Social Security History

OASIS History Articles

SSA's in-house magazine, OASIS, has been published since January 1955. Before OASIS, there was an in-house newsletter called the OASIS News, which was the forerunner of the full-fledged magazine. The OASIS News published its first issue on March 25, 1941.

Over the years these two publications have featured numerous historical articles and items. We are reproducing here a collection of those articles. We have deleted from the issues the non-historical material. Thus, the links below provide partial contents of each of the issues.

Special Issue of OASIS on SSA's Response to the Events of 9/11

OASIS News

Ten Years Ago (January 1950-July 1950)

Fifteen Years With OASI (August 1950)

The Bureau--A Profile: A Survey of the Bureau's Administrative, Program and Personal History During 15 Years--As Remembered by Those Who Lived Through Them

OASIS

Note: These files are in Adobe PDF format. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them.

August 1955 Anniversary Issue Our First Claimant Looking Back Twenty Years The Field-Then and Now The DAO Wage Record A Fabulous History		August 1960 Anniversary Issue Security for a People Touching All Bases Social Security: Past, Present, Future Building Dedication The Bureau 1935-1960

September 1960 Issue A Quarter Century of Public Information Behind the Scenes		May 1962 Issue Purse Numbers Pose Problem

September 1963 Issue The Bureau of Hearings & Appeals		May 1964 Issue John Corson Recalls Early Agency Days

August 1964 Issue History Quiz		January 1965 Issue The Committee on Economic Security: Reflections 30 Years Later 25 Years of Monthly Benefits

August 1965 Issue Recording History The Men at the Helm Social Security Act: 30 Years of Building The Field: 1935-65 The Presidents Speak		August 1971 Issue Security For A People August 1974 Issue Were They The Good Old Days?

October 1976 Issue Down By The Waterfront		January 1977 Issue The Way We Were: A Look Back at Beauty Contests, Streetcars, and the PBX Board

June 1977 Issue Getting FDR's Help in Finding A Home		September 1977 Issue It's Now A Part Of History

October 1977 Issue Oh, Lordy We're Gonna Be Rich, Pa		March 1978 Issue The Way We Were: Filing Little Wooden Stick

August 1978 Issue Social Security: 5 Yeas, 4 Nays The Way We Were: Souvenoirs From the Storehouse of the Mind		October 1978 Issue The Way We Were: On the Night Shift with Bats, Bugs and Winos

May 1979 Issue Frances Perkins: Life on Her Own Terms		August 1979 Issue History Quiz

September 1979 Issue Were the Feds First in the Social Insurance Field? No		.October 1979 Issue The Crash

November 1979 Issue A Quarter Century of Aiding the Disabled		December 1979 Issue Mutal Aid Societies Served Black Communities

April 1980 Issue He's the Last of the First to Get Benefits		July 1980 Issue On Last Look on Leaving

December 1981 Issue On the Homefront: SSA, Like Everyone Else, Contributed to the War Effort in World War II		August 1983 Issue History Quiz

January 1984 Issue The Birth and Early Years of SSI Then and Now		June 1985 Issue Where Our Roots Were Planted

July/August 1985 Issue President Praises Social Security Accomplishments Secretary Cites Management of Program Acting Commissioner Highlights Our "Efficient Service" Preview of Anniversary Activities Historical Highlights of Social Security SSA Pioneers Recall the Early Days Statistical Report on Claims--1940-85 Our Anniversary is One of Many Five Celebrate 50 Years' Service Who's Who and Why Were They There How the Press Reported the 1935 Signing Employees Share Birthdays with Social Security A Look at the SSA History Room		February 1986 Issue History Room Get Art for Original Social Security Card December 1986 Issue The Card's Golden Anniversary Altmeyer Building Has Box You Can't Open April/May 1987 Issue Judgment Day for Social Security July 1987 Issue When Social Security Ran a Rooming House

September 1988 Issue Roots		January 1989 Issue Roots: Disability Insurance

June 1992 Issue PSCs Celebrate 50 Years of Service Major Exhibition Includes Our Punch Card Operations		August 1992 Issue How We Got Our Name

January 1994 Issue SSI Marks 20 Years Getting SSI Up and Running		August 1994 Issue History Quiz

September 1994 Issue Independence		July 1995 Issue A Look Back: Medicare Program Celebrates 30th Anniversary

August 1995 Issue Celebrating 60 Years of Social Security Learning From the Past: Take a Tour of the History Room Reminiscences		Fall 1995 Issue A Look Back: Medicare Program Celebrates 30th Anniversary

June/July 1996 Issue Memorial: Oklahoma City Bombing Remembered One Year Later		Fall 1997 Issue Oldies But Goodies: Contest Sparks Interest in Original Cards

Summer 1998 Issue 63 Years: Cornerstone Holds a Part of Social Security History 10 Years: 800 Numbers Celebrates Anniversary of Providing Customer Service 25 Years: Social Security Alumni Associations Celebrates Silvery Anniversary		Winter 2000 Issue History Quiz Summer 2000 Issue Meet the Chairman of the Board

Special 65th Anniversary Issue
Introduction/The Commissioner's Column	(10.1 mg file)
SSA Board Members and Commissioners	(8.4 mg file)
Key Dates	(12.2 mg file)
65 Years of American Life	(9.6 mg file)
The Development of Social Security	(14.2 mg file)

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OASIS History Articles

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