History Oversight Committee: 2008 Annual Report
History Oversight Committee Meeting, August 16, 2008. Members present: Kathy Milar (Chair), Laura Koppes. Regrets, Andrew Winston.
Staff liaison: Wade E. Pickren
The APA History Oversight Committee was established in June of 1993 as an advisory committee to the Board of Directors regarding matters related to the history of the Association. The APA History Oversight Committee is now submitting its annual report to the Board of Directors. The function of the committee is “to serve as an advisory committee concerning the status of historical matters relevant to the Association and the psychological community at large, and to make an annual report, with recommendations, to the Board of Directors.”
The History Oversight Committee was requested to consider the plan to continue to digitize APA Governance material, now in paper format. The request originated from the APA Archives and Library. The request was specifically for a statement of support for the project, as the funds for digitization would need to be requested from the Board of Directors. The HOC agreed to write the letter of support, with a specific request that such digitized materials be made available to APA members. In addition the HOC strongly urged the APA Archives to make the photograph collection available. The need to maintain digital integrity through careful attention to new software was strongly urged.
The HOC also discussed the future archival space needs of the APA and urged the Central Office leadership to include funds to ensure that there will continue to be adequate storage space.
Support for the Archives of the History of Psychology (AHAP) at the University of Akron was especially supported. AHAP is currently beginning a campaign to raise funds to renovate and retrofit new space that will allow the archives to fully develop its potential as the major center for the history of psychology in America. HOC urges APA to become a major donor to this process, in addition to continuing to provide the annual subvention of $60,000.
The HOC also recommended that APA maintain a full record of the materials related to the current controversy over psychologists’ involvement in national security interrogations. In the view of the HOC, these events are likely to mark a major historical point in the history of the Association. The APA Archives should be the repository of choice for all such materials.
The HOC again discussed the need for increased access to APA photographs archived at Washington. These photographs are of tremendous value for both teaching and scholarly publication. Online availability of digital photos of APA Presidents would be a highly desirable resource.
