Cummings Center for the History of Psychology

Cummings Center for the History of Psychology Home to the National Museum of Psychology and Archives of the History of American Psychology. Drs. Follow their social media at .

Exploring our shared humanity through one-of-a-kind collections, exhibits, and events! Visit https://www.uakron.edu/chp/ to learn more and plan your visit. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology (CCHP), a research center located at The University of Akron, in Akron, Ohio. We care for, provide access to, and interpret the historical record of psychology and related human sciences. We are home to the Archives of the History of American Psychology, which holds a vast collection of artifacts, media, and documents, including the personal papers of many important psychologists. The CCHP also includes the National Museum of Psychology that highlights artifacts, documents, films, and photographs from the history of the human sciences. Our newest branch is the Institute for Human Science and Culture, which promotes education and research in history, preservation, documentation, and interpretation of the human experience. Admission to the CCHP and IHSC is free for all The University of Akron students, faculty, and staff. We are also proud participants of the Museums for All program, offering discounting admission to guests who present a state-issued EBT card.. Appointments are required for archival research. Call or email at least 2 weeks in advance. All materials posted to this page are protected under Title 17 of the United States Code. For access and application for use contact us at [email protected].

Frederick Frese (1940-2018) was a psychologist and a vocal advocate for people with mental illnesses. At age 25, Frese w...
10/13/2026

Frederick Frese (1940-2018) was a psychologist and a vocal advocate for people with mental illnesses. At age 25, Frese was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Frese was among the earliest psychologists to publicly share his schizophrenia diagnosis, and he focused his career on the rights and dignity of those with mental illnesses.

Frese spent much of his life here in Northeast Ohio, serving as Director of Psychology at the Western Reserve Psychiatric Hospital and a Professor of Psychiatry at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).

The Frederick J. Frese Papers are newly processed and open for research. Explore the finding aid at https://collections.uakron.edu/digital/collection/p15960coll10/id/1588/rec/1

[Image descriptions:
1: Frederick Frese, a light-skinned man with short dark gray hair and glasses, seated at a desk sorting through papers.
2: Newspaper clipping from June 30, 1996 featuring a photo of Frederick Frese. The article, by Patricia Anstett is titled “Man shares hard-won wisdom of his fight against schizophrenia.”]

It’s Homecoming and Family Weekend at The University of Akron! We're offering FREE museum admission today (Friday) and S...
10/09/2026

It’s Homecoming and Family Weekend at The University of Akron! We're offering FREE museum admission today (Friday) and Saturday to all visitors wearing their Family Weekend wristband. Drop by from 11AM - 4PM and enjoy the National Museum of Psychology – the only museum of its kind in North America!

[Image description: Graphic depicting groups of visitors in a colorful museum gallery. Text reads “Free Admission Friday Oct. 9 & Saturday Oct. 10 with your Family Weekend Wristband.” The University of Akron Homecoming logo is displayed under this image.]

This week, we received a one-of-a-kind donation: Carl Rogers’ personal writing desk! Donated by Rogers’ granddaughter Fr...
10/02/2026

This week, we received a one-of-a-kind donation: Carl Rogers’ personal writing desk! Donated by Rogers’ granddaughter Frances Fuchs, the desk was purchased by Rogers in 1928 and he traveled with it throughout his career. It was on this desk that Rogers wrote “Counseling and Psychotherapy” (1942) and “Client-Centered Therapy” (1951), among many other notable works.

Rogers’ desk is currently on display in our Charles & Marjorie Brewer Reading Room, decorated with original items from Rogers’ office.

[Image descriptions:
1: A wooden writing desk with six drawers. The surface of the desk is protected by a sheet of glass. Atop this glass is a slanted table-top book stand and a wooden sculpture. A student is leaning over the desk, arranging books on the stand.
2: Grainy photo of Carl Rogers, a light-skinned man with gray hair and glasses, seated at his writing desk. A lamp and papers are spread across the desk.]

Due to high popularity and space constraints, registration for our upcoming Even the Rat Was White at 50 Symposium will ...
09/29/2026

Due to high popularity and space constraints, registration for our upcoming Even the Rat Was White at 50 Symposium will be CLOSING this Saturday, Oct. 3 at 11:59pm. If you plan to attend this free event, please make sure to register on our website before the deadline: https://www.uakron.edu/chp/events/guthrie50

Hosted in partnership with the Association of Black Psychologists, this symposium honors the 50th anniversary of Robert V. Guthrie’s landmark book, Even the Rat Was White. Our keynote speakers are Dr. Linda James Myers (CEO and Founder of the Optimal Psychology Institute) and Dr. Monique Swift Muhammad (President of the Association of Black Psychologists).

[Image description: Event banner with a logo for “Even the Rat Was White at 50.” Headshots for keynote speakers Dr. Linda James Myers and Dr. Monique Swift Muhammad are included. Text reads “Registration Closing Saturday, October 3.”]

We’re excited to welcome back artist Althea Jones tomorrow, Sep. 23 at 5:30pm for an exploration of race, psychology, an...
09/22/2026

We’re excited to welcome back artist Althea Jones tomorrow, Sep. 23 at 5:30pm for an exploration of race, psychology, and identity. Join us for a free tour of our National Museum of Psychology and a guided conversation with Althea, including a behind-the-scenes look at her ongoing “Skin Color” project.

All are welcome. Please RSVP to let us know you’ll be there: https://www.uakron.edu/chp/events/skin-color

[Image description: A gallery display featuring 8 paint jars in various shades of tan and brown, each labeled “Skin Color.” Two figures are standing in the foreground, looking at the display.]

Psychology is all around us! From mental health care to industry, science, and household items, the history of psycholog...
09/16/2026

Psychology is all around us! From mental health care to industry, science, and household items, the history of psychology touches all of our lives, every day. Drop by our National Museum of Psychology tomorrow, Sep. 17, to explore these connections through original artifacts and interactive exhibits. We’ll be offering free admission to all visitors, guided tours at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, a raffle, and more!

This free event is presented as part of Ohio History Connection’s Ohio Open Doors Program.

Learn more and plan your visit at https://www.uakron.edu/chp/events/museum-day

[Image description: An infant crawling on the edge of a “visual cliff” display in a museum. The display has the appearance of a checkerboard print cliff with a sudden drop, but transparent glass covers the drop. Text overlay reads “Free Admission Tomorrow, Sep. 17.”]

50 years ago, Robert V. Guthrie’s book “Even the Rat Was White” was published – and it changed the way we think about th...
09/15/2026

50 years ago, Robert V. Guthrie’s book “Even the Rat Was White” was published – and it changed the way we think about the history of psychology. This year, we’re reflecting on the legacy of Guthrie’s book with a free one-day symposium, hosted in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists.

Join us Friday, October 16 as we examine Black psychology then and now, with keynote speakers Dr. Linda James Myers and Dr. Monique Swift Muhammad.
This symposium is open to all, and complimentary lunch is included (RSVP required).

Explore the full program and RSVP now at https://www.uakron.edu/chp/events/guthrie50

[Image description: Event banner with a logo for “Even the Rat Was White at 50,” on Oct. 16, 2026. Headshots for keynote speakers Dr. Linda James Myers and Dr. Monique Swift Muhammad are included, as well as logos for the Cummings Center and the Association of Black Psychologists.]

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to visit our National Museum of Psychology, let this be a sign! We’ll be celebratin...
09/10/2026

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to visit our National Museum of Psychology, let this be a sign! We’ll be celebrating Smithsonian Museum Day next Thursday, Sep. 17 with free admission for all visitors, guided tours at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, a raffle, and more! There’s no better time to explore history and the human mind.

Learn more and plan your visit at https://www.uakron.edu/chp/events/museum-day

[Image description: A museum visitor leaning in to look at a set of worn notebooks on display. A text overlay reads “Free Admission Thursday, Sep. 17 plus guided tours, giveaways, a raffle, and more!”]

Address

73 S College Street
Akron, OH
44325

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 1pm - 8pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+13309727285

Website

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