Anne Berman (1889–1979), une «simple secrétaire» du mouvement psychanalytique français?

Abstract

This article is focused on the figure of personal secretary in the history of science with the example of Anne Berman (1889–1979) who was, between 1933 and 1962, the secretary for the psychoanalyst Marie Bonaparte (1882–1962). Berman was not a psychoanalyst and psychoanalytic historiography considers her as a minor figure. However, her career as a personal secretary and her role in the French psychoanalytic movement should be considered in conjunction with her involvement with the feminist movement. This pharmacist by training has indeed played a prominent role within the Soroptimist, which was a movement that championed the professional interest of women and prides female excellence. In the case of Berman, the status of personal secretary did not enable her to gain lasting recognition by psychoanalysts, but only a weak and fragile legitimacy.