Skip to main content

Summer School Timeline

The Center of Alcohol Studies founded the first Summer School of Alcohol Studies (SSAS) at Yale University in 1943. The School was the focus of several important forces that shaped the alcohol field as it is today. For example, the National Committee on Alcoholism  was founded at the SSAS in 1944. The North Conway Institute, as well as other organizations, was also founded at the SSAS.

To learn more about the history of the Summer School, see the history page.

1943

  • E.M. Jellinek was the director
  • 6 week session
  • Scholarships were provided by the National Education Association and the Commission on Religion and Health
  • Lecturers included co-founder of Alcoholic Anonymous, Bill Wilson

1944

  • 4 week session
  • Continued format of daily lectures, seminars, and discussion periods

1945

  • Seven lecture topics including the prevention of insobriety, measures of control, and treatment

1947

  • Adopted new format in second half of the program included an additional research seminar

1948

  • Physicians and psychologists became part of the student body
  • The third and fourth weeks had two possible curricula: one for educators and one for physicians and others interested in the care and treatment of alcoholics

1949

  • Two sessions were offered: one at Yale and the other at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas

1951

  • Selden Bacon became the director
  • All scholarships were awarded through the School rather than external organizations

1953

  • Objectives were expanded to included professionals and nonprofessionals
  • Industrial Institute, a one week program, was opened

1954

  • Nursing, community organization, social work and special studies were added to the curriculum
  • Nurses Institute on Alcoholism, a 3 day session, was held

1955

  • Included new afternoon seminars in education, ministry, community health, and therapy
  • One-week Refresher Session was opened to earlier graduates of the School

1957

  • Leon A. Greenberg became the director

1958

  • Scholarships became available through state and provincial commissions
  • Seminar topics in enforcement and correction and rehabilitation were added

1959

  • Public health seminar was added

1960

  • Industry Seminar was added

1962

  • Center of Alcohol Studies and the Summer School moved to Rutgers University
  • Raymond McCarthy became the director

1964

  • 3 week session
  • Physicians Institute began
  • Northeast Institute co-sponsored by several State Alcoholism program began

1965

  • Milton A. Maxwell became the director
  • Nursing was added to the School

1970

  • Smithers Fellowship for attorneys and law students begins
  • Alumni Association of the Summer School of Alcohol Studies began offering scholarships as well

1972

  • 19 courses were available including Program Evaluation and Research
  • A. E. Bennet scholarships were available for physicians
  • 5 day refresher course was held for alumni

1974

  • Ronald Lester became the director

1976

  • 5 day refresher course was held for alumni
  • 6 new courses were added
  • New Jersey Summer School of Alcohol and Drug Abuse began

1979

  • 29 courses were available including Sexual Issues in Counseling, Preventing Substance Abuse, and Medical Implications of Alcoholism

1980

  • Distilled Spirits Council of the United States began offering scholarships
  • Alumni Institute was held

1982

  • Gail G. Milgram became the director

1984

  • 40 courses were available

1991

  • Renamed the Summer School of Alcohol and Drug Studies

1998

  • Biennial European School of Alcohol and Drug Studies, a 1 week program, is conducted for the first time in Denmark in English

1999

  • Institute of Alcohol and Drug Studies, a 1 week program, is added as an additional professional development opportunity

2009

  • Institute of Alcohol and Drug Studies and School of Alcohol and Drug Studies were merged
  • Continued as a one-week program

2012

  • Institute of Alcohol and Drug Studies was renamed The Institute of Addiction Studies (IAS)
  • One-week professional development experience
  • Tracks for new and advanced addiction professionals, medical students, and other individuals

2014

  • Institute of Addiction Studies was renamed the Summer School of Addiction Studies