Art Therapy Department records
Collection Scope and Content
Materials in this collection include publicity materials about the Art Therapy program, formerly an archives vertical file. The materials date from 1972-1982.
Dates
- 1972-1982, and undated
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research
Restrictions on Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Historical or Biographical Note
The Art Therapy Department at The George Washington University began in 1972 as a graduate program in Special Studies, and administered by the Art Department. The courses themselves were built upon the foundation laid by the Washington School of Psychiatry. Art therapy began emerging as a bona fide profession in the 1930's, and teaches students how to use art materials to help people express themselves more freely. The insights that a therapist gains from patient's drawings are then used in the treatment of the patient's symptoms. Bernard I. Levy and Elinor Ulman were the co-coordinators of the program when it bagan, and Hanna Kwiatkowska (1903-80) was an associate professor and former head of the art therapy unit at the National Institute of Health who also made major contributions to the program.
The program was an early sponsor, with the University Counseling Center, of the annual “Chalk-in” (began in 1981), which offers students the chance to relieve some tension during the end of the spring semester by drawing pictures of all varieties on the street and sidewalks outside the Gelman Library.
In 1994 the program became a 5-year combined B.A./M.A. program with courses listed under the Psychology Department. An M.A. in the field of art therapy is also available - prerequisites include a bachelor's degree, evidence of significant training and/or experience in art, and course work in the behavioral and/or social sciences.
N.B. This history note was written in 2005
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Materials in this collection include publicity materials about the Art Therapy program, formerly an archives vertical file. The materials date from 1972-1982.
Collection Organization
Organized in a single folder
Acquisition Information
Immediate source of acquisition is unknown.
- Art Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Foggy Bottom (Washington, D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- George Washington University
- George Washington University. Art Therapy Dept.
- Psychology Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Social sciences Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Art Therapy Department records, 1972-1982
- Author
- Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2017
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository