1. INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION
OF SOCIAL WORKERS
International Social Work History: Report of the International Federation of Social Workers’ Archives Project 1928 to the present day
Fiona Robertson 1, Nigel Hall 2, Rory Truell3 Suzanne Dworak-Peck4
1Consultant, Christchurch, New Zealand
2Course Director, Kingston University, London, UK & IFSW Sage Representative
3IFSW Secretary-General, Basel, Switzerland
4IFSW Ambassador, Los Angeles, USA

2. Rory Truell, IFSW Secretary-General, Fiona Robertson & René Schegg examining material

3. IFSW develops its Archives…
In 2013 IFSW started a project to make the Federation’s archives accessible to all social workers and researchers around the world. The archives contain information dating back to 1847…

4. IFSW develops its Archives…

5. History from early C19th…
In 1847 the International Penitentiary Congress of Brussels proclaimed the necessity of ‘establishing contact between persons engaged, in different countries, in improving the lot of the working classes and the indigent poor’.
It was not until 1889 in Paris that a more social work-specific event was held with the First International Congress (Conference) on Statutory and Voluntary Assistance.
This was followed by Conferences in Geneva in 1896, Paris in 1900, Milan in 1906, Copenhagen in 1920 and Paris in 1928.

6. History …
The First International Conference of Social Work was held in Paris in July With strong patronage this brought together over 5000 delegates, 2481 of these representing 42 countries.
Despite the times of crisis in Europe the Second International Conference was held in 1932 in Frankfurt and was attended by 1200 delegates from 34 countries.
This Conference provided the foundation to setting up the International Permanent Secretariat of Social Workers.

7. IFSW History discovered…
The period 1932 to 1956 is the era of the IPSSW with further International Conferences in London and Paris.
Included in the Minutes of the Meeting of 13th July 1932 is a proposal for a ‘loose federation’ with the membership, aims, names, proposal for a secretariat and a series of tasks to be carried out.
The current IFSW was constitutionally incorporated in 1956 in Munich, Germany.

8. IPSSW Secretariat renewing contacts after the Second World War with the American Association of Social Workers in New York City

9. 1956 IFSW History

10. IFSW History goes digital

11. Newsletters uploaded
In addition to sorting through all the records, IFSW Newsletters have been uploaded on to the web (presently from 1962 – 2002)
We also plan to upload many years of photos from Conference and project activities…

12. Early IFSW Newsletter – Vol V. No. 1 March 1962

13. Later IFSW Newsletter – Issue 2-3 / 2002

14. Links to Archives sites
1932: IFSW Meeting: Minutes in German:
1932: In the archives is the signed attendance list of those participating in this meeting on Hotel paper:
1932: Included in the Minutes of the Meeting the idea of the foundation of a loose co-operation of international associations of social workers:
1947: Letter of the Secretary to the American Association regarding the Netherlands International Preparatory Conference:

15. Links to Archives sites
1948 Letter to the American Red Cross informing about the status of interest in joining the Permanent Secretariat by France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Australia, Italy and Luxemburg:
1954: IFSW Toronto meeting:
1960: A Short History of the IFSW M.L. Ginet, President IFSW:

16. Further steps… Conserve the remaining papers
Place the most critical and useful information online
Encourage research of material
Write up the ‘story’ of the archives
To develop a comprehensive funding plan  
To ensure recording history of IFSW stalwarts

17. Further steps… Consideration of request to hold Social Workers papers
To identify people in photographs
Celebrate our achievements