Hannah Bachman Einstein

Hannah Bachman Einstein (28 January 1862, in New York City – 28 November 1929) was an American social worker and activist who helped establish child welfare boards in the United States.

Early life and education Einstein was born in 1862 to German Jewish immigrants, Fanny (Obermeyer) and Herman Bachman, in New York City. She grew up in the German Reform tradition and her family was involved with social justice issues.

She studied sociology and criminology at Columbia University and modern theories of social welfare at the New York School of Philanthropy in 1900 and 1901. These courses shaped her view that many of the social problems she saw in her charitable work could be traced to the economic and social insecurity of widows. In response, she founded the Widowed Mothers’ Fund Association in 1909.

Hannah Einstein also served in other charities, including Mount Sinai Hospital Training School for Nurses, the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, the New York Conference of Charities and Correction, and United Hebrew Charities. By 1920, most American states had established mother's pensions or child welfare laws of some description, leading to the almost complete elimination of orphanages in America.

She went on to serve as president of the New York State Association of Child Welfare Boards from 1915 to 1929.

Personal life Eistein married a wool manufacturer, William Einstein, on June 23, 1881. The couple had two children, named William and Marian. Marian would later move to France.

Hannah Einstein died in 1929.