Archival Collections Portal > Rare Book & Manuscript Library Collections > Finding Aid: Albert Ellis
Papers
Albert Ellis
Papers,
1920-2007
[Bulk Dates: 1965-1997].
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Albert Ellis Papers; Box and Folder
(if known); Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.
COinS Metadata
available (e.g., for Zotero).
Summary Information
Abstract
This collection encompasses the professional and personal life of psychologist
and pioneer of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Albert Ellis.
At a Glance
Call No.: | MS#1550 |
Bib ID: | 8683406 View CLIO record |
Creator(s): | Ellis, Albert, 1913-2007. |
Title: | Albert Ellis
Papers,
1920-2007
[Bulk Dates: 1965-1997].
|
Physical description: | 218 linear ft. (215 record cartons, 1 document box 6
oversize document boxes)
|
Language(s): | Collection is primarily in English, German and Hebrew
indicated at folder level.
|
Access: |
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least
two business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
If you would like to use audiovisual materials in Series V, please contact the library
to discuss access options as most of these materials have not been reformatted and are
not readily available for use.
More information » |
Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in VI series
Return to top Description
Scope and Content
This collection consists of materials related to Albert Ellis's long career as a
psychologist, sexologist, and pioneer of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
Records consist of correspondence, publications, photographs, notebooks, notecards,
reel to reel audio tapes, audio cassette tapes, VHS tapes, and Dictaphone tapes.
Series I: Correspondence, 1947-2006
This series is arranged chronologically, with an index of names and
organizations that appear on a frequent basis. Common themes found within
this series consist of: editors from various publishers working with Ellis
in regard to either his forthcoming books, or forthcoming books written by
others. Ellis frequently collaborated on publications (books and journal
articles) with other psychologists, as well as those not associated with the
psychological field, with regard to RET practices and/or sexually related
topics. Individuals contacting Ellis for advice, individuals with comment or
questions regarding one of the books or articles he wrote, and individuals
seeking information on REBT workshops figure prominently throughout all
years encompassed. Much of the correspondence is from faculty of Psychology
or Psychiatry departments at various universities. Many are from individuals
requesting Ellis’s assistance in getting their book/article published. There
are memoranda between individuals at the Albert Ellis Institute. Ellis’s
itineraries and schedules, letters from various psychologists running RET
institutes in other locales, both nationally and internationally, and
requests for Ellis to speak at conferences, workshops, and symposia are
consistent throughout this series. A variety of holiday, birthday, and get
well cards can be found as well.
Series II: Library and Research Files, 1931-2007
This series is comprised of manuscripts, articles, news clippings, and papers
created by Ellis for the Albert Ellis Institute for Rational Living.
Manuscripts are divided into fiction and non-fiction and are arranged
alphabetically. Many of the manuscripts are unpublished and some include
annotations by friends and publishers. Articles, drafts, and notes written
by Ellis are abundant. In addition, newspaper clippings and articles that
Ellis annotated and categorized can be found in this series. Articles,
papers, theses, and dissertations written by others are included at the end
of this series.
Series III: Notebooks, 1933-1963
This series consists of materials found held within loose-leaf notebooks,
titled by Ellis. These notes are arranged alphabetically by subject,
including topics on marriage, love, sex, psychology, psychotherapy, music,
poems and book reviews. General notes include tests, picture vocabulary
cards and handwritten notes on books and article titles, psychology topics,
and suggested talks and workshops. Untitled notes are related to the
alphabetically arranged notes and appear to be out of original order. These
notes include typed with handwritten subject terms assigned by Ellis written
on them. Refer to Box 50, folder 5 for lists of term abbreviations and
definitions.
Series IV: Notecards, Undated
This series contains three types of notecards. They have been divided into
three sets, the first being notes in point form on REBT, and its application
to different topics, which he referred to when giving various lectures,
workshops, trainings, and seminars. The second set consists of the name,
publisher, year, place of publication, details of books and authors Ellis
used to put together the reference index sections of his books and articles.
The third set consists of names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and email
addresses of people he would contact, including doctors and people who
contacted him on a frequent basis.
Series V: Audio Visual Material, 1953-2007
This series comprises all audio and visual materials held in the collection.
These materials consist of reel to reel audio tapes, audio cassettes,
Dictaphone tapes, and VHS tapes.
Subseries V.1: Audio cassettes, 1966-2007
Audio Cassettes, 1966-2007. Subseries V.1, Audio Cassettes consist of
Albert Ellis’s historic Friday night workshops figure, along with
lectures, symposia, and patient sessions. Friday Night Workshops figure
prominently. The desciptions for each cassette are transcibed exactly
from the tape itself, or accompanying notes. These transciptions include
Ellis's own system of abbreviations and acronyms.
Subseries V.2: Reel to Reel Audio, 1953-1975
Subseries V.2, Reel to Reel Audio include session recordings of
individuals and groups, talks, presentations, lectures, and interviews
on radio and television programs, including several by Mike Wallace.
Panels and workshops, conventions, Cooper Union Forums, volumes of the
American Association of Psychologists Tape Library, of the Institute for
Rational Living Tape Library figure prominently. The desciptions for
each reel to reel are transcibed exactly from the tape itself, or
accompanying notes. These transciptions include Ellis's own system of
abbreviations and acronyms.
Series VI: Photographs, 1920-2004
These materials are arranged chronologically. Included are photographs of Dr.
Ellis's talks and workshops around the world, in his study, and portraits by
various studios. A variety of casual shots, both alone and with others, can
also be found.
Return to top Using the Collection
Offsite
Access Restrictions
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least
two business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
If you would like to use audiovisual materials in Series V, please contact the library
to discuss access options as most of these materials have not been reformatted and are
not readily available for use.
Restrictions on Use
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of
the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs.
The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Albert Ellis Papers; Box and Folder
(if known); Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.
Return to top About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries. Rare Book and
Manuscript Library; machine readable finding aid created by Columbia University
Libraries Digital Library Program Division
Processing Information
Papers processed 06/2012 Jennifer S. Comins, Grace Smith, Pratt Institute, MLIS '11,
Helen Kwong, Pratt Institute, MLIS '11, Rebecca Baugnon, Pratt Institute, MLIS '11,
Victoria Ludas Orlofsky, Pratt Institute, MLIS '12, Brian Shetler, Simmons College,
MLIS '12.
Finding Aid written 06/2012 Jennifer S. Comins
Machine readable finding aid generated from MARC-AMC source via XSLT
conversion June 26, 2012
Finding aid written in English.
2012-06-26
xml document instance created by Jennifer S. Comins
Return to top Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives. All links open new windows.
SubjectsHeading | CUL Archives: Portal | CUL Collections: CLIO | Nat'l / Int'l Archives: ArchiveGRID |
---|
American Academy of Psychotherapists. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
American Association of Marriage Counselors. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
American Psychological Association. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Ard, Ben. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Barricade Books. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Barron, Jules. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Beck, Aaron T. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Behavior Therapy. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Blame. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Branden, Barbara. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Branden, Nathaniel. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Carol Publishing. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Ciardi, John. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Clark, Le Mon, 1897- | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Cognitive therapy. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Corsini, Raymond J. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Crawford, Ted. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
DiGiuseppe, Raymond. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Dryden, Windy. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Ellis, Albert, 1913-2007. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Ellis, Debbie Joffe, 1956- | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Gebhard, Paul H. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Geis, H. Jon. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Gillette, Paul J. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Grieger, Russell. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Gullo, John M. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Guze, Henry. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Harper, Robert Allen. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Hauck, Paul. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Hawthorn Books. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy (New York,
N.Y.) | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Institute for Sex Research. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Journal of rational-emotive and cognitive-behavior
therapy. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Kinsey, Alfred C. (Alfred Charles), 1894-1956. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Lazarus, Arnold A. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Legman, Gershon, 1917- | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Marital psychotherapy. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Marriage counseling. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Marriage. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Maultsby, Maxie C. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
May, Rollo. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Meehl, Paul E. (Paul Everett), 1920-2003. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Montagu, Ashley, 1905-1999. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Objectivism (Philosophy) | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Physician-Patient Relations. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Pillay, A. P. (Alyappin Padmanabbha), 1890- | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Pomeroy, Wardell Baxter. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Powers, Melvin, 1922- | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Psychology. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Psychotherapy, Rational-Emotive. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Psychotherapy--methods. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Rand, Ayn. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Rational emotive behavior therapy. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Rogers, Carl R. (Carl Ransom), 1902-1987. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Sagarin, Edward, 1913- | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Science and Behavior Books. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Sexology--Research. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Society for the Scientific Study of Sex (U.S.) | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Spectorsky, Auguste C., 1910-. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Stuart, Carol. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Stuart, Lyle. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Twayne Publishers. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Vernon, Ann. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Weinrach, Stephen G. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Wolfe, Janet L. | Portal | CLIO | ArchiveGRID |
Return to top History / Biographical Note
Biographical Note
Albert Ellis was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on
September 27, 1913 to Hettie and Henry Oscar Ellis. He was the eldest son, with a
brother, Paul, and sister Janet. Not long after Ellis was born, his family moved to
New York City, where he was raised. When Ellis was 12 years old, his parents
divorced. As a child, he also suffered from kidney disorder. He became a voracious
reader, focusing on philosophy, and used many of these philosophic teachings to
train himself to tackle his shyness and overall anxiety about a variety of
undertakings in life.
Ellis wanted to be a writer, more specifically a novelist. Between the ages of 19-28,
he sent multiple book-length manuscripts out for publication. After continuous
rejection, he decided to attempt non-fiction instead. He began to write about sex
and many of his friends and family sought his advice. He enjoyed counseling and
decided to become a professional therapist. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in
business administration from the City College of New York in 1934, and M.A. (1943),
and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology from Columbia University in 1947.
During the 1940s, Ellis taught at Rutgers and New York University. He also acted as
senior clinical psychologist at the New Jersey Mental Hygiene Clinic, served as
Chief Psychologist of the New Jersey State Diagnostic Center and at the New Jersey
Department of Institutions and Agencies. In addition, he acted as consultant in
clinical psychology to the New York City Board of Education and to the Veterans
Administration.
Ellis originated Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in 1955 as a cognitive
behavioral system of psychotherapy. REBT teaches clients to use cognitive, emotive,
and behavioral methods to counter their self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors.
During the 1960s and 1970s, similar forms of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) were
developed, many of which drew on REBT.
In 1957, Ellis published his first book on REBT, How to Live with a Neurotic. He went
on to publish 54 books and hundreds of articles. He founded and organized the
Institute for Rational Living (Albert Ellis Institute) in 1959, in Manhattan where
it is still operating presently. He gave Friday Night Workshops, which demonstrated
REBT methodology in a public forum, at the Institute for over 30 years. Ellis served
as President Emeritus of the Institute until his death on July 24, 2007. Ellis is
survived by his wife, Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis, who continues his legacy by advocating
for REBT through presentations, articles, and counseling.
Ellis served as President and fellow of the American Psychological Association,
Division of Consulting Psychology. He was a president, of the Society for the
Scientific Study of Sex, and was a fellow of the American Orthopsychiatric
Association, the American Sociological Association, the American Association of
Marriage and Family Therapists, the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, the American Association of Applied Anthropology. He was a Diplomate in
Clinical Psychology of the American Board of Psychological Hypnosis, of the Clinical
Hypnosis of the American Board of Psychological Hypnosis, of the American Board of
Medical Psychotherapists, and of the American Board of Sexology. Ellis has been
President of the Advisory Council of Distinguished Humanists, has served as
Vice-President of the American Academy of Psychotherapists, as Chairman of the
Marriage Counseling Section of the National Council of Family Relations, and as
Executive Committee Member of the Divisions of Psychotherapy and of Humanistic
Psychology of the American Psychological Association, and of the New York Society of
Clinical Psychologists.
Ellis has served as Consulting or Associate Editor of the following journals: •
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
•
The International Journal of Sexology
•
Existential Psychiatry
•
The
Journal of Individual Psychology
•
The Journal of
Contemporary Psychotherapy
•
Journal of Sex,
Research
•
Voices: the Art and Science of
Psychotherapy
•
Cognitive Therapy and
Research
•
Psychological Reports
•
Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior
Therapy
•
Journal of Child and Adolescent
Psychotherapy
•
Psychotherapy in Private
Practice
•
Journal of Psychology and Human
Sexuality
•
International Journal of Eclectic and
Integrative Psychotherapy
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