A graphitic electrode material suitable for use in a non-aqueous solvent-type secondary battery is provided. The graphitic material is characterized by an average (002)-plane spacing d.sub.002 of 0.336-0.345 nm, a crystallite size along c-axis L.sub.c(002) of 15-60 nm, and a lattice strain .epsilon. of at most 2.0.times.10.sup.-2 nm.sup.-1 as measured by X-ray diffraction method. The graphitic material may suitably be formed through a process including the steps of: thermally polymerizing a condensed polycyclic aromatic compound in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst to form a polymerizate, and heat-treating the polymerizate at 2100.degree.-2600.degree. C. under a reduced pressure or in an inert gas atmosphere. The graphitic electrode material exhibits large doping and dedoping capacities which provide only a small difference therebetween (i.e., irreversible capacity) and cause only a small decrease at the time of quick charging and discharging.