Jessie Taft (1882 – 1960): Social Worker, Advocate for Women, Academic and Founder of the Functional School of Social Work By John E. Hansan, Ph.D. Introduction: Julia Jessie Taft was born on June 24, 1882 in Dubuque, Iowa, the oldest of three sisters. Her parents were Charles Chester Taft and Amanda May Farwell who during…

Her leadership years at both NFS and NCSW came at the time when social welfare organizations faced some of their most profound challenges, in particular surrounding the relationship of race and civil rights to welfare and social work. Berry also served on the U.S. Committee of the International Conference of Social Work from 1972 to 1979 and again from 1987 to 1990.

Ida Cannon (1877-1960) – Social Worker, Nurse, Author and Founder of Medical Social Work   Introduction: Ida Maud Cannon was responsible for developing the first social work department in a hospital in the United States. Convinced that medical practice could not be effective without examining the link between illness and the social conditions of the…

Elsie Cole Phillips (1879-1961) — Trade Unionist, Social Worker, Community Organizer and Socialist   Introduction: After almost a decade of work with young women in New York City’s trade union movement and with woman’s suffrage activities, she married Wilbur C. Phillips and for the rest of her career collaborated with him in Socialist Party activities…

Bradley Buell (1893-1976) — Social Worker, Author/Editor, and Community Planning Consultant   Introduction: Bradley Buell  was a social worker, author/editor, and community planning consultant. He worked for Community Chests and Councils, Inc. and for Survey magazines, and he founded Community Research Associates. He was actively involved with the emergence of a professional association for social…

Frank J. Bruno (1874-1955): Social Work Educator, Administrator and Author   Introduction: Throughout his career, Frank Bruno was active in many liberal movements and his conception of social work was broad.  He was one of the first men trained in the concepts of the Charity Organization Societies to speak out in favor of governmental responsibility…

Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. (September 20, 1878 – November 25, 1968): Author, Journalist, Socialist and Social Reformer Introduction: Upton Sinclair was a famous novelist and social crusader from California, who pioneered the kind of journalism known as “muckraking.” He was one of the best investigative journalists of his era, a prolific author who wrote over…