Archives & Manuscripts
Access
The Archives preserve the historically significant records of the American Psychiatric Association. These records document the origins, development, activities, and achievements of the Association. These materials are available to staff and members who need historical information to conduct APA business. As staff time and resources permit, access is also granted to nonmember researchers exploring the history of the APA or American psychiatry in general. For nonmembers, please cleck HERE for
information regarding how to request access.
Background
The APA Library & Archives was formally established in 1961 with the hiring of the first librarian. The collections date primarily from the mid-20th Century. For example, the records of the APA Council (now the Board of Trustees), established in 1891, are held from 1944 to present. The earlier history of the Association may be found in the "Official Actions" and other relevant sections of The American Journal of Psychiatry and its predecessor, The American Journal of Insanity, which are available from Volume 1 (1844) to present through online subscription to the Psychiatry Legacy Collection. See the fnding aids for APA governance bodies for more detailed information.
In addition to governance records, there are collections from the tenures of two long-serving APA Medical Directors, Walter Barton, M.D. and Melvin Sabshin, M.D., as well as several collections for APA departments and projects. For example, the Archives contains approximately 13 linear feet of materials related to the development of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders covering the DSM-III and DSM-III-R (materials related to more recent editions are still retained as active files by the Office of Research).
Additionally, the Archives houses the manuscripts/personal papers of several prominent 20th Century psychiatrists as well as other influencial mental health advocates. There are also a few small collections related to other organizations such as the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the Association of Mental Health Clergy, and the Washington Psychiatric Society.