Amos Griswold Warner
Encyclopedia
Amos Griswold Warner, (1861 – 1900) was an influential American
social work
er. While a graduate student of economics
at Johns Hopkins University
, he became a general agent
of the Charity
Society of Baltimore
in 1887.
Among his many influential acts during this time, Warner developed a system for the statistical analysis
of social cases. Going against the majority view of his day, Amos Griswald Warner suggested that the misfortune of a man could not be traced to a singular origin; moreover, the causes of misfortune were often a result of factors entirely outside the control of the individual (including but not limited to environment, economy, education, or social culture). Suggesting that poverty
could be overcome only by targeting the source of misfortune, he created a system of prioritization in which a weighted score is assigned to objective and/or subjective (as he classified them) categories made up of various sources of personal hardship. In his opinion, poverty could not be fought solely through the distribution of charitable funds- rather learning to target the sources of poverty offers the only viable permanent solution. In his book he states, “Nearly all the experiences in this country indicate” that welfare “is a source of corruption to politics, of expense to the community, and of degradation and increased pauperization to the poor,” “The more generous public relief, the more likely the poor will prefer it to working.”
Warner moved to the District of Columbia in 1891 and became the fist superintendent of charities for the District. His book, American Charities. A Study in Philanthropy and Economics (ISBN 0-543-91081-4) was published in 1894 and became a standard textbook on the subject. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115031456953280360.html?mod=hps_us_pageone
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er. While a graduate student of economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, he became a general agent
General Agent
A General Agent is an agent, i.e., representative of another, who has a mandate of general nature.-Colonial use:In the Niger Rivers District the only Senior Agent, who administered the region for the National African Company Limited , was promoted in 1882 to become the first...
of the Charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
Society of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
in 1887.
Among his many influential acts during this time, Warner developed a system for the statistical analysis
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
of social cases. Going against the majority view of his day, Amos Griswald Warner suggested that the misfortune of a man could not be traced to a singular origin; moreover, the causes of misfortune were often a result of factors entirely outside the control of the individual (including but not limited to environment, economy, education, or social culture). Suggesting that poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
could be overcome only by targeting the source of misfortune, he created a system of prioritization in which a weighted score is assigned to objective and/or subjective (as he classified them) categories made up of various sources of personal hardship. In his opinion, poverty could not be fought solely through the distribution of charitable funds- rather learning to target the sources of poverty offers the only viable permanent solution. In his book he states, “Nearly all the experiences in this country indicate” that welfare “is a source of corruption to politics, of expense to the community, and of degradation and increased pauperization to the poor,” “The more generous public relief, the more likely the poor will prefer it to working.”
Warner moved to the District of Columbia in 1891 and became the fist superintendent of charities for the District. His book, American Charities. A Study in Philanthropy and Economics (ISBN 0-543-91081-4) was published in 1894 and became a standard textbook on the subject. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115031456953280360.html?mod=hps_us_pageone