Harvard Law School Library Historical & Special Collections is pleased to announce a new exhibit, “Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdie Beggers”: Poor Laws of England and America, 1597-1948. The exhibit is on view in the Caspersen Room on the 4th floor of Langdell Hall from September 2026 to July 2027.  

Printed text of page one of law entitled the 1597 Act for the Punishment of Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdie Beggers.
The 1597 Act for the Punishment of Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdie Beggers (39 Eliz. 1. c. 4), Anno xxxix. Reginae Elizabethae: At the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the xxiiii. day of October, in the xxxix. yeere of the reigne of our most gracious soueraigne lady Elizabeth…, London, the deputies of Christopher Barker (printers), 1598, HOLLIS 990091729840203941, copy 3, Harvard Law School Library, Historical & Special Collections   

This exhibit explores 350 years of welfare and poor relief legislation in England and the United States. Beginning with the Elizabethan Poor Laws and ending with the New Deal in the U.S. and the National Assistance Act in the U.K., the exhibit is organized around four themes: the Tudor Poor Laws, the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, Poor Laws in the American Context, and Perspectives on Poor Laws. The exhibit highlights a variety of formats and includes broadsides, legal forms, political cartoons, graphics, printed reports, manuscripts, and books. Drawn primarily from materials in Harvard Law School Library Historical & Special Collections, it also features items from Baker Library Special Collections & Archives and Widener Library.   

Title page of 1835 Massachusetts report on foreign paupers. 
Report of the Select Committee to Whom Was Referred the Subject of the Practicability of Preventing the Introduction of Foreign Paupers into the State, Massachusetts, General Court, House of Representatives, Boston: 1835, Seq. 3, HOLLIS 990040519330203941, Harvard Law School Library, Historical & Special Collections 

Visit the Exhibit 

The exhibit is on view weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Caspersen Room, 4th floor, Langdell Hall through July 30, 2027. A Harvard ID is required for access to the building.  

Explore Exhibit Highlights 

The online exhibit features curated pages highlighting a selection of material from the Caspersen Room display, as well as a glossary of historic terms used in the exhibit and a select bibliography for further study. 

Acknowledgements 

“Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdie Beggers” was curated by Katie Kerekes and Sarah Wharton, Historical & Special Collections. Special thanks to Baker Library Special Collections & Archives, Peyton Cleary, HLS Copy Center, Margaret Dalton, IrieAnn Harris, Courtney Majocha, Harvard Library Imaging Services, Terri Messina, Mary Person, Lesley Schoenfeld, the Weissman Preservation Center, and colleagues in Historical & Special Collections for their assistance.  

Filed in: Historical & Special Collections

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