Preserving our social welfare heritage and advancing social equity through the records of California’s people, history, and communities.
California Social Welfare Archives
Our mission is to collect and preserve the historical documents of California’s social welfare institutions and celebrate influential social workers and other human service professionals throughout California.
Renowned clinical social worker, theorist, educator and author, Barbara Bryant Solomon. Click on the image to watch her interview.
Above photo is CSWA’s 1991 Mission Statement. In Feldman, F.L. (1991) Portrait of a Gentle Man: George D. Nickel. California Social Welfare Archives.
Photo from a social work recruitment flyer, circa 1955. CSWA archive collection #0454
Above photo is of an unnamed social worker employed by All Nations Foundation in 1965. CSWA collection #0421. Click on the image to see more images from this collection.
Save the date!
2025 California Social Work Hall of Distinction Induction Ceremony
Date: November 15, 2025
Time: 4-8 PM PST
Location: Location: Marriott Irvine, 180000 Von Karman Avenue, CA - 92612
Interested in our work?
We’d appreciate your support and involvement.
Volunteering:
CSWA’s Board is made up of volunteers, most of whom are social workers. Should be interested in volunteering with us, please check out our “Committees” page for more information.
Financial support:
Please join us in building the CSWA Operations Fund to ensure long-term support for the California Social Welfare Archives. Here’s where your support would go:
Scholarships for social work students interested in social work history.
Scholarships for researchers traveling to study collections from our Archives.
California Social Work Hall of Distinction Awards.
George Nickel Social Service Awards
Frances Lomas Feldman Social Work Education Award.
Oral Histories interview production.
Your generosity ensures that we continue to honor those involved in bringing about social equity and to ensure that the contributions of social work leaders, innovators, and pioneers will be recognized, studied, and preserved for the future. Any size gift is welcome and important.
You can also text-to-give, by texting CSWAHOD to 41444.
Guests enjoying CSWA 45th Anniversary Celebration, Pasadena 2024
Our 45th anniversary celebration…
California Social Welfare Archives 45th Anniversary Celebration and Awards
The California Social Welfare Archives 45th Anniversary Celebration and Awards took place on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the Lomas Estate in Pasadena, California.
Presented by: CSWA, National Association of Social Workers-California Chapter, USC Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work, and St. Johns Community Health Awardees: - Dr. Joy Angela DeGruy - Francis Feldman Excellence in Education Award - Dr. Barbara Ferrer - George Nickel Award - Pastor William D. Smart Jr. - George Nickel Award - Marisa Vasquez - Madeleine Stoner/Ralph Fertig Student Scholar Award -James DeBacco - Madeleine Stoner/Ralph Fertig Student Scholar Award
To follow along and view our digital program which contains all the tribute ads, credits, and additional history of the CSWA, please visit:
California Social Welfare Archives 45th Anniversary Celebration and Awards