Catholic Social Workers Guild Archive

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Introduction

	Biography
	Contents
	Arrangement
	Bibliography

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Catalogue

• Management Records
• Consultative Papers
• Conferences and Events
• Links with external bodies
• Publications

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Biography

The Catholic Social Workers Guild was founded in 1945 following a meeting organised by the Newman Association and presided over by Cardinal Griffin, archbishop of Westminster. Originally named “The Guild of Catholic Professional Social Workers”, its main objectives in its early years included providing an opportunity for discussion and study; promoting standards of training and work; establishing a network for Catholics in social work; and providing an avenue for the expression of opinion. The Guild was originally organised into local branches which held meetings and planned activities throughout the country, although it became more centralised after 1970 with the closure of many of its branches. These local activities were supplemented by summer schools, weekend retreats and conferences. It became increasingly involved with other like-minded national and international bodies in Germany, Belgium and other countries, and members sat on various outside committees for organisations such as the National Council for the Lay Apostolate, the National Board of Catholic Women and the United Nations Association. In 1980 the Guild changed its name to the Catholic Social Workers Guild. Membership was drawn from a wide variety of occupations within the broad umbrella of social work, including hospital almoners, health visitors, psychiatric and mental health workers, probation officers, diocesan and moral welfare workers, and child welfare workers. The Guild has always been a relatively small organisation, with only 300 members at its peak during the early years, declining to around 100 by the new century. Owing to these declining numbers and the inability to recruit for council positions, the Guild was wound up following the AGM at Hinsley Hall in 2006. Nevertheless, Guild members continue to meet on an infrequent and informal basis up to the present day.

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Contents

Papers of the Catholic Social Workers Guild, including minutes of AGM and executive meetings; day correspondence; administrative papers; papers of summer schools, weekend retreats and conferences; position papers, and newsletters.

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Accession details

Donated by Rosemary Keenan, 25 March 2019

Previous custodial history

Stored at the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, Eccleston Square, London

Conditions of access

Open for consultation.

Copyright and copying

Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from pg.library@durham.ac.uk and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material

Arrangement

1. Management Records
2. Consultative Papers
3. Conferences and Events
4. Links with external bodies
5. Publications

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Appraisal

Clean duplicates have been removed

Accruals

No further accruals expected

Bibliography

Butrym, Zofia, Rackham, Kate & McCaughan, Nano (eds.), The History of the Catholic Social Workers Guild (Catholic Social Workers Guild, 2002)

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Catalogue

Management Records
Consultative Papers
Conferences and Events
Links with external bodies
Publications