NASW Foundation National Programs

NASW Social Work Pioneers^®

Anne Wilkins (1879-1953)

Anne Wilkins pioneering efforts related to two areas. She established the first staff development training program for public welfare staff in Texas in 1936 and she served in various parts of public welfare in San Antonio where she worked as caseworker, supervisor and director.

Her other well known pioneering effort was establishment of the Graduate School of Social Work at the University School of Texas in Austin. Her dream, since she was a worker in the public welfare field, was to see a school of social work created in Texas. She helped make this happen. Wilkins became a professor at the school and taught there until her death.

Following WWII she spent some years with the United Nations in Greece in terms of rescuing lost children.