NASW Foundation National Programs

NASW Social Work Pioneers^®

Robert Morris (1910 - 2005)

Robert "Bob" Morris had a profound influence on long term care policies and available services for the elderly as well as an increased understanding of social gerontological issues. His research, many consultations, appointments, and prolific writings have all contributed to a better understanding of the importance of social policy to the planning and delivering of social services and to the well being of the people particularly the elderly.

Morris was born in Akron, Ohio and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Akron in 1931, his master's of social work degree from the School of Applied Social Sciences at Western University in 1935, and his DSW from Columbia University, New York School of Social Work in 1959. He was a professor of social planning at Brandeis University, Florence Heller Graduate School University for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare. Morris was a professor emeritus from 1959-1979.

In 1970 he became director of the Levinson Policy Institute at Brandeis thus he was a very instrumental figure in the development of the university's role in social policy studies and research. Morris has received research awards from the Ford Foundation, Veterans Administration, National Science Foundation, and the Department of Health Education and Welfare and had been a visiting lecturer professor at several other schools of social work. He served on technical advisory committees of the National Institute of Mental Health, Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, and the HEW Office of Human Development Services. His publications included several books and numerous articles in the fields of social planning, gerontology, and medical care. He was the recipient of special awards from the Hayes Fullbright Program for Italy, the Ford Foundation, the Max and Anna Levinson Family Trust, and the Treuhaft Fund.

Morris found time to carry out a number of committee and editorial assignments for NASW. He was the editor of the Encyclopedia of Social Work 16th Edition, 1971, the editor of the Journal of Social Work from 1960 to 1972, and was an advisor to other NASW publications.

He worked particularly with the National Council on Aging, the Gerontological Society of America (where he was president from 1966 to 1967) and the American Association of Retired Persons. He lived in Baltimore, Maryland.