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Summer School of Alcohol Studies

Summer School of Alcohol Studies

The first Summer School of Alcohol Studies, held in 1943, laid the foundations of modern alcohol education. Rutgers CAS  has continued running the Summer School of Alcohol Studies on an annual basis up to 2024. The ever-innovative thinker with a vision for the field, E. M.  Jellinek was the first director. He designed the School as as experiment and wasn't sure it would exist beyond that first summer.

 

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Group photo from the First Summer School of Alcohol Studies held in 1943 at Yale University featuring E. M. Jellinek in the middle of the second row from the bottom. Out of 250 individuals who applied to attend the first School, only 80 could be accepted due to the size of the facility. 
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The brochure of the first School of Alcohol Studies / Summer Session at Yale University in 1943 lists the purpose and scope, curriculum, faculty, and all information on the first major alcohol education initiative in the United States.
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R. Brinkley Smithers and Dr. E. M. Jellinek

Alcohol studies benefited tremendously from relationships forged at the Summer School. Pictured is SSAS Director E. M. Jellinek, with probably the most notable alumnus, R. Brinkley Smithers (SSAS ‘56), in 1957. Source: The National Council on Alcoholism 40th anniversary commemorative journal, 1944-1984.
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Marty Mann and Mark Keller

Profound relationships that evolved between students and instructors through the discussions at the Summer School defined the field for a long time. Pictured: probably the most notable alumna, Marty Mann (SSAS '44) and legendary QJSA/JSA editor Mark Keller, a long-term instructor at SSAS at Mark Keller's Recognition Dinner in 1977.
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R. Brinkley Smithers and Gail G. Milgram

Alumni enjoyed the mutual benefits of a long-lasting relationship with the Summer School. Pictured here is R. Brinkley Smithers with Gail G. Milgram in 1985 when Smithers received the prestigious SSAS Award. From the 1985 SSAS Alumni News.

From the Digital Alcohol Studies Archives