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Adolf Nichtenhauser History of Motion Pictures in Medicine Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 380

Abstract

Nichtenhauser's major accomplishment is the unpublished History of Motion Pictures in Medicine. This portion of the collection contains his original typescript; several volumes; pagination varies, includes illustrations.

Dates

  • circa 1950

Extent

2.1 Linear Feet (5 boxes)

Creator

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

Copyright status is unknown. 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

Adolf Nichtenhauser was born in Vienna, Austria in 1903. After studying psychology, art history, literature, and motion picture production at the Universities of Berlin, Bonn and Heidelberg, he received an M.D. degree in 1931 from the University of Vienna. Even before he began his medical career, he was intrigued by the educational and aesthetic possibilities of film. He frequently reviewed his films, studied their cultural applications, and directed and edited his own documentary on an Austrian labor organization.

Nichtenhauser's work with film continued after his arrival in the United States in 1939, first as an assistant to the director of health education for the National Tuberculosis Association, and later as a consultant to several federal and private agencies. One agency which employed Nichtenhauser as a consultant was the Armed Forces Medical Library (later the National Library of Medicine) for whom Nichtenhauser prepared a plan to collect and preserve medical motion pictures.

Nichtenhauser's major accomplishment is the unpublished "History of Motion Pictures in Medicine." In February, 1947 Capt. Robert V. Schultz (MC) of the U.S. Navy's Audio-Visual Training Section, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, initiated a contract to Nichtenhauser for the production of a monograph on the general status of medical films. The contract was later transferred to the Office of Naval Research and broadened to encompass the history of films in medicine. The Film Library of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) became the grant administrator, although it was Nichtenhauser who continued to broaden and polish the draft. Efforts to publish the history after Nichtenhauser's death in November, 1953, were unsuccessful.

Collection Summary

Nichtenhauser's material is divided into two different numbered collections. The typescript "History of Motion Pictures in Medicine" is found in MS C 380. Photographs received in 1991 and found in the text have been identified by figure number and filed accordingly. Photographs which could not positively be identified in the text are found at the end of the collection, as is a collection of unsorted negatives. The draft manuscript portion of the collection is organized by chapter titles as listed in its table of contents, however two chapters from section IV are missing: Health and Related Films Since the End of World War II; Medical Films from the End of World War II to the Present. Also, the page numbering of section IV's last chapter The Lesson of the Past and the Task of the Future does not match the table of contents.

MS C 277 contains material from the original donation of 1954. It consists of correspondence, notes and other research materials assembled by Nichtenhauser during the course of his career.

Additional Description

Abstract

Nichtenhauser's major accomplishment is the unpublished History of Motion Pictures in Medicine. This portion of the collection contains his original typescript; several volumes; pagination varies, includes illustrations.

Custodial History

In 1954 MOMA offered to the National Library of Medicine Dr. Nichtenhauser's research papers, files, and correspondence. Some time after 1979 MOMA transferred to the Naval Health Sciences Education and Training Command Nichtenhauser's typescript history and accompanying photographs and negatives. The typescript was given to NLM in 1981, while the photographs and a photostat of the typescript were transferred to Robert J.T. Joy, M.D. of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. In 1991 Joy gave to the library the photographs and negatives, completing once more the original Nichtenhauser collection.

Provenance

Gift, Malcolm S. Ferguson (Naval Health Sciences Education and Training Command), 12/8/1981, Accession #328.

Gift, Robert T. Joy (USUHS), 3/8/1991, Accession #665.

General

Processed by
HMD Staff
Processing completed
1991
Encoded by
Dan Jenkins

General

List of Text Illustrations

  1. Vol. 1 pp. 1-10
  2. Fig. 1 - thaumatrope (Napoleon on horseback)
  3. Fig. 2 - phenakistiscope (woman behind instrument)
  4. Fig. 3 - missing
  5. Fig. 4 - missing
  6. Fig. 5 - missing
  7. Fig. 6 - Muybridge experiment at Palo Alto
  8. Fig. 7 - Muybridge, "The Horse in Motion" (6 frames)
  9. Fig. 8 - electrical diagram of Muybridge experiment
  10. Vol. 1 pp. 11-24
  11. Fig. 9 - "Animal Locomotion" (33 images, person is supported)
  12. Fig. 10 - "Animal Locomotion" (40 images)
  13. Fig. 11 - "Animal Locomotion" (woman jumping rope)
  14. Fig. 12 - "Animal Locomotion" (galloping elk, side and back views)
  15. Unnumbered figure - Etienne-Jules Marey (short white beard & glasses)
  16. Fig. 13 - missing
  17. Fig. 14 - missing
  18. Fig. 15 - horse's hoof with recording device
  19. Fig. 16 - person on horse with recording device (drawing)
  20. Fig. 17 [80] - photographic gun and its interior
  21. Fig. 18 - circle seagulls against black background
  22. Fig. 19 [38] - diagram of Marey's 1st camera
  23. Fig. 20 - hand moving chronometer dial (successive exposures)
  24. Fig. 21 [14] - three chronophotographic cameras and bird (ill.)
  25. Fig. 22 - man in black, white line down arm & leg (ill.)
  26. Fig. 23a - "geometrical chronophotograph of a running man"
  27. Fig. 23b - "geometrical chronophotograph" of a downward jump
  28. Fig. 24 - 2 series of seagulls w/1 shutter (black)
  29. Fig. 25 [18] - flight of bird --disassociation of images
  30. Fig. 26 - lines on black ("course lente")
  31. Fig. 27 - chronophotograph of falling ball, man next to it
  32. Fig. 28 - chronophotograph of experimental glider (white background)
  33. Fig. 29 - Chronograph apparatus for movements in liquids (man near)
  34. Fig. 30 - chronophotograph of short choppy waves (F in left corner)
  35. Fig. 31 - Chronograph 4 images of man, incl hurdle and sword thrust
  36. Fig. 32 - chronophotograph of flight of birds (bottom one landing), 3 images
  37. Fig. 33 - 3rd model of chronoph--ill.
  38. Fig. 34 [15] - film chamber (box)--ill.
  39. Fig. 35 [16] - movement of film chamber ("Fixateur'C'.....")
  40. Fig. 36 - modified version of chronophotograph camera (cutaway)
  41. Fig. 37 [45] - attachment of microscopic chronophotography
  42. Fig. 38 [20] - walking horse (read top to bottom)
  43. Fig. 39 - man swinging stick and man rowing (8 images)
  44. Fig. 40 - Demeny's Photophone
  45. Vol. 1 pp. 25-50
  46. Fig. 41 - turtle's heart beating, artificial circulation
  47. Fig. 42 - filming marine animals in Marey's lab (ill.)
  48. Fig. 43 - undulation of skate
  49. Fig. 44 - starfish turning over
  50. Fig. 45 - chronophotograph cam for filming insects (ill; black background)
  51. Fig. 46 - chronophotograph of flying bee
  52. Fig. 47 - microscopic images (newt and alga)
  53. Fig. 48 - 3D zootrope of flying gull (ill)
  54. Fig. 49 - 1st Xray picture of knee (Macintyre)
  55. Fig. 50 - missing
  56. Fig. 51 - Doyen leg amputation
  57. Fig. 52 - operation of acute osteomyelitis
  58. Fig. 53 - Doyen thyroidectomy
  59. Fig. 54 - Doyen nephrectomy
  60. Fig. 55 - diagram of Bull's ultralight camera
  61. Fig. 56 - photograph of Bull's ultralight camera
  62. Vol. 1 pp. 51-70
  63. Fig. 57 - bullet thru soap bubble (18 images)
  64. Fig. 58 - flight of dragonfly (18 images)
  65. unnumbered figure - Jean Comandon--white beard (from Leclerc film)
  66. Fig. 59 - Commandon's micro cinematograph installation (photo)
  67. Fig. 60 - Comandon "Sang d'Ovipares" (blood of frog)
  68. Fig. 61 - Comandon ameoboid movement of leukocyte
  69. Fig. 62 - Comandon "Hemokonia"
  70. Fig. 63 - Comandon "Trypanosoma Brucei"
  71. Fig. 64 - Comandon spirochetes from rabbit
  72. Fig. 65 - Comandon "Eberth's Bacillus" (with small white cross)
  73. Fig. 65a - text of Comandon study guide for film--"Fievre Recurrente"
  74. Fig. 66 - Comandon and Lomon arrangement for X-ray motion picture
  75. Fig. 67 - fragments from X-ray movie (4 rows, hand on left)
  76. Vol. 1 pp. 71-106
  77. Fig. 68 - backward somersault (looks like fall)
  78. Fig. 69 - missing
  79. Fig. 70 - Comandon "Paramecium"
  80. Fig. 71 - Comandon and Jelly, mitosis of red blood corpuscles of triton
  81. Fig. 72 - flies on meat from anti-fly film
  82. Vol. 2 pp. 107-130
  83. None
  84. Vol. 2 pp. 131-169
  85. unnumbered figure - William Otway Owen (glasses at desk)
  86. unnumbered figure - Robert Tunstell Taylor (stern army uniform)
  87. Vol. 2 pp. 170-189
  88. Fig. 73 - filming an operation at Walter Reed (hernia)---Borden
  89. Fig. 74 - 3 closeups of same
  90. Vol. 2 pp. 190-205
  91. Figs. 75-79 - missing
  92. Fig. 80 - 4 images from VD film (teeth on bottom)
  93. Fig. 81 - "The End of the Road"--Mary refuses suitor
  94. Fig. 82 - same---2 images, one of Claire Adams and one of Richard Bennett
  95. Fig. 83 - same--"Can't we be married soon?..."
  96. Fig. 84 - Vera taken to syphilis hospital
  97. Fig. 85 - "A questionable address..."
  98. Fig. 86 - motto on screen: "2 roads there are in life..."
  99. Fig. 87 - camera trick of Vera daydreaming
  100. Vol. 2 pp. 206-225
  101. none
  102. Vol. 3 pp. 1-34 (typescript II)
  103. Fig. 88 - von Rothe's surgical camera (2 ills)
  104. Vol. 3 pp. 35-70
  105. none
  106. Vol. 3 pp. 71-99
  107. Fig. 89 - "How We Hear" (2 ills)
  108. Fig. 90 - "Action of the Human Heart" (3 ills)
  109. Fig. 91 - "Action of the Human Heart" (1 ill, circulatory system)
  110. Fig. 92 - "How We Breath"
  111. Fig. 93 - "Our Children" (4 images, 1 of black family)
  112. Fig. 94 - "Our Children" (father in waiting room full of mothers)
  113. Fig. 95 - "Our Children" (3 images, 1 of baby tooth)
  114. Fig. 96 - "Our Children" (toothbrush drill)
  115. Fig. 97 - "Food for reflection" (2 images, one of family at breakfast
  116. Fig. 98 - "Food for Reflection" (hot lunch demonstration)
  117. Fig. 99 - "Venereal Diseases Lecture Film" (2 ills, stricture in urethra)
  118. Fig. 100 - same; formation and rupture of pus in fallopian tube
  119. Fig. 101 - same; animation of fertilization (4 images)
  120. Fig. 102 - same; placental circulation (ill)
  121. Vol. 3 pp. 100-129
  122. none
  123. Vol. 3 pp. 130-159
  124. Fig. 103 - inability of baby to support head
  125. Fig. 104 - 4 images; operation to remove aneurism of tibial artery
  126. Fig. 105 - Borden setup for filming of operations (nurse on ladder)
  127. Fig. 106 - "Hirschsprung;s disease" (stitching intestine)
  128. Fig. 107 - sketch of hetroperitoneal cyst (2 ills)
  129. Vol. 3 pp. 160-182
  130. none
  131. Vol. 4 pp. 1-39 (Typescript III)
  132. none
  133. Vol. 4 pp. 40-74
  134. Fig. 108-119 - missing
  135. Fig. 120 - "Posture" (5 images)
  136. Fig. 121 - "Sun Babies" (healthy vs. rachitic; 3 images)
  137. Fig. 122 - "The Best-Fed Baby" (2 images--promoting breastfeeding)
  138. Fig. 123 - same; 3 ills; how air trapped in baby's stomach can escape
  139. Vol. 4 pp. 75-84
  140. Unnumbered photos belong to Bethesda Naval Center and have their own BuMed.
  141. unnumbered figs - 2 photos stapled to p. 83 (suppl. 11) sow petri dishes and woman in lab mixing something in bowl
  142. unnumbered fig. - photo stapled to p. 83 (supp. 14) labeled "Back to the Heart"
  143. unnumbered fig. - photo stapled to p. 83 (suppl. 15) of heart with pulmonary artery labeled
  144. unnumbered fig. - photo stapled to p. 83 (suppl. 20) showing wounded arm and where to apply pressure
  145. unnumbered fig. - photo stapled to p. 83 (suppl. 23) showing frowning man with black strip over temple
  146. Fig. 124 - "Human Development" (2 images of dividing ovum to baby)
  147. Fig. 125 - "Human Development" (3 images, embryo and fetuses)
  148. Fig. 126 - "Human Development" (glass cabinet with embryo models)
  149. Vol. 4 pp. 85-114
  150. Fig. 127 - "The Digestive Tract" (2 images)
  151. Vol. 4 pp. 115-139
  152. Fig. 128-129 - missing
  153. Fig. 130 - "The Diagnosis and Treatment of Infections of the Hand" (3 images)
  154. Fig. 131 - same (2 images), woman with hat
  155. Fig. 132 - "Direct Inguinal Hernia" (2 images, 1 labeled "Deep Epigastric Vessels")
  156. Fig. 133 - "Tests of Vestibular Function" (2 diagrams with eyes)
  157. Fig. 134 - same; patient performing test
  158. Fig. 135 - "Cardiac Irregularities" (photo of heart still in body)
  159. Fig. 136 - same; 2 images of exposed dog heart
  160. Vol. 4 pp. 140-160
  161. Fig. 139 - "Laparotrachelotomy" (DeLee lecturing on C-section)
  162. Fig. 140 - same; operation seen from a distance
  163. Fig. 141 - same; closeups of baby emerging
  164. Fig. 142 - same; suturing uterus (2 diagrams, 1 photo)
  165. Fig. 143 - same; arrangement of camera and lights
  166. Vol. 4 pp.161-185
  167. Fig. 144 - "Physiology and Conduct of Normal Labor"--"Internal Anterior Rotation" of baby's head
  168. Fig. 145 - same; title ("Watchfulness" and Expectancy")
  169. Fig. 146 - same; "What is in the Fundus?"
  170. Fig. 147 - "Episiotomy and Repair" (hands molding clay model of pelvis; 3 images)
  171. Vol. 4 [mislabeled Vol. 3] pp. 186-224
  172. None
  173. Vol. 4 remainder
  174. None
  175. Vol. 5
  176. None
  177. Vol. 6
  178. unnumbered figs - 2 loose photographs inserted before 85: "Schema des divers organes de l'appareil cinemicrographique"; "Camera Set-up for Cinebiology"
  179. unnumbered fig. - loose photos inserted before 87: "Details de la microfage" (picture of camera)
  180. Vol. 6 remainder
  181. References to figures in text exist, but no numbers used, i.e., "Fig...."

Subjects

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Finding Aid to the Adolf Nichtenhauser History of Motion Pictures in Medicine Collection, circa 1950
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
HMD Staff
Date
1991; 2000
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English
Edition statement
Version 1.0

Revision Statements

  • July 2004: PUBLIC "-//National Library of Medicine::History of Medicine Division//TEXT (US::DNLM::MS C 380::Adolf Nichtenhauser History of Motion Pictures in Medicine Collection)//EN" "nichtenhauser380" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).

Collecting Area Details

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Archives and Modern Manuscripts Collection Collecting Area

Contact:
8600 Rockville Pike
Bldg 38/1E-21, MSC 3819
Bethesda MD 20894 US
1-888-FINDNLM (1-888-346-3656)