Poverty, charity, and motherhood : maternal societies in nineteenth-century France / Christine Adams.

Urbana, Ill. : University of Illinois Press, [2010], ©2010.

xi, 251 pages ; 24 cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: maternal societies in the nineteenth century -- "Moses saved from the waters" : the origins of the Society for Maternal Charity -- "A grand and official institution" : the Society for Maternal Charity under Napoleon -- Modeling maternal behavior: relations between the dames visiteuses and the pauvres mères indigentes -- In the public interest: charitable associations and public-utility status -- "Seconding the views of the government" : maternal societies and the state -- Epilogue: toward a welfare state.