Smith Ely Jelliffe
Encyclopedia
Smith Ely Jelliffe. American neurologist
, psychiatrist
, and psychoanalyst who lived and practiced in New York City
nearly his entire life. Originally trained in botany and pharmacy, Jelliffe switched first to neurology in the mid-1890s then to psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, and ultimately to psychoanalysis. He received his M.D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University
. Dr. Jelliffe was the Clinical Professor of Mental Diseases at Fordham University
, president of the New York Psychiatric Society, the New York Neurological Society, and the American Psychopathological Association
, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases. He was also a corresponding member of the French and Brazilian neurological societies and author of more than four hundred articles. His book, The Modern Treatment of Nervous and Mental Diseases, which he co-authored with William White
, has been a classic in the field, with many reprintings. Dr. Jelliffe founded Psychoanalytic Review, the first English-language publication devoted to psychoanalysis. In it, he wrote a number of articles on psychoanalytic technique, daydreams, and transference. Dr. Jelliffe is also credited with important contributions in the field of sychosomatic medicine. These were collected in his Sketches in Psychosomatic Medicine.
One of the earliest Freudian adherents in the United States, Jelliffe (with the aid of his rarely attributed first wife, Helena Leeming Jelliffe, who died in 1916) produced after the turn-of-the-century numerous translations of European works in psychopathology, neurology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy. From about 1902 he owned and edited for the next forty years the influential Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
. In 1907 he, along with his from then on lifelong collaborator, William Alanson White
, founded and edited the Nervous and Mental Disease Monograph Series, which published the earliest translations of Freud
, Jung
, Adler
, and other European psychoanalysts, as well as monographs in psychiatry and neurology.
With White, Jelliffe founded in 1913 The Psychoanalytic Review, a quite heterodox journal (as it still is) that was the first English-language analytic journal. Long after they had seceded from orthodox Freudianism the Review continued to publish translations of work by dissidents such as C. G. Jung and Alfred Adler
.
His and White's Diseases of the Nervous System: A Text-Book of Neurology and Psychiatry (1915, 6th edition 1933) was a standard period textbook that was also the first American textbook to devote substantial space to psychopathology and psychoanalysis (all of part three in the first edition dealt with "psychic or symbolic systems"). Jelliffe's 1918 The Technique of Psychoanalysis was the first book in any language explicitly devoted to analytic technique. Jelliffe is also regarded as one of the founders of psychosomatic medicine in America. He began publishing papers about it as early as 1916, though his only book explicitly on the subject was his 1939 Sketches in Psychosomatic Medicine.
Not an important theoretician in any of the fields in which he practiced, Jellife was significant more as a behind-the-scenes mover, especially through his translations and the serials that he owned and edited. In addition Jelliffe was probably the first notable, self-identified American book collector in neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychoanalysis. He amassed an enormous library of books, journals, and offprints (well over ten tons in weight), which must surely have been the largest and most important collection in private hands in North America in the early 20th century. Sadly, Jelliffe's savings were wiped out by the stock market crash in 1929, so he was forced to continue working into his eighties. In 1942 he sold the bulk of his book and journal collection to The Institute for Living in Hartford, though he still retained thousands of books, which Nolan D. C. Lewis inherited after Jelliffe's death.
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
, psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
, and psychoanalyst who lived and practiced in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
nearly his entire life. Originally trained in botany and pharmacy, Jelliffe switched first to neurology in the mid-1890s then to psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, and ultimately to psychoanalysis. He received his M.D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. Dr. Jelliffe was the Clinical Professor of Mental Diseases at Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, president of the New York Psychiatric Society, the New York Neurological Society, and the American Psychopathological Association
American Psychopathological Association
The American Psychopathological Association is an organization, "devoted to the scientific investigation of disordered human behavior, and its biological and psychosocial substrates."The association was founded in 1910...
, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases. He was also a corresponding member of the French and Brazilian neurological societies and author of more than four hundred articles. His book, The Modern Treatment of Nervous and Mental Diseases, which he co-authored with William White
William White
-Politics:*William White , MP for Clitheroe in 1660*William White , North Carolina Secretary of State, 1798–1811*William White , elected member of the 1st Council of the Northwest Territories, 1883–1885...
, has been a classic in the field, with many reprintings. Dr. Jelliffe founded Psychoanalytic Review, the first English-language publication devoted to psychoanalysis. In it, he wrote a number of articles on psychoanalytic technique, daydreams, and transference. Dr. Jelliffe is also credited with important contributions in the field of sychosomatic medicine. These were collected in his Sketches in Psychosomatic Medicine.
One of the earliest Freudian adherents in the United States, Jelliffe (with the aid of his rarely attributed first wife, Helena Leeming Jelliffe, who died in 1916) produced after the turn-of-the-century numerous translations of European works in psychopathology, neurology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy. From about 1902 he owned and edited for the next forty years the influential Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease is a scholarly journal on psychopathology.Founded in 1874, it is the world's oldest independent scientific monthly in the field of human behavior. Articles cover theory, etiology, therapy, social impact of illness, and research methods.Editors:*1874-1881:...
. In 1907 he, along with his from then on lifelong collaborator, William Alanson White
William Alanson White
William Alanson White was an American neurologist and psychiatrist.-Biography:He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., studied at Cornell from 1885 to 1889, and two years later graduated from the Long Island College Hospital. For nine years he was an assistant physician at the Binghamton William Alanson...
, founded and edited the Nervous and Mental Disease Monograph Series, which published the earliest translations of Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
, Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
, Adler
Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler was an Austrian medical doctor, psychotherapist, and founder of the school of individual psychology. In collaboration with Sigmund Freud and a small group of Freud's colleagues, Adler was among the co-founders of the psychoanalytic movement as a core member of the Vienna...
, and other European psychoanalysts, as well as monographs in psychiatry and neurology.
With White, Jelliffe founded in 1913 The Psychoanalytic Review, a quite heterodox journal (as it still is) that was the first English-language analytic journal. Long after they had seceded from orthodox Freudianism the Review continued to publish translations of work by dissidents such as C. G. Jung and Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler was an Austrian medical doctor, psychotherapist, and founder of the school of individual psychology. In collaboration with Sigmund Freud and a small group of Freud's colleagues, Adler was among the co-founders of the psychoanalytic movement as a core member of the Vienna...
.
His and White's Diseases of the Nervous System: A Text-Book of Neurology and Psychiatry (1915, 6th edition 1933) was a standard period textbook that was also the first American textbook to devote substantial space to psychopathology and psychoanalysis (all of part three in the first edition dealt with "psychic or symbolic systems"). Jelliffe's 1918 The Technique of Psychoanalysis was the first book in any language explicitly devoted to analytic technique. Jelliffe is also regarded as one of the founders of psychosomatic medicine in America. He began publishing papers about it as early as 1916, though his only book explicitly on the subject was his 1939 Sketches in Psychosomatic Medicine.
Not an important theoretician in any of the fields in which he practiced, Jellife was significant more as a behind-the-scenes mover, especially through his translations and the serials that he owned and edited. In addition Jelliffe was probably the first notable, self-identified American book collector in neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychoanalysis. He amassed an enormous library of books, journals, and offprints (well over ten tons in weight), which must surely have been the largest and most important collection in private hands in North America in the early 20th century. Sadly, Jelliffe's savings were wiped out by the stock market crash in 1929, so he was forced to continue working into his eighties. In 1942 he sold the bulk of his book and journal collection to The Institute for Living in Hartford, though he still retained thousands of books, which Nolan D. C. Lewis inherited after Jelliffe's death.
See also
- Sigmund FreudSigmund FreudSigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
- Carl JungCarl JungCarl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
- Herbert SilbererHerbert SilbererHerbert Silberer was a Viennese psychoanalyst involved with the professional circle surrounding Sigmund Freud which included other pioneers of psychological study as Carl Jung, Alfred Adler and others...