Stone, Olive M. (Olive Matthews), 1897-1977

Olive Matthews Stone was a sociologist involved in social welfare and race relations. She received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of North Carolina in 1939 and was later associated with the Institute for Research in Social Science at the University of North Carolina. She was associate professor in the School of Social Welfare, University of California at Los Angeles, 1949-1964.

Sociologist Olive Polly Matthews Stone was born 13 January 1897 in Dadeville, Ala., the second of four children of Augusta Gussie Matthews and William Carson Stone. She received her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of North Carolina in 1939 and was later associated with the Institute for Research in Social Science at the University of North Carolina. She spent time observing group relations and tensions in India, China, and Japan for the Fellowship of Reconciliation 1931-1932. She was associate professor in the School of Social Welfare, University of California at Los Angeles, 1949-1964. Her work focused on social welfare, race relations, southern farmers, and the training of social workers. Stone was involved in radical politics and civil rights, especially in the 1930s. She advocated for the rights of farmers and sharecroppers, attended race relations conferences, helped establish the Southern Committee for People's Rights, was involved with the Southern Negro Youth Congress and the Southern Conference for Human Welfare, and worked with a Montgomery hospitality group for those involved in sharecroppers' union, peace, and civil rights work. She died 8 November 1977 in Santa Monica, Calif.

Professional Career