr) opened the College Settlement in New York City. Two years later Robert A. Woods, another resident of Toynbee Hall, and William J. Tucker established Andover House, later called South End House, in Boston. The movement then spread to most countries of western Europe and to Southeast Asia…
Read More
Spahr) opened the College Settlement in New York City. Two years later Robert A. Woods, another resident of Toynbee Hall, and William J. Tucker established Andover House, later called South End House, in Boston. The movement then spread to most countries of western Europe and to Southeast Asia…
Read More