The Hermann Rorschach Archives and Museum

About us

The Hermann Rorschach Archives and Museum is dedicated to one single man who, through his work, became world famous - the Swiss psychiatrist and creator of the test named after him, Hermann Rorschach (1884-1922).

Initiated in 1957 by the Bernese psychiatrist Walter Morgenthaler (1882-1965), the institution, administered by the University Library of Bern, fulfils an important function in the international Rorschach research. It is sponsored by, besides the University Library of Bern, the International Society of the Rorschach and Verlag Hans Huber Hogrefe AG.

The Hermann Rorschach Archives and Museum houses records and other items from Hermann Rorschach's estate as well as from the estates of former professional colleagues and from past presidents of the International Society of the Rorschach.

In addition a library with numerous publications from all over the world documents the reception and further development of Rorschach's work.

A permanent exhibition affords an insight into the life and work of Hermann Rorschach, the visitor being shown not only the scientific but also the artistic side of this unusual and many-sided psychiatrist.

The object of the Hermann Rorschach Archives and Museum is:

• To preserve the historical records and items from Hermann Rorschach’s and his colleagues’ estates, and to provide electronic finding aids;
   
• To collect, as completely as possible, the published works concerning the Rorschach Test; to catalogue them and make them available to users;
   
• To impart information relating to Hermann Rorschach and his work