Albert Ellis papers, 1920-2007 bulk 1965-1997
Creator:
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Ellis, Albert, 1913-2007,. |
Phys. Desc:
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218 linear feet (218 linear feet 215 record cartons 1 document box 6 oversize document boxes) |
Call Number:
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MS#1550 |
Location:
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Rare Book & Manuscript Library |
View CLIO Record and Request Material >> |
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
Scope and Contents
This collection encompasses the professional and personal life of psychologist and pioneer of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Albert Ellis. 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.
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