The Murray Bowen Archives Project: Advancing Bowen theory through Murray Bowen’s Archival Legacy

Presenters:

Kent Webb, LCSW, PCC

Joanne Bowen

Priscilla Friesen, LICSW

Catherine Rakow, MSW, ACSW

Learn how The Murray Bowen Archives Project (TMBAP) can be utilized as a resource to those interested in exploring the archives, located at The National Library of Medicine, understand how to access them, and use them for research. The importance of the archives as it relates to Bowen theory, its future, and its usefulness will also be discussed, along with TMBAP’s role in that process. Materials from the archives will be shown including ones from Dr. Bowen’s National Institute of Mental Health research project.

The presentation will identify TMBAP’s purpose, vision, mission, objectives, and history. Specifically, the importance, uniqueness, and complexity of the L. Murray Bowen collection (professional papers, videotapes, photographs, and family letters) will be described.

TMBAP’s relationship and role with the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and with the various deeds of gifts related to the work of Murray Bowen will be outlined. Presently, NLM has accepted four deeds of gifts including from the the Bowen family, the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, Mary Bourne, and Andrea Schara. Each of these gifts, and what is included in each one, will be described in greater detail.