The UCSF Archives and Special Collections (ASC) is proud to be one of 26 institutions awarded the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Recordings at Risk grant. This $50,000 grant will support the digitization of over 200 films in the Selma Fraiberg collection (47% of the entire collection), a trove of pioneering research that spans 15 years. The collection includes half-inch video tapes, Super 8, and 16mm films. These films are pivotal in preserving the invaluable work of Fraiberg, particularly her studies on the social, emotional, and physical development of sighted and visually impaired children. These formats are at significant risk of deterioration, making this project both timely and critical. The digitization of the film is projected to be completed by August 2025.
A pioneer in child psychoanalysis
Selma Fraiberg, MSW, was a faculty member at UCSF and a trailblazer in child psychoanalysis and early childhood development. Her innovative use of film as a research tool has left behind a rich legacy of visual data, forming the cornerstone of her influential publications and therapeutic models. Joel Kanter, MSW, LCSW-C, a scholar of her work, emphasized, “Selma Fraiberg is respected worldwide for her groundbreaking work at the intersection of social work and psychoanalysis. Her pioneering use of visual technology in research and training was ahead of its time, capturing essential interactions that continue to inform infant mental health practices today.”
In a letter of support for the project, Assistant Clinical Professor, at the State University of New York Downstate, Leslie Cummins, DSW, LCSW, highlighted he continued relevance of Fraiberg’s findings, stating, “This is a most worthy effort to preserve the pioneering and important work done by Ms. Fraiberg and her team with sign-impaired children, the relevance of which reaches across the range of early childhood development. It is difficult to overstate Ms. Fraiberg’s contributions to so much of current child developmental theory. One of her essential findings from her work with blind infants was the negative effects of the missing gaze, essential for emotional bonding between parent and child…Her research underlies and remains vibrant in many current care models and theories: attachment theory, Fonagy’s work on mentalization, intergenerational transmission of trauma.”
Preservation for future research
Situated at the intersection of the UCSF Library’s strategic focus on discovery and access to current and historical resources, this project aims not only to safeguard these fragile films but to make them accessible for scholarly and educational purposes. Since their arrival at the ASC in 1988, access to these materials has been hindered by their deteriorating physical formats and privacy concerns. Digitization will ensure the preservation and continued influence of Fraiberg’s pioneering work.
This project underscores UCSF’s commitment to preserving historical materials related to women in science and supports continued research and innovation in child development and psychoanalytic practices. Through the Selma Fraiberg Film Digitization Project, UCSF ensures that future generations will benefit from Fraiberg’s visionary contributions to child psychology and beyond. Stay tuned for updates on this digitization project.
Learn more
Portions of Fraiberg’s papers have been digitized thanks to a generous grant by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) in support of the project, Pioneering Child Studies: Digitizing and Providing Access to Collection of Women Physicians who Spearheaded Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics.
The digitized Selma Fraiberg Collection can be accessed via Calisphere. The following titles by Fraiberg can be accessed via UC Library Search:
- Insights from the Blind: Comparative Studies of Blind and Sighted Infants, 1977
- “Fascinating, compassionate new understanding of child development…a remarkable important contribution.” The New York Times
- Elizabeth, 1972
Image credit: Runner1616 via Wikimedia Commons
