-------History of Psychology ALFRED H. FUCHS, EDITOR Bowdoin College The Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology and Francis Cecil Sumner ROGER K. THOMAS University of Georgia In 1939, a psychologist could become a member of the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology (SSPP) automatically with the endorsement of two members, payment of dues, and membership in the American Psychological Association (APA). Non-APA members with endorse­ ments and payment of dues had to be voted in by the membership. In 1940, the rules for admission were changed to eliminate the automatic membership for APA members. Francis Cecil Sumner, the first African American PhD in psychology, qualified for SSPP membership as a member of the APA in 1939, but the SSPP's council delayed his membership and introduced the amendment to its constitution that eliminated Sumner's route to membership. This article ex­ amines the circumstances surrounding council's actions and the role that Sumner's application for membership played in it as an example of the role that race and discrimination played in the decision to change the route to SSPP membership for members of the APA. Founded in 1904, the Southern Society for Philoso­ Strong Jr., Knight Dunlap,]. F. Dashiell, Karl Dal­ phy and Psychology (SSPP) is the oldest regional or­ lenbach, and Ulric N eisser.1 Two women prominent ganization serving psychologists in the United States in the history ofpsychology, Christine Ladd-Franklin (Harris & Alluisi, 1964; Miner, 1931; Pate, 1993). Its and Celestia S. Parrish, were among the SSPP's 36 principal founder, Edward F. Buchner, earned a PhD charter members. degree in philosophy at Yale University (1893). When The current requirements for membership in the the SSPP was founded, Buchner was a professor of SSPP are stipulated in its constitution: philosophy and education at University of Alabama In order to be eligible for membership, candi­ (Pate, 1993); he also worked as a psychologist (Bu­ dates must be engaged professionally in Philos­ chner, 1903). The SSPP's first president was james ophy and/or Psychology, or provide evidence of Mark Baldwin. Other presidents of the SSPP whose a substantially equivalent interest and compe­ names may be recognized by psychologists and listed tence. Normally this is interpreted to mean that here in the order of their presidencies of the SSPP the applicant has a Ph.D. degree or a doctoral were Shepherd Ivory Franz, john B. Watson, E. K. degree in related areas, and is devoting a major American Journal of Psychology Fall2011, Vol. 124, No.3 pp. 355-364 • © 20II by the Board of Trustees of the University oflllinois professional effort in teaching, research, and/or posal for eliminating the automatic membership for practice. ("Article II: Membership" of the SSPP APA members was Sumner's application. constitution, http:/fsouthernsociety.org) Francis Cecil Sumner Graduate students in fields related primarily Sumner was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on De­ to philosophy or psychology may apply for associ­ cember 7, 1895. His parents were David A. Sumner ate membership. Eligibility of applicants is usually (1862-1950) and Ellenjarvis Sumner (1868-1949). determined by the treasurer, primarily because the Francis Sumner attended elementary schools in first year's dues must accompany an application for Norfolk, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Plainfield, membership. When eligibility is unclear, the applica­ NewJersey. He received the equivalent ofa secondary tion is considered by the SSPP's governing council. school education via private instruction with his fa­ Usually, applications meeting the requirements in the ther and gained admission by exanlination to Lincoln constitution are accepted without question. University in 19n at age 15. He graduated in 1915 with In 1939, when Francis Cecil Sumner, the first an AB degree magna cum laude and with special hon­ African American to earn a PhD in psychology, ap­ ors in English, modern languages, Greek, Latin, and plied for membership in the SSPP, the membership philosophy. He received a second AB degree at Clark application process was very different. Two routes to University (Worcester, Massachusetts) in 1916, and he membership were available in 1939. In both cases, an received an AM degree from Lincoln University in application form had to be endorsed by two members 1917. Sumner received the PhD degree in psychology of the SSPP, and the first year's dues had to accom­ from Clark University in 1920 with G. Stanley Hall pany the application. The difference between the two as his "major professor" and E. G. Boring, John W. routes to membership was that applicants who were Baird, Samuel W. Fernberger, and Karl Karlson as his members of the American Psychological Association "minor professors" (Sumner, 1951).2 (APA) or the American Philosophical Association While studying for the PhD, Sumner was drafted were admitted automatically to the SSPP, but ap­ into the U.S. Army in the sununer of1918 (see Sawyer, plicants who were not members of either of the two 2000, for related discussion). With Hall's concur­ national organizations had to be recommended by rence, Sumner tried to enroll in officer's candidate the council and voted in by the membership during school, but it was too late and Sumner was soon the annual business meeting. shipped to France (Guthrie, 2004). Sumner served Having the requisite endorsement of two SSPP in the 8o8th Pioneer Infantry as a sergeant (Sumner, members, having paid the first year's dues, and being 1951), apparendy on a railroad construction crew. It a member of the APA qualified Sumner automati­ is a sad irony ofracial segregation in the U.S. military cally for membership in the SSPP. However, members during World War I that Sumner, an expert in the of the SSPP's governing council delayed Sumner's languages of the three major combatants (English, membership approval in 1939 and proposed an French, and German), was not used as a military in­ amendment to the SSPP constitution that eliminated terpreter or translator. Pioneer infantry units were the policy ofgranting automatic SSPP membership to largely noncombat units (Barbeau & Henri, 1996). applicants who were members of either of the two na­ Nevertheless, 7 of17 Pioneer Infantry units received tional organizations. Coincidentally, and apparendy combat ribbons for bravery under fire. Barbeau and because their racial classifications were unclear, the Henri (1996) did not specifY which units, but based council also delayed the memberships of two "men" on descriptions they provided of the 8o8th serv­ because they taught at Fisk University, which served ing well under heavy enemy fire and on Sumner's African American students. Not only were those can­ account of experiencing bombardment (quoted in didates white, but one was a woman; nevertheless, Guthrie, 2004, p. 222) it seems likely that members members of council consistendy referred to them as ofthe 8o8th Pioneers received combat ribbons. Con­ the "men" from Fisk. They were Lily Brunschwig and sistent with this record ofservice, Sumner was buried Eli S. Marks, and they were married to each other. with a military honor guard in the Arlington National However, the primary trigger for initiating the pro- Cemetery (Guthrie, 2004). 356 • THOMAS After receiving the PhD from Clark University on Here is how the proposed amendment was re­ June 14,1920 (Guthrie, 2004), Sumner served on the ported in the 1939 SSPP proceedings (Heinlein, 1939, faculties ofWilberforce University (Ohio) in 1920-1921 P· 591). and West Virginia State College from 1921 to 1928; he The Council recommended that Article II. Sec­ also taught during summer session at Southern Univer­ tion 2. of the Constitution be aJnended to read sity (Louisiana) in 1921.ln 1928 he became an associate as follows: "Candidates for membership shall professor at Howard University (Washington, D.C.). be proposed by two members of the Society He was promoted to professor in 1931 and served and recommended by the Council before their first as acting department head, then as department names are voted upon by the Society." head from 1928 until he died of cardiac arrest while shoveling snow on january 12,1954 (Sumner, 1951; The amendment would eliminate the route that Guthrie, 2004). Sumner was a fellow in the APA and Sumner, Brunschwig, and Marks had used to be­ in the American Association for the Advancement of come members of the SSPP. The SSPP constitution Science. Additionally, he was a member of the Eastern required that amendments had to be approved at two Psychological Association, the SSPP, and the District consecutive meetings. The amendment was approved of Columbia Psychological Association. at the 1939 meeting, and a second vote was to be taken at the 1940 meeting. Unless approved both times, the Francis Cecil Sumner and the SSPP new amendment would not take effect. Apparently, Eight letters3 that were written in September and Oc­ the reasons stated at the 1939 meeting to justifY the tober 1939 pertaining to the SSPP council's actions amendment pertained only to what was considered related to Sumner and the proposed constitutional to be inequitable treatment of the SSPP by the APA, amendment pertaining to membership requirements namely that the APA did not automatically grant and the published proceedings of the 1939 and 1940 membership to members of the SSPP (Miner, 1941). SSPP meetings (Heinlein, 1939; Munn, 1940) provide However, that was not the reason that instigated the the context for the concern over Sumner's applica­ proposed constitutional amendment. tion for membership in the SSPP. Incoming president On September 28, 1939, President Maijorie S. Ma~jorie S. Harris, who wrote five of the letters in Harris, a philosopher at Randolph-Macon Woman's which Sumner's membership application was dis­ College in Lynchburg, Virginia, sent a letter to the cussed, attended the 1939 meeting of the governing members of the council that began as follows (Harris, council of the SSPP.