Allen, Doris Twitchell, 1901-2002

Psychologist and professor at University of Cincinnati and University of Maine at Orono; founder of Children's International Summer Villages (CISV); wife of Erastus Smith Allen; of Ellsworth, Me.

From the description of Oral history interview, 1975. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70957492

Doris Twitchell Allen was born October 8, 1901, in Old Town, Maine. She received her A. B. in chemistry in 1923 and an M. A. in biology in 1926, both from the University of Maine. Allen then obtained the PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan, and in 1932 completed post-doctoral work at the University of Berlin.

Following WWII, Allen became interested in promoting international peace through work with children. In 1951, she founded the Children's International Summer Villages (CISV), which brings together children from several countries for peace-related activities. Allen received many awards and commendation for her work with the CISV, and in 1979 she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (the recipient that year was Mother Teresa). Allen also worked with clinical child populations. She was known for her use of psychodrama techniques with children. She also developed a cross-cultural personality assessment for children.

Allen died on March 7, 2002 in Virginia at the age of 101.

From the guide to the Doris Twitchell Allen papers, 1941-1980, (Center for the History of Psychology)