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80 years of Summer School of Alcohol Studies

About SSAS

An important educational resource for individuals in the alcohol field since 1943, the Summer School of Alcohol Studies (SSAS) was the first to offer a structured curriculum to participants from various backgrounds and disciplines, becoming a life-changing experience for many. The interaction between faculty and students inspired lively discussions, which resulted in the founding of major organizations related to alcohol education––including the National Committee for Education on Alcoholism, later to become the National Council on Alcoholism, under the stewardship of notable SSAS alumna Marty Mann. Another student, Brinkley Smithers, became instrumental in helping the Center of Alcohol Studies move from Yale University to Rutgers, and (with his wife Adele Smithers) donated funds to expand the Center of Alcohol Studies building into its current form.

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Certificate of graduation 

The certificate was a cherished memento for all participants. Pictured is the plaque with a certificate of graduation from the Rutgers Summer School of Alcohol Studies issued in 1969 issued to William Leonard (Bill) Keaton, a pioneer in the medical management of alcoholism.
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Group photos

At the end of each School, a group photo was taken of all participants and instructors at Yale (1943-1962) and Rutgers (1983-2023). Browse photos from each School:
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SSAS T-shirt

Starting in 1992 for the 50th Anniversary of the Summer School, students received a t-shirt each year, including international schools.

Alumni and instructors: the leaders of the field

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Alumni and instructors: with a list of prominent participants

The 1961 Reunion of the Summer School of Alcohol Studies held at Yale before the move to Rutgers was attended by eminent people related to the field, alumni and instructors alike. The 1971 SSAS Alumni News clipping shows a picture of the Reunion, also called the  Alumni Institute, with the illustrious participants listed in the caption. See also the original group photo.

From the Digital Alcohol Studies Archives