In 1940, Caroline DiOrio was working at an unidentified settlement house in Boston sponsored through the National Youth Administration (NYA). She later worked as a silverware sales clerk at Jordan Marsh, a department store in Boston, MA, from which she retired in 1987. She died in 1998.
In 1940, Clare Gomnes was a social worker at the North Bennet Street School in Boston. And from 1948-1955 she served as superintendent of the Sophia Little Home.
From 1915 to 1969, the Sophia Little Home functioned as a “home for unwed mothers,” providing housing and resources for unmarried girls and women during their pregnancies.
The collection consists primarily of letters written by Clare Gomnes, superintendent of the Sophia Little Home from 1948-1955, to her friend, Caroline DiOrio. In her letters, Gomnes describes everyday life in the home, which was a residence for unmarried mothers.
Gomnes frequently mentions her administrative duties as superintendent, including writing reports, preparing for board meetings, and hiring nurses and housekeepers, as well as her caregiving duties, such as accompanying expectant mothers or sick babies to the hospital in the middle of the night. She describes special events including Halloween parties, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas pageants, and everyday group activities in the home. She also shares anecdotes about the personal lives of residents.
In several letters, Gomnes expresses her affection and concern for the residents and their babies, as well as her sense of fulfillment in her work. She leaves the home to return to Boston in 1955.
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
The collection is open for research.
Caroline DiOrio papers, MSS-0031, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
The collection is arranged in the following series:
The collection was purchased by Special Collections in 2019 from Between the Covers Rare Books.
The collection was arranged and described by Patricia McIvor and Molly Bruce Patterson in 2019. Finding aid updated by Rebecca Docter in 2024 under the supervision of Veronica Denison. Further biographical information on Caroline DiOrio and Clare Gomnes was provided by Rhode Island College students, Gloribel Lazala Toribio, Maddison Oliver, Alexia Carr, and Grace Goulart during their First Year Seminar class “Raid the Collections in 2024” taught by Professor Amy Barlow. The students researched this collection as part of the class.
The Rhode Island Historical Society holds records of the Sophia Little Home: Mss 30, Sophia Little Home records.
Additionally, students in FYS 100 “Raid the Collections” created a podcast episode based on item one in the collection. The podcast is part of the FYS 100 “Raid the Collections” podcast series collection in Special Collections.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
Library of Congress. Sophia Little Home (Providence, R.I.). Retrieved from http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n93057329
Kirk, L. M. (1995 March 1). The big heart of Sophia Little: A life full of activism continues to inspire more than a century after Newport native’s death. Providence Journal. Retrieved from infoweb.newsbank.com
Liberman, E. (1999 December 5). State offers pregnant teens new opportunity. Providence Journal. Retrieved from infoweb.newsbank.com
Sophia Little Home closes, but some programs continue. (1989 September 1). Providence Journal. Retrieved from infoweb.newsbank.com
Obituary - Caroline Diorio of Medford, at 77, retired sales clerk. (1998 April 3). Boston Herald. Retrieved from infoweb.newsbank.com
The Rhode Island Historical Society holds records of the Sophia Little Home: Mss 30, Sophia Little Home records.
This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact the Rhode Island College Special Collections.
This series contains correspondence.
This subseries contains letters written to Caroline DiOrio by Clare Gomnes.
This subseries contains letters written to Caroline DiOrio by Olga Gomnes and Madeleine Hoagland.
This series contains a watercolor picture of Caroline DiOrio made by Clare Gomnes.