Jerry W. Carter, born in 1908, was a psychologist who was active in community mental health services. Carter's son, Jerry Jr., became a noted American artist. Carter attended the University of Florida, earning a BA in 1932. Under J.R. Kantor, Carter earned an MA in 1934 and a PhD in 1938. In 1937 he became the Senior Clinical Psychologist in the psychology clinic of the Department of Nervous and Mental Diseases, Riley Hospital, Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis, as well as a Consulting Clinical Psychologist for the Indianapolis Public Schools.
After a period of working at the Wichita Guidance Center in 1940-41, Carter took a position at the National Institute of Mental Health. In 1949 Carter became a senior scientist and director of the National Institute of Mental Health and later began President Kennedy's National Mental Health Program. In 1955 he was promoted to scientific director of the United States Public Health Service.
In 1950, Carter chaired the American Psychological Association's (APA) Building Committee to find a new location for the organization's headquarters. In the 1950s and 1960s, as Chief Clinical Psychologist of the Community Services Branch of NIMH, Carter oversaw the annual Conference of Chief psychologists in State Mental Health programs. His research led to his 1968 book Research Contributions from Psychology to Community Mental Health. Carter's work in community psychology led to awards and recognition. In 1968 he was presented with the APA Division 12 Distinguished Award for Profession of Clinical Psychology and the APA Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) Harold M. Hildreth Award for Distinguished Public Service in 1970. Carter was also a fellow of the APA as well as the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
From the guide to the Jerry W. Carter Jr. papers, 1952-1968, (Center for the History of Psychology)
