Web-based Historical Resources

Introduction

This section contains links to resources that have been developed by State Occupational Therapy Associations, Universities with occupational therapy programs, and organizations that provide historical information related to occupational therapy, our professions leaders, and the persons with whom we work.

This compilation of historically-relevant resources is a work in progress. If you would like to contribute to this project, contact the OTL&LS Administrator at administrator@otleaders.org to propose works that can be considered to add to the list.

Table of Contents

Get Involved

This compilation of historically relevant resources is a work in progress. If you would like to contribute to this project, contact the OTL&LS Administrator at administrator@otleaders.org to propose web-based resources that can be considered to add to this list. 

International OT Associations

State OT Associations

Connecticut OT Association (ConnOTA): History of ConnOTA

Maryland Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA): Maryland Centennial History

Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon (OTAO): OTAO History

Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA): The History of POTA

Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA)

Utah Occupational Therapy Association (UOTA)

The Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC): OTAC History

University Resources

Dalhousie University School of Occupational Therapy

Dalhousie University School of Occupational Therapy: History of OT in Atlantic Canada

Fred Sammons Archive Project

The Fred Sammons Archive Project, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center

Jefferson University

Emily Balog, PhDc, MS, OTR/L gave a lecture on Racism and Occupational Injustice provides a foundation for reflection on the historical and political policies that contributed to and sustains the occupational marginalization of people of color and for informed discussion about occupational therapy within the context of social and occupational justice.

Texas Woman's University

Texas Woman's University: Historical OT archives

Tufts University Occupational Therapy Historical Digital Collection and Archives

The Tufts University Department of Occupational Therapy Historical Digital Collection and Archives date back to its inception as The Boston School of Occupational Therapy (BSOT) founded in 1918. The collection includes records, newsletters, early books on occupational therapy practices, theses, digitized images and other information about the faculty, alumni and curriculums.

University of Pretoria

University of Pretoria: History of the Department of Occupational Therapy

University of Scranton

University of Scranton: Historical OT resources

University of Toledo

The University of Toledo's Disability History Collection includes a regional disability archive, the personal papers of founders of the disability rights movement, the records of the Franklin Roosevelt Memorial Inscription Committee, and the Tom Olin Collection – Documenting the Disability Rights Movement through photos since 1984.

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg: History of the Occupational Therapy Department

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy: Archive at the Center for Occupation and Lifestyle Redesign. USC created a 30 Years of USC Occupational Science video to discuss occupational science, research, the future, and more.

Additional Resources

Organizational and Individual Platforms Providing Historical Resources  

American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT)

Black-male Registered Occupational Therapy Healthcare-professionals Assistants & Students (BROTHAS)

National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM)