Earlier studies of the migratory casual workers in the United States have been limited almost entirely to statistical investigation. In the present inquiry a more intensive study of cases was decided upon in preference to an extensive statistical survey. For the past twelve months Mr. Anderson lived in Hobohemia, and in a natural and informal way secured upward of sixty life-histories, and collected, in addition, a mass of documents and other materials which are listed in Appendix B. Mr. Anderson has had, in certain parts of the field work, the assistance of C. W. Allen, L. G. Brown, G. F. Davis, B. W. Bridgman, F. C. Frey, E. H. Koster, G. S. Sobel, H. D. Wolf, and R. N. Wood, students in sociology at the University of Chicago, and has utilized the results of past studies of this subject by students in the department. The Committee on Homeless Men held many meetings which were devoted to outlining the plan of investigation, to reports upon the progress of field work, and to the drafting of the findings and recommendations which appear as Appendix A. The Committee and the author are indebted to the social agencies and to the many persons who co-operated in furnishing data for this investigation. They desire also to express their appreciation to Professor Robert E. Park for the inclusion of this volume as the first of a series of studies on the urban community of which he is editor, and for his services in the preparation of the manuscript for publication. ERNEST W. BURGESS, _Chairman_ University of Chicago WILFRED S. REYNOLDS, _Secretary_ Director, Chicago Council of Social Agencies BRIGADIER JOHN E. ATKINS Salvation Army, Workingman’s Palace MISS JESSIE BINFORD Juvenile Protective Association MRS. JOSEPH T. BOWEN Juvenile Protective Association FREDERICK S. DEIBLER Advisory Board, Illinois Free Employment Service T. ARNOLD HILL Chicago Urban League JOEL D. HUNTER United Charities of Chicago M. J. KARPF Jewish Social Service Bureau GEORGE B. KILBEY Chicago Christian Industrial League REV. MOSES E. KILEY Central Charity Bureau BRIGADIER DAVID MILLER Salvation Army DR. BEN L. REITMAN Chicago Department of Health WILLOUGHBY G. WALLING President, Chicago Council of Social Agencies FOOTNOTES: [1] A part of the investigation relating to the effects upon the boy of association with tramps, especially made for the Juvenile Protective Association, is not included in this report, but will appear in an early number of the _Journal of the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology_. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I. HOBOHEMIA, THE HOME OF THE HOMELESS MAN PAGE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xv CHAPTER I. HOBOHEMIA DEFINED 3 II. THE JUNGLES: THE HOMELESS MAN ABROAD 16