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SKIDMORE (then called the Skidmore School of Arts) first offered Sociology courses in 1916. Taught by Dean Sarah Gridley Ross (M.A., Brown University) and reflecting major interests of the discipline, one course focused on the origin and development of the family, the other emphasized the application of sociological principles to social problems. Social psychology and comparative sociology were introduced following World War I.

The first few years of sociology at Skidmore included a succession of rapidly changing administrative arrangements. Initially housed in a combined Department of Economics and Sociology, sociology was later included in the Department of Social Sciences and then in the Department of Social and Political Sciences. The Department was finally established as a separate administrative entity in 1927. Mirra Komarovsky taught at Skidmore in 1927-29. Dr. Everett V. Stonequist, best known for his work on "marginal man" in an influential book of that name, joined the faculty in 1930 and remained at Skidmore for a very distinguished career of 40 years.

Skidmore's first anthropology course -- General Anthropology -- was offered in 1939-40 by a sociologist. A second anthropology course was offered in 1945-46, but the curriculum dropped back to one anthropology course in 1956-57. Not until cultural anthropologist Roger Gallagher joined the department were more anthropology courses offered. A minor in anthropology began in The anthropology faculty proposed a major in 1983 and the major was officially introduced in 1984.

The first social work course, offered under the sociology rubric, was Social Welfare Organizations, introduced in 1924. Along with many new sociology courses introduced in a growing department in the 1930s, a Practicum in Community Organization was introduced in 1936. The first anthropology course -- an introduction to cultural anthropology -- was taught in 1939. The first courses taught at Skidmore under the social work designation were the Field of Social Work and Field Work, each initially offered in 1950. These courses were taught by Dr. Elizabeth A. Ferguson, who had come to Skidmore in 1943.

The Department was reconstituted in 1960 as the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Many new anthropology courses were introduced in the 1960's and early 1970's. In social work, the Department introduced a course on Public Welfare in 1964 and a course on Problem-Solving in 1971. Majors in sociology-anthropology and sociology-social work began in 1972. The following year the social work program expanded to include seven courses -- an expansion necessary for the new sociology-social work major. In 1973 Dr. Ferguson left Skidmore after 30 years of service and Professor Arthur Ellis joined the faculty as Director of the Social Work Program. Professor George Lowis, who had replaced Dr. Stonequist as department chair in 1970, resigned as chair in 1976. Frances L. Hoffmann served as acting chairperson from 1976 to 1978 before becoming Dean of Student Affairs. She was followed as chair by William Fox.

The College recognized the increased importance of social work education at Skidmore by redesignating the department as the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work in 1975. The sociology-social work major went through a series of changes in the mid-1970s, finally emerging as an independent major in social work in 1978. Creation of the social work major, however, involved a New York State Education Department assessment that raised serious concerns about the program's curriculum and staffing. Reacting to these concerns, the Skidmore social work faculty thoroughly revised their curriculum. So extensive was this revision that only one course -- independent study- -- was unaffected. The program also expanded to include three full-time faculty members and provided released time for the Director. By 1981, these changes were fully in place.

Dr. Ellis left Skidmore in 1978 and was replaced as Director of the Social Work Program by Margaret N. Tacardon, who had joined the department the previous year.. In 1982 Dr. Robert P. Milton was appointed Director of the Social Work Program. He served until 19??. Jacqueline Azzarto has directed the Social Work Program since 19??.

The department has had a succession of chairs: Everett Stonequist 1930-1970; George Lowis 1970-76; Frances Hoffmann 1976-78; William Fox 1978-82, 1985-86, 1987-90, and 1997 to the present; Catherine Berheide 1982-85, 1986-87, and 1990-92; and Susan Bender 1992-97.

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Created November 28, 2000