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Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation - Albert Lasker Awards Archives

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 415

Abstract

The Lasker Awards were given through the American Public Health Association from 1946 through 1960. The collection includes correspondence, nominee files, legal papers, minutes, jury materals, guest lists, clippings, printed material, and files relating to award winners. It documents the selection process, public relations, and presentation of the Albert Lasker Awards. Four-year accumulations of records are added periodically.

Dates

  • 1944-1987

Extent

15 Linear Feet (36 boxes)

Creator

Physical Location

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

Language of Materials

Collection materials primarily in English

Restrictions

Portions of the collection are restricted. Due to the confidential nature of the selection process, award jury files, nominee files and ballots, and nomination books are closed for 50 (fifty) years from the date of creation. 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.

Historical Note

The Albert Lasker Awards were first established in 1946 to honor individuals who have made significant contributions in basic and clinical research. Since 1946, three major awards, the Basic Medical Research Award, the Clinical Medical Research Award, and the Public Service Award have been granted on an annual or discretionary basis. From 1946 through 1960 the Medical Research and Public Service awards were given through the American Public Health Association; the foundation took over the selection for these awards in 1960, and has awarded them on an annual basis since 1962. In addition, from 1949 through 1969, the foundation presented Medical Journalism Awards. Other awards from the foundation have been given through the International Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (1954 - 1972), the American Heart Association (1954 - 1960), the Planned Parenthood Association (1945 - 1965), and the National Committee for Mental Hygiene (1944 - 1949). A comprehensive list of awards and award recipients can be found in the most recent Awards Luncheon program (See Series 1).

The prestige of the Albert Lasker Awards within the American medical community is unequaled. The many Lasker award winners who have gone on to receive the Nobel prize are ample testimony to the international reputation of the awards.

Collection Summary

The archives span the years from l944 to the present, with the bulk of the material covering the period since l962.

The collection documents the selection process, public relations, and presentation of the Albert Lasker Awards. Included are materials on the enormous administrative efforts, and especially the work of Ruth R. Maier's Public Information Office, which have contributed so much to the success of the awards.

Abstract

The Lasker Awards were given through the American Public Health Association from 1946 through 1960. The collection includes correspondence, nominee files, legal papers, minutes, jury materals, guest lists, clippings, printed material, and files relating to award winners. It documents the selection process, public relations, and presentation of the Albert Lasker Awards. Four-year accumulations of records are added periodically.

Physical Location

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

Provenance

The archives of the Albert Lasker Awards are the gift of Mrs. Albert D. Lasker, President of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. They were acquired from Mrs. Alice Fordyce, Executive Vice-President of the Foundation, in April, 1985.

Accruals

Additional unprocessed accessions are made periodically for subsequent award years. Contact the archivist for more information.

General

Processed by
HMD Staff
Encoded by
Dan Jenkins
Title
Finding Aid to the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation - Albert Lasker Awards Archives, 1944-1987
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
HMD Staff
Date
2000
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English
Edition statement
Version 1.0

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Archives and Modern Manuscripts Collection Collecting Area

Contact:
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