SOE/2/10 - Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work - 1918-1964, 1971-1974
Contains the following records:
- Boards of Studies of the Department of Sociology
- Departmental Records
- Records relating to Staff and Students (including Social Surveys)
| Archive level description: | Sub-series |
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| Physical Description: | 3 series |
| Subjects: |
| Summary: | Contains the following records:
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| Date: | 1918-1964, 1971-1974 |
| Reference Number: | SOE/2/10 |
| Biographical/Administrative Information: | Efforts were made by Herbert Spencer to create a chair of Sociology during the foundation of University College Liverpool, but his request to the Earl of Derby was unsuccessful, as the Earl had already endowed a chair of Natural History. The world' first chair of Social Anthropology was created in 1907 and occupied by J G Frazer, author of The Golden Bough. The teaching of Social Science came through the necessity to provide training for social workers and in this way, the training of health visitors and sanitary inspectors began through the School of Hygiene and associated Sanitary Science Instruction Committee. It was in some way influence by the Settlement movement which had taken off in Liverpool, with the involvement of Elizabeth Macadam, Eleanor Rathbone and Professor Edward Carter Kersey Gonner. The School of Training for Social Work was launched in January 1905. By 1911 the course had ten full time students studying for a diploma, and 74 students, including clergymen, doctors, teachers, matrons, poor law officials, rescue, church and voluntary workers, taking parts of the course and was providing the teaching of Social Psychology courtesy of Cyril Burt. The renamed School of Social Science moved to 26 Abercromby Square in 1925. Alexander Morris Carr-Saunders became the first Chair of Social Science in 1923, creating an honours school and launching a research programme. He also appointed a Senior Lecturer in Social Statistics, D Caradog Jones who made inroads into social research in Liverpool, publishing the Rockefeller Trust-sponsored Survey of Merseyside in 1934. Margaret Todd, later Simey, was the first honours graduate in 1928. Her husband, Thomas Spencely Simey, became Chair in 1939, signalling a period of great research in the department with the work of Dennis Chapman and J B Mays. In 1971 the department was renamed the Department of Sociology. |