Erikson Institute

History Since Erikson Institute’s founding in 1966, our people, knowledge, and programs have made an indelible imprint on the journey to learn more about the early years. Our founders, child psychologist Maria Piers, social worker Lorraine Wallach, educator and activist Barbara Taylor Bowman, and businessman and philanthropist Irving B. Harris, recognized the need for professionals who work with young children and families to understand child development and the promise the first years of life hold for a person’s long-term well-being. Their vision has been the foundation of our work across multiple decades and through significant social and cultural changes — and it remains the foundation of our effort to become the single most influential force for change in the early childhood field.