Identity area
Identifier
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Other form(s) of name
- Archives of the British Psychoanalytical Society
- Archives of the British Psycho-Analytical Society
Type
- Private
Contact area
Type
Address
Street address
Locality
Region
Country name
Postal code
Telephone
Fax
URL
Note
Description area
History
Since 1962, we have recorded almost 200 accessions to our archive, which has grown to contain over 40 collections including those of many of our most eminent psychoanalysts, including Joan Riviere and Marion Milner amongst others.
Geographical and cultural context
We are the leading research centre for the history of psychoanalysis in Britain. The archive holds immense value to our members and to the many researchers, academics and students that consult the collections. At the last annual count we welcomed visitors from 15 different countries across 6 continents.
Mandates/Sources of authority
The mission statement of the British Psychoanalytical Society is:
“To develop our position as the leading centre of excellence in the United Kingdom in the provision of psychoanalytic training, education, publication and clinical practice and to develop a professional organisation for the furthering of psychoanalysis through diversity and debate.”
The mission statement of the British Psychoanalytical Society Archive is:
“To secure the history of the British Psychoanalytical Society, and make it accessible as a resource to further develop psychoanalytic thinking.”
As a charity, we are run to provide benefit to the public. The Board’s strategy aims to increase the impact of the Society in the United Kingdom and internationally, for the benefit of the public.
Administrative structure
The archive is managed by a qualified archivist and is supported by a committee of members and external consultants.
Records management and collecting policies
Buildings
The archive collections are housed at the Institute of Psychoanalysis in London's Maida Vale, in a recently enlarged dedicated archive store, designed in 2016 by Caswell Bank Architects and specified by Max Fordham LLP to meet the British Standard BS EN 16893 for the conservation of cultural heritage.
Holdings
Finding aids, guides and publications
Access area
Opening times
Open Tuesday to Thursday by appointment only. We are closed on English bank holidays and seasonal holidays.
Access conditions and requirements
Proof of identity and address. Readers must bring two separate documents; one to prove their identity and one their prove your address.
Accessibility
Services area
Research services
Please click the Information button at the top right of the page for the price list.
Reproduction services
Please click the Information button at the top right of the page for the price list.
Public areas
Control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
International Council on Archives: International Standard for Describing Institutions with Archival Holdings (ISDIAH), First Edition, 2008.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Created 2022-08-23; revised 2024-04-08 [ISO 8601]
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
- Latin
Sources
Maintenance notes
Record created and revised by Ewan O’Neill
Access points
Access Points
- London (Geographic subregion)