Hi , we have a book in the archive: "Social Control of the Mentally Deficient" by Stanley Powell Davies, Ph.D, published by Thomas Y. Cromwell Co: New York. Fourth printing.(1940) that states-“Selected girls are later permitted to enter special classes for training as attendants or practical nurses…..A few have gained employment in private homes in these capacities.” And – “Other selected girls, of the more mature and responsible type were permitted to live at their places of employment, if, upon investigation, the social worker felt satisfied that the mistress of the house would give the girl the right kind of supervision.”

I was raised in a home where we employed "colony" girls from the 1940's-late 1950's. they lived in my family house and cleaned, cooked and did various jobs. this seems inhumane in retrospect. I feel I was really raised by these poor girls. Any info about these years?

My family had live-in colony girls doing cleaning, cooking etc. from the 1940's to early 60's. In retrospect this seems inhumane. Any info on the colony girls of Canandaigua?