Katherine A. Kendall celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday, September 25, at her residence in Mitchville Maryland in the US.
One of CSWE’s founding members, Katherine A. Kendall’s research helped raise the reputation of social work as a professional career. Kendall also helped expand the definition of international social work, among countless other contributions.
“Katherine is a champion of CSWE’s mission and has truly defined the present-day meaning of international social work in both higher education and practice,” said CSWE Executive Director and IASSW Treasurer Julia M. Watkins. “Her success in internationalizing the profession has inspired CSWE to expand its efforts to achieve an increasingly interdependent global professional community.”
During the early years of the United Nations Kendall conducted a world survey of social welfare training and need qualifications. This survey’s findings, published in 1950, influenced the United Nations to pass a resolution that called for the professionalization of social workers. It was also the first of what eventually were 5 world surveys of social work education sponsored by the United Nations.
IFSW President Gary Bailey in a letter read at the celebration wrote that
“Katherine Kendall has been a mentor, a scholar, an activist, a colleague and a friend to many and has done so in a quiet and dignified manner that is very much a part of her Scottish upbringing. She has been able to help individuals and organizations explore themes and situations in which advocacy, empowerment social justice and a social work perspective have been at the forefront. Her desire and her motivation to make a difference in the lives of the global community are extraordinary. She is intelligent and compassionate and believes in the enduring strengths of those with whom she works. Katherine Kendall is the embodiment of the best of what a professional social worker should be. I hope you will share with her IFSW’s heartfelt congratulations on this her very special day.”