The path leading to child analysis at the Denver Institute has been both interesting and tortuous. Although the faculty included, from early on, great figures in child development and research, such as René Spitz and John Benjamin, and two distinguished child analysts, Gaston E. Blum and Dane G. Prugh, the Institute did not develop a child analytic program for almost twenty years. Local conditions included opposition to child analysis on “scientific grounds” and the personal prejudices of various senior administrators. As a result, attempts over many years to attract child analysts from other centers met with little success. Finally, the stalemate was broken by two developments. First was the prodding of The American; Denver was one of only two or three institutes without a child program. It was clear that an important area of analytic data and research was being ignored. Second, Denver was beginning to experience the decline in applicants that had already been felt nationwide. The demand for child analytic training was seen as a way to attract a new group of people dedicated to psychoanalysis.

Under the leadership of Jacob G. Jacobson and especially Gene Schwarz, local and national requirements for the program were met. Sam Wagonfeld became the resident child analyst, having completed his training after several years of biweekly trips to San Francisco. He was also named director of the fledgling program. Visiting faculty included Roy Aruffo from Houston and Phyllis and Robert Tyson from San Diego. All gave generously of their time and energy. In 1988, the first class was started. In near record time three child candidates were graduated, with many more to come, thereby ensuring the programs self-sufficiency as it develops its own child faculty.

Samuel Wagonfeld