2007 Annual Reports for Boards and Committees

History Oversight Committee

History Oversight Committee Meeting, August 17, 2007.   Members present: Alexandra Rutherford, Andrew Winston (Chair).  Regrets, Debra Sue Pate.
Staff liaison: Wade E. Pickren

1. In April, 2007, The History Oversight Committee responded to a fruther inquiry on changes to the Publication Manual received through Susan Herman at APA.  The HOC forwarded the complete recommendations made by the Committee under Nicole Barenbaum during the previous year.  These recommendations for the description and citation of archival materials continue to have the full support of the HOC, and the HOC will monitor their acceptance and implementation.  Further recommendations will be made as necessary.

2. The HOC urges the APA to continue and to increase support for the Archives for the History of American Psychology at the University of Akron.  The HOC affirms the crucial role of AHAP in preserving the history of American Psychology and supporting research.

3. The HOC urges the APA to continue to publish works on the history of psychology through APA books.  Recognizing that such books are not typically "best sellers," we nevertheless argue that such works are critical to providing APA members with knowledge of their own history and critical for teaching history of psychology.  The availability of these works through PSYCBOOKS is particularly effective for teaching undergraduates.  As a related matter, we urge the APA to continue joint publication of the Portraits of Pioneers in Psychology series.   

4. The HOC discussed the possibility of 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.

 II. Report of the Staff Liaison

1. Wade Pickren reported on the ongoing projects he is involved in as APA Historian. These include efforts to continue the documentation of the history of efforts to make psychology more inclusive of women and people of color was reported, with three projects underway. One project is with Fred Leong and the Asian American Psychological Association and one project examine the impact of African American psychologists impact on APA and psychology since the formation of the Association of Black Psychologists in 1968; Pickren’s collaborators on this project include Drs. Joseph White, Michael Connor, and Thomas Parham.

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