Hermann Rorschach was born in Zurich on November 8, 1884. His childhood
and youth were spent in Schaffhausen. He studied medicine, mainly in Zurich.
He was associate director of the mental hospital in Herisau when he died at
the age of 38, on April 1, 1922, only nine months after the publication of his
Psychodiagnostik.
During the time since its inception, the Rorschach-Test has grown in stature to become one of the best psychodiagnostic procedures and an indispensable instrument in the hands of the conscientious expert. It seems certain that the International Society of the Rorschach and Projective Methods has played an important role in supervising and promoting the scientific interpretation of the Rorschach.
The International Society of the Rorschach and Projective Methods (ISR) was founded on September 13, 1952 in Bern (Switzerland) by the Assembly of Delegates to the Second International Congress of the Rorschach. The idea had been launched in 1949 during the First International Rorschach Meeting. The first Executive Board was composed of Walter Morgenthaler (Bern), Marguerite Loosli-Usteri (Geneva), who were Presidents, and Samuel J. Beck (Chicago), Ewald Bohm (Copenhagen), Andrè Ombredane (Brussels) and Carlo Rizzo (Rome) who were Vice-Presidents. Adolph Friedemann (Freiburg) was the Secretary and Hans Huber, Jr. was the Treasurer. This team, elected for a six-year term, certainly reflected the variety and scope of interests of that time and demonstrated from the start it's openness to the world and to the methods of psychodiagnosis. Following Loosli-Usteri, Robert Heiss, Adolph Friedemann, Kenower W. Bash, four more distinguished individuals have served as presidents of the Society: Nina Rausch de Traubenberg, John Exner, Jr., Irving B. Weiner, and presently Anne Andronikof.
The object of the International Society of the Rorschach and Projective Methods, as stated in the by-laws, is:
During the past decade efforts have been undertaken to enhance the effectiveness of the Society. They began with the insightful perceptions of the former President, K.W. Bash, who sought major revisions in the statutes and procedures. His initiative has been continued by our former President, Nina Rausch de Traubenberg, and John Exner, Jr.
The Bulletin reflects one of the products of those efforts. Since 1990 it is published annually. With Volume 18, 1993, the establishment of Rorschachiana as an annual journal of contributions from around the world was a significant new step in enhancing global communication about the test. These elegantly presented yearbooks have become an invaluable forum enhancing international development and training regarding the Rorschach and other projective techniques.
Being a member of the International Society of the Rorschach and Projective Methods entitles you to receive the Bulletin and the Rorschachiana, both included in the annual contribution fee.
At present national Rorschach societies or groups exist in the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Venezuela. Together with the group of the Individual Members the International Society of the Rorschach and Projective Methods now consists of more than 2800 members throughout the world.
In case you want to apply for admission as an individual member, either because there is no such society in your country or for other reasons, please fill in the application form and return it to Mrs. T. Finger, Treasurer of the International Society of the Rorschach and Projective Methods, c/o Hans Huber Publishers, Hogrefe AG, Länggass-Strasse 76, P.O. Box, CH-3000 Bern 9 / Switzerland.