Summary Information
Kathy Kouzmanoff Papers
1985-2001
Milwaukee Mss 196; Tape 1388A; VHA 520-526
0.8 c.f. (3 archives boxes), 10 tape recordings, and 7 videocassettes
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Kouzmanoff, a former nun, adult educator, and psychotherapist primarily relating to her role in the establishment and operation of the Mind's Eye Institute (MEI) in Brookfield, Wisconsin and brief papers of her husband John Kouzmanoff (1930-1995). The Mind's Eye Institute was a non-profit membership organization formed in 1988 and disbanded in 1999 that attempted to enhance inner personal development through Jungian psychoanalysis and techniques of the “New Age” philosophy. The records documenting MEI include articles of incorporation, minutes and other policy records, newsletters, brochures and other publicity materials, and video and sound recordings of special group programs. Scattered papers including photocopied scrapbooks, writings, additional sound recordings, and biographical materials contain information on Kouzmanoff's own life and ideas as well as her role in MEI. Political and civil rights activist John Kouzmanoff is documented by a 1985 reminiscence of participation in several Chicago civil rights marches with Martin Luther King, Jr., and a file of mailings and papers collected as a result of his role as a Jesse Jackson delegate to the 1988 National Democratic Party Convention. Several photographs of the Kouzmanoffs have been filed in the Visual Materials Name File in Madison.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00196 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Psychotherapist Kathleen Ritger Kouzmanoff (b. 1945) is a native of West Bend, Wisconsin. At age 14 she joined the School Sisters of St. Francis. She attended Alverno College and graduated in 1968 with a degree in social sciences, education, and theology. In the following year she left the order and began study for a master's degree in educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee. In 1979 she married John Kouzmanoff , a civil rights activist, whom she had first met in 1967 outside St. Boniface Church, the church for which Father James Groppi was the priest. John Kouzmanoff died of cancer in 1995.
Kathy Kouzmanoff's early professional career embraced 15 years as a teacher and career counselor with the Milwaukee Public Schools; continuing education teaching at Mount Mary and Alverno colleges, Marquette University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and several years as a successful real estate agent. In 1979 Kouzmanoff began an intense study of Carl Jung's methods of self discovery, and in 1983 she joined the Carl Jung Center of Milwaukee. Eventually she became an officer and a member of the center's board of directors. At the same time Kouzmanoff was a successful real estate agent, and she found that the self understanding developed from psychoanalysis with Jungian analyst Boris Matthews had a positive impact on both her professional career as well as her personal and spiritual life. Ultimately, Kouzmanoff left the real estate business and began working to advance Jungian methods. A letter from the Small Business Development Center at UW-Whitewater to Kouzmanoff in the collection indicates that her initial idea for this, entitled Tao Business, was a group dynamics counseling center. By the end of 1987 her plans had focused on the Mind's Eye Institute (MEI), a concept that incorporated both her personal counseling practice as well as lectures, classes at the Ewens Center at Mount Mary College, workshops, and support groups for the general public. The name “Mind's Eye” was based on her desire to teach the art of seeing from within, a Jungian concept. Although the Mind's Eye Institute was originally comprised only of Kouzmanoff herself, other therapists who shared her belief in theological spirituality, psychological analysis, and holistic approaches toward personal, mental, and spiritual growth also became associated with the institute. Interest grew, and MEI newsletters dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s document a full schedule of lectures and group meetings. In June 1995 Kouzmanoff established MEI on a more formal, membership basis by incorporating as Mind's Eye Institute, Inc. She listed herself, her husband, and Jean Pascer as directors.
Following incorporation, Kouzmanoff contacted additional associates who shared her outlook on psychotherapy. They reviewed a formal planning document, “Values, Visions, and Flow Charts,” and offered opinions and encouragement at an organizational meeting at Kouzmanoff's home on August 8, 1995. A number of these individuals eventually were elected to the board of directors. Kouzmanoff formally introduced MEI to the public at a Barnes and Noble bookstore on August 23, 1995. By the end of its first year Mind's Eye, Inc. had 54 members. Over the next four years, MEI offered public programs that combined training in ethics, mental concentration, emotional understanding, motivation, and increasing awareness. It also offered quarterly gatherings at which the members shared their mental and spiritual experiences. MEI relied on consensus management supported by a staff to handle the bookkeeping and clerical duties. A publications committee also developed and published a newsletter, Mind's Eye Institute News.
MEI, Inc. dissolved in late 1999. Among the reasons cited were the inability to gain a sufficiently stable membership to organize conferences and workshops, personality conflicts among the members, and lack of finances. After the dissolution of MEI Kouzmanoff continued her licensed private practice clinic which was known as Mind's Eye Counseling. A newsletter issued by her private practice in 2001 described Kouzmanoff's activities as writing, counseling, developing Lifewheel, a personal transformation program, and living a contemplative life.
Scope and Content Note
The Kathy Kouzmanoff Papers primarily concern her leadership in the establishment, development, and operation of the Mind's Eye Institute, with a few papers pertaining to her husband's social and political activism. Although the papers are likely to be of greatest interest because of their representation of various “New Age” ideas, and the Mind's Eye Institute certainly exhibited some of these characteristics, Kouzmanoff more often described herself as a proponent of Jungian analysis. The Kouzmanoff Papers consist of MIND'S EYE INSTITUTE RECORDS and JOHN KOUZMANOFF PAPERS.
The MEI organizational records include articles of incorporation and by-laws, brief minutes of board of directors and staff meetings, publicity, newsletters, a photocopy of the MEI web page, and video recordings of several special programs. Despite the presence of board minutes which are generally considered as key historical documentation for any organization, these minutes are only moderately helpful in understanding the MEI philosophy because of their brevity. This is compensated for in part by the video cassettes which document complete proceedings of several Mind's Eye's gatherings.
Kouzmanoff's life and ideas apart from her role in MEI are difficult to distinguish in the collection. For example, the sound recordings of her in the collection and several videocassettes fail to clarify whether she was speaking for herself or as an officer of MEI. Of special interest among them are tape recordings of Kouzmanoff offering advice to a call-in radio audience, then a popular broadcast format. A few papers that also document Kouzmanoff's career apart from her association with MEI include published writings, a photocopied career scrapbook, and miscellaneous biographical information.
John Kouzmanoff, who was born on April 23, 1930, was a civil rights activist and like his wife, a real estate agent. He worked with her in the administration of MEI. His career is sparsely documented here. Included is a transcribed 1985 recollection of his participation in several civil rights marches in Chicago that were led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and political memorabilia. Most complete among the memorabilia are the materials about his support for the Presidential candidacy of Jesse Jackson in 1988. These include mass mailings and information on the delegate selection process in Wisconsin.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Kathy Kouzmanoff, Milwaukee, Wis., 2002. Accession Number: M2002-001
Processed by Matthew D. Mason (Susan E. Davis student), 2002.
Use of Folder 5 in Box 2 is restricted until 2042 and may only be viewed with the permission of Kathy Kouzmanoff or Margaret Roche. The sealed envelope is to be removed from Box 2 before paging.
Kathy Kouzmanoff retains copyright to all records created by the Mind's Eye Institute, Inc.
Contents List
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Milwaukee Mss 196
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Series: Mind's Eye Institute Records
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Articles of incorporation, trade mark, and tax exempt status papers, 1988-1996
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Planning materials
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Mission statement, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Values, visions, and flow charts, 1995
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Organizational charts, 1997, November 24
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VHA 526
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Advisory meeting, 1995, August 8, and introduction of the Institute, , 1995, August 23
: Video borrowed by the donor, 2003.
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Milwaukee Mss 196
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Policy materials
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Board of Directors
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Minutes, 1995, August 1 - 1999, March 15
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Resumes, 1996, undated
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Resignation letters, 1995-1999
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Staff minutes, 1995-1998
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Newsletter Committee minutes, 1996
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Correspondence, 1988-1999, undated
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Financial records
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Kouzmanoff biographical information
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Membership
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Box
1
Folder
13
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Lists and registers, 1995-1999
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Box
1
Folder
14
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Registration forms and fee shedules, 1995-1997
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Programs and public appearances
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Box
1
Folder
15
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Invitations, 1995-1999
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Tape 1388A
No.
1-4
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“Seeing with the Mind's Eye” Workshop, 1987?
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No.
5
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“Dreams - Grounding and Spirituality,” KRK, August 1988
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No.
6
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Call-in radio program with KRK as guest on WMVP, 1990, January 16
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No.
7
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“Career Issues,” Call-in radio program with KRK as guest, WMVP, 1990, September 11
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No.
8
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“5 Step Process Psychology,” KRK, October 1991
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Milwaukee Mss 196
Box
1
Folder
16
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Workbook: “Process Management Looks at Difficult Relationships,” 1991
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Tape 1388A
No.
8
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KRK on WEZW, 1992, July 29
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VHA 520
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Awareness journaling class for Alverno College alumna, 1992, September 19
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Tape 1388A
No.
9
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KRK on WEZW, 1993
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VHA 521
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Gathering II: “The Child in Us,” 1996, March 23
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VHA 522
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Gathering III: “Your Secret Garden,” 1996, June 22
: Outdoor gathering at which The Secret Garden was examined as a metaphor for personal development. KRK and Boris Matthews are featured.
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VHA 523
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Gathering IV: “Fast to Feast,” 1996, September 11
: Jewish high holy days used as a focus. Jack Melloh and Boris Matthews are featured.
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VHA 524
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Annual meeting, 1996, November 2
: Tape broken, 2002.
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VHA 525
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“Unveiling Your Creativity,” 1997, March 22
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Milwaukee Mss 196
Box
1
Folder
17
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Personal Transformation Program, 1998, Fall
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Box
1
Folder
18
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Program feedback, 1996-1997
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Publicity
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Box
1
Folder
19
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Brochures, 1995-1998
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Box
2
Folder
1
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MEI News, 1996-1998
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Box
2
Folder
2
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MEI newsletter, 1989-1992
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Press releases, 1988, 1996-1997
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Web page printout, 1998, December 14
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Personnel file, 1999
: Restricted: This sealed folder must be removed before paging.
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Box
2
Folder
6-7
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Scrapbook (photocopies only) and loose material from the scrapbook
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Box
2
Folder
8
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Writings by KRK
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Series: John Kouzmanoff Papers
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Box
3
Folder
1
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Martin Luther King reminiscences, 1985
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Box
3
Folder
2
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Jesse Jackson presidential campaign memorabilia, 1998
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Box
3
Folder
3
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General political memorabilia, 1986-1992
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