Rediscovering social work leaders through YouTube as archive: The CASW oral history project 1983/1984

The Rediscovering Social Work Leaders Project undertakes the digitization of 6 oral histories from an extensive, cross Canada, oral history project undertaken by Karen Hill (Principal Investigator) in 1983/1984. By sharing digital versions of these materials online via the McMaster School of Social Work Digital Leadership Archive (a YouTube channel developed to facilitate experimentation), open-access online sharing of archival materials is considered. The project preserves and shares the personal narratives and experiential knowledge of retired social workers identified as “pioneers” of the profession by Canadian regional social work associations. These oral histories are reframed as sources of subjugated social work leadership knowledge and as contributing a much needed scholarship to the profession. This article considers digital archives and open-access online sharing as resources for promoting social work goals and objectives. Approaches to analysis and preliminary findings stemming from the 6 oral histories suggests contemporary social workers can benefit from access to the knowledge and wisdom of historical social work pioneers.