Includes a replica of the head of the enlisted serviceman in the commemorative statue and a photograph of the statue located in the grassy area off Duke Medicine Circle. The statue recognizes the service of all Duke men and women that have served in the armed forces for the United States, and, in particular, it represents the doctors and nurses from Duke who staffed, along with enlisted servicemen, the 65th General Hospital in the England during WWII. The statue, created by Stephen H. Smith in bronze, was commissioned by the Duke Endowment with additional funding provided by The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation for the corpsman running to their aid. It was dedicated on October 26, 2002 with the surviving members of the 65th General Hospital in attendance. Materials are undated.
Contains personal papers, records, and memorabilia of the United States Army 65th General Hospital, a United States Army Medical Corps unit staffed by Duke University Medical Center alumni in England during World War II. The unit distinguished itself as a center for both specialized treatment and the immediate care of combat casualties. Following the war, physician of the 65th, Leo Alexander, acted as a consultant to prosecutors in the Nuremberg Trials. Types of materials include official reports, newsletters, patient records, memorabilia, oral histories, photographs, artifacts, audiovisual materials, investigative notes, and short writings. Major subjects include Duke University Medical Center, United States Army, the 65th General Hospital, World War I, World War II, war crimes, neurosurgery, Ivan Brown, Leo Alexander, Norman Ross, and O. Norris Smith. Materials range in date from 1917 to 2002.
This subseries includes artifacts such as an Aircrew flak helmet, a Red Cross armband, reunion ribbon, wound dressing, and mounted photographs. Materials date from circa 1942 to 1977, with the bulk of the materials dating between 1942 and 1946.
This series includes postcards, a map, and sketches. Also contains work by British artist Frank A. Beresford. Beresford, a soldier, was treated by members of the 65th General Hospital. He later created several paintings and prints of their activities. Materials range in date from circa 1944 to 1959.
This subseries contains Alexander's research on medicine in Nazi Germany. This research produced reports on related topics for the Combined Operative Intelligence Sub-Committee. The Subseries 2.6. Publications also contains materials relating to Alexander's involvement with the Nuremberg Trials. Materials date to circa 1940 to 1949.
During World War II, Heinrich Himmler headed the Nazi's SS and took a keen interest in the Nazi medical experiments conducted across the Third Reich. Sigmund Rascher (1909-1945), once a respected physician, was a Himmler associate who tried to use their relationship to his advantage. Rascher and others conducted experiments on prisoners in various concentration camps and across the Third Reich. Racscher's experiments at the Concentration Camp Dachau were judged inhumane and criminal during the Nuremberg trial of other Nazi medical professionals. Alexander procured copies of captured documents to aid in his investigations of Nazi medical experiments. Types of materials include reports and correspondence between Racher, Himmler, and other Nazi officials. The majority of materials in this subseries are photocopies of original documents and in German. Materials date from 1939 to 1943.
This subseries contains correspondence between Ross and his wife. Ross served in another medical unit in Germany following his tour with the 65th and wrote regularly to his wife following his departure from Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, until his return to the United States. Materials date from 1943 to 1945.
Materials include a complete record of patient admissions, dispositions, deaths, and clinical abstracts of severely wounded men. One is for George Buske, a case later publicized by Ivan Brown. Also contains extensive clinical study data on the early use of penicillin in treating syphilis. Materials date from 1944 to 1945.
Contains color photographs from the final reunion and sculpture dedication for the 65th General Hospital Unit held on October 26, 2002. The photographs are credited to Jim Wallace, Duke University Photography.
Contains materials related to the 65th unit's base hospital in England and reunions following WWII. Materials include administrative records, unit reports, newsletters, hospital data, photographs, artifacts, memorabilia, and videotapes. The videotape subseries includes interviews with former soldiers, a history of the unit, footage from a sculpture dedication, and a master copy of a documentary history of the unit. Materials date from 1917 to 2002.
As a consultant to the U.S. Secretary of War, Alexander gathered a vast body of information in preparation for the 1946-1947 Nuremberg medical war crimes trials of Nazi officials. Following these trials, he became a spokesperson on issues of medical ethics and experimentation and an advocate for victims. Types of materials include correspondence, notes, research, and photographs. Materials date from 1942 to 1998.