125th Anniversary:

A Historical Timeline

Social Work began as an intervention in the conditions of urban industrial life at the end of the 19th century and has evolved into a global field that impacts nearly every area of social and political life. For 125 years, the Columbia School of Social Work has played an integral role in this development. Below are some highlights in this illustrious history.

1898

First Summer School in Philanthropic Work, established in New York by the Charity Organization Society; 25 men and women attend classes at 105 East 22nd Street. The Summer School remained as the primary training source until 1904.

1904

The first eight-month course of full-time graduate study is offered at the newly renamed New York School of Philanthropy. To ensure cooperation with Columbia University, Columbia’s president is an ex-officio member of the Society’s special committee responsible for the School’s affairs.

1906

Dr. George Edmund Haynes, the first African American to receive a doctorate from Columbia University, decides to use his social work training to help found the forerunner of the National Urban League. The School forms a coalition to support the League’s founding.

1917

The School’s name is changed to New York School of Social Work.

1922

The Bureau of Child Guidance is founded to expand training for child guidance work. The School has been instrumental in this.

1929

Porter Lee, the School’s dean and a casework teacher, co-authors, with Dr. Marion Kenworthy,  the first psychiatric casework text. (Kenworthy is also the first psychiatrist in a full-time position at a social work school.)

1931

The School moves to 122 East 22nd Street, the Russell Sage Building.

1935

The Social Security Act is enacted. The School has played a role in writing and implementing the Act.

1940

The School is affiliated with Columbia University as one of its graduate schools; the MS degree is awarded. Also around this time, the School becomes active in extending the social work role into the U.S. military.

1949

The School moves to the Andrew Carnegie Mansion at 2 East 91st Street.

1952

The School’s first doctoral degree is awarded, raising the academic level of social work.

1961

The Peace Corps is founded by President John F. Kennedy. The School has formed a coalition in support of this initiative.

Ada Deer becomes first Native American to receive MSW from CSSW.

1963

The School’s name is changed formally to the Columbia University School of Social Work.

1966

The School launches a major longitudinal study of foster children, their families and the agencies serving them, which influences national policy.

1971

The School moves to McVickar Hall on Columbia’s campus.

1978

Sr. Mary Paul Janchill, who received her Ph.D. in social work from the school in 1968, establishes the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park in Brooklyn, a program that demonstrates the ecosystemic perspective that she and other doctoral students helped to pioneer at the School.

1991

The first fully endowed professorship is established, followed by the full endowment of the Kenworthy Chair and nine additional endowed professorships.

1996

McVickar Hall undergoes extensive renovations; technological innovations include new electronic classrooms and computer labs.

1997

The United Nations Economic and Social Council Secretariat offers the School new program support and fellowship. School’s endowment rises to over $40 million.

1998

Columbia University School of Social Work marks its centennial anniversary.

2002

Construction of new School of Social Work building on Columbia’s campus begins; Dr. Jeanette C. Takamura is named the School’s 17th, and its first female, dean.

2004

The School moves to its current location: 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, on the northeast corner of the Columbia University campus.

2007

The Global Health Research Center of Central Asia is founded under Nabila El-Bassel, the Willma and Albert Musher Professor of Social Work.

2008

The Jordan Social Work Education for Excellence Program is established.

2012

The School establishes the Fisher Cummings Washington Fellows Program with a major gift.

2013

The School shortens its name by one word and its acronym by one letter, to the Columbia School of Social Work, or CSSW.

2014

The School opens its Online Campus for earning an MSW from various major cities in the United States.