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Freda Manson
- Name
- Freda Manson
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Freda Manson
- Number
- OH 213
- Subject
- Social workers
- Public welfare
- Fund raising
- Charities
- Jewish philanthropists
- Quantity
- 2 cassettes (1 copy) 2 WAV files
- Interviewer
- Gil Levine
- Total Running Time
- 56 minutes
- Conservation
- Copied to cassette in January 2015
- Digitized in June 2010
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Biography
- Freda Manson attended the University of Toronto during the 1930s, earning degrees in psychology and social work. Freda was the first Jew employed by the Toronto Children's Aid Society. She also worked for the Jewish Children’s Bureau from 1934 to 1941. Freda served as chair of the Staff Association, representing social workers from both the Child Welfare Association and the Welfare Association.
- Material Format
- sound recording
- Geographic Access
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Original Format
- Audio cassette
- Copy Format
- Audio cassette
- Digital file
- Transcript
- Side 1 00:09: Freda explains how she became interested in social work. She describes her educational path starting in undergraduate studies in psychology. Freda explains that her parents encouraged her to attend university. 5:45: Freda “confesses” that she was not involved in political or social action on campus as an undergraduate. Her sole involvement was fundraising on behalf of her sorority. 7:25: Freda graduated with an undergraduate degree in psychology. She pursued social work along with four-to-five other Jewish students. 8:43: Freda completed the two-year social work course in one year and two courses and then apprenticed at the Toronto Children’s Aid Society. Freda explains that, soon into her apprenticeship, it was necessary to take over her supervisor’s case load. 10:47: At age twenty-three, in 1933, Freda graduated from the Department of Social Work and got her first job with Toronto Children’s Aid Society. 11:16: Freda discusses the impact of the Depression years. The area she served was Regent Park. 13:36: Freda discusses the role and responsibilities of a social worker working for the Protection Department. 15:19: Freda explains that her time at Children’s Aid could not be extended beyond six months past her apprenticeship, because the CAS policy was to only hire Protestant workers for permanent positions. 17:06: Freda was the first Jewish worker to have worked for Toronto CAS. 17:38: Freda makes a distinction between the staff and the board of CAS and notes that her supervisor would have liked her to remain in the position. 18:29: Freda worked for the Jewish Children’s Bureau from1934 to 1941. The director was Anne Gussack. 19:28: Freda could not confirm whether the Jewish Agency’s policy was to hire Jewish-only staff but noted that most clients did not speak English. 20:04: Starting salary was $75/month. 20:38: Freda describes her work responsibilities with the Jewish Children’s Bureau. 22:10: Freda presents various reasons to explain why children ended up in foster care. 25:48: Freda mentions another important job responsibility: they introduced a short-term, live-in housekeeping service in homes where the mother was incapacitated in some way, thus allowing the children to remain in the home. 28:23: Freda describes the formation of the Jewish Family and Child Services. Circa 1936/37, there were several agencies all located on Beverly Street, including Jewish Big Brothers and Sisters, Jewish Children’s Bureau, and the Jewish Child Welfare Association. Side 2: 00:00: Freda continues to explain the formation of the Jewish Family and Child Services. 1:33: Freda discusses the conditions of employment: the salary, the working conditions, the challenge of money allotment (e.g., funding for programs versus salaries). 5:15: The agency received funding from Jewish philanthropy (no public funding). 5:49: Freda addresses the issues that led to the creation of the Staff Association, including poor salaries and the request by the board to forego their salaries in order to pay families. 8:35: Freda lists some of the board members: Ben Sadowski was chair of Jewish Welfare; Bert Davis was chair of Jewish Children’s Bureau. 10:26: Freda mentions the role of Sam Kronick as a fundraiser. 13:36: Freda lists some individuals who were involved in the labour movement (e.g., Dora Wilensky as director of Jewish Family Welfare, Bobbie Parker, etc.). 14:41: Freda was named as chair of the Staff Association representing the two Jewish agencies (Child Welfare Association and the Welfare Association). She outlines the objectives (ensure fair salary, receive regular salary, proper working conditions) and discusses negotiations. 16:05: Freda describes a negotiations meeting held at the home of Ben Sadowski, the president of the Family Welfare Board. 19:40: Freda explains the conception of the association. 20:48: Freda discusses the attitude of the board toward the association. 21:58: Freda describes the negative reaction of the Canadian Association of Social Workers toward the association. 22:56: Freda opines on the main accomplishments of the association. 26:30: The association later became part of the United(?), and Professional Workers, then part of the National Union of Public Service Employees and then part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 265.
- Source
- Oral Histories