Alice Hamilton, M.D. (1869–1970) — Physician, Pioneer in the Field of Toxicology and Occupational Illness, Social Reformer, Peace Activist and Resident of Hull House Introduction: Dr. Alice Hamilton was a leading expert in the field of occupational health. She was a pioneer in the field of toxicology, studying occupational illnesses and the dangerous effects of…

Helen Hall (1892-1982):  Settlement House Leader, Social Reformer and Consumer Advocate.   Introduction: Helen Hall directed University Settlement in Philadelphia, 1922- 1933 before succeeding Lillian Wald as director of Henry Street Settlement in New York City, where she remained until her retirement in 1967. She served with the American Red Cross in France during and…

Elinor Coleman Guggenheimer (April 11, 1912 — September 29,  2008) — Childrens Advocate, Founder of the Day Care Council of New York and Co-Founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus Elinor Coleman Guggenheimer was born in New York City on April 11, 1912.  A public official and civic worker, Elinor Guggenheimer was educated at Vassar…

Irene Dalrymple Grant:  Founder of the Social Work Service in the U.S. Veterans Administration Irene Grant can rightly be called the mother of the Social Work Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs. After service in the American Red Cross, during and following World War I, she was selected as the first Director of the…

Sadie Dashew Ginsberg (1901–1993):  Child Welfare Advocate, Early Childhood Education Teacher and Founder of the Childrens Guild in Baltimore, MD Sadie Dashew Ginsberg was born in East Baltimore in 1901 and reared on Gay Street, the daughter of Russian immigrant parents, Jacob Dashew and Eve Chircus, who came to the city in the late 1890s…

Felix Frankfurter (1882-1965) – Progressive, Adviser to Presidents and Associate Justice on the Supreme Court   Introduction: Felix Frankfurter was born in Vienna, Austria, on November 15, 1882. When he was twelve years old, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. Frankfurter was graduated from the College of the…

Mary Parker Follett (1868-1933): Social Worker, Pioneer in Human Relations, Advocate for Community Centers and Management Consultant Mary Parker Follett was a visionary and pioneering individual in the field of human relations, democratic organization, and management. Born in Massachusetts, in 1892 she entered what would become Radcliffe College, the women’s branch of Harvard. She graduated…

Father Edward J. Flanagan (1886 – 1948): Catholic Priest and Founder of Boys Town, Omaha, NE   His Youth: Edward Flanagan was born in County Roscommon, Ireland on July 13, 1886. He was the eighth child in a family of eleven children; and he was frail from birth. In a biography published by the “Father…

Ruth E. Fizdale (1908- 1994) – Social Worker, Administrator and Counselor by Helen Rehr   As administrator of the Arthur Lehman Counseling Services in New York City, Ruth Fizdale developed a new kind of social agency—a not-for-profit, fee-for-service agency for a private clientele. That program lifted the aura of charity from social work services. Fizdale…