Atlanta University School of Social Work Records

Collection

Identifier: 0000-0000-0000-0326

Staff Only

Scope and contents

The records of the Atlanta University School of Social Work span the years from 1968 to 1984, providing a limited yet valuable glimpse into over a century of their history. While the bulk of the collection dates from 1973-1984, the materials are organized into two main areas: those documenting the Atlanta University School of Social Work (AUSSW) and those related to the Research Demonstration Center (RDC), which was established in 1972 to oversee grant administration and management.

Materials related to AUSSW are organized into the Administrative Files series, the General Files series, the Alcoholism Counselor Training Program series (ACTP), and the Atlanta Affiliate Council of International Programs series (AACIP). The Administrative and General Files include both administrative and non-administrative records documenting the School’s operations and activities. These materials consist of correspondence, grant files, project documentation, printed materials, and other records related to daily functions.

The ACTP and AACIP series represent two grant-funded programs administered by the School of Social Work. The ACTP focused on training counselors to work with individuals experiencing alcoholism and their families. The AACIP supported international exchange programs in the fields of social work, youth work, and special education.

Records related to the Research Demonstration Center (RDC) include administrative files documenting departmental operations, as well as materials from four federally funded grant programs: • The Black Stylization and Implications for Child Welfare project (BSICWP), a cultural survey of parents and children. • The Leadership Development Program (LDP), which provided training to Head Start personnel. • The Multi-Cultural In-Service Education project (MCISE) and the Training of Personnel for Services to Black Families (TPSBF), both of which aimed to strengthen training for social service providers to work more effectively in Black communities.

These projects produced reports, correspondence, workshop evaluations, training materials, assessment tools, and printed publications.

Additionally, the collection includes the Printed and Published Materials series and the Audio/Visual Materials series. The Printed and Published Materials series contains a small selection of publications, including the Atlanta University School of Social Work Bulletin and the Atlanta University School of Social Work Newsletter, and other printed works. The Audio/Visual Materials series features cassette tape recordings of interviews from the BSICWP and unidentified slides. Please note that these audio/visual materials are restricted and not available for research use.

Dates

Creation: 1931-2000

Creator

Atlanta University. School of Social Work. (Organization)

Rights statement

All materials in this collection are either protected by copyright and/or are the property of the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc., and/or the copyright holder as appropriate. For more information, please contact archives@auctr.edu.

Rights statement

This collection was processed using the "More Product, Less Process" (MPLP) approach. As a result, some personally identifiable information (PII) or other sensitive materials may remain within the collection.

Examples of potentially sensitive material include social security numbers, financial records, medical information, personal correspondence, or other documentation that may contain private or confidential details.

By accessing and using this collection, researchers agree to adhere to ethical research standards, including a commitment not to record, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use any personally identifiable or sensitive information in a way that could harm, exploit, or infringe upon the privacy of individuals represented in the materials.

Historical note

Seventy-two days following the end of the Civil War, the American Missionary Association (A.M.A.) began formal educational work for African Americans in Atlanta. Edmund Asa Ware, the Educational Director of the A.M.A. in Georgia, promoted the idea of establishing a university to provide educational opportunities for the recently freed slaves and refugees of the war. Atlanta University opened on October 13, 1869.

The University offered training for students of all ages, including kindergarten, grade school, normal industrial, academy, and college. In 1894, all pre-high school level work ceased, and during the first two decades of the twentieth century, the University phased out its high school courses. In 1929, Atlanta University affiliated with Morehouse and Spelman in a cooperative plan known as the Atlanta University System. Among the features of this system was a division of labor between the schools to eliminate unnecessary duplication of educational efforts. Under this plan, the University discontinued all undergraduate work and devoted its resources to graduate and professional education, while Morehouse and Spelman operated on a college level.

The Atlanta University School of Social Work, Library and Information Studies, Arts and Sciences, Education, Business Administration, and Library Services were all established between 1920 and 1946. On July 1, 1988, Atlanta University and Clark College consolidated to form Clark Atlanta University.

Extent

67.5 Linear feet (116 manuscript boxes, 10 oversize boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

These records are divided into seven series: 1. Administrative Files; 2. General Files; 3. Alcoholism Counselor Training Program (ACTP); 4. Atlanta Affiliate Council of International Programs (AACIP); 5. Research Demonstration Center (RDC); 6. Printed and Published Materials; and 7. Audio Visual Materials. Five of the series are further divided into sub-series. The contents of the series are arranged alphabetically or chronologically. See series notes for each series for more details.