1966-1973
The idea of a newsletter for APsaA was conceived by Dr. Burness Moore, chairman of the Committee on Public Information and was voted into existence by the Executive Council in 1966. It replaced a Presidential Newsletter that had been issued for the seven previous years. The purpose of the Newsletter was to provide better communication within the organization. David Kairys was the first editor. He wrote, "The American Psychoanalytic Association has become a large and complex organization…There is an increasingly wide separation between the central organization and the membership, so that members know too little of what the Administration is doing and the Administration cannot keep in touch with members' ideas and attitudes on Association affairs."
The newsletter was published four times a year in issues of eight to ten pages each. The Newsletter carried news about officers, committees, and activities in the Societies. A section of Letters to the Editor was started to promote two-way communication. Each issue contained a few pictures of prominent persons in the Association.
1974-1979
In February, 1974, Shelley Orgel became Editor. The "look" and content was not changed. In July, 1976, Dick Isay and Ted Jacobs became Co-Editors and there was a new design in the logo and the layout. They initiated a Point of View column to provide for "an exchange and expression of the varying and divergent views of members". New books by members were listed.
1980-1983
Between 1980 and 1983, there were a series of editors, Peter Hartocollis, Allan Rosenblatt, and in 1983, Gerry Fogel became Editor. At this point, there was a completely new design (by Naomi Blumenfeld), with a new logo, a new layout, a graphics style to article headings and an increase in the number and types of photographs. Poetry was included and drawings by Ellen Spitz. In-depth interviews and longer articles on the history and theory of psychoanalysis began to appear. On the mandate of the newsletter, Dr. Fogel writes, "One danger lies in the dual role of the Newsletter. On the one hand, it is supposed to be a free press, on the model of a newspaper. On the other hand, it is the legitimate house organ for the organization and the current administration. Members should be able to assume that a story or report that is presented as news has the thoroughness, objectivity, and necessary slightly adversarial relationship to authority to make it a worthy example of freedom of the press". Estelle Shane became the Editor between 1986 and 1989. There were no major changes in layout or content.
1989-Winter 2003
In 1989, Arnold Richards became Editor. He initiated TAP as we know it today. He completely redesigned both the format and the content. The newsletter was renamed The American Psychoanalyst, which he and Helen Fisher coined. TAP was printed as a magazine and published by the Analytic Press. Haggai Shamir was responsible for the new logo and design format (he also designed the format for JAPA). The length of each issue increased significantly. Dr. Richards wanted TAP to be more than a "house organ". In addition to coverage of the organization and its politics, more in-depth interviews and photographs were introduced. He wanted more of an historical focus on psychoanalysis in America. All of the component societies were covered. Dr. Richards is especially proud of the 1990 special edition on certification and de-linkage.
In 1994, William Jeffrey became Editor. He felt TAP should provide a forum for debate about changes and provide opportunity for those who disagreed about the direction the APsaA was moving to express their opinion. He appointed a diverse editorial board with a wide geographical scope and representing the younger generation of analysts, including women, non-MDs, and non-training analysts. He also began this web page. He continued to use the layout that Arnold Richards developed but organized TAP into four sections. The lead section was news of the national organization. He continued the Special Section in every issue which covered a diverse range of topics. There was a section on analysis outside the APsaA which included an ongoing column about the IPA. The final section contained more cultural items. It featured articles about analysts using their training and knowledge in areas other than analytic practice.
In 2000, Prudy Leib became Editor (she changed her name to Prudy Gourguechon in 2001). She wanted to highlight the excitement and ferment in present day psychoanalysis, featuring stories on outreach and applied psychoanalysis and other compelling initiatives, and therefore moved most of the coverage of internal politics and opinion to the back of the magazine. She initiated three new columns: technotes, politics and public policy, and psychoanalytic science. Steve Portuges was recruited as Associate Editor. A new way to cover IPA news has been worked out. Overall, an effort is ongoing to make TAP ever more lively, engaging and stimulating for our readers.
Spring 2003-present
Issue 37, No. 1 (Spring, 2003) introduced a new design with new fonts, new paper, new colors and new images. This was coordinated with APsaA new logo - designed by New Jersey graphic designer, Andrea Schettino. The editor stated: "With this new design for TAP, we hope to contribute subliminally to an impression of openness, contemporary thought, and perhaps a bit more of a relaxed attitude that we hope might now pervade our organization." In 2004, Prudy Gourguechon (having been elected Secretary of APsaA) stepped down and Michael Slevin became editor. Mr. Slevin stepped down and Janis Chester assumed the editor position in 2008. |