Lifetime Achievement Awards
HISTORY OF THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS AT PSYCHOHISTORY FORUM:
On January 14, 2023, our first awardees were Peter J. Loewenberg, Robert Jay Lifton, David R. Beisel, and Alan C. Elms (https://psychohistoryforum.com/first-ever-lifetime-achievement-award-ceremony-in-psychohistory/).
[Video here from this event: https://psychohistoryforum.com/first-ever-lifetime-achievement-award-ceremony-in-psychohistory/]
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On March 18, 2023, the following colleagues were the awardees (and who participated in this live ceremony): Lawrence J. Friedman, Howard F. Stein, & Jacques Szaluta. In absentia awards were then presented to Daniel Dervin and Herbert Barry III. (https://psychohistoryforum.com/lifetime-achievement-awards-for-extraordinary-accomplishments-in-psychohistory-presented-by-psychohistory-forum/)
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On May 19, 2023, during the 46th Annual Conference of the IPhA, we honored C. Fred Alford, David J. Fisher, Daniel Rancour-Laferriere, and William M. Runyan. For more information, visit
https://psychohistoryforum.com/lifetime-achievement-awards-for-extraordinary-accomplishments-in-psychohistory-presented-by-psychohistory-forum-may-19-2023/.
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On December 2, 2023, this was our 4th Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony at Psychohistory Forum, and it was the 1st one organized around women contributors to psychohistory, with a focus on women and feminist issues/approaches. (https://psychohistoryforum.com/4th-lifetime-achievement-awards-for-extraordinary-accomplishments-in-psychohistory-presented-by-psychohistory-forum-to-distinguished-women-scholars/) The recipients were Nancy Chodorow, Eva Fogelman, Carol Gilligan, and Nancy McWilliams. They were chosen because of their major achievements, and in the case of Eva Fogelman, also her commitment to healing her patients and to the Psychohistory Forum.
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On November 16, 2024, our honorees were George Atwood, Robert Stolorow, and Vamik Volkan (https://psychohistoryforum.com/5th-lifetime-achievement-awards-for-extraordinary-accomplishments-in-psychohistory-presented-by-psychohistory-forum/).
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On March 7, 2026, the Psychohistory Forum community will honor James W. Anderson, Paul H. Elovitz, Joseph G. Ponterotto, and Charles B. Strozier. Hope you can attend and be a part of this celebration of the awardees’ achievements in psychohistory and psychobiography!
The minimal standard to be a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award is that recipients must have written at least one psychohistorical monograph, as well as contributed to the field. These awards are granted to scholars after a long career and involvement with many colleagues. We have also chosen first to honor older recipients, especially those whose longevity is not assured. In fact, three honorees are in assisted living facilities. Two were unable to participate in their ceremonies, although their daughters indicated they were listening.
Ideally, we would have a separate ceremony for each recipient capable of participating. Regrettably, our world does not sufficiently support psychohistory, so what I and our Associate Director/ Convener/ Editor (Inna Rozentsvit) do is unpaid, and it keeps us working in our evenings and weekends. This is not a complaint but a statement of reality and a reminder of how important it is that psychohistorical organizations have committed volunteers. Consequently, we typically celebrate about three or four colleagues per ceremony.
The format of our awards ceremonies is that I or a colleague will introduce this virtual session, explain the arrangements, and thank everyone for participating. There is a similar wrap-up at the end of the session. After the nominee has accepted this public honor, she or he provides the name of a person who would speak for ten minutes, describing this outstanding individual’s activities and character. Typically, this is a close colleague, admirer, or mentee. Next, if able, the presenter will speak for ten minutes at this virtual conference. When time allows, there will be questions and comments from the invitees, including family members, former colleagues, and anyone on our email list who chose to attend.
From:
Elovitz, P.H. (20024). Why the Psychohistory Forum publishes festschrifts and gives lifetime achievement awards. Psychohistory News, 43(3), 6.