Anna Freud, born on December 3, 1895, in Vienna, was the youngest daughter of the couple Sigmund and Martha Freud.

She became a children's teacher (1914) and later a pioneer in the development of child psychoanalysis (1923). Her founding theoretical work focused on how the ego functions in averting anxiety and painful ideas, impulses and feelings.

Her first book was Introduction to the Technique of Child Analysis (1927). Other writings include: Introduction to Psychoanalysis for Teachers (1930), The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence (1936), Normality and Pathology in Childhood (1965), The Writings of Anna Freud (collected papers/8 volumes/1968-1983).

In March 1938, the Freud family, helped by Ernest Jones and Princess Marie Bonaparte, escaped from Nazi-dominated Austria and settled in London.

Sigmund Freud had been suffering from cancer since 1923 and Anna, his devoted daughter, took care of him till his final moments on September 23, 1939.

After the outbreak of war and her father's death , Anna set up The Hampstead War Nursery for the care of over 80 stressed children who experienced several degrees of parental deprivation.

The conflicting theoretical and technical differences between Melanie Klein's and Anna Freud's approaches led The British Psychoanalytical Society to form two parallel groups to avoid a major split in the institution.

Anna Freud founded The Hampstead Child Therapy Course (1947) and Clinic (1952). She served as its director from 1952 to 1982. The Clinic was renamed The Anna Freud Center after her death. Her home, at 20 Maresfield Gardens was, as she had wished, transformed into The Freud Museum, in 1986.

Anna Freud - photos

Anna Freud - her family