British Association of Social Workers

Scope and Content

The BASW archive comprises constitutional records, minutes and papers of many committees, panels, working parties and other groups, officers' papers, financial records, subject and correspondence files on a wide variety of subjects relating to social work, social conditions and social policy, case files, publications and related correspondence, including 'Social Work Today' and the 'British Journal of Social Work' (1971-1999), and regional and branch correspondence and papers. Most papers date from 1970 to 1990.

Administrative / Biographical History

The British Association of Social Workers grew out of the Standing Conference of Organisations of Social Workers and was formed in 1970 by the merger of seven predecessor organisations which represented specialist groups within the broader profession of social work. These were the Association of Child Care Officers, the Association of Family Case Workers, the Association of Psychiatric Social Workers, the Association of Social Workers, the Institute of Medical Social Workers, the Moral Welfare Workers' Association and the Society of Mental Welfare Officers. It caters for all social workers and is the principal professional association for social workers in the United Kingdom.

Access Information

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Other Finding Aids

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this archive, apart from the requirements of copyright law.

Custodial History

BASW deposited its archives in the Centre in 2003.

Accruals

Further deposits are expected.

Related Material

The Social Workers' Benevolent Trust (MSS.432/SWBT) and the Social Workers' Educational Trust. (MSS.378/SWET).

Records of the National Association of Probation Officers (MSS.378/PROB) and of the Association of Tuberculosis Care Workers (MSS.378/TUB).

Records of the National Institute for Social Work (NISW) (MSS.463).

Publications collected by Ken Hawker, a founder member of BASW.

Subjects