In a late afternoon ceremony on May 8, 1976, the American Psychoanalytic Association returned to 716 Washington Place, Baltimore, Maryland, the site of its founding 65 years ago. Close to 200 persons were present under a clear blue sky as Dr. Arcangelo R. T. D'Amore, Chairman of the Committee on History and Archives, spoke first. He explained briefly that the building had been occupied for many years by the Stafford Hotel, but recently had been remodeled into apartments. The building's location, in the Mount Vernon historic preservation district, had made it necessary for the Association to apply for special approval from the Commission for Historic and Architectural Preservation before the Association's cast bronze historical marker could be affixed to the building.
Dr. Joseph S. Bierman, Chairman of the Arrangements Committee of the Baltimore-D.C. Society for Psychoanalysis then spoke, and he introduced Dr. Irwin H. Marill, President of the Society. Dr. Marill introduced his fellow Baltimorean, Dr. Francis McLaughlin, 1975-1976 President of the American Psychoanalytic Association. Dr. McLaughlin presented the historical marker, and Mayor William Donald Schaefer accepted on behalf of the people of Baltimore, appropriately, during the City's Historic Preservation Week.
The brief ceremony was over at 6 p.m. at which time the group walked one block amidst interesting old buildings, park area status, and cobblestone pavement around the tall monument to George Washington to the two sites of the reception hosted by the Baltimore-D.C. Society. Over 400 person visited the magnificent Garrett-Jacobs Mansion, now the Engineers Club, and the George Peabody Library, a century-old architectural gem.
The Peabody Library contained the exhibit, “Psychoanalysis: The American Experience,” which had opened on May 5. According to the exhibit folder, “This exhibit documents Sigmund Freud's visit to America in 1909, correspondence, and American views of his life and work. The founding and history of the oldest and largest psychoanalytic association in America is presented, along with its relationship to the American Psychiatric Association, and the International Psycho-Analytical Association. Some affiliate society and institute activities are shown. Publications,- psychoanalytic therapy in mental hospitals; psychoanalysis in the public view; psychoanalytic studies of America; and studies of Art, Literature and Music are presented.”
The exhibit was mounted at the Peabody Library by Dr. D'Amore, assisted by Drs. W. G. Niederland, Zelda Teplitz and Mr. W. Douglas Todd. After closing there on May 28 it was transported to Washington, D.C., where it is on view at the Museum of the American Psychiatric Association, 1811 R Street, N.W., from June 10 to September 3, 1976. Twenty institutions and seventeen individuals have loaned documents, photographs and books for display.
On Sunday, May 9, 1976, Drs. A. R. T. D'Amore and Sanford Gifford, as a subcommittee of the Committee on History and Archives, visited the founding site and dedicated the historical marker in a simple ceremony.