The AANS Archives has been most fortunate to recently receive a donation from Ruth Judge, sister of Elizabeth Thomson — biographer of Harvey Cushing. Elizabeth Thomson was for a number of years editor of the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences. During her tenure as editor, this journal became one of the most prominent in the field of the history of medicine.
Upon her retirement in 1972 a fund was set up in her honor and a celebration held. Elizabeth compiled an album of letters and commentaries sent to her by people from all over the world. This album reveals a woman of extraordinary ability and one revered by her colleagues in the history of medicine. A listing of the authors who sent letters reflects a virtual “Who’s Who” in the history of medicine and science.
Elizabeth also published a biography of Harvey Cushing in 1950. Done in association with another biographer and close associate — John F. Fulton — its publication led to a number of wonderful congratulatory letters and commentary to Elizabeth. These letters and commentaries were put together in an album and form the second part of this donation.
The Archives Committee is most grateful to Ruth Judge, sister of Elizabeth Thomson, for entrusting the AANS Archives with these remarkable and historically significant documents. Future historians and scholars will find these albums full of interesting and unique historical facts and memorabilia.
A short quote from a note on Elizabeth’s retirement best reflects the special sentiments held by many about this remarkable lady:
With your editorial skills you honed articles and theses, inspiring and educating with every stroke of your pen. Your great warmth and gentleness, your love of learning and the learner, your concern for the physician learner, breathed spirit and caring that renewed all who sought your guidance. No student editor of the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, no aspiring medical historian of the Nathan Smith Club, no colleague in the Beaumont Club was untouched by your enthusiasm and devotion.
How many innovations in neurosurgery occurred before 1966? Who were the pioneers in neurosurgery who published prior to 1966, information which may still have validity? The MEDLINE database includes information only back to 1966 but the AANS Archives collection of items published prior to 1966 includes more than 2,300 reprints/offprints and more than 700 books. The collection of memorabilia which pre-dates 1966 also includes over 90 manuscripts and approximately 1,500 photographs of individuals who have played a role in the shaping of this specialty.
The Archives Committee and Staff have made dedicated efforts to collect, protect, and make these valuable artifacts available to the neurosurgical community. We encourage you to contact the Archives for assistance in locating data published prior to 1966 to donate neurosurgical memorabilia in an effort to make the Archives the most comprehensive source of member-supported historic neuroscience information available. For further information please contact Chris Ann Philips, Archives Coordinator at (847) 692-9500.
Two high-quality ceramic coffee mugs with a neurosurgical flair are now available. The white-on-white mug is etched with the logo of The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). The white-on-black mug bears Harvey Cushing’s signature. The designs have been deeply etched into each mug. The mugs, which are priced at $15.00 each can be ordered by calling the AANS Fulfillment department at (847) 692-9500. Proceeds from the sale of these coffee mugs support the efforts of the AANS Archives Committee.
Other Donations Received during 1995
The AANS Archives was the beneficiary of a number of generous donations during 1995. In addition to the Elizabeth Thomson collection, the Archives was fortunate to receive the following items:
Dogan M. Perese, MD, of Buffalo, New York has generously donated 16 boxes (921 pounds!) of books and journals. Among the books donated are Gower’s A Manual of Disease of the Nervous System , Volumes 1 and 2 (1895) and Starr’s Familiar Forms of Nervous Disease (1896). Also included in this donation are volumes of Annals of Neurology, Excerpta Medica: Neurology and Neurosurgery, Experimental Brain Research, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Journal of Neurosurgery, Journal of the Neurological Sciences, Neurosurgery, Science Journal, Spine, and Surgical Neurology.
As a gift of gratitude upon his election as an international member of the Joint Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care, Asoke K. Bagchi, MD, of Calcutta donated two books he has published: An Introduction to Head Injuries (1980) and Head Injuries: An Update (1990).
A most unusual donation now graces the vestibule of the AANS National Office. Prior to his death, Richard E. Newquist, MD, of Orange, California had proposed the donation of a wood sculpture he commissioned entitled “Two Physiologists” (see photographs). The artist, Jim Lawrence, completed the piece in 1984 from the well-known photograph of Cushing and Ivan Pavlov seated on a park bench. Mrs. Newquist graciously completed this donation and the two stately gentlemen and their bench were safely delivered.
The Archives continue to benefit from the vision of Richard U. Light, MD, even more than a year after his death. There are five known casts of the mold of Cushing’s hand, one of which is displayed in the Archive’s Museum. Dr. Light’s wish was that a mold located at Argos Inc. in Brewster, New York be given to the AANS Archives for cataloging and preservation. The mold has been received.
A circa 1945 Horsley-Clarke Stereo-tactic Frame is now on exhibit in the Museum, kindly donated by James L. Stone, MD, of Chicago, Illinois. The frame was given to Dr. Stone by Robert A. Hayne, MD. Also included in this gift were photographs of Percival Bailey and Paul Bucy which were not previously in the Archives Photograph Collection which contains over 1,500 photographs of neuroscience personalities.
A true artist never retires. Emil Seletz, MD, (neurosurgeon, author, and sculptor) of Los Angeles, California, has completed and donated a bronze bas relief of Harvey Cushing, MD. The relief is fashioned after the Richard U. Light photograph of Cushing entitled “The Sketch” (#8 in the addendum, “Cushing at the Brigham: A Photographic Essay” in the 1993 edition of A Bibliography of the Writings of Harvey Cushing). The bas relief now resides in the office of the AANS Executive Director.
Another neurosurgeon/artist has provided the AANS Archives with a product of his craft. Augusto F. Figueroa, Jr., MD, of Cumberland, Maryland created a lithograph which shows Cushing, MacEwen, and Horsley and incorporates various images of neurosurgery from an ancient trephinned skull to an early operating microscope. Dr. Figueroa rendered this piece of art with an Apple Quardra 950 computer using various programs such as Painter 2.0, Ray Dream 3.0.4, Kai’s Power Tool 2.0, Xao’s Terrazzo 1.0, and Photoshop 2.5.1. The striking lithograph won Second Place in Masters Division at the American Physicians Art Association in Orlando, Florida in November 1994 and we are happy to have it as part of our collection.
As part of the ongoing efforts of the Archives Committee to locate and collect neurosurgical memorabilia, Howard Kaufman, MD, of Morgantown, West Virginia generously donated a Cooper Cryosurgery Unit to the Archives. This Cryosurgery Unit, along with selections from the 16 cubic feet of materials received from Mrs. Irving Cooper (donated in 1990), will form the nucleus of the Archives Exhibit tentatively envisioned for the 1997 AANS Annual Meeting in Denver.