This article reviews the history of efforts to develop a comprehensive definition of social work practice, including the attempts by the Charity Organizational Societies and Settlement Houses, the scientific philanthropy movement, the Flexner conference, the Milford conference, the United Nations' survey, the Hollis-Taylor report, the 1958 working definition, the Boehm curriculum study, Barlett's analysis, the Madison meeting, the O'Hare meeting, the International Federation of Social Workers definition, and the Kentucky conference.