Archives of the History of American Psychology

Sol L. Garfield Papers (1918-2004)

 

 

PAPERS: 1940-2004

VOLUME: 2.25 linear feet  [M3373-M3377]

ACCESSION DATE/NO:

CLASSIFICATION NO:

ACCESS: No Restriction

PROCESSED BY: Tim Rogers

DATE: 25 October 2005

 

Biographical Note

 

            Sol L. Garfield was born in Chicago on January 8th 1918.  The son of Jewish immigrants from Russia, Garfield’s formative years were very much influenced by the Depression of the 1930s.  Despite economic concerns, Garfield made the decision to go to college and got his BS, MA, and Ph.D. from Northwestern University by the age of 24.  Upon completing his degree he got a job as an army psychologist during World War II.  His distinguished service led to the promotion of Chief Clinical Psychologist at the V.A. Hospital in Mendota, Wisconsin in 1946, and a year later, Directorship of the new clinical training program at the University of Connecticut.  Following that time, Garfield spent 6 years at the V.A. in Downey, Illinois (1951-1957), six years at the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute (1957-1963), a brief stint at the Missouri Psychiatric Institute (1963-1964) followed by six years at Teachers College, Columbia University (1964-1970), and spent the rest of his career at Washington University in Saint Louis (1970-2003).

 

            Garfield’s career has been marked with several honors, consultant roles, editorial roles, and offices such as the President of the Division for Clinical Psychology (1964-1965) and the Society for Psychotherapy Research (1976-77).  “He is an active researcher in the field of psychotherapy.  A distinguished contributor to the scholarly body of knowledge in this area, his published works and other presentations are well known both nationally and internationally.  The Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change, which Garfield coedited, is a standard and highly regarded reference work in the field” (American Psychologist, 1980, p 61).  His contributions were acknowledged by the American Psychological Association which presented him with an award for Distinguished Contribution to Clinical Psychology (1976), Distinguished Contribution to Knowledge Award (1979), and Distinguished Scientist Award (1981).  The Society for Psychotherapy Research also recognized Garfield’s life long contributions by presenting him with an award for Distinguished Research Career Award (1989).  Over the course of his life, Garfield contributed nearly 200 publications related to psychology and some

aspect of psychotherapy.  His life reflected his deep conviction to see clinical services for people in distress are constantly improved by quality research and superb clinical training.  Garfield died on August 14th 2004 in Cleveland due to a heart attack at the age of 86.

 

Scope and Content

 

The Sol L. Garfield papers are organized into the following record series: I. Biographical; II. Correspondence; III. Research; IV. Book Reviews; V. Teaching Materials.

 

The papers of Sol L. Garfield comprise his extensive research on psychotherapy, clinical psychology, and other various mental health topics that pertain to assessment and diagnosis.  Most of the research materials available in this collection are reprints from Garfield’s publications and relevant articles from other authors he used in conducting his research.  In addition to these research materials, this collection contains notes, reviews of his work, syllabi of courses, and presentations given by Garfield throughout his career.  This collection also documents Garfield’s involvement with professional affiliations such as the American Psychological Association and others as a consultant, member, officer, and acknowledged scholar.

 

 

 

Series Description

 

I.  Biographical File

 

This series consists of autobiographical information from his curriculum vitae, awards, correspondence with publishers, and various manuscripts and publications that provide additional commentary on the life and contributions of Sol L. Garfield.

 

II. Correspondence

 

This series contains correspondence related to conferences and presentations, consultant work, general correspondence, and correspondence related to publication matters.  The dates of correspondence range from 1948-2004 and are arranged according to the subject matter of the correspondence.

 

III. Research

 

Included in this series are reprints, manuscripts, and other professional publications such as newsletters that convey information about clinical psychology, eclecticism, education, IQ, mental retardation, psychology, pharmacology, psychotherapy, and therapists.

 

IV. Book Reviews

 

This series includes mostly book reviews of selected works published and edited by Garfield over the course of his productive career.

 

V. Teaching Materials

 

Materials included in this series are notes, course syllabi, and reference articles that Garfield used as a professor of psychology to examine issues related to psychotherapy.

 

 

 

Inventory

Series I. Biographical

 

Box 1-2 (M3373-M3374)

 

S. L. Garfield biographical Information - (M3373)

Awards – (M3374)

 

Series II. Correspondence

 

Box  3 (M3375)

 

Conferences and Talks

Consultation

General Correspondence (1948-2001)

Publications

 

Series III. Research

 

Box 3-4 (M3375-M3376)

 

Clinical Psychology – (M3375)

Eclecticism – (M3375)

Education, IQ, Mental Retardation, Psychology – (M3376)

Psychology and Psychopharmacology – (M3376)

Psychotherapy – (M3376)

Therapists – (M3376)

 

Series IV. Book Reviews

 

Box 5 (M3377)

 

Book Reviews

 

Series V.  Teaching Materials

 

Box 5 (M3377)

 

Teaching Materials for Psychotherapy