Margaret Berry papers

Summary Information

Title: Margaret Berry papers
Dates: 1937-2001
Creator: Berry, Margaret
Extent: 2.5 linear feet
Language: English
Collection Number: sw0106
Abstract:

The Margaret Berry papers document her work with social service organizations and reflect her role as an unofficial historian of the settlement movement through items she collected about individuals, agencies, meetings, and events. The papers consist of: Berry's personal papers and memorabilia; materials related to her involvement with the Social Service Employees Union as well as local, national and international settlements and social welfare organizations; and clippings, memorials, and other materials documenting individuals and agencies in the field of social welfare.

Repository: University of Minnesota Libraries. Social Welfare History Archives

Access and Use

Acquisition Information:

The Margaret Berry papers were a gift from Margaret Berry. The papers were received in many installments, beginning in 1970, but with most arriving after 1980. Accretions have been received as recently as 1993.

Access Restrictions:

Open for use in Social Welfare History Archives reading room.

Copyright:

Please contact the Archives for copyright information.

Arrangement

The Margaret Berry papers are arranged into four series:

• Series 1. Personal Material
• Series 2. Employment-Related Material
• Series 3. Conferences
• Series 4. Material on Individuals and Settlements

Biographical Note

Margaret Berry was identified with the settlement movement, especially from the 1940s through the 1960s. She was involved with such organizations as the Industrial Department of the Cleveland YWCA, , Soho Community Settlement House (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), German Youth Leadership Project, National Federation of Settlements, International Federation of Settlements, National Conference on Social Welfare, and the U.S. Committee of the International Conference of Social Work. She was also an officer of the Social Service Employees Union in Pittsburgh.

Margaret Berry was born in 1915 in the small lumber town of Hermanville, Michigan. The daughter of a minister father and a teacher mother, she received her B.A. in Sociology from Albion College and her M.S.S.A. (Master's of Science in Social Administration) in 1937 from Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She also served as a graduate assistant at the Bryn Mawr School for Women Workers.

After several field work and summer employment experiences, Berry began her post-graduate work experience with the Industrial Department of the Cleveland YWCA. From 1941 until 1952, she worked at Soho Community Settlement House in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, eventually becoming executive director in 1947. During this time, she was also a field instructor for the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. In 1951 to 1952, she went to Stuttgart and Munich under the auspices of the German Youth Leadership Project to teach group work principles from a cross-cultural perspective. The project was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and administered by the National Social Welfare Assembly. Berry joined the staff of the National Federation of Settlements (NFS) in 1952, becoming the executive director in 1959. While working at NFS, she also served as president of the International Federation of Settlements from 1963 to 1971. She remained at NFS until 1971, when she resigned to become director of the National Conference on Social Welfare (NCSW). She retired in 1979. Her leadership years at both NFS and NCSW came at times when the organizations faced some of their most profound challenges, in particular surrounding the relationship of race and civil rights to welfare and social work. Berry also served on the U.S. Committee of the International Conference of Social Work from 1972 to 1979 and again from 1987 to 1990. Margaret Berry passed away in Amherst, Massachusetts, in November, 2002.

Collection Scope and Content Note

The Margaret Berry papers document Berry's work with social service organizations and her long career in the U.S. settlement house movement. They also reflect her role as an unofficial historian of the settlement movement through items she collected about individuals, agencies, meetings, and events. The papers include Christmas newsletters, working papers, correspondence, clippings and memorial tributes to social work leaders, and photographs. The papers also include personal recollections about some of her activities and her thoughts on trends in the settlement house movement. Most of these were written as she prepared to send her records to the Archives. They are kept with the files documenting the particular activity about which they are written, but are housed in a separate folder. The material is divided into four series: Personal Material; Employment-Related Material; Conferences, and Material on Individuals and Agencies.

Most heavily represented and of special interest are Berry's work at Soho Community House and her involvement in the German Youth Leadership Project. She also belonged to locals of the Social Service Employees Union in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and served as secretary and president of the Pittsburgh local. A portion of her papers documents the union. Her years at the National Federation of Settlements (NFS) and the National Conference on Social Welfare (NCSW) are less fully documented. However, there is a book of letters from her colleagues that was given to Berry at a party in her honor when she moved from NFS to NCSW. The letters are from such people as Fern Colborn, Helen Hall, Alvin Schorr, and Helen Harris. Also included is material used in a paper that Berry wrote about the NCSW from 1968 to 1973, when the organization faced conflicts over race, civil rights and the future direction of social work. The material includes photographs, statements, correspondence, clippings, and information about encounters with groups such as the National Welfare Rights Organization and the National Association of Black Social Workers.

Related Material

The Social Welfare History Archives also holds records of the National Federation of Settlements (sw0056) and the National Conference on Social Welfare (sw0077), both of which contain extensive evidence of Margaret Berry's leadership in those organizations. The National Federation of Settlements records also include extensive files related to the International Federation of Settlements.

Unpublished inventory available. Please contact the Archives for more information.

Subject Terms

Index Terms

• This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
• Berry, Margaret E.
• Berry, Margaret E.--Archives.
• Social group work.
• Social service International cooperation.
• Social settlements.
• Youth--Services for--Germany.

Detailed Description of the Records

Location		Title
		Series 1. Personal Material   Note Series 1, Personal Material, includes Christmas newsletters and photographs; letters of appreciation presented to Margaret Berry at her NFS retirement party; general correspondence; and educational material, including her Master's thesis.
Box 1		Letter to Social Welfare History Archives undated Box 1, Folder 1
		Christmas/New Years Letters and Photographs 1967-1989, 1995, 1997-1999, 2001 Box 1, Folder 2
		NFS Retirement/Farewell Party for Berry 1972 Box 1, Folder 3
		Correspondence 1960, 1983, 1985, 1990 Box 1, Folder 4
Box		Information on Berry's ancestors and family history undated Box
		Educational Material
Box 1		Western Reserve University Master’s Thesis 1937 Box 1, Folder 5 Note Berry’s Master Thesis for the School of Applied Social Sciences, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio: "Pioneer Youth of America: A Study of the Educational Philosophy of this Organization and the Factors Effecting its Evolution from 1924-1936."
		Teamster Course, Pennsylvania State College, Pittsburgh 1949 Box 1, Folder 6
		Bryn Mawr Summer School for Women Workers Reunion 1984 Box 1, Folder 7-8 Note Berry was a graduate assistant.
		Photographs undated Box 1, Folder 9-10
		Obituaries for Margaret Berry November, 2002 Box 1, Folder 11 Note Donated to the Archives by a colleague.
		Teaching Materials and Resource Files
Box 6		Diagnostic vs functional casework concepts  Box 6, Folder 3
		Group work and general topics  Box 6, Folder 4
Box 1		Protest Songs circa 1930s Box 1, Folder 12 Note Folder of songs, some with union or civil rights themes. Possibly used or collected by Berry
Box 7		Hudson Shore Labor School songbook 1939 Box 7
		Series 2. Employment-Related Material   Note Series 2, Employment-Related Material, includes files related to Margaret Berry's work with the Social Service Employees Union, Soho Community House, German Youth Leadership Exchange Project, National Federation of Settlements, International Federation of Settlements, National Conference of Social Welfare, and the U.S. Committee of the International Conference of Social Work.
Box 2		Berry’s Recollections of the Settlement Movement 1985-1986 Box 2, Folder 1
Box 9		Pioneer Youth of American, West Virginia 1935-1936 Box 9
Box 2		Cleveland YWCA, Industrial Department undated Box 2, Folder 2 Note Print materials
		Social Service Employees Union 1938-1940, 1946 Box 2, Folder 3 Note Material on Union Organization
		Soho Community House 1941-1952
Box 2		Berry's recollections of Soho Community House 1941-1952 Box 2, Folder 4
		Soho aims, objectives, policies, and annual reports 1947-1951 Box 2, Folder 5
		Soho "June Week" Annual Program Evaluation and Plan for next year 1946-1947; 1948-1951 Box 2, Folder 6 Note Notes on group discussion
		SoHo "June Week" and interracial, inter cultural policy 1947-1951 Box 2, Folder 7
		Soho Intercultural Weil School Project 1946 Box 2, Folder 8
		Soho Resignation 1952 Box 2, Folder 9
		German Youth Leadership Exchange Project 1951-1952
Box 7		Berry’s recollections of the project 1951-1952 Box 7, Folder 1
		Social work training in Germany  Box 7, Folder 2
		Berry's work assignments  Box 7, Folder 3
		Ruit Youth and Sport Leadership School, Stuttgart  Box 7, Folder 4
		Summaries by consultant Berry  Box 7, Folder 5
		Round robin letters to family and friends  Box 7, Folder 6 Note Includes snapshots
		Pamphlets  Box 7, Folder 7
		National Federation of Settlements 1952-1971
		National Federation of Settlements and United Community Defense Services
Box 2		United Community Defense Services workshop 1954 Box 2, Folder 10
		United Community Defense Services workshop 1955 Box 2, Folder 11
		United Community Defense Services correspondence and report circa 1966 Box 2, Folder 12
		Filing System key and office policies 1966 Box 2, Folder 13
		Photographs 1960, 1962, 1964 Box 2, Folder 14 Note Photographs of Hull House, 1960; conferences in Cleveland, 1962; and four past NFS presidents, 1964
		Study of City Federations  Box 2, Folder 15 Note Given at the 44th national conference of the National Federation of Settlements in Chicago on May 28, 1966
Box 3		Comparative Organization Research Program (CORP) Study of Settlements 1967, 1971 Box 3, Folder 1 Note Contains correspondence; CORP Welfare Agency Study results code book; and "Task Structure and Innovation in Professional Organizations" (Heydebrand and Noell, 1971)
		National Federation of Settlements Training Center on Administration courses circa 1950-1966 Box 3, Folder 2
		Seminars and workshops. circa 1954-1962 Box 3, Folder 3 Note Possibly held at the Training Center on Administration
		State of Mississippi Sovereignty Commission, records re surveillance of NFS in staff members 1966-1968 Box 3, Folder 4 Note Papers released by Mississippi State government re: surveillance of NFS activities during Civil Rights era
		Report of Task Force on Health and Welfare 1968 Box 3, Folder 5
		Miscellaneous  Box 3, Folder 6
		Jane Addams Centennial Kit 1960 Box 3, Folder 7
		Correspondence 1971 Box 3, Folder 8 Note Regarding Berry's move from NFS to NCSW
		International Federation of Settlements 1963-1971
Box 3		International Social Welfare Project "The Problem of Personnel in Development;" United National Committee on Co-Ordination Urban Community Development" 1963, 1965 Box 3
		Study of International Federation of Settlements international organizations 1968-1969 Box 3, Folder 10
		Arthur Hillman’s study of the settlement movement in Scandinavia 1972 Box 3, Folder 11
Box 4		International Federation of Settlements newsletters and correspondence 1972-1989 Box 4, Folder 1
		National Conference of Social Welfare 1968-1973
Box 4		Berry’s recollections of 1968-1973 period  Box 4, Folder 2
		Correspondence for National Conference of Social Welfare 1970-1971 Box 4, Folder 3
		Statements, policy 1969 Box 4, Folder 4
		National Conference of Social Welfare Annual Forum takeover 1968 Box 4, Folder 5 Note Resolutions and news wire reports
		Newspaper clippings 1969 Box 4, Folder 6
		Davis, Allen. "Insurgency and Reform at the National Conference, 1912 and 1934" 1969 Box 4, Folder 7 Note Unpublished paper given at the 1969 NCSW forum
		Leiby, James. "The Conference of the 1900s" 1969 Box 4, Folder 7 Note Unpublished paper given at the 1969 NCSW forum
		Issues re race relations, annual forum, future of NCSW 1968-1971 Box 4, Folder 8
		Relations with Other Organizations
Box 4		AFL-CIO  Box 4, Folder 9
		National Association of Black Social Workers  Box 4, Folder 10
		National Association of Social Workers  Box 4, Folder 11
		National Welfare Rights Organization  Box 4, Folder 12
		Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization  Box 4, Folder 13
		Social Welfare Worker’s Movement  Box 4, Folder 14
		National Conference of Social Welfare/Social Welfare Forum Photographs
Box 4		New York City 1969 Box 4, Folder 15
		Chicago 1970 Box 4, Folder 16
		Dallas 1971 Box 4, Folder 17
		Atlantic City 1973 Box 4, Folder 18
		Chicago 1977 Box 4, Folder 19
		U.S. Committee of International Conference of Social Work, Board of Directors 1972-1979 and 1987-1990 Box 4, Folder 20 Note Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, presentations, proposals
		Series 3. Conferences   Note Series 3, Conferences, is a set of files from various national and international conferences hosted by the National Federation of Settlements, International Federation of Settlements, and other organizations.
Box 5		National Federation of Settlements Conferences 1918-1926 Box 5, Folder 1
		"Settlements and their Outlook: An Account of the First International Conference of Settlements, Toynbee Hall, London, July 1922"  Box 5, Folder 2
		Berry, Margaret. "Why Discriminatory Practices are Inconsistent with Social Work Principles" 1949 Box 5, Folder 3 Note Presented at the National Conference of Social Welfare, 1949
		Berry's Recollections of International Federation of Settlements conferences 1951-1972 Box 5, Folder 4 Note Written in 1985
		Committee for Advancement of Social Work with Groups conferences 1979-1984 Box 5, Folder 5
		American Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups 1985-1987 Box 5, Folder 6
		International Conference on Social Welfare, 22nd international conference 1984 Box 5, Folder 7 Note August 5-11, 1984, "Social Welfare in a World Crisis: Perceptions and Responsibilities"
		Toynbee Hall Centenary Conference 1984 Box 5, Folder 8 Note Includes materials on an International Federation of Settlements conference held concurrently with the centenary
		New York Settlement House Centennial 1886-1986, conference in New York City 1986 Box 5, Folder 9
		1986 Centennial of the U.S. Settlement Movement 1986 Box 5, Folder 10 Note pamphlets
Box 6		Centennial of the U.S. settlement movement 1986 Box 6, Folder 1 Note United Neighborhood Houses of New York, United Neighborhood Center of America (formerly, National Federation of Settlements), and International Federation of Settlements materials
		XV Conference of the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (Berlin) 1988 Box 6, Folder 2
		Series 4. Material on Individuals and Settlements   Note Series 4, Individuals and Agencies, includes memorials and clippings on colleagues and individual settlements. Some are tributes written by Berry; others are obituaries, newspaper clippings, and memorial service leaflets.
		Memorials and clippings
Box 6		Bates, Katherine Lee  Box 6, Folder 5 Note Author of "America the Beautiful"
		Blake, Mary Elizabeth  Box 6, Folder 6
		Bond, Robert L.  Box 6, Folder 7
		Brown, Thad  Box 6
		Carlton, Winslow  Box 6, Folder 8
		Carner, Lucy  Box 6, Folder 9
		Charles Settlement House  Box 6, Folder 36
		Chicago Commons  Box 6, Folder 37
		Colborn, Fern  Box 6, Folder 10
		Coyle, Grace  Box 6, Folder 11
		Davis, Michael  Box 6, Folder 12
		Goldberg, Ned  Box 6, Folder 13
		Hannick Mary  Box 6, Folder 14
		Harbach, Franklin  Box 6, Folder 15
		Harris, Helen  Box 6, Folder 16
		Henry Street Settlement  Box 6, Folder 38
		Hollander, Sidney  Box 6, Folder 18
		Jelliffe, Rouena  Box 6, Folder 19
		Kennedy, Albert  Box 6, Folder 20
		Kriegsfield, Irving  Box 6, Folder 21
		Liddell, Charles  Box 6, Folder 22
		Lindenberg, Sidney  Box 6, Folder 23
		McDowell, John  Box 6, Folder 24
		Morton, Malvin  Box 6, Folder 25
		Peters, Richard  Box 6, Folder 26
		Schulte, Lucy  Box 6, Folder 27
		Seguin, Mary  Box 6, Folder 28
		Smith, Hilda Worthington  Box 6, Folder 29
		Spellman, Dorthea  Box 6, Folder 30
		Swander, Lester  Box 6, Folder 31
		Sweeney, S.B.  Box 6, Folder 32
		Tefferteller, Ralph  Box 6, Folder 33
		Williams, Ethel James  Box 6, Folder 34
		Winston, Ellen  Box 6, Folder 35
		Historical settlement publications
Box 7		Nijenhuis, Herman, editor. Hundred Years of Settlements and Neigbhourhoodcentres in North America and Europe 1986 Box 7
		Simkhovitch, Mary K. Settlement Primer 1936 Box 7
		Taylor, Graham. Social Action 1939 Box 7
		Woods, Robert Archey. Democracy: A New Unfolding of Human Power 1906 Box 7
		Woods, Robert Archey. University Settlements: Their Point and Drift 1899 Box 7
		Woods, Robert Archey. The World Empire of the Disinterested 1921 Box 7
		Berry, Margaret. "Service and Cause - Both Sides of the Coin" 1998 Box 7 Note A history of community organizing