For more information, contact: Leon Hoffman, MD
G. Stanley Hall (1844-1924), a pioneer in American psychology and President of Clark University, in Worcester, Massachusetts, invited Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), Carl Jung (1875–1961) and other notables to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the founding of Clark. This event, the first official acceptance of psychoanalysis in America included the presentation of honorary degrees to Freud and Jung. Freud lectured at the university daily at 11 AM from Tuesday, September 7 throgh Saturday September 11, 1909.
Three other psychoanalysts were present at Clark:
Sandor Ferenczi (1873-1933), who accompanied Freud and Jung on the trip from Europe,
Ernest Jones (1879-1958) who became Freud’s official biographer (Jones, 1953-57), and
Abraham Brill (1874–1948), already practicing psychoanalysis in the United States and who was an early translator of Freud.
Many prominent Americans attended, including William James (1842-1910) who understood the importance of unconscious mental activity and who in 1890 had published Principles of Psychology. Freud, therefore, spoke on the interpretation of dreams and the unconscious on the one day James attended.
Freud had a tremendous pride in the reception he received in America. He felt that “the most important personal relationship which arose from the meeting at Worcester was that with James J. Putnam (1846-1918), Professor of Neuropathology at Harvard University. Some years before, he had expressed an unfavorable opinion of psychoanalysis, but now he rapidly became reconciled to it and recommended it to his countrymen and his colleagues in a series of lectures which were as rich in content as they were brilliant in form. The esteem he enjoyed throughout America on account of his high moral character and unflinching love of truth was of great service to psycho-analysis and protected it against the denunciations which in all probability would otherwise quickly have overwhelmed it.”
Putnam became the first President of the American Psychoanalytic Association in 1911. His stature and influence in American neurology and psychology was one of the most important factors in the acceptance of psychoanalysis in America.
Conferences celebrating the Anniversary:
Clark University 1909-2009 Centennial Celebration
New York Academy of Medicine: After Freud Left:Centennial Reflections on his 1909 Visit to United States