HUP Bruner, J.S. (1) Harvard University Archives

Jerome S. Bruner (1915-2016) was an American psychologist and educator whose work on cognitive psychology, learning, and memory in young children influenced the American educational system. Bruner attended Duke University (BA 1937) and Harvard University (PhD 1941). After serving as an expert on psychological warfare for the United States Army in France during World War II, Bruner returned to Harvard in 1945, becoming professor of psychology (1952). From 1960 to 1972 he also directed the University's Center for Cognitive Studies and, in 1965, served as President of the American Psychological Association. He left Harvard to become professor of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford (1972-1980). Bruner returned to the United States in 1980 to continue his research in developmental psychology at the New School for Social Research in New York City, and at the New York Institute for the Humanities, New York University.

From 1977 to 1980, Bruner served as chair of the Max Planck Institute’s Scientific Council. His personal library of more than 3,200 books, many annotated by him, are now located at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

For more information about the Bruner Library, please contact the MPIP Library staff at library@mpi.nl

Bruner’s papers, including correspondence, research material, and writings (nearly 200 linear feet), are located at the Harvard University Archives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

For more information about the Bruner papers and how to request access to them, please contact the Harvard University Archives reference staff at archives_reference@harvard.edu