The New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute

The Archives of The New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute

Nellie Thompson, Ph.D., Curator

The Archives

The Archives of The New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute are an invaluable historical legacy comprising the papers of: the Society (from 1911) and Institute (from 1931); the Joint Activities of the Society and Institute; the A. A. Brill Library; the Treatment Center; and the Kris Study Group. Included among these are the minutes of the Society, the Boards of Directors (Society) and Trustees (Institute), the Educational Committee, and the papers of past Presidents of the Society and Institute.

The Special Collections

The Special Collections include a 2,000 volume Rare Books Collection, papers of prominent analysts, oral history interviews, photographs, manuscripts, and memorabilia documenting the history of psychoanalysis.

Among the papers in the Special Collections are those of Silvano Arieti, Berta Bornstein, Mary O’Neil Hawkins, Max Stern, and Fritz Wittels. Oral history interviews include those with Jacob Arlow, Viola Bernard, Charles Brenner, Charles Fisher, George Gero, Dora and Heinz Hartmann, Edith Jacobson, Mark Kanzer, Marianne Kris, Jeanne Lampl-de Groot, Rudolph Loewenstein, Elsa Pappenheim, Isidore Silberman, and Leo Stone. The photographic collection contains photographs of many early analysts as well as pictures depicting the history of The New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.

The Rare Book Collection

The goal of the Rare Book Collection is to gather together the books, journals, and pamphlets which document the development of psychoanalysis. The collection includes many first editions of Freud’s writings, complete runs of the early psychoanalytic journals, and psychoanalytic and psychiatric books in over twenty languages.

The Adopt-A-Book Program

In 1991 the Adopt-A-Book Program was initiated whereby individuals underwrite the conservation of a book. A bookplate affixed to the adopted book displays the benefactor's name. Individuals interested in participating in this ongoing program may contact the Dr. Thompson.

Publications for Sale

The Archives offers for sale books and journals drawn from its collection.

Access to the Archives

Material from the Archives and Special Collections is made available to qualified scholars upon application to and approval by the Archives Committee of The New York Psychoanalytic Institute. For further information, please read: Introduction: The Archives and Special Collections; General Restrictions and Access Statement; and Guide to the Collection. Please direct inquiries to Dr. Thompson.