The social survey as we know it today has roots far back in modern history. It dates back to the idea of the Enlightenment that careful description of natural species, formations of clouds, the population etc. could give an insight that was worth getting. The paper will outline the history of the social survey starting from the studies of the poor in the UK carried out by philanthropists up till the social surveys carried out continuously in the modern welfare state. One aspect of this history is the formation of data archives in a wide range of nation states around the world since the 1960s. The data archives were given the obligation of storing and distributing social survey data sets, as governments acknowledged the great scientific value of social survey data sets. In many respects, to tell the history of the social survey is to tell the history of the development of the modern welfare state. The argument of the paper will be that the two have walked hand in hand. As we debate the challenges, limitations, and responsibilities of the welfare state so we as data archivists must be aware of the challenges, limitations, and responsibilities of the social survey as a tool for public administration and social science.