Kouzmanoff, Kathy, 1945- .

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Kathy Kouzmanoff retains copyright to all the records created by the Mind's Eye Institute, Inc.

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. 

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection consists mainly of material relating to Kouzmanoff's leadership in the founding, development, and operation of the Mind's Eye Institute. The fundamental basis for the enterprise can be found in the articles of incorporation, mission statement, and the "Values, Visions, and Flow Charts" document. The board of directors and staff meeting minutes, organization chart, correspondence, and financial records shed light on the administration of the Institute. Informational brochures, flyers, and newsletters give evidence as to the different programs and activities of MEI.

Kouzmanoff's life beyond MEI is covered to a small extent by some of her writings, a career scrapbook, and miscellaneous biographical information.

John Kouzmanoff's political and civil rights activities are evidenced by his written recollection of his experiences with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and memorabilia from his involvement with various political campaigns--especially the Reverend Jesse Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Psychotherapist Kathleen Ritger Kouzmanoff (b. 1945) is a native of West Bend, Wisconsin. At age fourteen 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 (UWM). In 1979 she married John Kouzmanoff (1930-1995), 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.  

Kathy Kouzmanoff's early professional career embraced 15 years as a teacher and career counselor in the Milwaukee Public School System; continuing education teaching at Mt. Mary and Alverno Colleges, Marquette University, and UWM; 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. Kouzmanoff found that the self understanding developed from psychoanalysis with Jungian analyst Boris Matthews had a positive impact on both her personal/spiritual life and her continuing career as a real estate agent. 

Ultimately, however, Kouzmanoff left the real estate business to devote her full energies on advancing Jungian methods. Her initial idea was for the Tao Business,  a group dynamics counseling center. By the end of 1997 her plans had focused on the Mind's Eye Institute, 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 of Kouzmanoff alone, 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 basis by incorporating as Mind's Eye Institute, Inc. Kouzmanoff, her husband, and Jean Pascer are listed as directors. Following incorporation, Kouzmanoff enlisted the help of additional associates who shared her outlook on psychotherapy to review a formal planning document entitled, "Values, Visions, and Flow Charts." Kouzmanoff formally introduced MEI to the public 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 members shared their mental and spiritual experiences. MEI was run by consensus management. Support staff  handled the bookkeeping and clerical duties. A publications committee developed and published a  newsletter, Mind's Eye Institute News. 

MEI, Inc. dissolved in late 1999. Among the reasons were the inability to gain a sufficiently stable membership to organize conferences and workshops, personality conflicts among the members, and a lack of funds.  Kouzmanoff, however, continued her licensed private practice clinic--known as Mind's Eye Counseling. As of 2001, Kouzmanoff was still involved in counseling, writing, and developing Lifewheel, a personal transformation program.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Kouzmanoff, Kathy, 1945- . Papers, 1972-2001. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 196. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Presented by Kathy Kouzmanoff of Milwaukee in 2002.

PROCESSING: Matthew D. Mason processed the collection at the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2002. 

Videotapes (Film VHA 520-526) and sound recordings (Tape 1388A) from the collection are housed at the Wisconsin Historical Society. Several photographs of the Kouzmanoffs are filed in the Visual Materials Name File at the Wisconsin Historical Society.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

• Civil Rights--United States
• Democratic National Convention (1988: Atlanta, GA)
• Jackson, Jesse, 1941- .
• Jungian psychology
• King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968
• New Age movement

About the Archives | General Information | Subject Listings | Finding Aids
Genealogy | Upcoming Events | Exhibits | Teaching Resources
Records Management | Other Web Sites | Archives Home Page

©2004 University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee -- All Rights Reserved.
URL: http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/arch/findaids/mss196.htm
Last edited on Thursday, January 29, 2004.
Ask an Archivist