| Creator | Simmons College (Boston, Mass.) School of Social Work. |
| Title | School of Social Work records |
| Dates | 1903-1980 |
| Identification | RG 24 |
| Quantity | 1.7 linear feet (4 boxes) |
| Collection Abstract | These records document primarily the early years of the Boston School for Social Workers , later the Simmons School of Social Work, and the Graduate Club of the Boston School for Social Workers, later the Alumni Association of the Simmons School of Social Work. The records contain correspondence, minutes, reports, brochures, pamphlets, course notes, syllabi, lists, articles, news clips, constitutions, bylaws, and photographs. The bulk of the records were gathered from their original files primarily for the writing of the history of the School of Social Work for its fiftieth anniversary in 1954. |
| Historical Abstract | Established in 1904, the Boston School for Social Workers was intended to provide opportunities to men and women to study social problems and prepare them for services in the field. There was a strong emphasis on the preprofessional experience alongside academic courses. |
| Language | Material in English. |
| Location | Collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Archives staff for more information. |
Restricted to use by members of Department/Office of origin for 25 years from date of record creation.
Copyright for materials resides with Simmons University unless otherwise designated.
Please contact the University Archivist with requests to publish any material from the collection.
[Identification of item: description and date], School of Social Work records, RG 24, Simmons University Archives, Boston, MA, USA.
Periodic transfer from School of Social Work and the School of Social Work Library.
Accession number: 78.111, 78.115, 78.118, 78.119, 79.028, 79.133, 79.134, 81.008, 85.009
Processed by Margeret Dempsey, November, 1979
Updated by Claire Goodwin, April 1996
This collection guide was encoded by Ken Mathis, February, 2022
[For additional history of the School of Social Work, please consult other RG 24 finding aids.]
Established in October 1904, The Boston School for Social Workers was intended to "give opportunities to men and women to study social problems by practical methods, particularly to those who would become officers of institutions or would prepare themselves for services as volunteers in this field of work." These were the words of Jeffrey R. Brackett who, in cooperation with Dr. Henry Lefavour and Dr. Charles Eliot, presidents of Simmons College and Harvard University respectively, as well as a committee consisting of distinguished social leaders from the community, founded the institution.
The administrative board comprised the two presidents, a representative from each of the two institutions, the director of the School of Social Work, and four individuals from the field of social work. The administrative board individuals were: Dr. Eliot, Dr. Lefavour, Dr. Brackett, Miss Frances R. Morse, Mr. Joseph Lee, Mr. Robert A. Woods, Mr. Thomas F. Fitzpatrick, Dr. Charles P. Putnam, and Annette Rogers.
During the first year at 9 Hamilton Place, where the School was located, Dr. Brackett and Zilpha Drew Smith taught the twenty-five students who enrolled in the program. A strong emphasis was placed on preprofessional experience in conjunction with academic courses, and thus students were given field placement assignments of ten to fourteen hours per week, from the commencement of their programs. Since the School existed for the "study of charity, correction, neighborhood uplift and kindred forms of social service," a competent social worker could not be produced without preprofessional training.
In 1907, Eva Whiting White, who later became director of the School of Social Work, received the first S.B. degree conferred by the School. The School changed residences in 1912, when it moved to 18 Somerset Street, and during that same year, the School received a substantial increase in library materials, as well as instituting a second year advanced course. 1916 marked an important event, as it was in that year that Harvard withdrew from the School of Social Work in order to concentrate on its department of social ethics.
Zilpha Drew Smith retired in 1918, followed by Dr. Brackett, who left the School in 1920. Eva Whiting White assumed directorship of the School in 1922. In 1945, the School moved to 51 Commonwealth Avenue. Its fiftieth anniversary was celebrated in 1954.
These records document primarily the early years of the Boston School for Social Workers , later the Simmons School of Social Work, and the Graduate Club of the Boston School for Social Workers, later the Alumni Association of the Simmons School of Social Work. The records contain correspondence, minutes, reports, brochures, pamphlets, course notes, syllabi, lists, articles, news clips, constitutions, bylaws, and photographs. The bulk of the records were gathered from their original files primarily for the writing of the history of the School of Social Work for its fiftieth anniversary in 1954.
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
Collection is arranged into 6 series:
Part of the RG24.
This series contains records which document the 1904 founding and early history of the Boston School of Social Workers. Also included are records produced during the School of Social Work's fiftieth anniversary in 1954, such as newspaper clippings, brochures, and retrospective materials. Unfortunately, most of the records in this series had been removed from their original files for the purposes of writing anniversary histories; rather than trying to refile these records, they have been left as they were received by the Archives.
Box 1
Box 2
The records of the tenure of Director Jeffrey Richardson Brackett, 1904-1920, include correspondence, minutes, and reports. Coverage in incomplete. The bound minutes of the Administrative Board of the School for Social Workers is in the hand of Frances R. Morse, secretary. Some typed incomplete transcripts of the minutes are also included. No department or office was specified as being responsible for any of the reports during this time period, thus the Director's Office has been considered the most obvious office of origin.
Box 2
This series contains primarily notes by Ethel Cohen of lectures offered at or by the School of Social Work. Cohen received her M.A. from the School of Social Work in 1928. With the exception of the notes for the course "Medical Social Work, 1944" -- which are bound in two parts and typewritten -- the notes are all handwritten and most contain the name of the lecturer, as well as a date. These notes were found together bearing the label "Lectures 1927-1928."
Box 2
Box 3
This series contains the correspondence, constitution and bylaws, minutes, annual reports, membership lists, and committee records of the Graduate Club of the Boston School for Social Workers. The Club was organized on December 6, 1907, and at a meeting on January 24, 1908, officers were elected and a constitution and bylaws were adopted. In 1925, the Graduate Club adopted its present designation, Alumni Association of the Simmons School of Social Work. (The purpose of the Club was two-fold: to encourage social activities and to be supportive of the School. Sociability became secondary as the Club rapidly became an instrument of professional communication among social workers in the New England area.)
Box 3
Box 4
This series contains brochures/pamphlets on special and summer programs, course, and lectures. Many of the programs mentioned do not appear in the catalogues.
Box 4
This series contains the materials from four scrapbooks which cover various School of Social Work events throughout the years. Included are photographs and assorted materials.
Box 4
