Masters Thesis

Firing upon the Countryside: The Salvation Army in Sonoma County, 1888–1906

Statement of Purpose: The Salvation Army is a charitable religious organization that came to the United States in the late 19th century. Their work was aimed at assisting the poor in urban areas. As the organization grew, it expanded into rural areas where different social relations existed. The aim of this thesis is to examine the early period of the Salvation Anny in Petaluma and Santa Rosa, California, discussing how the organization adapted to these new surroundings and gauging how successful they were in these attempts. Procedure: This thesis is based on research of primary and secondary sources. Newspapers and city documents provide the basis for this discussion. Primary sources from the Salvationists in Sonoma County are rare, coming only from reports submitted to the War Cry. Secondary sources, including histories of the Salvation Army, Sonoma County and 19th century America were used to provide a context for the experiences of the Salvation Army officers, volunteers and supporters. Findings: The first garrison opened in Petaluma by the Salvation Army in 1888 was a failure due to hostility from community members and an inability on the part of the Salvationists to conform to community expectations. The second garrison in Petaluma, opened in 1897, was successful due to a willingness on the part of the community and the Salvationists to cooperate with each other. A close proximity to other successful.Salvation Army operations, including a corps in Santa Rosa, and the Cotati Wood Camp, aided the Petaluma corps in being accepted. After an initial period of hardship, due mostly to Santa Rosa's government, the corps opened in Santa Rosa in 1890 was extremely successful and was an important part of the city's religious community. The Cotati Wood Camp and the Lytton Springs Orphanage were an important aspect of the Salvation Army's social programs. Not only was it one of the first charitable organizations to move people from urban areas to rural settings, but it offered the surround communities, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Healdsburg, proof of the Salvation Army's dedication to helping those in need, leading to greater support in those cities. Conclusions: While the programs of the Salvation Army were primarily geared towards larger urban settings, the organization could successfully establish corps and social programs in more rural settings. This success was often determined by the disposition of the community towards the Salvation Army's mission and the ability of the Salvationists to meet community expectations. The close proximity to the social programs at Cotati and Lytton Springs also seemed to aid acceptance by providing evidence of the organization's ability to bring meaningful aid to the underclass, cementing their position as a charitable and religious member of Sonoma County.

Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.