Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Lifwynn Foundation Eye-Movement Camera Records

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0020
Creators:
Lifwynn Foundation
Dates:
1938 - 1954
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Cubic feet
4 boxes
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Included are file memoranda on meetings and correspondence, sent and received, 1938-1954, between the Lifwynn Foundation for Laboratory Research in Analytic and Social Psychiatry Incorporated, and in particular, Hans Syz, M.D., Secretary, and various doctors, psychologists, other professionals in the subject field, and various U.S. Military Departments, regarding either the eye movement camera or research projects using it; experiments and results with eye movement cameras; reprints of the American Journal of Psychology; and reprints in TIDE's series of monthly reports on tests made by Look's research staff with Look's eye cameras (eye camera tests of magazine advertising): "Left Side Preference Results"; "Flash Preference Tests and Results"; and "Headline Placement".

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
These records of the Lifwynn Foundation document the development of the Lifwynn Eye-Movement Camera. The camera was devised and built by Dr. Henry Roger in his laboratory at Sand Hook, Connecticut. Charles Robinson assisted in the development and construction of the electrical features.
The registration and analysis of eye movements was undertaken as part of the study of the physiological alterations related to neurotic disorders. The investigation by L. Trigant Burrow, Scientific Director of the Lifwynn Foundation, and his associates, was undertaken especially in regard to disturbances in attention. Dr. Burrows' investigations were directed towards differentiating between a type of attention or adaption that is fundamentally healthy and direct and another type that is neurotic and under the influence of disturbing emotions.
Two earlier cameras - the two-film camera of Dr. Guy T. Buswell at Chicago University and the ophthalmograph of L.E. Luce and H.A. Thompson proved inadequate for this research project. Therefore, it was necessary to construct a camera especially designed to photograph eye movements exactly and continuously. The Lifwynn Foundation Eye-Movement Camera was constructed and made it possible to record both the horizontal and vertical components of the eye movements on one rolling film.

Administration

Author
Robert S. Harding
Custodial History
Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Medical Sciences (now the Division of medicine and Science) on April 29,1983
Processing Information
Collection processed by Robert S. Harding, archivist, 1983.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Robert Harding, 1983

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Lifwynn Foundation Eye-Movement Camera Records, 1938-1954, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by the Smithsonian Institution. Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: fees for commercial use.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
advertising -- 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Neuroses -- 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Eye -- Movements -- Photographic measurements -- 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cameras -- 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Psychologists -- 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Psychology -- 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photography, Ophthalmic -- 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photography, Medical -- 1930-1960 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Look (magazine) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sand Hook (Conn.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Burrow, L. Trigant Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Thompson, H. A. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Robinson, Charles (electrical engineer) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Roger, Henry Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Luce, L. E. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Buswell, Guy Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu