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NASW Pioneers Biography Index


The National Association of Social Workers Foundation is pleased to present the NASW Social Work Pioneers®. NASW Pioneers are social workers who have explored new territories and built outposts for human services on many frontiers. Some are well known, while others are less famous outside their immediate colleagues, and the region where they live and work. But each one has made an important contribution to the social work profession, and to social policies through service, teaching, writing, research, program development, administration, or legislation.

The NASW Pioneers have paved the way for thousands of other social workers to contribute to the betterment of the human condition; and they are are role models for future generations of social workers. The NASW Foundation has made every effort to provide accurate Pioneer biographies.  Please contact us at naswfoundation@socialworkers.org to provide missing information, or to correct inaccurate information. It is very important to us to correctly tell these important stories and preserve our history.  

Please note, an asterisk attached to a name reflects Pioneers who have passed away. All NASW Social Work Pioneers® Bios are Copyright © 2021 National Association of Social Workers Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

    
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Bertram M. Beck Photo
Bertram M. Beck* (1918-2000)

Bertram M. Beck received a Masters in Art in Social Work in 1942 from the University of Chicago. He worked as a psychiatric social worker for the United States Air Force from 1942-1946. He held a number of positions during his outstanding social work career. He worked for the Community Service Society of New York as a family caseworker, public relations associate; and associate director of the Bureau of Public Affairs. He was director of the Special Juvenile Delinquency Project of the United States Children’s Bureau; a lecturer at Smith College, School of Social Work; executive director of Mobilization for Youth, Inc.; and executive director of the Henry Street Settlement Urban Life Center.

Elected to the original board of NASW, he resigned this office to become its first Deputy Director of the Association, a position that he held until the early 1960s. He continued to be active in various association endeavors. Mr. Beck was a consultant for the Foundation for Child Development; the Senate Committee on Juvenile Delinquency; the White House Conference on Children & Youth; the Office of Economic Opportunity; and the Ford Foundation.

Over the years, Mr. Beck was active in community services. Such areas were: Vice President, Board of Directors, Citizens’ Committee for Children; Vice President, American Parents’ Committee, Inc.; Member, Demonstration Project Panel; President’s Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Development; Co-Chairman, Inner City Task Force, Department of Health, Education and Welfare Youth Development Administration; Member, Board of Directors, National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers; and Member, Advisory Council to the New York State Commission of Welfare.

He was awarded the Parents’ Magazine Medal for Services to Children in 1954. He was the author of two books and numerous articles in books and journals, including Encyclopedia Britannica, Social Work Book, Saturday Review, Commonweal, Parents’ Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, Social Work, Journal of the American Medical Association, and American Journal of Sociology.




Newly Inducted NASW Social Work Pioneer Hortense McClinton 2015

Nominate A New NASW Pioneer

Please note, Pioneer nominations made between today’s date through March 31, 2023, will not be reviewed until spring 2023.

Completed NASW Pioneer nominations can be submitted throughout the year and are reviewed at the June Pioneer Steering Committee Meeting. To be considered at the June meeting, submit your nomination package by March 31. To learn more, visit our Pioneer nomination guidelines.


New Pioneers 

Congratulations newly elected Pioneers!  Pioneers will be inducted at the 2023  Annual Program and Luncheon. Full biographies and event details coming soon.

2023