Papers, 1912-1972.

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Ravdin, Isidore S. (Isidore Schwaner), 1894-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

University of Pennsylvania. School of Medicine--Administration.

University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania. Hospital.

University of Pennsylvania--History--20th century.

Armstrong, George Ernest, 1942-.

Armstrong, George Ernest.

Blakemore, William S.

Brindley, G.V. (George Valter), 1914-.

Brindley, G.V.

Casberg, Melvin A., 1909-.

Casberg, Melvin A.

Davis, Loyal, 1896-1982.

Davis, Loyal.

DeBakey, Michael E. (Michael Ellis), 1908-2008.

DeBakey, Michael E.

Dilworth, Richardson, 1898-1974.

Dilworth, Richardson.

Dripps, Robert Dunning, 1911-1973.

Dripps, Robert Dunning.

Eckenhoff, James E.

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969.

Eisenhower, Dwight D.

Estes, William L. (William Lawrence), 1885-1971.

Estes, William L.

Fox, Thomas P.

Frazier, Charles H. (Charles Harrison), 1870-1936.

Frazier, Charles H.

Freeman, Norman.

Goldstein, Hyman, 1909-.

Goldstein, Hyman.

Hardy, James D., 1918-2003.

Hardy, James D.

Heaton, Leonard D. (Leonard Dudley), 1902-1983.

Heaton, Leonard D.

Hess, Elmer--1889-.

Hess, Elmer.

Howard, John M. (John Malone), 1919-.

Howard, John M.

Jeffers, William A.

Johnson, Julian.

Jones, Ralph.

Koop, C. Everett (Charles Everett), 1916-.

Koop, C. Everett.

Moore, Robert A.

Pillsbury, Donald Marion, 1902-.

Pillsbury, Donald Marion.

Platt, Harry, Sir, 1886-.

Platt, Harry.

Pinkerton, Forrest Joy, 1892-1974.

Pinkerton, Forrest Joy.

Pendergrass, Eugene P. (Eugene Percival), 1895-1980.

Pendergrass, Eugene P.

Randall, Peter.

Rhoads, Jonathan E.

Richards, Alfred N. (Alfred Newton), 1876-1966.

Richards, Alfred N.

Roberts, Brooke.

Rush, Howard.

Scheie, Harold G. (Harold Glendon), 1909-.

Scheie, Harold G.

Segal, Bernard.

Shaw, Christopher.

Sterling, Julian A.

Whipple, Allen Oldfather, 1881-1963.

Whipple, Allen Oldfather.

Wood, Francis C. (Francis Clark), 1901-1990.

Wood, Francis C.

American Cancer Society.

American College of Surgeons.

American Red Cross.

College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

American Medical Association.

Philadelphia County Medical Society.

Society of University Surgeons.

Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Ventnor Foundation.

Surgeons--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Surgeons.

United States. Army--Surgeons.

United States.

United States. Army. General Hospital, 20th.

World War, 1939-1945--Hospitals--India.

World War, 1939-1945.

Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941.

World War, 1939-1945--Medical care.

University of Pennsylvania. Ravdin Institute.

Medicine--Study and teaching--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Medicine.

Cancer--Research--Pennsylvania--Philadlephia.

Cancer.

Blood substitutes.

Liver--Diseases.

Liver.

Physical Description:

189 Cubic ft.

Place of Publication:

1912-1972.

Biography/History:

Isidor Schwaner Ravdin was born in Evansville, Indiana in October 10, 1894. He remained in Indiana to receive his high school and college education, earning his Bachelors of Science from Indiana University in 1916. He attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, receiving his medical degree in 1918, becoming the fourth generation of Ravdin family physicians.

At the University of Pennsylvania Ravdin initially served as a surgical chief resident, and in turn, as an Instructor and an Associate in Surgery. He was appointed to the new chair in surgical research in 1928. He held the position of George L. Harrison Professor of Surgery from 1935 to 1944 and in 1945 he was appointed the Surgeon in Chief at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and the John Rhea Barton Professor of Surgery.

His research interest were varied. His early interests included the systematic study of the gall bladder and resulted in fifteen publications. During the 1930's he devoted his time to the study of liver and the problems of hypoproteinemia in the surgical patient. Immediately before the World War II he initiated studies on shock and the use of blood substitutes to treat war casualties. After the war his research focused on cancer.

In addition to his research, clinical and teaching duties, Ravdin served the University as the Vice President in charge of Medical Affairs. While devoted professionally to the University, he served actively in the United States Army for forty years. In May of 1942 Ravdin was called to active service as the Executive Officer and Chief of the Surgical Service of the 20th General Hospital (located in the China-Burma-India theatre). He held a variety of military positions until 1956. He served as a professional medical consultant to a number of private and governmental agencies, participated actively in professional organizations, and worked for a variety of civic and charitable concerns. His career culminated in the dedication of the Ravdin Institute, a state-of-the-art surgical facility at the University of Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Glenn Ravdin in 1921; they had three children. I.S. Ravdin died in 1972.

Unpublished finding aid available from repository and through internet access.

Summary:

The papers of I.S. Ravdin reflect the entire range of his personal and professional interests. Although small in scope, the personal papers for Ravdin include representation of Ravdin's personal interests from his charitable and civic work to his hobbies. There is biographical material including sketches and data, 1938-1968. The bulk of the personal papers relate to his charitable and civic work with a variety of organizations, especially the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Ventnor Foundation. There is some material relevant to his hobbies, and in particular to his stamp collecting.

The professional papers, 1925-1972, represent to bulk of a very large collection. Major correspondents include: George Armstrong, William S. Blakemore, G.V. Brindley, Melvin Casberg, Loyal Davis, M.E. DeBakey, Richardson Dillworth, Robert D. Dripps, James E. Eckenhoff, Dwight D. Eisenhower, William L. Estes, Thomas P. Fox, Charles H. Frazier, Hyman Goldstein, James D. Hardy, Leonard D. Heaton, Elmer Hess, John M. Howard, William A. Jeffers, Julian Johnson, C. Everett Koop, Robert A. Moore, Eugene Pendergrass, Donald Pillsbury, Forrest Joy Pinkerton, Sir Harry Platt, Peter Randall, Elizabeth Glenn Ravdin, Jonathan E. Rhoads, Alfred N. Richards, Bernard Segal, Christopher Shaw, Julian Sterling, Allen Oldfather Whipple, Francis Clark Wood, and Robert M. Zollinger

Administrative records include material on his oversight of the Harrison Department of Surgical Research, 1947-1962; his work at HUP, 1932-1962; and establishment of the Ravdin Institute, 1952-1966. There are files for over fifty HUP committees, files on hospital management issues ranging from the physical facility to research conducted to the community of staff and patients. His role as a fundraiser, 1936-1967, and as Vice President for Medical Affairs, 1958-1965 are well documented.

Involvement in over 200 professional organizations are found among his papers; most significant are the American Cancer Society, 1950-1967; the American College of Surgeons, 1941-1967; the American Medical Association, 1951-1956; the American Red Cross, 1945-1960; the College of Physicians, 1938-1967; the Philadelphia County Medical Society, 1936-1967; and the Society of University Surgeons, 1942-1968.

Prolific in his writing, there are speeches, manuscripts, research materials, reprints, and manuscripts among his papers. His military career is fully documented as is his contribution to the surgery on President Eisenhower in 1956 and their subsequent, lasting friendship. His private practice with Jonathan Rhoads and Julian Johnson is also represented in the collection as are his consultations for Merk Institute form 1947 to 1958 and for Mead Johnson from 1958 to 1966. Prestige memorabilia, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographic prints, and other miscellany finish out the collection.

OCLC:

122592276

Online:

http://www.archives.upenn.edu/faids/upt/upt50/ravdinis.html