The nineteenth century in Britain was a markedly philanthropic and charitable age. Building on trends that began in the 1700s, philanthropic activity and charitable practices became widespread, often institutionally organized and directed, and targeted an astonishingly diverse array of fields: education and child welfare, the arts, family planning, animal welfare, medical reform, and the eradication of social ills. The sources in this five-volume edition provide a foundational basis for studying the many reasons for and the varied practices of giving in the period. The primary sources are accompanied by editorial commentary, and will be of great interest to students of history.