Victor Robinson Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS C 28

Abstract

Victor Robinson founded the journal Medical life, the first in the English language on the history of medicine, and helped organize the History of Science Society in 1924. The collection contains correspondence, original typescripts, unpublished monographs, articles, notes, and biographical data.

Dates

Creation: 1898-1947

Extent

2.94 Linear Feet

Creator

Robinson, Victor, 1886-1947 (Person)

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

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Biographical Note

Victor Robinson (1886-1947), son of a Russian physician, was born in the Ukraine. He studied pharmacy at New York University and the New York College of Pharmacy and law at Columbia University. Robinson received his doctor of medicine degree from the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery (now Loyola University) in 1917.

He founded Medical life, the first English language journal on the history of medicine, and helped organize the History of Science Society in 1924. In 1932 he photographed and studied archaeological sites of medico-historical interest in Crete, Greece and Italy. In addition to editing Medical life, Robinson also wrote and edited many works on the history of medicine. He was the subject of Victor Robinson, a romantic medical historian (1959) by George Rosen.

Among his own writings are Essay on hasheesh: including observations and experiments (1912, 1925), Pathfinders in medicine (1912,1929), Don Quixote of psychiatry (1919), Pioneers of birth control in England and America (1919), Life of Jacob Henle (1921), Story of medicine (1931), Dr. Jad; the way of life of a physician (1941), Morals in wartime (1943), White Caps; the story of nursing (1946) and Victory over pain; a history of anesthesia (1946). He served as editor for Encyclopedia sexualis; a comprehensive dictionary-encyclopaedia of the sexual sciences (1936), Modern home physician; an encyclopedia of medical knowledge (1938) and New peoples physician; the concise encyclopedia of health (1941).

Collection Summary

The collection contains correspondence, original typescripts, unpublished monographs, articles, notes, and biographical data. Correspondence consists of general correspondence and that pertaining to Encyclopedia sexualis (1933-36). Biographical data relates to contributors to the encyclopedia, and to Chicago otologists. Monographs, articles and drafts include "The price of prudery"; "Riddle of the underworld" (1921) by Ralph Werther; "History of aviation medicine" by Claude Bernard; "Prostitution in France" by Gabriel Giroud; "Sisters in calamity" by Thomas De Quincey; and "Recollections of a prison physician" by Leon Clement Bizard. Contains original typescripts of "Victory over pain: a history of anesthesia"; and "White caps: the story of nursing" (1945). Correspondents are extensive. The Fielding Garrison correspondence (1915-33, ca. 135 items) and drafts of articles by Garrison are arranged separately.