United Charities Building

And they all believe that experts, not neighbors or local community organizations, should decide who receives help.

And they gave this idea home through the New York Charity Organization Society and also through the construction of a new building called the United Charities Building, which was this impressive tower on the corner of Park Avenue.

It was made of limestone and had this big arch over its front doors with these grand marble stairways.

And I guess I'm talking past tense, but actually the building is still there today.

He had an economics PhD from UPenn, and in charity he found a field ripe for intellectual engagement, a way for great men to experiment with grand ideas about social reform.

And DeForest gave him all the power he needed to do so.

He installed him as the founding professor of the country's first school for social work, which was first housed in the United Charities building before moving with Devine to Columbia University.

And since he was at the bleeding edge of a new field, Devine was able to basically create the curriculum as he went.