Ernest Dichter Papers - Hagley Museum and Library

Accession 2407
ERNEST DICHTER PAPERS
GENERAL SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE (cont’d)
to Hagley from Dichter’s last residence and office in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., in 2007. A
second large collection of Dichter material, which presumably came from his European
offices, is now housed at the University of Vienna. This collection contains a very large
number, but not all, of his research proposals and studies, and while there is substantial
overlap, a particular item may exist in only one of the collections. A list of the studies at
Vienna is available.
The Ernest Dichter Papers have been arranged in six Subgroups, which more or less
reflect Dr. Dichter’s own arrangement. However, researchers should be aware that Dr.
Dichter kept multiple copies of his writings and associated materials in several different
filing systems, including freestanding items on library shelves, papers in loose-leaf
binders, and several runs of filing cabinets. Versions of the same document may typically
exist in two or more of the Subgroups, and researchers are advised to check all parts of
the finding aid. The loose-leaf binders themselves have been destroyed as a conservation
measure and all materials transferred to file folders and record cartons. In the process,
obvious duplication, including the many copies of his writings that Dr. Dichter held as
inventory for sale, has been eliminated. Dichter’s numbering systems and indexes have
been preserved.
Subgroup A, which accounts for over half the collection, is comprised of Dr. Dichter’s
research proposals and studies. As such, it is both the heart of the archive and the most
important part of Dichter’s prodigious intellectual output, containing not merely the
fullest expression of his own ideas but also an unparalleled window into consumer
behavior and attitudes over more than four decades and on five continents.
Subgroup B, Publications, consists of the formally published newsletters and bulletins
though which Dr. Dichter disseminated his ideas and presented the activities of himself
and his Institute. There are also Japanese-language versions of two of his books and four
of the Sacha children’s books published in France. The rest of Dichter’s books have been
transferred to the general Imprints collection
Subgroup C, Speeches, Quizzes & Seminars, consists of the texts of speeches, poppsychology
personality quizzes, and agendas and notes for seminars, some of which may
also exist in published form.
Subgroup D, Publicity, consists primarily of press cuttings and articles issued to
publicize Dr. Dichter’s activities, including public appearances, pronouncements, or short
statements to the newspaper press and other mass media.
12