http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms009144 Alfred Adler Papers A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress Prepared by David Mathisen Revised and expanded by Margaret McAleer Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2009

Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm83082306

Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division, 2009 Finding aid written in English. 2010 April Title, controlaccess updated Collection Summary Alfred Adler Papers 1888-1975 (bulk 1928-1937) MSS82306 Adler, Alfred, 1870-1937 900 items 5 containers plus 1 oversize 2.15 linear feet 4 microfilm reels Collection material in English and German Manuscript Division Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Psychologist. Chiefly letters written by Adler to his wife and children, including also drafts of a book, articles, lectures, an appointment book, notes, reports, certificates, clippings, printed matter, and photographs relating to Adler's career as a psychologist. Selected Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

 People Adler family. Adler, Alfred, 1870-1937. Adler, Raissa Epstein--Correspondence. Allen, G. Margery--Correspondence. Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955--Correspondence. Freud, Sigmund, 1856-1939. Subjects Psychology. Occupations Psychologists. Administrative Information Provenance

The papers of Alfred Adler, psychologist, were given to the Library of Congress by his son, Kurt A. Adler, and daughter, Alexandra Adler, between 1973 and 1995. Several items were purchased in 1974 and 1999.

 Processing History

The papers of Alfred Adler were arranged and described in 1984. The collection was expanded and revised in 1996 and 2001. The finding aid was revised in 2009.

 Transfers

Sigmund Freud's Psychopathologie des Alltagslebens, inscribed by Freud to Adler, has been transferred to the Rare Book and Special Collections Division where it is identified as part of the Alfred Adler Papers.

 Related Material

Related collections in the Manuscript Division include the Alfred Adler Papers in the Sigmund Freud Collection.

 Copyright Status

Copyright in the unpublished writings of Alfred Adler in these papers and in other collections in the custody of the Library of Congress is reserved. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division for further information.

 Access and Restrictions

The papers of Alfred Adler are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.

 Microfilm

A microfilm edition of part of these papers is available on four reels. Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to consult the microfilm edition as available.

 Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Alfred Adler Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Biographical Note Date Event 1870, Feb. 7 Born, Vienna, Austria 1895 Graduated, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria 1895-1897 Gained clinical experience working in the Polyclinic, Vienna, Austria 1897-1927 Private practice, Vienna, Austria 1897 Married Raissa Timofeivna Epstein 1902 Joined Sigmund Freud's Psychological Wednesday Society, Vienna, Austria 1907 Published Studie über die Minderwertigkeit von Organen. Berlin: Urban & Schwarzenber 1910 President, Vienna Psychoanalytic Society 1911 Resigned from the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society Founded the Society for Free Psychoanalytic Study 1912 Published Über den Nervösen Charakter. Wiesbaden: J. F. Bergmann 1914 Founded the Society for Individual Psychology and its journal, Zeitschrift für Individualpsychologie Published with Carl Furtmüller Heilen und Bilden; Ärzlich-Pädagogische Arbeiten des Vereins für Individualpsychologie. Munich: Ernst Reinhardt 1916-1918 Served as a physician in the Austrian army 1920 Established a network of child guidance clinics attached to public schools, Vienna, Austria Appointed director, Individual Psychological Clinic for Problem Children, Franz-Josef Ambulatorium, Vienna, Austria 1924 Published Praxis und Theorie der Individualpsychologie. Munich: J. F. Bergmann 1926 First American lecture tour 1927 Published Menschenkenntnis. Leipzig: Hirzel 1928 Conducted a course on individual psychology, New School for Social Research, New York, N.Y. 1929 Published Problems of Neurosis: A Book of Case Histories. London: Kegan Paul, Trench Truebner & Co. 1929-1930 Visiting Professor, University Extension, and director of child-guidance clinic, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 1930 Resigned from Columbia University and opened the Advisory Council of Individual Psychology clinic at the Community Church, New York, N.Y. Published Guiding the Children on the Principles of Individual Psychology. New York: Greenberg 1932 Visiting Professor of Medical Psychology, Long Island College of Medicine, Brooklyn, N.Y. Established the Adler Medical Psychology Clinic, Brooklyn, N.Y. 1937, May 28 Died, Aberdeen, Scotland Scope and Content Note

The papers of Alfred Adler (1870-1937) span the years 1888-1975, with the bulk of material dating from 1928 to 1937. The papers contain correspondence, lectures, articles, manuscript of a book, an appointment book, patient case studies and record books, reports, notes, photographs, certificates, clippings, and printed matter. The major part of the collection consists of letters written by Adler to his wife and children between 1897 and 1937 and drafts of lectures and articles, many of which Adler wrote while residing in the United States. Correspondence with people outside the Adler family includes a letter written by Albert Einstein in 1937 comparing the theories of Sigmund Freud and Adler.

A small amount of material was added to the collection in 1996 and 2001. The addition includes, among other items, letters from Adler to a former student, G. Margery Allen, a letter from John Haynes Holmes concerning the relocation of Adler's clinic to the Community Church in New York City, congratulatory letters on Adler's sixtieth birthday, drafts of six lectures, and correspondence concerning Adler's death. An undated note by Adler concerning a patient and a photograph of Adler were added in 2001.

A microfilm edition of the first three containers is available. Patient record books and material added to the collection in 1996 and 2001 have not been filmed.

 Arrangement of the Papers

This collection is arranged by type of material.

 http://lccn.loc.gov/mm83082306 Container List

Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 20,322

 Container Contents 1 1 Appointment book, 1937 1 1 General correspondence, 1891-1970, undated (10 folders) 1 1 Lectures 1 1 1921 1 2 1928-1930 (2 folders) 2 2 1931-1936, undated (4 folders) 2 2 "Any Marriage Can Succeed: An Interview with Dr. Alfred Adler," by Helena Huntington Smith, undated 2 2 "Aerztekursus im Urbankrankenhaus," undated 2 2 Writings file 2 2 Book, The General System of Individual Psychology, undated 2 2 Chapters 1-7 2 3 Chapters 8-13 2 3 Articles in English 2 3 Bashfulness, undated 2 3 "A Brief Comparison of Individual Psychology and Psycho-Analysis," undated 2 3 Childhood and youth, undated 2 3 Courage, undated 2 3 "Fortunetelling," undated 2 3 "Fortunetelling," undated 2 3 "Homosexuality," undated 2 3 Neurosis, undated 3 3 "Preface" for Waslaw Nijinsky's autobiography, undated (not used) 3 3 "The Problem of Crime," undated 3 3 "Psychiatric Aspects Regarding Individual and Social Disorganization," 1936 3 3 "The Technique of Treatment," undated 3 3 "Psychological Aspects in a Time of Economic Crisis," 1934 3 3 "Seven Men and a House, A Study of the Inferiority Complex," undated 3 3 Articles and lectures in German, undated (2 folders) 3 3 Patient case studies, 1928-1935, undated (2 folders) 3 3 Reports of medical meetings, 1928-1932, undated 3 3 Miscellany 3 3 Certificates, passport, photographs, naturalization papers, etc., 1888-1937, 1950, undated 3 3 Notes and memoranda, 1897-1938, 1975, undated 3 3 Printed matter, 1933-1937, undated 3 4 Clippings, 1930-1937, 1970, undated 4 Patient record books, 1903-1907 (2 vols.) 5 Addition 5 Allen, G. Margery, 1930-1937 5 Death of Adler, 1937 5 General correspondence, 1930-1938, undated 5 Lectures, undated 5 "Advice to the Teacher" 5 "Children's Case-Histories and Their Interpretation" 5 "Compulsion Neurosis" 5 "Drunkards and Drug-Addicts" 5 "How the Child Selects His Symptoms" 5 "The Structure of Neurosis" 5 Medical licenses, 1934-1937 5 Note by Adler concerning a patient, undated 5 Photograph of Adler, undated 5 Printed matter, 1966, undated 5 Sixtieth birthday, 1930 5 Certificate of honorary citizenship, Vienna, Austria See Oversize 5 Congratulatory letters (3 folders) 5 Stoker, Richard, String Quartet No. 3, Op. 36 "Adlerian," 1967-1970 OV 1 Oversize OV 1 Addition OV 1 Sixtieth birthday OV 1 Certificate of honorary citizenship, Vienna, Austria, 1930 (Container 5)