The Margaret Lowenfeld Archive Catalogue Outline

The following is an extract from The Margaret Lowenfeld Archive Catalogue. All inquiries for papers must be mailed to Dr. Beric Wright (see contact info).

The ML archive consists of material relevant to the life and work of the Child Psychiatrist, Dr. Margaret Lowenfeld, 1890-1973. It also contains much that is relevant to the history of child psychiatry, pediatrics and child guidance as a whole. 

For the purpose of the web site, I have edited the material to concentrate only on those papers which I felt would be of interest to the student of The World Technique/Sandplay Therapy. However, a complete catalogue can be obtained by downloading the document (click the link below).

Margaret Lowenfeld Archive Catalogue

The material has been organized on the basis of a coding scheme developed from the 50’s until Dr. Lowenfeld’s death. It should be treated as incomplete and yet significant data collected on a wide range of topics. Not included here is Dr. Lowenfeld’s work on Research other than Psychological Medicine, most Historical material on the Children’s Clinic as well as Letters, work on Mosaics, Kaleidoblocs, and Poleidoblocs. My objective here is to give you an appreciation of the years of research and study that has gone into the Lowenfeld work and hopefully to wet your intellectual curiosity into doing research of your own. Because this method of therapy has been in use since 1936, the Archives represent a collection of historical research which may be helpful to students and professionals. To obtain any articles mentioned here you must write to Dr. Beric Wright, Chairman of the  Dr. Margaret Lowenfeld Trust (see contact info). 

Major Categories

Research and Clinical Papers by Margaret Lowenfeld

A. Rheumatism
B. Feeding
C. Psychological Medicine
D. Popular papers by Margaret Lowenfeld
E. Miscellaneous papers on other people’s use of Margaret Lowenfeld’s techniques and related theories
F. Historical material on the Children’s Clinic and the Institute of Child Psychology
G. Popular lectures given by Margaret Lowenfeld
H. Research collaboration between Margaret Lowenfeld and Vassar College, United States of America
I. Biographical and autobiographical material on Margaret Lowenfeld
J. Miscellaneous (unpublished) papers by Margaret Lowenfeld
K. Developments in the use of Worlds
L. Material for World Technique Book: 1959
M. Material from World Federation of Mental Health and International Rorschach Congresses, 1968
N. Material for World Technique Book sent to Margaret Mead in 1974 by Ville Andersen
O. Correspondence on Worlds (and general aspects of Margaret Lowenfeld’s work)
P. The Lowenfeld Mosaic Test: Instructions, correspondence and research
Q. Kaleidoblocs: Theory, research and distribution
R. Poleidoblocs: Instructions, research and design
S. Dissertations, theses and extended manuscripts describing work using Lowenfeld techniques

Visual and Auditory Material

T. Worlds
U. Mosaics
V. Kaleidoblocs and Poleidoblocs
W. Photographs of historical or theoretical interest
X. Audio materials

Research and Clinical Papers by Margaret Lowenfeld

A. Rheumatism

B. Feeding

C. Psychological Medicine

C5. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1937) A thesis concerning the fundamental structure of the mental-emotional processes in children. Talk to the General Section of the British Psychological Society, Manchester, April 18th

C6. Lowenfeld, M. F. (1937) The value of direct objective record of children fantasies with special reference to ideas of movement. Communication; International Congress of Psychology, Paris, July 25-31.

C7. Lowenfeld, M. (1937) A method of direct objective representation of the nature of children’s fantasy. Paper read to the 9th International Medical Congress of Psychotherapy. Copenhagen October.

C8. Lowenfeld, M. (1939) The World Pictures of Children; a method of recording and studying them (Paper read on March 23rd, 1938 to the Medical Section of the British Psychological Society.) British Journal of Medical Psychology, 28, 65-101.

C9. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1938) The theory and use of play in psychotherapy of childhood. (Paper read July 30th 1938 to 10th International Medical Congress for Psychotherapy, Oxford.) Journal of Mental Science, l-xxxiv, no. 353.

C16. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1948) The nature of the Primary System. In: M. Lowenfeld (ed) On the Psychotherapy of Children. Report of conference at Institute of Child Psychology, on the Theory and technique of Direct Objective Therapy, London, 1948.

C18. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1950) An alternative approach to child psychotherapy. Paper read to the Medical Section of the British Psychological Society, March 22nd, 1950.

C19. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1950) A combined approach to the study and treatment of disturbed children, as carried out at the Institute of Child Psychology in London, England. American Journal of Psychotherapy, IV, 627-642.

C20. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1950 The nature and use of the Lowenfeld World Technique in work with children and adults. Journal of Psychology, XXX, 325-331.

C34. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1964) The study of preverbal `thinking’ and its relation to psychotherapy. Paper read to 6th International Congress of Psychotherapy, London, August 1964. 

C36. Lowenfeld, M.F. The adolescent’s search for identity. Paper read to 6th International Congress of Child Psychiatry, Edinburgh, 24-29th July, 1966.

C37. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1966) The World Technique. Chapter for Handbuch der Kinderpsychotherapie, Munich, August 1966. (German and English translations)

C39. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1967) On normal emotional and intellectual development of children. Paper read at St Edmunds College, Ware, April 18th 1967.

D. Popular Papers by Margaret Lowenfeld

D9. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1934) Play in childhood: the Froebelian View and modern thought. Child life, June 1934. Froebel Society and Junior Schools Association.

D12. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1935) The sensitive child: need for sympathy and patience. Parents, October, page 598.

D15. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1937) Helping the child to understand. (An address delivered at the Girls’Village Home, Barkingside, at a Conference of Superintendents and other workers connected with Dr Barnardo’s Homes, 9th October 1937.) Printed for the Institute of Child Psychology.

D17. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1938) The significance of play in the normal development of children. Child Education, Spring Extra Number, 1938.

D18. Lowenfeld, M.F. (1938) The whole child. Mother and Child, IX, 247-251.

E. Miscellaneous papers of other people’s use of Margaret Lowenfeld’s techniques and related theories. (in alphabetical order) Boyer, R. (1959) The importance of sand in the World Technique: an experiment. Brit.J.Educational Psychology, 29, 162-164.
Klaff, D.M. (1966) The Archetype as a healing factor. Psychologia, 9, 177-184.

G2. Historical Material on the Children’s Clinic and the Institute of Child Psychology

F. Margaret Lowenfeld, "The Institute of Child Psychology". Historical chapter prepared for edited book on child guidance, which was eventually not published.

F33. Margaret Lowenfeld. Working Draft of "The Institute of Child Psychology" 1968.

G. Popular Lectures on General and Psychological Subjects given by Margaret Lowenfeld 1928 - 1943

G2. Notices of meetings in which Margaret Lowenfeld was lecturing. Announcements of public lectures,etc.

I) Nov. 1933 "The Child’s View of the World"
"The Emotional Life of the Child"
"The Child’s Mind as Revealed in Specialized Play"
"Self-expression Through Creative Outlets"
Organization/Sponsoring body ICP Friends House Lectures
Course: Course on The Mind of the Child

m) May 1934 "A Frightened Child’
"Incorrigible Delicacy"
"Helping the Child to Understand"
"A Gangster and a Thief"
Organisation/Sponsoring body ICP Friends House Lectures
Course: Course on Children in Trouble and the Way Out

 n. Aug. 1934`The Emotional Life of the Child’ (Synopsis of talk avail)
"Principles of Emotional Development"
"The Place of Housecraft in the Emotional Development of the Child"
Organizational/Sponsoring body Berridge House, Westfield College
Course: Short Course for Teachers

a1. Apr. 18, 1937`A Thesis Concerning the Fundamental Structure of the Mental-Emotional Processes in Children’ (reference C5)
Organizational/Sponsoring body British Psychological Society (Manchester)
Course: General Meeting

a4. Feb. 21, 1938`A Modern Approach to the Study of the Child’s Mind’ (text present) Organizational/Sponsoring body Bedford College, London
Course: Philosophical and Psychological Society

g4. Margaret Lowenfeld. `A Modern Approach to the Study of the Child’s Mind’. Address to Philosophical and Psychological Society, Bedford College, London University. Feb 21st. 1938.

Transcripts of Friends House Lectures 1934-1938

g5. Margaret Lowenfeld. `Cleanliness and Tidiness’. First of four lectures given in lecture course on "Common Difficulties in Normal Children" Friends House, Nov. 7, 1934.

g6. Margaret Lowenfeld. `Obedience’. Second of four lectures given in lecture course on `Common Difficulties in Normal Children’. Friends House, Nov. 14, 1934.

g7. Margaret Lowenfeld. `Moral Training’. Third of four lectures given in a course on `Common Difficulties in Normal Children’. Friends House, Nov. 21, 1934.

g8. Margaret Lowenfeld. `Immaturity and maturity’. Report of first of series of eight lectures on `Some Problems of Adolescence’. Given at Friends House, Nov. 6, 1935.

g9. Margaret Lowenfeld. `The Adolescent Outlook’. Report of fourth lecture on `Some Problems of Adolescence’. Friends House, December 1935.

g10. Margaret Lowenfeld. `Pleasure and Freudian Theory’. Probably paper given at British Psychological Society Conference, Reading, March 31, 1939. But dated 23 February 1939. Two copies.

g11. Margaret Lowenfeld. `Types of Children’. Abstract of lecture given at Rothesay School, Berkhamsted. May 20, 1943. 

H. Margaret Lowenfeld’s Research Collaboration and Correspondence with Vassar College, New York

I. Margaret Lowenfeld, Biographical and Autobiographical Material Provided by Ville Andersen, Kate MacSorley, Rhoda Metraux, Rachael Pinney and others

J. Miscellaneous (unpublished papers) by M. Lowenfeld c. 1930-1956 including writings on war and its effects

Writings on war and its effects, Post-war Theoretical Writings

J25. M. Lowenfeld. `Concerning the protosystem; Freud’s theory of the psyche-soma’. 13 June 1956, plus copy.

J26. M. Lowenfeld. `A study of non-verbal communication in psychotherapy’. c. 1956 (a) and (b) copy.

J28. Edited version of lectures given by M. Lowenfeld at the Institute of Child Psychology, c. 1952. Edited by Mollie Dundas. 

K. Developments in the use of Worlds, including research proposals

L. Material for World Technique Book: 1959

L13. List of World objects and some comparisons with other approaches.

d. Comparison between M. Lowenfeld’s World Technique and Charlotte Buhler’s. No.1. Protocol. (For instruction manual for Charlotte Buhler’s World Test, 1949, see E.)

e. List of World objects used by Dr Gosta Harding, Stockholm.

f. List of World objects used by Charlotte Buhler.

L14. Extracts from 1937 Manchester paper: A Thesis concerning the fundamental structure of the mento-emotional processes in children

M. Material from World Federation of Mental Health and International Rorschach Congresses, 1968

A. 7th International Congress of Rorschach and Other Projective Techniques. London, August 1968

M. World Federation for Mental Health. 7th International Congress on Mental Health- London, August 1968

N. Material for World Technique Book sent to Margaret Mead in 1974 by Ville Andersen

O. Correspondence on Worlds.

P. Margaret Lowenfeld’s Mosaic Test: Instructions, Correspondence and Research