The complex thought of Mary Richmond: something more than a window on the past

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to read anew the two works of Mary Richmond, What is Social Case Work? and Social Diagnosis, according to new patterns that seek to analyze the complexity of social life. The complex thought created by the author, in a spontaneous and empirical way, is so rich as to deserve this effort. With this work, we attempt to transmit to readers –professors, professionals and students– the desire to read the classical writers, most especially this author in this case, with a will-power and attention focused on the dialogue to discover what she said but which must be read between the lines and what she did not say, since she did not have the necessary elements of analysis available to transmit it. In spite of the limitations of the knowledge typical of that time, however, we must remember Mary Richmond forever, as professionals of the help relationship and with the gratitude due every person who has given his or her power to help others.