Helen Gruenberg interview, 1988

Gruenberg, Helen - Audio Oral History Interview - CSWA ❧ Interviewed by Frances Feldman on August 29, 1988. An interview with Helen Gruenberg as she discusses family; education; marriage; first social worker in private practice; resistance to private practice from social work professionals; placement of disturbed youth in foster homes; work with Los Angles Dept. of Water and Power; activities after retirement. ❧ Helen Gruenberg was a pioneer in the field of social work. Divorced, with two young children to support, she early found that she needed more income than a social worker's salary provided in the Depression years. With considerable experience and training in psychiatric aspects of social work, she entered the field of private practice--the first social worker to do so--working at first in offices of psychiatrists, then at home. Although then criticized by others in the profession for this move, some years later she was given an award by the Los Angeles Society of Clinical Social Workers for her earlier professional efforts. Later she established the Employee Personnel Counseling program in the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which grew from one part-time worker's services to a professional staff of nearly twenty. Following her retirement at age 85, she increased her volunteer activities in a variety of agencies. ❧ Helen Gruenberg (1910-2003). Professional social worker. Interviewed by Frances Lomas Feldman. Date of interview: 8-29-88 (reinterviewed 8-3-98 because of defective tape). 2 cassette tapes (1 duplicate tape). Length of interview: 43 minutes. Transcript of interview: 19 pp. CD containing interview and transcript. ❧ INTERVIEW TOPICS: Family; education; marriage; first social worker in private practice; resistance to private practice from social work professionals; placement of disturbed youth in foster homes; work with Los Angles Dept. of Water and Power; activities after retirement. ❧ ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: 1. 1 diskette of transcript of interview. 2. Speech given by Helen Gruenberg. 3. Letter from Rhea Johnson to Gerda Lawrence, coordinator of the SCSW Awards committee, nominating Helen Gruenberg for society member of the year award (9-14-84). 4. 1 2.5 x 5 in. color photograph of Helen Gruenberg.