The Papers of Lauretta Bender, 1897-1987, consist mainly of records of the years 1926-1968 while Bender's chief professional work was concentrated at Bellevue and Creedmoor Hospitals.  The majority of the records, however, document a large number of important, continuously innovative activities in child psychiatry outside these institutions.  The attest to the energy and enthusiasm which Bender seems never to have lost for her work.  The document both Bender's extensive activities and those of her most importer mentor, her first husband, Paul Schilder, whose papers are included as a sub-group in the collection.  And, by virtue of the involvement of both Bender and Schilder with so much of importance that was happening in the field of psychiatry, they touch on much of importance in the field.

The collection consists mainly of typescripts of professional correspondence and manuscripts, along with a smaller quantity of personal papers, photographs, and other memorabilia.  There are five major record groups: Professional Correspondence, 1936-1969, Professional Activities, 1936-1968, Personal Materials, 1926-1967, Schilder Papers, 1886-1940, and John O. Pender Papers.

Speaking generally, Bender pioneered in the use of art therapy for children, most notably the use of puppet shows at Bellevue, but music therapy and graphic arts work as well.  She championed the use of drugs and shock treatment to treat mental illnesses that were not amenable to less drastic forms of treatment.  She interacted effectively with a large number of persons, and both her professional and personal correspondence (boxes 1-7, 5) attest to many fruitful, pleasant relationships with colleagues of varying stature.  The records also document her assistance in building organizations and schools dedicated to helping mentally disturbed children, and her seemingly tireless participation in event after event designed to forward the study of psychiatry or to benefit mentally ill persons.  She wrote prolifically herself and also brought out a mass of materials left behind by Paul Schilder after his untimely and unexpected death (boxes 9 and 18-21).  Bibliographies of both Schilder's and Bender's writings are located among their personal papers (boxes 15 and 22).