Archival Collections and Oral Histories Committee

Chair: Elise Johnson

eljohnson@csudh.edu

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 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.

Click here to return to the Committees page

“There is an old adage, ‘He who forgets history is condemned to repeat it’.
What is missing in that phrase is that there are people in charge of keeping your history and they can make you forget it. They can keep it from you and then you’re doomed to repeat something they want you to repeat.”
- Samuel James, 2023

The Archival Collections and Oral Histories Committee has two major projects within California Social Welfare Archives

1.Archival Collection held at USC’s Doheny Memorial Library

Since its founding in 1979, California Social Welfare Archives (CSWA) has collected and preserved documents and personal histories that illuminate the development of social issues and problems in the field of health, social work and social welfare in California, as well as the answers that have emerged to cope with such problems. The Archives are available to social workers, researchers, historians, students, developers of social policy, and others. These archives offer the opportunity to examine linkages between the past and present, to learn from history, and to inform understanding of contemporary and future problems and appropriate solutions. Relevant items are collected, cataloged, and maintained by the USC Special Collections Library.

Unfortunately none of our archives are digitized. However, if you interested in viewing any of the items in our collection, we’d be happy to assist in the process of viewing them. Contact Elise Johnson, LCSW eljohnson@csudh.edu

Click here to browse our archives held at USC’s Doheny Memorial Library

2. Oral histories Collection

Since CSWA’s founding, our volunteers conduct interviews of award honorees. Those interviews are housed within this collection. Approximately 100 interviews are available for viewing digitally and functions in collaboration with the Doheny Memorial Library's Archival Research Center (ARC).

Click here to browse our oral histories collection

Some examples from our 117 collections

Below is a slide deck of photos taken in the early 1960’s by the staff of the All Nations Church and Foundation.

Description of the Collection

The All Nations Church and Foundation photographs (circa 1924-1967) consist of photographic material in a variety of formats; the collection provides a rich view of the people, community, and activities associated with the All Nations Foundation's operations in Los Angeles. Among the subjects documented in the photographs are All Nations centers and community life; arts and education; recreation and leisure; groups and individuals; and publicity materials. The collection complements the All Nations Church and Foundation records, also held in the California Social Welfare Archives at USC.

History of All Nations Foundation

All Nations, in its heyday the largest and most effective social welfare organization in Los Angeles, was begun in 1918 in an east-central section of the city known as "Eastside." The City Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, under pastor Bromley Oxnam, established and ran the church settlement, gathering donations, organizing volunteers, buying land and buildings, and equipping gymnasiums, playgrounds, libraries, and clinics for a community where three-fourths of the families were on public assistance and where much of the population consisted of immigrants from Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Oxnam initially developed the physical facilities of All Nations, acquiring a complex of buildings at 810-816-824 E. Sixth Street (now the site of Gladys Park in Skid Row) just before his resignation from the organization in 1927.

Click here to arrange to see these photographs in person at UCS’s library

[All Nations Church and Foundation] (1965.)
California Social Welfare Archives, 0421, Box 1, USC Libraries Special Collections — [All Nations Church and Foundation] (1965.) California Social Welfare Archives, 0421, Box 1, USC Libraries Special Collections

[All Nations Church and Foundation] (1965) All Nations Service Area Map California Social Welfare Archives, 0421, Box 1, USC Libraries Special Collections

[All Nations Church and Foundation] (1965) Family on porch California Social Welfare Archives, 0421, Box 1, USC Libraries Special Collections

[All Nations Church and Foundation] (27 May 1933) Staff of the McKinley Industrial Home for Boys, Los Angeles Cal May 27, 1933 CSWA, 0421, Box 1,

Celebrating their 125th anniversary, McKinley has been serving children, youth and families since their founding in 1900.

Staff of the McKinley Industrial Home for Boys, Los Angeles Cal May 27, 1933

Association of Black Social Workers, LA Chapter (1971)

(Selected pages from the)Directory of Black Social Agencies and Grass Roots Organizations,

CSWA 0603 Box2

Interested in reading this in person? Click here for the link to the archive page and/or email Elise Johnson eljohnson@csudh.edu and we’ll help!

CSWA Collection 0603 is our largest collection of all.

This collection consists miscellaneous printed materials and related items from agencies and organizations in California that deal with social welfare and social work. More than 400 organizations are represented, though most are only represented by a few items.

Entities include state and local government agencies, schools, non-profit groups, and professional social work organizations.

The majority of items date from the 1950s-1990s, though there are some materials dating back as early as the 1910s.

Mystery History: Can you identify this group? This place?

This photo was found in The All Nations Photos box, (CSWA 0421).

Circa 1930s, it has no identifying features other than the photographer’s imprint, De Pauk L.A.

Archival Collections and Oral Histories Committee

The Archival Collections and Oral Histories Committee has two major projects within California Social Welfare Archives

Some examples from our 117 collections

Some examples from our 117 collections

[All Nations Church and Foundation] (27 May 1933) Staff of the McKinley Industrial Home for Boys, Los Angeles Cal May 27, 1933 CSWA, 0421, Box 1,

Celebrating their 125th anniversary, McKinley has been serving children, youth and families since their founding in 1900.

Staff of the McKinley Industrial Home for Boys, Los Angeles Cal May 27, 1933

Association of Black Social Workers, LA Chapter (1971)

(Selected pages from the)Directory of Black Social Agencies and Grass Roots Organizations,

CSWA 0603 Box2

Mystery History: Can you identify this group? This place?

"Adventures in the Archives" Webinar Series

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3