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Archives of the History of American Psychology (AHAP) Historical Timeline

In 1961, Dr. John A. Popplestone and Dr. Marion White McPherson joined the faculty of the Department of Psychology at The University of Akron. Over the next four years, the two professors grappled with the lack of primary source materials available for teaching the history of psychology. In 1964, a visit to the Archives of American Art and the Labor History Archives in Detroit, MI by Dr. Popplestone helped to inspire a big idea: why not create an archive of psychology, right here in Akron, OH?

Following heavy consultation with the Society of American Archivists and the History of Psychology Group (a precursor to APA Division 26), Drs. Popplestone and McPherson were ready to act.

1960s

1965: AHAP is founded with Dr. John A. Popplestone as Director. A 21-member Advisory Board is formed, and a small space is allocated at The University of Akron Library.
1966: AHAP's first collection of personal papers, the Leta Stetter and Harry L. Hollingworth papers, are donated.
1967: Dr. Marion White McPherson is appointed Associate Director of AHAP, an act which formally recognized her informal role. That same year, AHAP is invited to create an exhibit for the American Psychological Association's 75th anniversary.
1968: AHAP moves to Simmons Hall. Archival holdings reach 295 linear feet of documents and 567 laboratory apparatus.

1970s

1972: Archival holdings reach 500 linear feet of documents, 600 artifacts, 1,100 photographs, and 12 oral histories.
1976: The Child Development Film Archives is established at AHAP. That same year, AHAP is noted among the top five best-known collections of scientific apparatus by the Smithsonian.
1979: AHAP is honored with a commendation from the American Psychological Association's Council of Representatives.

1980s

1985: Archival holdings reach 1,920 feet of documents, 600 artifacts, 5,500 films, 3,000 photographs, 5,000 psychological tests, and 18,000 books.
1989: Dr. Marion White McPherson retires from AHAP and from the Associate Director's position.

1990s

1994: AHAP moves to the basement of the Polsky Building, a former department store turned campus fixture. That same year, An Illustrated History of American Psychology is published by The University of Akron Press.
1999: Dr. John A. Popplestone retires as Director of AHAP. He is succeeded by Dr. David B. Baker.

2000s

2000: In April, a festschrift is held in honor of Dr. Popplestone and Dr. McPherson. Dr. McPherson passes away in May 2000.
2001: Dr. Robert V. Guthrie becomes the first Black psychologist to donate his papers to AHAP.
2002: AHAP becomes an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
2005: In April, Roadway Express donates a 70,000 square foot building to the Archives for the creation of the Center for the History of Psychology.
2007: The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation (now Peg's Foundation) funds a design study for the new Center. Later that year, the Foundation also provides funding for an endowed directorship, allowing the Center to expand programming that explores how psychology benefits society.

2010s

2010: The Center for the History of Psychology is established. AHAP becomes a key branch of the Center.
2013: Following substantial support from Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings, the Center is renamed the Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology (CCHP). Dr. Popplestone passes away in October 2013.
2018: The National Museum of Psychology opens to the public, making the AHAP collection available to a public audience through permanent and rotating museum exhibits.
2019: The Institute for Human Science and Culture opens in the Cummings Center's 3rd and 4th floors, extending the Center's mission to explore our shared humanity.

2020s

2020: Dr. David B. Baker retires as Executive Director of the CCHP. He is succeeded by Dr. Cathy Faye.
2025: AHAP celebrates its 60th anniversary.