California Social Welfare Archives records, 1979 -

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Summary

Title:
California Social Welfare Archives records
Dates:
1979 -
Creators:
California Social Welfare Archives
Abstract:
The records of the California Social Welfare Archives include letters, fundraising documents, event planning materials and programs, and other materials relevant to the organization and functioning of the Archives as an organization. The initial collection covers the period from the CSWA's foundation in 1979 as the California Social Welfare Heritage through the beginning of the 21st century.
Extent:
15 Linear Feet 15 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], California Social Welfare Archive records, Collection no. 0412, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the California Social Welfare Archives include letters, fundraising documents, event planning and programs, and other materials relevant to the organization and functioning of the Archives as an organization. The initial collection covers the period from the CSWA's foundation in 1979 as the California Social Welfare Heritage through the beginning of the 21st century. Additions will be made to update the collection from time to time.

The collection includes particularly good coverage of the foundation of the CSWA, Board of Directors meetings, and events and records from the early 1990's.

Biographical / historical:

The California Social Welfare Archives was begun as the California Social Welfare Heritage, dedicated to "the orderly collection and preservation of papers and documents of historical significance in the development of social welfare in California." Originated by George D. Nickel, of Arcadia California, in 1979, and led by Nickel and James Leiby, professor of social welfare at UC Berkeley, the organization's original concept was to divide the collection between the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley and the Arlien Johnson Library at USC. Nickel became the first president of the southern unit, while Leiby was responsible for northern matters.

The organization experienced logistical problems because of the size of the state. Regional interests and loyalties were also a problem. Further, the Bancroft Library declined involvement, on the basis of their over-commitment to other projects. Leiby, the chief person in the north, found it difficult under these circumstances to keep the interest of volunteers in the project. The northern group ultimately disbanded.

The southern group began reorganizing itself to operate independently in 1985, under the leadership of George D. Nickel. At the suggestion of the dean of USC Libraries, the name of the southern group was changed to California Social Welfare Archives (CSWA). Initial attempts were made to gain funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, but these were frustrated, first by the State Archivist, who feared that the CSWA was claiming the right to collect state agency materials, and then by a general moratorium on funding for new projects. The organization instead moved under the organizational umbrella of the University of Southern California, in part to take advantage of its tax-free status.

By 1988, a new set of by-laws was in place for the CSWA. In 1994 the mission statement was revised and adopted by the board of directors.

Chronology of Presidents of the CSWA
Date Event
1979-1987
George. D. Nickel [in his final years, the de facto President was Kay Bixby]
1987-1989
Kay Bixby
1989-1990
Marjorie Schwartz
1990-1996
Frances Lomas Feldman
1996-1997
John Kulli
1997-1998
Maurice Hamovitch [deceased in mid-term]
1998-2002
Monika White
2002-2003
Stephanie Klopfleisch
2004-2006
Richard Thor
Acquisition information:
The material was acquired from University of Southern California Professor Emerita Frances Lomas Feldman, the files of retired USC School of Social Work Librarian, Ruth Britton, and miscellaneous files maintained by subsequent School of Social Work librarians.
Processing information:

The records of the California Social Welfare Archives were gathered from three divergent sources and were processed in different locations. As a result there is some redundancy in the holdings and some inconsistency in the series and subseries descriptions. Subsequent papers are projected to come into the Archives according to a records retention schedule.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
John Howard Fowler
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-06-12 14:31:14 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

The use of archival materials for on-site research does not constitute permission from the California Social Welfare Archives to publish them. Copyright has not been assigned to the California Social Welfare Archives, and the researcher is instructed to obtain permission to quote from or publish manuscripts in the CSWA's collections from the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], California Social Welfare Archive records, Collection no. 0412, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Location of this collection:
Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library, Room 209
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411, US
Contact:
(213) 740-5900
specol@usc.edu
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