Ralph Freimuth Berdie was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 21, 1916. He obtained his undergraduate and graduate training at the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in 1938, M.A. in 1939, and Ph.D. in 1942, all in psychology. From 1943-1945 he served in the Navy and, after being discharged as a lieutenant, went to George Peabody College (Nashville, TN) as an associate professor in psychology (1946-1947). In 1947, he became an associate professor of psychology and director of the Student Counseling Bureau at the University of Minnesota. He was promoted to professor in 1949 and remained director until mid 1965.
Under his leadership, the Student Counseling Bureau developed the Minnesota Statewide Testing Program. As a result of Dr. Berdie’s vision, the Statewide Testing Program now influences virtually every Minnesota high school student with testing and counseling about aptitude, educational achievement, vocational interests and personality. Dr. Berdie was often awarded and recognized nationally for his contributions to research, testing and counseling psychology. He was the author of numerous articles during his tenure as director of the Student Counseling Bureau; he was responsible for the organization of annual meetings of Directors of Counseling Services; he served as president of the American College Personnel Association (1964) and the American Personnel and Guidance Association (1971); was awarded the American Board of Professional Psychology’s Outstanding Achievement Award (1968) and the E.K. Strong, Jr. Memorial Gold Medal, presented annually to a researcher who made an outstanding contribution in the area of psychological testing (1973). He also served as editor of the Journal of Counseling Psychology (1970-1974).
Other appointments held by Dr. Berdie at the University of Minnesota include director of Student Life (1966), acting director of the Bureau of Institutional Research (1968) and coordinator for Admissions, Registration and Student Records (1971). Ralph Berdie died on August 21, 1974.
From the guide to the Ralph F. Berdie papers, 1938-1974, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])
