Gertrude Vaile papers, 1892-1954
Summary Information
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#1280
- Bib ID:
- 4079424 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Vaile, Gertrude, 1878-1954
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 1.67 linear feet (4 document boxes)
- Language(s):
- English .
- Other Finding Aids
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
-
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Description
Summary
The collection covers Vaile's career from her days as a social worker in Chicago and Denver through her teaching positions. Included in the collection are teaching outlines, correspondence, printed material, and some typescripts of Vaile's writings.
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Series I: Gertrude Vaile papers, 1892-1954
Order of arrangement is chronological by position held by Gertrude Vaile. Here and on the folders the names of employing institutions, followed by titles of positions occupied, are given on the left side; dates of such positions are given.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in one series: Series I: Gertrude Vaile papers, 1892-1954.
Using the Collection
Other Finding Aids
Restrictions on Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Gertrude Vaile papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.
Related Materials
Mary Richmond papers, 1821-1928 (MS#1069)
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Custodial History
Materials were sent from the home of Gertrude Vaile to the New York School of Social Work (now known as the Columbia University School of Social Work) on October 15, 1956.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source of acquisition--School of Social Work. Method of acquisition--Transfer; Date of acquisition--1970. Accession number--M-70.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 09/--/89.
Revision Description
2020-05-04 PDF replaced with full finding aid (JR)
Biographical Note
Gertrude Vaile (January 20, 1878 – October 15, 1954): Social Worker, Public Welfare Administrator, Reformer and Pioneer in Social Work Education
Vaile was born in Kokomo, Indiana the daughter of Joel Frederick and Charlotte White Vaile. When Vaile was about five her family moved to Denver where her father was appointed the general counsel for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. She attended public schools in Denver, graduated from Vassar College in 1900, and then went on to the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy. While in Chicago, she was a resident at Chicago Commons, the settlement house founded by Graham Taylor. Shortly after graduating, she became a caseworker for United Charities in Chicago.
In 1913, Vaile was asked by the Mayor of Denver to take a position on the City Board of Charities and Corrections. She accepted the offer and within a year she became the executive director of the board. She applied the casework principles of the charity organization society movement (casework, case conferences, friendly visitors) to a publicly administered agency. Vaile also introduced the use of interagency case conferences at which representatives of all public and private social agencies met to marshal community resources for clients. Through Vaile's efforts the Denver Board of Charities and Corrections evolved into the nation's first legitimate public social service agency.
Vaile also was affiliated with the Red Cross as the Director of Civilian Relief for the Mountain Division from 1917 to 1919. She was on the field staff of the Family Service Association of America from 1919 to 1923, covering the area west of the Mississippi. She left this position to become the executive director of the Colorado State Department of Charities and Corrections. In 1926, Vaile was elected president of the National Conference of Social Work.
In 1930 she took up academic life at the University of Minnesota, where she was an associate professor of sociology and the associate director of the Training Course for Social and Civic Work (later the School of Social Work) until her retirement in 1946. At Minnesota, she worked to strengthen the Association of Schools of Social Work that became the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).
In her retirement, Vaile returned to Denver. She died in 1954.
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
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