American Philanthropy at Home and Abroad

A study into the role that philanthropy and charity have had in the shaping of American politics and society from the 19th- to the mid-20th-century.

This collection sheds light on the history of charity and philanthropy in the United States since the Civil War. It explores the ways in which charities, local associations, religious organisations and philanthropic foundations have engaged and interacted with American politics, society and relations with the world.

Beginning in the 19th-century, the first chapters address the domestic, religious and transatlantic dimensions of philanthropy during a period of conflict and upheaval. The second section showcase four domestic case studies, exploring debates about the purpose of 'good works', including charity in the Ku Klux Klan and philanthropic African-American business women. The last chapters explore how philanthropy sought to shape US foreign policy during the interwar period, and assess the complex relationship between art, culture and government policy during the Cold War.

In highlighting the significant role that charitable works have played in American politics and society, and the ways in which the concept of philanthropy has evolved since the mid-19th century, this collection demonstrates their value as a lens through which to view American history.