Window Into the Archives

Take a look at the pages below for further details about specific initiatives:

Collections at the National Library of Medicine
The Williamsburg Collection contains documents from the Bowen home. These include materials from college, medical school and psychiatric training at The Menninger Foundation, and “Dear Family” letters written over the years. Joanne Bowen is taking the lead on preparing this collection to be moved to NLM.
Commitment to Principles
Clarence Boyd’s book of Dr. Bowen’s letters, which he self-published in 2008, is being serialized in an electronic version on this website.
Videos
The NLM houses an extensive collection of Dr. Bowen’s audio and video recordings. The Murray Bowen Archives Project is reviewing the inventory of materials to determine the work and cost involved in stabilizing and restoring the recordings. We are also selecting particular recordings to be posted on this website.
Oral History Project
More than 50 individuals who knew and worked with Dr. Bowen have participated in the Oral History Project, led by Andrea Schara Maloney. These interviews have been recorded and transcribed. Listen to and read the interviews that have already been posted.

The Archives by Topic

Murray Bowen wrote scores of letters to family, friends, professionals and clients detailing his systems theory of human behavior. In this section, you can read excerpts from letters and explore his thinking about a number of topics. In the future full access to these letters will be available from the National Library of Medicine.