Psychology Centenary

Psychology was in fact taught as a component of philosophy courses at Edinburgh much earlier in the nineteenth century, but 1906 saw the establishment of the first independent lectureship in psychology. This was made possible by generous funding from the George Combe Trust. Combe was an Edinburgh lawyer turned phrenologist and it can be argued an early exponent of the psychology of individual differences. He wrote extensively on many causes, but in particular on matters of education and social reform.

The Combe Trust had been set up to ‘educate the poorer classes in the laws of mental and bodily health’ and until the first Combe Lecturer was appointed, the Trust funds had been applied to the payment of itinerant lecturers, mainly in physiology. Funding continued from the Trust for almost fifty years and the name, the  George Combe Laboratory was retained until the transfer of psychology from Old College to the Pleasance in the 1950s. Today psychology has its premises in 7 George Square, the old Watson’s Ladies College, and is part of the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. The department very much want to encourage as many graduates and others associated with the department to join us in some of the events planned throughout the year, to hear something of our past history and of the exciting work currently in progress.  It is hoped that a fund-raising campaign directed at  alumni will raise enough money to endow postgraduate or undergraduate scholarships and to restore an association of the name of Combe with the department. Details of the various celebrations will be announced via the departmental website or by e-mailing K.Fleet@ed.ac.uk

The Centenary Symposium presentations may be read here.

Psychology Centenary Seminar Series

Psychology Centenary Posters
The Psychology Centenary exhibition posters have been adapted for the Web and may be viewed by clicking on the link above. To see an enlargement of a photograph please click on an image (a new window will open).