Research so far...

Following is a list of materials and resources I have used in my research so far:

• Virginia Historical Society
  • Report from Child Welfare League from 1939
  • Transcript from local radio broadcast about Brookfield from 1942
    • Question:
      Good afternoon.  I am looking for an audio recording of a radio broadcast on
      WBMG radio in Richmond in 1942. It is a story about the Brookfield Home for
      Girls.  The transcript of this broadcast is in the Alexander Weddell papers
      at VHS.  The transcript is in Box 37 of those papers.  I was wondering if the
      audio existed and how can I listen to it?  Also, was wondering how to get a
      copy of the transcript from the broadcast.  Also looking for any other
      material you have related to Brookfield.  Thank you.
• Library of VA
  • Didn't have anything at first look, but planning on digging deeper there.
    • From LVA:
      • I don’t see anything in our catalog, but let me ask someone in Archives if they have other suggestions.  If it was a private institution, we may not have much.  
        Did you try the Valentine?  Their mission has always been more Richmond focused.
• Valentine
  • Here is the response I got from the archival department via email:
    • Dear Caroline,
      Thank you for contacting the Valentine regarding your Brookfield research.  I'm sorry to report that I could not find much  here on the home in the archives.  I could only locate two local newspaper clippings (dated 1953 and 1974).  One is a short history of the home and the other is about a possible closing of the home.  For lack of more primary information, newspaper archives may end up being your best bet.  We do not have a full newspaper archive here, but the Library of Virginia does have one. A cursory internet search suggests that the home may still be in operation as a foster home.  You may want to contact them directly.  You may also want to try the Henrico County Historical Society.  After moving that that county, Brookfield may have donated information, images, etc.:
      Henrico County Historical Society
      PO Box 27032
      Richmond, VA 23273
      (804) 501-5682
      http://www.henricohistoricalsociety.org/
• Henrico County Historical Society:
  • Here's the very detailed response I got via email:
    • Many newspaper articles mentioning the Spring Street Home for Girls and Brookfield Home for Girls. I noted the names of many people associated with the organization through the years, mostly governing board members (all women) and some of the founders' families.
      
      I was able to track the deed records for the Brookfield property from 1931 (90.75 acres) thru 1968 when 70.591 acres was sold to VA Shopping Center Inc. Then I realized that I have a bunch of research on the property's earlier history when it belonged to the Dickens family. Some of the deeds have plats that could be used as visuals in a film. That is also how I learned that they changed the name and focus of the "home" to Intercept Youth Services and relocated to 10 acres off of Brook Road, near Virginia Center Commons and the Chickahominy River.
      
      As Intercept they may still get referrals from current local Social Services Departments. I can put you in touch with the current Henrico Co. SS director. They may still have a long time employee or be able to connect you with a retiree that worked with girls at Brookfield. Articles mention VCU Social Services professors that may have historical info - see the note #4 below about Ellen Netting.
      
      The old Spring Street Home is now called "the Parsons House" at 601 Spring Street, Richmond
      
      According to:
      1) <hubbiz.com> - BrookfieldGroupHome.org is Brookfield Inc., 10187 Brook Rd. Richmond VA, phone 804-266-7631.
      2) <www.citizenaudit.org> - contact for "Brookfield Inc." is Douglas Nabhan-William Mullen, PO Box 1320 Richmond VA 23218-1320. 
      3) <findthecompany.com> the organization has an endowment of $9.93 million, almost all income from investment and they paid out 3% to charitable grants in 2013 & 26% expenses to administration.
      4) <www.socialwork.vcu.edu> You might contact F. Ellen Netting at VA Commonwealth University <[email protected]> about (a book?) published in 2012 called "Maidens Fair, Matrons Plump..." co-author Mary Katherine O'Connor. It is supposed to include info about Brookfield.
      
      Checking for papers of A. Spiers George, the generous benefactor:
      1) Library of Virginia has a Home For Needy Confederate Women Collection (another of his beneficiaries) that includes estate files for A. Spiers George within the organization's "Administrative Files 1897-1997 Box 9 Folder 19." Probably concerns their part of the bequest but Spring Street might be mentioned.
      2) Lib VA also has a collection for the Society of Friends [Quakers] "papers concerning the establishment of the Magdalene Society of Richmond" Accession # 31964.
      3) According to OGLC World Cat - The Valentine Museum downtown has "Papers - Robert Ould and A. Spiers George - correspondence/documents re: Magdalene Assoc." They would also be your best bet for any other photographs.

Still need time to follow all these leads, but feel hopeful that they will be fruitful.