Finding aid for the Frank X. Barron papers

Biography of Frank X. Barron

Frank Xavier Barron was born on July 17, 1922 in Landsford, Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor's degree in philosophy from La Salle College in 1942. He began his master's degree studies at the University of Minnesota before serving in the U.S. Army as a medic during World War II. He returned to Minnesota and finished his degree in 1948. He received his doctorate in 1950 from the University of California, Berkeley.

He worked at the Institute for Personality Assessment and Research (IPAR) as a graduate student and later as a research psychologist. He taught at Harvard University, Bryn Mawr College, the University of Hawaii, Wesleyan University, and the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Barron was a psychologist with a specialization in creativity research. He developed standardized tests to measure the characteristics of a creative person. These tests included the Inventory of Personal Philosophy, the Ego-Strength Scale, and the Barron-Walsh Art Scale.

Barron's major publications include Creativity and Psychological Health: Origins of Personal Vitality and Creative Freedom, Creativity and Personal Freedom, and Creative Person and Creative Process.

Barron died in Santa Cruz in 2002.

Scope and Content

The Frank X. Barron papers include biographical files, correspondence, administrative files, teaching files, tests, research files, and written works. The files document Barron's wide variety of research interests, including creativity, twins, nuclear war, and artists.

Of special note are the files relating to Barron's creative writers study (1957-1958). In this study, Barron interviewed and tested numerous notable writers, including Truman Capote and Normal Mailer. These files can be found in Series 6, Research files: Subseries 1. Some files are restricted.

The Written Works series includes published and unpublished works, including unpublished notes and drafts of "The Sacred Mushroom in Harvard Yard" and "A Baby Named Death". Both were autobiographical works; "The Sacred Mushroom in Harvard Yard" was a memoir of Barron's relationship with Timothy Leary.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Restrictions on Access

Restricted boxes and folders are noted in the contents list.

Subject Headings

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Persons:

Preferred Citation

Cite as: [identification of item], [folder number, box number], Archives of the History of American Psychology, The Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology - The University of Akron

Processing Information

Processed by Emily Gainer, August 2016.

Bibliography

Montuori, Alfonso. "Frank Xavier Barron (1922-2002)," American Psychologist, June/July 2003.

Detailed Description of The Collection