What is Project 259?

Project 259 is a research study conducted by Harvard University psychologist Dr. Henry Murray during the 1940s. The details and findings of this project were largely unknown to the public until they were declassified by the United States government in the late 1990s. The information about Project 259 was obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and released by journalist and author David Reisman in his book "The Lonely Crowd." The project aimed to understand personality development and the impact of stress on individuals. Dr. Murray and his team enlisted undergraduate students from Harvard University to participate in a series of experiments, assessments, and interviews. The study involved subjecting the participants to intense and highly personal questioning, using techniques such as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), in which participants were asked to interpret ambiguous images and describe the stories behind them. The personal files of the participants were created, which included extensive interviews, photographs, and personal correspondence. The information collected during Project 259 was highly confidential and was intended to remain anonymous. However, these files were stored at Harvard University and became known as the Harvard Personal Data Collection. In 2001, former President Bill Clinton apologized for the unethical nature of Project 259 and other similar studies conducted during that era. The release of the project's details raised ethical concerns regarding informed consent and the invasion of privacy of the participants. Due to the sensitive nature of the project and the potential harm it may have caused to the participants, it has been widely criticized. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical considerations in research involving human subjects.