Activity of the Alexandrovskaya City Public Women’s Almshouse in Nizhny Novgorod in the Late 19th − Early 20th Century

The article is devoted to the functioning of the Alexander city public women's almshouse in the late 19 th -early 20 th century, a charitable institution opened in Nizhniy Novgorod in 1868.The organization of the institution, the history of the building's construction, and its appearance are considered.The activities of the almshouse were recreated on the basis of its charter and annual reports sent by the trustees to the City Duma.The management of the almshouse, functions of guardianship, procedure for admission to the institution as its resident, the rules of residence, the composition of employees, sources and amount of financial resources, methods of donations, expenditure items, the number of registered beds, the number and cost of meals given out in the dining room of the almshouse and at home to those in need.The numerical and class composition of the residents, their provision with food and belongings are considered separately.The material base of the institution, changes in the composition of benefactors and the content of reports are characterized.The author comes to the conclusion that the institution was for all social layers, but among those who resorted to its services, bourgeois and peasant women prevailed.Mostly elderly women, widows and young orphan girls left without means of livelihood needed to live in the poorhouse.Monetary contributions, the maintenance of personal beds, alms with food and things were practiced.Allowances were also paid (to soldiers and soldiers' widows).The trustees monitored not only the physical but also the spiritual condition of the people being cared for, cooperated with the church, and took care of the funeral.The institution was supplied thanks to the close cooperation of private benefactors and local governments.