Caroline Slade was born in Minneapolis, Minn. on October 7, 1886 to John H. and Gertrude L. (Pease) Beach. She was educated at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Albany, NY and St. Faith’s School in Saratoga Springs, NY and also studied at New York University and received an honorary degree from Skidmore College. Caroline Slade and her two brothers were raised by aunts who lived in the Moon House in Saratoga Springs. She married John A. Slade on October 27, 1906.

In 1909, Caroline Slade was appointed as Executive Secretary for the newly formed Board of Child Welfare in Saratoga County. With the assistance of the State Board of Charities, she was instrumental in establishing the first county wide system for social casework. She later served as an administrator for the Saratoga Children’s Court established by Judge Lawrence B. McKelvey.

A prolific writer with seven books published, her years as a Social Worker greatly influenced her literary work. Most of her novels deal with issues and circumstances reflective of the lives and struggles of the poor that she had witnessed in her career. While some found her work shocking, several of her books were used as case study texts in college social work courses.

Caroline Slade was a prominent citizen of Saratoga Springs, having resided there for 80 years. She was a member of the Saratoga Springs Business and Professional Women’s Club and was active in the work of the Katrina Trask House. She was a member of the Saratoga Historical Society.

Caroline Slade died in the long term care unit of Saratoga Hospital on June 25, 1975.

Biographical History was developed from the contents of the collection.