Ralph Crowley MD Papers, 1927 - 1982

Summary

Creator:
Crowley, Ralph M.
Abstract:
This collection contains the papers of Ralph Crowley, who was a New York psychoanalyst and former president of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis. The collection has 3 series: Harry Stack Sullivan, Non-Sullivan Papers, and Audiotapes.
Extent:
4 boxes 1.67 linear feet
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the papers of Ralph Crowley, who was a New York psychoanalyst and former president of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis. There are 3 series in this collection.

Harry Stack Sullivan: This series primarily has Crowley’s notes pertaining to Sullivan’s psychoanalytic theories, including notes he took as a student of Sullivan while attending the Washington-Baltimore Psychoanalytic Society in 1935. Crowley prepared additional notes about Sullivan for a course Crowley taught at the William Alanson White Institute in New York City. This series also includes Crowley’s notes, drafts, and correspondence for a biography of Sullivan he was preparing. Of particular interest are several letters written in the 1970’s by Sullivan’s adopted son, Jimmie, concerning his initial relationship with Sullivan. Additional correspondence regards Crowley’s bibliography of Sullivan’s works. Also included in this series are published and unpublished articles written about Sullivan by individuals other than Crowley, as well as copies of some of Sullivan’s papers. There are also a small number of Sullivan’s personal papers such as photographs, a caricature, and copies of his medical school diploma and death certificate. Crowley identified contents of groupings of his papers by writing notes on brown manila envelopes. Some of these have been saved and are placed in the appropriate folders.

Non-Sullivan Papers: These records consist of general correspondence and reprints by Clara Thompson.

Audiotapes: This includes audiotapes about Sullivan, and several record a symposium held at Chestnut Lodge Research Institute in Maryland regarding various aspects of Sullivan’s psychoanalytic theories. There are both reel to reel and cassette tapes of the symposium. Included are presentations by Dorothy Blitsten, Patrick Mullahy, Marion Langer, and Clifton Read. One tape made by Crowley records versions of his biography of Sullivan. Crowley’s notes on the tapes, as well as correspondence, form part of this series. The quality of the tapes is frequently poor; portions of them are inaudible.

Biographical / historical:

Ralph Manning Crowley was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1905 and received his M.A. in psychology in 1928 from the University of Wisconsin, where he was strongly influenced by Norman Cameron. Crowley became an analysan of Lionel Blitzsten, who introduced the psychodynamic approach to Crowley, and he began analytic training at the Chicago Analytic Institute. In 1934, he started residency training at the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital in Baltimore and completed his training at the Washington-Baltimore Psychoanalytic Society training program, where he first was influenced by Harry Stack Sullivan.

Crowley became a member of the faculty of the Washington-Baltimore Psychoanalytic Institute in 1938 and a Training Analyst in 1941. He moved to New York City in 1946 in order to set up a private practice. He was soon asked to be a faculty member and training and supervisory analyst at the William Alanson White Institute and, in 1948, he was made a Fellow. He helped organize the Low Cost Psychoanalytic Service of the Institute and was its Director and Director of Clinical Services from 1948 until 1960. He held distinguished consultantships and hospital appointments and was a Past President of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and of the William Alanson White Psychoanalytic Society. He had approximately 65 publications to his credit at the time of his death in 1984.

Acquisition information:
Dr. Crowley bequeathed his papers, which arrived after 1984 through the efforts of his sons.

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions on this material.

Terms of access:

Written permission must be obtained from the Oskar Diethelm Library and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Location of this collection:
DeWitt Wallace Institute of Psychiatry: History, Policy and the Arts
Weill Cornell Medical College
525 East 68th Street, Box 140
New York, NY 10065, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
212-746-3728