| Other People | Frank J. Bradley | Olive Rambo Cook | Jerry Litton | | |||
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Past and Present of Livingston County Volume 2. Biographies by Major A. J. Roof. 1913 |
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Pages 295-296
Among the women of Chillicothe who are doing worthy, beneficent and useful work in the amelioration of the condition of the misguided and unfortunate, Mrs. A. M. Clay, superintendent of the State Industrial Home for Girls, must be accorded an honored place. Her untiring energy, her courage and her patience have combined with her remarkable executive ability to crown her efforts with success and the value of her work is best proven by the splendid results she has obtained.
The Missouri industrial Home for Girls was established in 1887, when the Marmaduke cottage was erected. As the demand for more room grew several more cottages were added and in the course of years a school, chapel and administration building constructed. Each cottage contains a "family" of girls, the inmates of each being selected according to the cause of commitment, age. disposition and previous education. The home contains at the present time two hundred and seventy girls between the ages of nine and seventeen, who have been committed until the age of twenty-one by the courts of the state for various infractions of the law and for other reasons. Mrs. Clay was appointed superintendent in 1907 and immediately proceeded to inaugurate an entirely new system of government and control. She established regular Sunday services and herself assumed charge of the Sabbath school, where the girls under her charge are taught their obligations to God and humanity. The practical duties of administration are never neglected and, indeed, they have been reduced to a definite system, for Mrs. Clay is a capable business woman and possesses that spirit of initiative and practical insight and sympathy which make her ideally fitted for her difficult position. Aiding her in her work is a most efficient corps of officers who act together loyally and harmoniously, accomplishing in this way work which will live in the future and have a lasting effect upon coming generations. Mrs. Clay realizes the importance of the responsibilities which rest upon her in building up character in the unfortunate victims of circumstances under her charge and she brings to her duties a simple faith and high courage and a belief in the efficacy of hope and sincerity of purpose.