[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” background_image=”https://sites.smith.edu/ssw100-history/wp-content/uploads/sites/256/2018/05/Unknown-date-Advanced-Techniques-of-social-psychiatric-treatment-class.jpg” background_color=”rgba(0,62,81,0.55)” parallax_method=”off” next_background_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.2.2″ background_blend=”overlay” module_class=”blue”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_divider color=”#ffffff” show_divider=”off” height=”200″ divider_style=”solid” divider_position=”top” hide_on_mobile=”on” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.2.2″ /][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.2.2″ meta=”off” featured_image=”off” text_color=”light” title_font_size=”50px” title_line_height=”1.2em” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ specialty=”off” parallax_method=”off” prev_background_color=”rgba(0,62,81,0.55)” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.2.2″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”0px|||” padding_mobile=”on” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_post_title admin_label=”Categories” _builder_version=”3.2.2″ title=”off” author=”off” date=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” meta_text_color=”#6fbee5″ /][et_pb_code admin_label=”Tags” _builder_version=”3.2.2″][tags][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text max_width=”620px” text_font_size=”20″ text_text_color=”#363636″ use_border_color=”off” custom_margin=”10px||0px|” text_line_height=”1.4em” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.2.2″]

The SSW was born during the first world war and almost died during the second. In 1942, facing the retirement of the longtime director Everett Kimball, Smith College questioned whether it should still host a graduate school of social work in the summers.

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Is this institution needed? Has its day of usefulness gone? What modifications are indicated to meet changing needs-relatively permanent needs as well as the imperative urgencies of great emergency?

These questions came from the pen of Maurine La Barre, Editor of Publications and Secretary for Professional Education of the Family Welfare Association of America, a member of the Survey Committee appointed by the Trustees of Smith College. In 1941, she asked the readers of Smith Alumnae Quarterly to chime in on the future of the School for Social Work. Did it even need to still exist?

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Black and white photo of four people. On the left is someone in a dress, then Everett Kimball handing a diploma to another person in a dress.
“Book presentation: Miss Day, Mr. Kimball, Miss Witmer, Dr. Emerson at the 25th anniversary,” 1943 RG 60 Box 1315 School for Social Work Records, College Archives, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

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Black and White photo of SSW students at desks facing forward.
“Advanced Techniques of social psychiatric treatment class” Unknown Date. Photographer: Unrecorded. RG 60 Box 1315 College Archives, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

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In the next issue of the Smith Alumnae Quarterly, Everett Kimball acknowledged some of the unorthodox elements the school had had since the beginning.

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From the first the unorthodox methods of the School were questioned. The emphasis which was placed upon mental hygiene and psychiatry was greater than that given by any other school. Criticism was directed against the so-called “block system,” that is, giving the intensive courses in the summer sessions and the practical social work during the winter sessions instead of combining theory and practice, with two or three days of each week in the field.

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Black and white photo of four students, one in capris, one in slacks, one in shorts, and one in a skirt with a bicycle. They are smiling.
“Campus styles, fall of ’43, snapped on the steps of Tyler House” Photographer: Unrecorded. Smith Alumni Quarterly, November 1943.

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On November 14, [1941] the executive committee of the Trustees met and voted that the Trustees and College should make the support and development of the School for Social Work the main official contribution of the College to the war crisis.

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And rather than close its doors, the campus welcomed Florence Day, the

Words "New Director of the School for Social Work"
Smith Alumni Quarterly, February 1943.

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Florence Day seated outside reading.
“The director outside, 1947” RG 60 Box 1315, School for Social Work, College Archives, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

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Header photo: “Advanced Techniques of social psychiatric treatment class” Unknown Date. Photographer: Unrecorded. RG 60 Box 1315 College Archives, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

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