NASW Foundation National Programs

NASW Social Work Pioneers^®

Luther Woodward

Luther Woodward was a leader in the Mental Hygiene Movement Pre and Post World War II. This was a pioneering role for persons with a psychiatric social work background because it took them into the role of community education and organization and outside of clinical practice. He was also a writer and editor. He was the editor of the Journal of the American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers for a number of years and also edited several monographs published by the Association. He participated in the Publications Planning Committee for N.A.S.W., he was on the first Editorial Publications Committee and edited the Psychiatric Social Work section of the first Social Work Journals. In the later years of his life, his employment was in the New York State Mental Hygiene Association. His untimely death occurred through a heart attack while he was riding the subway to go to a social work meeting.