George W. Albee was born. A pioneer in the field of clinical and community psychology, Albee is best known for his passionate advocacy of the view that social and environmental factors such as poverty and racism; rather than biochemical brain defects, are the primary determinants of mental illness. Albee is also renowned for his tireless efforts to enhance and uphold the independent standing of professional psychology.

A highly respected thinker and scholar, Albee was elected president of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1970, received the APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions in 1975, was a member of President Carter's 1977 Commission on Mental Health and was presented with the American Psychological Foundation, Gold Medal Award for Lifetime Contribution in the Public Interest in 1993.