Charles Savage papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSP 70

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Charles Savage papers document Savage’s work as a psychiatrist, specifically his research on the therapeutic use of LSD-25 and marijuana during the 1960s. Materials range from correspondence between Savage and his colleagues and Savage and his patients, article reprints written by Savage or used by Savage for his research, as well as Savage’s manuscripts and miscellaneous manuscripts, some of which appear to have been created by patients. Patient notes, accounts and transcripts of LSD sessions, and information on the Spring Grove Hospital and the Maryland State Psychiatric Research Center are all included. This collection also documents Savage’s time in the Navy, as well as activities subsequent to his retirement.

Dates

Creation: 1936 - 2003
Creation: Majority of material found within 1960 - 1970

Creator

Savage, Charles (1918-2007) (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection material is in English. French, Spanish, and German are also present.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research; however, portions of the collection are restricted to protect the privacy of patients. Papers from the collection containing patient names and other personal information are restricted for seventy-five years from the date of their creation. Redacted photocopies of this material has been put in place of the originals.

Copyright and Use Information

Biographical Information

Charles W. Savage was born on September 25, 1918 in Berlin, Connecticut. He received a B.A. from Yale in 1939, an M.D. from the University of Chicago in 1945, and an M.A. in Spanish from Middlebury College in 1999. He also attended the Washington-Baltimore Psychoanalytic Institute in 1957 and served as a Lieutenant Mass Communication Specialist in the United States Navy from 1946-1953. He published fifty papers on psychopharmacology and psychoanalysis, several of which were co-authored with his wife, Ethel. He was a member of the editorial board of Psychiatry and a member of the American Psychiatric Association (fellow), American Psychoanalytic Association, American Electoencephlogram Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington Psychoanalytic Society, Baltimore Psychoanalytic Society, San Francisco Psychoanalytic Society. Savage was also a poet and published, in Spanish and English, Las Tinieblas en el Dia de Pentecostes. Upon his retirement, he became a medical missionary to Guatemala. At the age of 89, Savage passed away at his home on December 12, 2007.

Extent

9.75 Cubic Feet (13 full-width legal-size manuscript boxes, three half-width legal-sized manuscript boxes, three half-width letter-sized manuscript boxes, one full-width letter-sized manuscript box, and one cubic foot box.)

Additional Description

Arrangement

The Charles Savage papers have been arranged in 16 series.

Biographical Information
Correspondence
Article Reprints and Reviews
Article, Report, and Presentation manuscripts
Research and Grant materials
Washington Psychoanalytic Society
LSD Research materials
Spring Grove State Hospital materials
Marijuana Research materials
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center and Friends of Psychiatric Research
Veteran's Administration
Patient Materials
Research in West Africa
Miscellaneous Materials
Restricted Materials
Audio Recordings

Acquisition Information

Collection donated by Emmy Savage in four installments: August 8, 2009; February 20, 2011; April 27, 2011; May 2, 2011.

Processing Information

Whenever possible, original order of the materials has been retained and noted in the finding aid. All materials have been housed in acid-free folders, acid-free boxes, and are arranged chronologically. Photographs have been placed in polyester sleeves.

Subjects

Genre / Form

Topical

Collecting Areas

- Psychoactive Substances. Betsy Gordon Psychoactive Substances Research Collection

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Charles Savage papers
Status: Under Review
Author: Kristin Leaman, Stephanie Schmitz, and Serena Potter
Date: 2018-05-01
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Latin
Edition statement: Third edition. Collection description was first completed July 22, 2013.