Rebecca Salome Foster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 24, 1848 |
| Died | February 22, 1902 (aged 53) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Christian missionary |
| Known for | prison relief worker "The Tombs Angel" |
Rebecca Salome Elliott Foster (October 24, 1848 - February 22, 1902) was an American woman from Alabama known as a City Missionary and prison relief worker in New York City. She became known as the "Tombs Angel"[1][2] because of her ministry to suspects held before trial at The New York Halls of Justice and House of Detention (otherwise known as "The Tombs"). She expanded her work to include guidance, small financial support, job-seeking assistance, and other aid to newly released prisoners in an attempt to help them transition to the outside world. Foster's work predated most modern-day probation systems, including both the New York State Probation Commission (est. 1907) and the New York City Department of Probation.[3]
- ^ Herbert Mitgang, The Man Who Rode the Tiger: The Life and Times of Judge Samuel Seabury, New York: Fordham Univ Press, 1996, p. 36
- ^ DOUGLAS C. McGILL, "Uncovering New York City's Art Collection", New York Times, 24 September 1987
- ^ "History of Probation - Probation". NYC Probation. Retrieved 2022-03-06.