In the aftermath of the Civil War, Pennsylvania faced the harsh reality that thousands of children were left orphaned.
In “Letters from Jumonville: The Pennsylvania Soldiers’ Orphans Schools,” TribLive Director of Visuals Sean Stipp explores the creation of a state-funded system designed to educate and care for these children. Letters written by orphans from the Jumonville school in Fayette County offer a rare glimpse into the daily lives of these children.
Drawing on never-before-published historical photographs, along with rarely seen archival letters and administrative records, the documentary examines how these schools shaped the lives of a generation of war orphans while raising enduring questions about how society pays the true cost of war.
You can watch the documentary here: