Henry Howard Kessler papers, 1912-1968.
Collection Number: 3016

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Henry Howard Kessler papers, 1912-1968.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
3016
Abstract:
Collection includes personal correspondence with Dr. Kessler's wife, Jessica Winnick Kessler, 1936-1960, 1942-1945 (bulk); his son Sanford, 1943-1945; and friends and acquaintances, 1918-1967; business correspondence pertaining to the Kessler Foundation, 1952-1958; scrapbooks and loose clippings; programs; miscellany documenting his travels, work and awards, 1928-1963; photographs showing his patients and colleagues, ca.1930-1945; diaries and notebooks, ca. 1947-1949; and copies of a number of Kessler's published works, 1925-1968.
Creator:
Kessler, Henry H. (Henry Howard), 1896-1978.
Quanitities:
1.6 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Henry Howard Kessler (Cornell University Class of 1916, M.D. 1919) was an orthopedic surgeon and a medical administrator. He served the United Nations as international consultant on rehabilitation of amputees and people with congenital birth defects. He was a captain in the U.S. Navy, 1941-1945. He founded and directed The Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange, New Jersey. He died in 1978.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Collection includes personal correspondence with Dr. Kessler's wife, Jessica Winnick Kessler, 1936-1960, 1942-1945 (bulk); his son Sanford, 1943-1945; and friends and acquaintances, 1918-1967; business correspondence pertaining to the Kessler Foundation, 1952-1958; scrapbooks and loose clippings; programs; miscellany documenting his travels, work and awards, 1928-1963; photographs showing his patients and colleagues, ca.1930-1945; diaries and notebooks, ca. 1947-1949; and copies of a number of Kessler's published works, 1925-1968.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Henry Howard Kessler. Papers, #3016. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Kessler, Jessica Winnick.
Kessler, Sanford.
Kessler Foundation
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
Subjects:
Surgeons.
Orthopedists.
Physical therapy.
Orthopedics.
Medicine.
Form and Genre Terms:
Diaries.
Photographs.
Programs (documents).
Scrapbooks.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Series I. Correspondence
Subseries Ia. Letters to Jessica Winnick Kessler
Box 1 Folder 1
Correspondence
Jan. 15 1936, Sep. 26-27 1938, Aug. 20 - Oct. 15 1942
Box 1 Folder 2
Correspondence
1942-10-20-1943-01-17
Box 1 Folder 3
Correspondence
1943-01-25-1943-03-08
Box 1 Folder 4
Correspondence
1943-03-13-1943-04-25
Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence
1943-05-02-1943-05-31
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence
1943-06-01-1943-06-28
Box 1 Folder 7
Correspondence
1943-07-03-1943-08-12
Box 1 Folder 8
Correspondence
1943-10-19-1943-12-15
Box 1 Folder 9
Correspondence
1943-12-18-1944-01-14
Box 1 Folder 10
Correspondence
1944-01-17-1944-06-19
Box 1 Folder 11
Correspondence
1944-09-11-1944-12-21
Box 1 Folder 12
Correspondence
1944-12-27-1945-04-23
Box 1 Folder 13
Correspondence
Apr. 23 1945 - May 1 1945, May 22-24 1950, Jun. 30 1960
Box 1 Folder 14
Undated
Subseries Ib. Letters Exchanged Between Sanford Kessler and His Father
Box 1 Folder 15
Correspondence
1943-01-17-1945-10-20
Subseries Ic. Correspondence Pertaining to the Kessler Foundation
Box 1 Folder 16
Correspondence
1952-10-07-1953-05-27
Box 1 Folder 17
Correspondence
1953-06-01-1954-05-06
Box 1 Folder 18
Correspondence
1954-08-24-1955-09-29
Box 1 Folder 19
Correspondence
1955-10-18-1956-06-19
Box 1 Folder 20
Correspondence
1956-09-21-1957-08-30
Box 1 Folder 21
Correspondence
1957-10-04-1958-07-28
Subseries Id. Other Correspondence
Box 1 Folder 22
Correspondence
1918-12-25-1949-09-03
Box 1 Folder 23
Correspondence
Dec. 9 1953 - Jun. 7 1967, undated
Series II. Scrapbooks, Clippings, Programs, Menus, etc.
Subseries IIA. Loose Papers
Box 1 Folder 30
Loose Papers
1943-10-1945-12
Scope and Contents
Clippings, Primarily Mare Island Naval Hospital
Box 1 Folder 32
Loose Papers
Scope and Contents
Menus, Hunterian Society Lectures papers,
Box 1 Folder 24
Loose Papers
1945-1962
Box 1 Folder 31
Loose Papers
1942
Scope and Contents
South Pacific; postcards; menus; poem; SPAEF Vol. 1, no. 3; Dec 3 1942 and Aug 16 1942 Medical Officers watch list
Box 1 Folder 42
Loose Papers
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous notes on foreign opinion of the United States; famous humanists; Commencement Address at Albertus Magnus College by Charles McKerr Parr; passover sermon, "This is the Pacific."
Subseries IIb. Scrapbooks
Box 1 Folder 25
Scrapbook A: American Physician's Club Trip to Europe - pp. 1-12
1928
Scope and Contents
Contains letters, programs, tickets, photos, postcards, souvenirs
Box 1 Folder 26
Scrapbook A pp. 13-24
1928
Box 1 Folder 27
Scrapbook A pp. 25-37
1928
Box 1 Folder 28
Scrapbook A pp. 38-50
1928
Box 1 Folder 29
Scrapbook A pp. 51-63
1928
Box 1 Folder 33
Scrapbook B
1935, 1950-1951
Scope and Contents
Clippings, program, photos, letters
Box 1 Folder 34
Scrapbook C
1963
Scope and Contents
Photos, menus, letters, Comeback magazine, invitations, Cornell University Medical School Alumni Bulletin
Box 1 Folder 35
Scrapbook C
1963
Scope and Contents
Clippings
Box 1 Folder 36
Scrapbook C
1963
Scope and Contents
Letters, clippings, photos, cards
Box 1 Folder 37
Scrapbook D
1912
Scope and Contents
Letters, programs, pertaining to the Budapest Conference
Box 1 Folder 38
Scrapbook D: Certificate of Enlistment
1912
Box 1 Folder 39
Scrapbook E
1944-1945
Scope and Contents
Clippings, letters, programs
Box 1 Folder 40
Scrapbook F
Scope and Contents
Clippings, a reprint, U.S. Naval Institute proceedings
Box 1 Folder 41
Scrapbook G: Hunterian Society Program
1941-1942
Scope and Contents
Blue scrapbook, clippings
Box 2 Folder 13
Scrapbook H
1944
Scope and Contents
Blue scrapbook, name on cover, article related to Kessler's receipt of the American Design Award (Apr 20, 1944)
Series III. Photographs
Subseries IIIa. Medical Files
Box 2 Folder 1
Traumatic Arteriovenous Fistula
Scope and Contents
Drawing at operation before incision; man with paralysis of right arm; boy with crippled arm; crippled arms; 6 yr. old boy; right arm fitted with cineplastic prothesis; stump
Box 2 Folder 2
Man with Stump
Scope and Contents
Same man with prothesis, stump, stress on stump; hand holding box; brochure for cineplastic artificial arms; man with Kessler; stump
Box 2 Folder 3
Artificial Arms
Scope and Contents
2 photos of man hammering with artificial arms; stump; stump with tattoos, man hammering with artificial ars; man showing interchangeable tools, man with stump, prothesis
Box 2 Folder 4
Crutch Makers
Scope and Contents
Photo of operation, man painting, sawing; stump, arm showing injuries; prothesis; cineplastic arm for forearm amputation
Box 2 Folder 5
Dorsal Motor to Prothesis
Scope and Contents
3 application of dorsal motor to prothesis: 2 x-rays of bones, hand, hand mechanism
Box 2 Folder 6
Artificial Arm
Scope and Contents
Arm lifting chain, 2 x-rays of broken arm, 2 stumps
Box 2 Folder 7
Margaret Craig
Box 2 Folder 8
Flail Elbow
Scope and Contents
X-ray of flail elbow, 2 artificial arms
Box 2 Folder 9
Stump
Scope and Contents
Stump with arm, 2 artificial arms, 2 stumps
Box 2 Folder 10
Loss of Arm
Scope and Contents
4 stumps, infant with congenital loss of 1 arm; 2 girls with artificial arms, 2 model boats
Box 2 Folder 11
Forearm Prothesis
Scope and Contents
Boy with cineplastic forearm, 2 men with forearm prothesis
Box 2 Folder 12
Forearm Prothesis
Scope and Contents
5 forearm prothesis; stump at shoulder
Box 2 Folder 13
Arm Prothesis
Scope and Contents
2 arms with prothesis; 4 stumps
Box 2 Folder 14
Stumps (4)
Scope and Contents
4 stumps, young man, with and without legs
Box 2 Folder 15
Man With and Without Arms
Box 2 Folder 16
X-rays
Scope and Contents
X-ray of legs, 8 stumps, 3 articifical arms
Box 2 Folder 17
X-rays
Scope and Contents
X-ray of legs, 4 stumps, 4 artificial arms
Subseries IIIb. Service Years
Box 2 Folder 18
Valentine Party, Mare Island Hospital (5)
1945-02-13
Box 2 Folder 19
Dr. Kessler
Box 2 Folder 20
Kessler With Others at Mare Island
Box 2 Folder 21
Kessler in Shorts (with negative) (2)
Box 2 Folder 22
Kessler With Others and Portrait of a Child
1942-1946
Box 1 Folder 23
Photos of Kessler
1942-1946
Box 1 Folder 24
Kessler
1942-1946
Box 1 Folder 25
Travel Photos
Box 1 Folder 26
Kessler with other Officers, Patients, Mess, Sailors
Box 1 Folder 27
Kessler in Formation with Others at Mare Island, with Effigy of Tojo
Box 1 Folder 28
Unidentified Captain (3)
Series IV. Diaries and Notebooks
Box 1 Folder A
"Italy," "Trip Book"
Env - A
Undated
Scope and Contents
Maroon, Dec 2 - Dec 14 (no year)
Box 1 Folder B
"My Trip"
Env - B
1949
Scope and Contents
Black, Aug 6 - Sep 8; Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand
Box 1 Folder C
England, Germany, France
Env - C
1947-07-23-1947-09-08
Scope and Contents
Brown leather
Box 1 Folder D
Trip to Rome
Env - D
1948-05-09-1948-06-11
Scope and Contents
Green; account of Kessler's trip to Rome to present an exhibit of United States techniques to the meeting of the International College of Surgeons
Box 1 Folder E
"Travels"
Env - E
1949-01-21-1949-07-30
Scope and Contents
Deep purple; around the world
Box 1 Folder F
Yugoslavia Trip
Env - F
1951
Scope and Contents
Miscellaneous medical notes
Box 1 Folder G
Miscellaneous Medical Notes
Env - G
Box 1 Folder H
Medical Notes (Aug 12)
Env - H
Undated
Box 1 Folder I
Notes
Env - I
1930-12-23-1930-12-30
Box 1 Folder J
Address Book
Env - J
Series V. Works by Kessler
Subseries Va. Published Works
Box 2 Folder 1
Bibliography of Articles
Box 2 Folder 2
Published Works
1925-1938
Scope and Contents
"Treatment of Pneumonia with Diathermy" (1925), "The Curative Workshop and the Determination of the Capacity to Work" (1936), "Traumatic Appendicitis" (1938), "The Office Management of Low Back Pain" (1932), "Disability Evaluation Following Fracture", "Rehabilitation of the Amputee"
Box 2 Folder 3
United Nations Technical Assistance Administration on a Mission to Yugoslavia
1954
Box 2 Folder 4
Low Back Pain in Industry
1955
Box 2 Folder 5
"Report of Rehabilitation Mission to the Philippines"
1956
Box 2 Folder 6
"Report of Rehabilitation of the Handicapped in the Philippines"
1956
Box 2 Folder 12
Collected Papers
1937-1951
Subseries Vb. Addresses
Box 2 Folder 7
Addresses
1951-1958
Scope and Contents
"Proceedings: Eastern Connecticut Conference on the Rehabilitation of Injured Workers" (1951), "Address to the International Society for the Welfare of Cripples" (1951), "Address given at the Dedication of the New Convalescent Wing of the Michael Reese Hospital" (Dec. 14, 1957), "Address at the First National Vocational Council in Israel" (Dec. 8, 1958), Proceedings of the Texas Employers Insurance Association Rehabilitation Symposium
Series VI. Works about Kessler
Box 2 Folder 8
Works about Kessler
1952-1959
Scope and Contents
People (Nov. 19, 1952), America (no. 17), United Nations Bulletin (Jan. 15, 1954, Vol. XVI no.2), United Hospital News (Vol. 1 no. 2, July 1959)
Box 2 Folder 9
Works about Kessler
1944-1953
Scope and Contents
Cornell University Medical College Bulletin (Aug 1944), World Over (Jan 25, 1952), New Era (Vol. 1 no. 2 Mar. 1952), Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Vol. XXXIV no. 10, Oct. 1953)
Box 2 Folder 10
Biography of Kessler
Scope and Contents
Source unknown
Series VII. Education Mementos
Box 2 Folder 11
Commencement Exercises Program, Cornell University
1916-06-21
Scope and Contents
The DeWitt Clinton High School Yearbook (1912)