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Chauncey D. Leake Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 340

Abstract

Dr. Chauncey Leake received his Ph.D. degree in physiology and pharmacology. Throughout his career as a researcher, teacher, and administrator, Dr. Leake maintained an interest in the history of medicine and medical ethics. Collection consists chiefly of general correspondence relating to individuals as well as to organizations, the latter consisting of associations, societies, foundations, conferences and congresses, and clubs.

Dates

  • 1921-1976

Extent

35.5 Linear Feet (85 boxes, 3 v., 2 motion picture reels)

Creator

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Language of Materials

Collection materials primarily in English

Restrictions

Collection is not restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access.

Copyright and Re-use Information

Donor's copyrights were transferred to the public domain. Archival collections often contain mixed copyrights; while NLM is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. It is the user's responsibility to research and understand any applicable copyright and re-publication rights not allowed by fair use. NLM does not grant permissions to publish.

Privacy Information

Archives and manuscript collections may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in any collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications for which the National Library of Medicine assumes no responsibility.

Biographical Note

Chauncey Depew Leake (1896-1978) was born in Elizabeth, NJ., and was an internationally known pharmacologist, medical historian and ethicist. His primary research interests included the biological actions of such drugs as barbitals and morphine, the relationship between chemical constitution and biological action, and the mechanisms of pain and relief of pain. He received a Litt.B. degree from Princeton University, majoring in philosophy with a biology minor in 1917. His scientific career began during World War I. Assigned to the Chemical Warfare Service stationed at the University of Wisconsin, he studied the effects of warfare gases on blood in anaesthetized dogs. After the war, he remained in Madison and received his M.S. and Ph.D. in physiology, pharmacology and biochemistry. He became professor of pharmacology, researching the blood affects of general anesthetics. In 1927 he moved the University of California, San Francisco to organize a pharmacology laboratory. His lab produced such drugs as divinyl ether, carbarson, vioform (clioquinol), amphetamines and nalorphine. These contributions sparked many of the first studies on the mechanisms of drug action. Leake left San Francisco in 1942 when he accepted an appointment as Vice President and Dean of the University of Texas Medical School, Galveston. In 1955, he moved to the Ohio State University to organize their first pharmacology laboratory as assistant dean and professor.

Along with his research expertise, Dr. Leake also dedicated himself to popularizing science and medicine, both for his students and the lay public. His affable lecture technique and speaking qualities reflected his impatience for abstruse medical jargon, and he lobbied incessantly for using every-day, understandable language in scientific writing. His love of language was also reflected in his personal poetry writing. Moreover, Leake's love of writing carried over into the history of medicine, where he was known as one of the field's preeminent contributors. His most well known contributions included a popular version of Harvey's "Circulation of Blood," and Percival's "Medical Ethics."

Dr. Leake authored over 600 articles and twelve books. He also served as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, the History of Science Society, and served on the editorial boards of many biomedical periodicals. He died of an aortic aneurysm soon after a public reading of his personal poetry.

Collection Summary

Collection consists chiefly of general correspondence relating to individuals as well as to organizations, the latter consisting of associations, societies, foundations, conferences and congresses, and clubs. The motion picture reels contain short segments with Leake and Joe Harper, apparently taped for an Ohio television station. Each interview appears to be part of a general science and medicine series featuring Leake. In each segment Leake expounds on a recent medical or scientific discovery or news item that would be relevant to a general audience.

Among the correspondents are Reinhard Beutner, Walter Bierring, Ralph Bowen, A. J. Carlson, George Crosby, Norman David, Wilburt Davison, Charles Doan, Cyrus Eaton, Fritz Eichholtz, Herbert Evans, Frank Fremont-Smith, Otto Guttentag, Molly Harrower, Dwight Ingle, Thomas Keys, Lawrence Kubie, Ralph Major, Walter Meek, M. F. Ashley Montague, Alton Ochsner, Robert Oppenheimer, Linus Pauling, Michael Shimkin, Richard Shryock, Henry Sigerist, Janet Travell, and Maurice Visscher.

Abstract

Dr. Chauncey Leake received his Ph.D. degree in physiology and pharmacology. Throughout his career as a researcher, teacher, and administrator, Dr. Leake maintained an interest in the history of medicine and medical ethics. Collection consists chiefly of general correspondence relating to individuals as well as to organizations, the latter consisting of associations, societies, foundations, conferences and congresses, and clubs.

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Provenance

Gift, in several accessions, 1966-1998.

Related Materials/Collections

Chauncey Depew Leake Papers, 1912-1978 (MSS 78-6), University of California, San Francisco Archives.

General

Processed by
John P. Rees
Processing Completed
1978
Encoded by
John P. Rees
Title
Finding Aid to the Chauncey D. Leake Papers, 1921-1976
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
John P. Rees
Date
1978; 2000; 2008
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latn
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English
Edition statement
2.0

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Archives and Modern Manuscripts Collection Collecting Area

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