Researchers in psychoanalysis and related fields can make use of a wide range of primary sources, both printed or online, in their research. Some examples of this type of resource include:
The Library has a number of interesting special collections in Psychoanalysis and related fields, some of which are of considerable importance. A handful are book collections (e.g. Holt), others are archival (e.g. Balint), and the remainder are a mixture of materials (e.g. Freud). The index to the Freud Letters held by the Library at University of Essex is available here. For more information please see the Library's Special Collections web page and accompanying Blog post
Looking beyond Essex, the Library's Archives web page may help point to further resources, notably the portal to collections nationally - Archives Hub
The Institute of Psychoanalysis (British Psychoanalytical Society) has extensive archives including the papers of Ernest Jones, John Rickman, James & Alix Strachey, Sylvia Payne and Michael Balint. It also maintains some useful links to other UK archival collections.
The Wellcome Institute Library is an important repository for material in psychiatry and psychoanalysis. Among the highlights are papers of Melanie Klein (these have been digitised), D.W. Winnicott and John Bowlby (undergoing digitisation, expected completion Autumn 2024). A summary of what the Wellcome holds can be found in this guide (2014):
In the US, the Library of Congress has digitised the Sigmund Freud Collection of over 20 000 items including the personal papers of Freud. There is a finding aid and a PDF version. Cornell University Library holds the personal papers of D.W. Winnicott.
Archives in France include the collection of Françoise Dolto, who was particularly interested in connections between physical and psychic development. See her book The unconscious body image
Whilst printed collections & archives remain important, recent years have seen a massive increase in the number of digitised primary sources. Some of these are freely available from sources like national archives, national libraries & research universities, and others can be purchased through commercial vendors who specialise in this area. It might be worth exploring some of the subject guides, in particular History and Sociology, which list many interesting resources.
A few examples include:
From personal collections and rare printed material to military files, ephemera, and artwork, The First World War Portal highlights the experiences of soldiers, civilians, and governments on both sides of the conflict and in multiple theatres of war.
Essential primary sources documenting the changing representations and lived experiences of gender roles and relations from the nineteenth century to the present. This expansive collection offers sources for the study of women's suffrage, the feminist movement, and the men’s movement.
This resource offers revolutionary access to one of the most important archives for the study of social history in the modern era (1937-1956). Explore original manuscript and typescript papers created and collected by the Mass Observation organisation, as well as printed publications, photographs.
Launched in 1981 by the University of Sussex as a rebirth of the original 1937 Mass Observation, its founders' aim was to document the social history of Britain by recruiting volunteers to write about their lives. Still growing, it is an important source for qualitative social data in the UK.
Oral History sources have the potential to offer rich qualitative data for many types of sociological study, including life course studies, social change, family & personal relations, occupation, leisure, and so forth.
This guide from the UK Data Service is a helpful starting point. See also some of the links to sources on the Social History section of the Sociology subject guide, and on the History subject guide too.
The archives at Essex contain some important oral history collections, notably the Paul Thompson material in the National Social Policy and Social Change (Qualidata) archive, and the Colchester Recalled Oral History Group digitised recordings. See the Library's Special Collections page for details
Before digitisation, the Library acquired large amounts of primary source material on microfilm and microfiche, much of it of potential interest to sociologists.
You can search the Library catalogue by keyword (limit your search to Microforms) to see what we have, or browse a list of the main collections here:
An increasing amount of material is being made available open access. Some national & research libraries have taken a lead in this area.
Be aware that some resources appear to be open access, in that they are free to search, but viewing content requires payment.
See More Resources for further listings by subject
For details of UK government publications please see the Politics subject guide
For details of official publications from the UN and other international agencies see the Law subject guide and the Politics subject guide
