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MC/37

98-5

University Libraries Special Collections

Henry Howard Kessler, M.D., Ph.D. (1896-1978)
Papers, 1912-1980

Arranged and Described
by Sarah Hull

UMDNJ Libraries -- Special Collections Dept.
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
June 1998

INTRODUCTION

The papers of Henry Howard Kessler, M.D., Ph.D., date from 1913 to 1980, but consist mainly of documents from 1944 to 1976. The collection totals approximately 3 linear feet. They form Manuscript Collection 37 in the New Jersey Medical History Manuscript Collections. The papers are open for research without restrictions under the conditions of the Archive's access policy. See also the finding aid for the Henry Howard Kessler papers at Cornell University for additional information; a copy is located in the UMDNJ Archive's datafile for this collection (MC/37 -- 98-50).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Henry Howard Kessler was born April 10, 1896 in Newark, New Jersey to Simon and Bertha Portugese Kessler. He graduated from Cornell University in 1916, and received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical School in 1919. Kessler's education continued at Columbia University, where he received his Master of Arts degree in 1932, and a Ph. D. in Social Legislation in 1934. Greatly influenced by Dr. Fred H. Albee, a World War I orthopedic surgeon, Kessler became a well-recognized orthopedic surgeon, medical administrator, and a major force in international rehabilitation activities. Kessler introduced and developed the surgical technique of cineplasty for the muscular control of an artificial arm and the pneumatic-operated arm prosthesis. He married Jessica Winnick, and had three children: Sanford, Jerome, and Joan. He married a second time to Estelle, who had two daughters of her own. Henry Kessler died on January 18, 1978, at the age of 81.

Kessler's naval career began in 1933; he was a U.S. Navy captain from 1941 to 1945. During his military service, Kessler worked as the head of the orthopedic department at the C.U.B. 13 unit, and the chief of orthopedics at both the Base Hospital No. 2 in New Hebrides and the Mare Island Naval Hospital (CA.).

Professionally, Kessler assisted the medical director of the New Jersey Rehabilitation Commission from 1921 to 1941, and as the director from 1925 to 1941. He founded The Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey in 1949, and worked as its Medical Director until his death. Kessler considered the establishment of the Institute to be his greatest achievement. During his lifetime, Kessler was a consultant at Newark Beth Israel and Newark City Hospitals, and to the Federal Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to the Veterans Administration. In addition, Kessler directed the Rehabilitation Unit at Christ Hospital in Jersey City, and worked as a Clinical Professor of Rehabilitation at the New York Medical College.

Kessler engaged in many international activities. For example, as a U.S. Delegate to International Congresses of Industrial Accidents and Diseases, Kessler traveled to Budapest (1928), Geneva (1931), Brussels (1935), and Frankfort (1938). As a United Nations Consultant, he visited Yugoslavia (1954), Indonesia (1954), the Philippines (1956), and India (1956). During his lifetime, Henry Kessler received honorary degrees from Rutgers and Seton Hall Universities. He was also awarded numerous citations including the first President's (Truman) Award of the Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicapped in 1952 and the Albert Lasker Award in 1954.

His major publications include: Accidental Injuries (1931), Cineplasty (1947), Rehabilitation of the Physically Handicapped (1947), The Principles and Practices of Rehabilitation (1950), Low Back Pain in Industry (1955), Peter Stuyvesant and His New York (1959), and The Knife is Not Enough (1968).

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

In 1949, Henry H. Kessler founded the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange. The Institute was a non-sectarian, non-profit organization for the rehabilitation of disabled adults and children. The programs five main goals were: physical restoration services for the severely disabled, education of professional and paramedical staff, community education, continuation of the United Nations International Program, and research. It was the first institute to provide an intensive and comprehensive program of medical, social, psychological, and vocational services for those suffering physical impairment from a congenital condition, accident or disease.

In 1958, the grounds were completely landscaped with a wildflower grove and bird sanctuary--an idyllic spot for physical rehabilitation. The Institute became affiliated with United Hospitals of Newark in April 1959. The building was expanded in 1960 to provide 48 additional beds, and a swimming pool for hydro-therapeutic use. Later, the 1974 expansion created 28 more beds (for a total of 76), a new children's unit, and separate outpatient department.

Kessler Rehabilitation Centers have been established in Yugoslavia, India, Greece, Indonesia, and Japan.

PROVENANCE

The papers of the Henry H. Kessler were jointly donated to the UMDNJ Special Collections Department by the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and by Estelle Kessler. The Deeds of Gift date: August 21, 1996 and September 3, 1996.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Henry H. Kessler papers date from 1912 to 1980. The majority of the material, however, dates from 1944 to 1976. The collection documents the professional life and activities of Dr. Henry Howard Kessler. The papers represent Dr. Kessler's medical practice and involvement with national and international physical rehabilitation efforts, including the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.

Time periods best represented in the collections are the mid-1940s, the 1950s through the end of the 1960s, and the early to mid-1970s. The years most sparsely documented are the 1920s through to the early 1940s and the late 1970s.

The records are grouped into 13 series: AWARDS & HONORS, CORRESPONDENCE, KESSLER INSTITUTE, NOTES, PERSONAL MISCELLANEOUS, PROCEEDINGS & PROGRAMS, PUBLICATIONS, REPORTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, SCRAPBOOK, CLIPPINGS, SLIDES, and MEMORABILIA. All series are arranged chronologically, except for NOTES and PHOTOGRAPHS, which are grouped by general subject matter. In addition, many papers are undated; those without dates are placed behind the dated materials.

The collection contains textual files, photographs, glass plate slides, 1 roll of film, and 2 audio recordings (there is no transcription). The majority of the documents are typewritten paper records, although handwritten notes and printed materials are contained in the collection.

Document types contained in the collection include: letters, memos, travel diaries, publications, reprints and reports, speeches, conference proceedings, event programs, photographs and photo albums with annotations, a scrapbook, assorted flyers and brochures, invitations, certificates, awards, and newspaper clippings.

Of special interest is a bound, carbon manuscript of The Knife is Not Enough, which contains Kessler's editorial markings, and a congratulatory birthday letter from President Gerald Ford (TLS, April 12, 1976).

SERIES DESCRIPTION

SERIES I. AWARDS & HONORS, 1952-1978, w/ gaps. Arranged chronologically.
This series documents many of the awards and honors given to Dr. Kessler. Consisting of 1 folder, it contains programs from events honoring Dr. Kessler, original award certificates, honorary degrees, invitations, a New Jersey Senate Resolution by Senator Greenberg honoring Kessler on his 80th birthday, and clippings announcing awards or honors that Kessler received.

SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE, 1944-1976, w/ gaps. Arranged chronologically.
This series consists of letters mostly received (and some sent) by Henry Kessler. It contains handwritten and typed papers, signed and unsigned. In addition to personal correspondence, the letters pertain to the U.S. Naval Hospital at Mare Island, CA., the International College of Surgeons, the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey, and other academic institutions. There are also several postcards and an envelope of addresses, business cards, labels, and index cards that Kessler kept. Any materials (or copies of them) that were sent with a letter have been kept with that letter (i. e. a photocopied photograph, newsletter, and lecture program).

The letters from New Jersey Congressman Peter W. Rodino (1976) and President Gerald Ford (1976), both signed, are found in this series.

Correspondence for The Knife is Not Enough is with that file in the PUBLICATIONS series.

SERIES III. KESSLER INSTITUTE, 1952-1978, w/ gaps. Arranged chronologically.
This series contains 1 folder of documents relating to the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. It holds several issues of the Kessler Institute's newsletter Comeback, Kessler Institute brochures, invitations, photocopied photographs of the building, and a poem by Gail Webb in memory of Dr. Kessler.

SERIES IV. NOTES, 1952. Arranged by subject.
This series is separated into 4 subjects. Kessler-Mack Statistics (1 folder) contains the original typed and carbon copy notes and tables regarding amputations of upper and lower extremities and spinal cord injuries; the material is not dated. Medical and Cultural Notes (1 folder) contain handwritten information on yellow legal paper about a variety of (international) medical topics, such as low back pain, injuries, and strain. There are also two pencil sketches of bones and joints. Peter Stuyvesant Notes (1 folder) consist of handwritten notes on linear paper, which Kessler glued into a bound scrapbook. The pages have been removed, but appear in their original order. Other materials dealing with Stuyvesant are located in CORRESPONDENCE and CLIPPINGS. Travel Notes and Diaries (1 folder) contains 10 handwritten pages on yellow legal paper that document 5 days of travel in France (April 13-15, 1952). It also contains typed diaries that document Kessler's journey to England and Holland (June 28-July 26, 1953) and Mexico (November 9-November 15, 1952). The diaries include personal notes and summaries of conferences.

SERIES V. PERSONAL MISCELLANEOUS, 1913, 1945-1980, n. d., w/ gaps. Arranged chronologically and by size.
This series contains some items of Kessler's that reflect his personal interests, activities, and friendships. These include a mimeograph of an address by Dr. Frederick Young at James Joyce's Birthplace (1964), a "Ulysses Map of Dublin," and a biography of Dr. Young. The file also includes a funeral program, wedding invitation and Christmas card from a former patient (1972), some documents dealing with Kessler's club memberships and elections, and 2 audio recordings from 1951. There are also some oversized materials consisting of a number of paper-based items such as certificates, service awards, and academic achievements. Kessler kept most of these items in his office, and several of them were framed at one point; they are still attached to the mounting board.

SERIES VI. PROCEEDINGS & PROGRAMS, 1949-1976, w/gaps. Arranged chronologically.
This series documents some of the conferences and events that Kessler attended. It consists of four conference programs, some with handwritten notes, from Hawaii, Stockholm, Paris, and Washington DC.

SERIES VII. PUBLICATIONS, 1925-1972, n. d., w/ gaps. Arranged chronologically by subject.
This series is separated into 6 subjects. Collected Papers (1 folder) is a bound volume of original typed documents, typed carbons, photocopies, and reprints of Dr. Kessler's writing, with some handwritten notations. The papers are multilingual, and contain French, German, and Spanish writings. Most papers are undated. One bound volume, Collected Papers 1925-1936, has been removed for the collection and cataloged for the New Jersey book collection.

The Knife is Not Enough (2 folders) contains correspondence, books reviews, and publishing records dealing with the book. There is also a bound, carbon typed manuscript of the book, with Kessler's editorial markings.

Speeches contain typewritten, carbons, and printed copies of ten speeches, as well as notecards. The speeches are in English, German, and (possibly) Greek with accent notations. There is also a program from the First Caribbean Congress in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in San Juan (1966).

Reprints (1 folder) contain a number of reprinted articles by Kessler. About Kessler (1 folder) contains two articles about Kessler: "Heart Surgery without a License" by Sue Weinstock (1969), and "Dr. Henry H. Kessler: Healing with Hope" by Dawn Lospaluto (1976). There is also an interview with Dr. Kessler in Rehabilitation World (vol. 1, issue 1, 1975).

Finally, there are a number of publications/reprints about miscellaneous subjects. Of special interest are a number of signed reprints by Abelardo M. Inocentes, and one by Dwight Palmer. There is one in French and also German. All the publications deal with medical topics.

SERIES VIII. REPORTS, 1956, 1966, 1972-1973. Arranged chronologically.
This series contains three reports by Kessler. It consists of a typed carbon document, a typed mimeograph, and a printed report. Subjects include: a "Report of Rehabilitation Mission to the Philippines," the "International Society for the Crippled & Disabled," and the "Report of the New Jersey Workman's Compensation Study Commission," which also contains some clippings.

SERIES IX. PHOTOGRAPHS, 1926, 1941-1975, n. d., w/ gaps. Arranged by subject.
Through albums and individual photographs, this series documents Kessler's visit to Veterans Hospital and the National Orthopedic Hospital in the Philippines (1956), and the Kessler Institute building expansions. It also documents patients, prosthetic devices, and pictures of Kessler's awards and honors. Other items have been arranged by international, miscellaneous or unidentified subject matter. Most of the photo album contents are annotated. Except for possibly eight, all of the photos are black and white of various sizes. A number of photocopies of actual photographs are filed with the unidentified items. Also, one roll of film, entitled "On Her Own," is a part of this series.

SERIES X. SCRAPBOOK, 1957-1959. Original arrangement is chronological.
This series documents Dr. Kessler's work, the Kessler Institute, and a number of patient-related subjects and activities. It contains one scrapbook of newspaper and magazine clippings. There are also two black and white photographs of Dr. Kenneth S. Landauer delivering a speech at the Dr. Fred H. Albee memorial lecture at the Kessler Institute in 1957.

SERIES XI. CLIPPINGS, 1947-1976, n. d., w/ gaps. Arranged chronologically.
This series documents the work of Dr. Kessler, the Kessler Institute, and a number of related topics such as patients and other national and international rehabilitation services. Clippings regarding Henry H. Kessler have been placed in his Bio File, and those about the Institute are in the New Jersey Medicine vertical file under "Hospital-Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation." The remainder of the clippings is with the collection.

SERIES XII. SLIDES, n. d. Original arrangement is by subject, also by size.
This series of medical slides documents surgical procedures of lower and upper extremities, patient cases, and the prosthetic devices designed and used by Kessler. It contains glass plate slides (3 1/4 X 4 inches) and a small quantity of film-slides. The slides consist of photographs, line drawings, and X-rays. They are held in the original wood slotted and metal cases in which Kessler kept them. All of the slides are in black and white, some are labeled; all are undated.

SERIES XIII. MEMORABILIA, 1950-1961, w/ gaps
This series consists of a porcelain tile drawing of the Kessler Institute signed by 8 of Kessler's colleagues (1956), a ceremonial Indonesian sword inscribed to Kessler (1957), and a framed Edward J. Ill Award medal (1961).

Page Revised: 2/1/01

For reference service and information contact:

Robert Vietrogoski
Special Collections
vietrora@umdnj.edu
(973) 972-7830
FAX (973) 972-7474