8. C, 1953-1958

File — Box: 1, Folder: 8

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: This small collection of Otto Rosenthal's papers contains professional and personal correspondence with colleagues and co workers during his years at the Harrison Department of Surgical Research and his work with alkaline phosphatase and cytochrome P 450. Many of the major correspondents, including Jonathan E. Rhoads, William S. Blakemore, Shakunthala Narasimhulu, David Y. Cooper, and Ronald W. Estabrook, were members of the Harrison Department. Although mention of Rosenthal's research does occasionally appear in the correspondence, the primary focus of the collection is publication of papers, evaluations and references for coworkers and colleagues, and internal administrative matters of the Harrison Department.

The bulk of the Rosenthal Papers, Series 1, is comprised of fifty one of Rosenthal's correspondence files which are divided alphabetically by correspondent or subject. Most of Rosenthal's outgoing correspondence appears in either carbon copy or handwritten draft form. Some files were assembled by Rosenthal with copies of original correspondence directed to other members of the Harrison Department.

One folder of correspondence (1953-1963) from Herbert K. Alber of the Arthur H. Thomas Company describes tissue grinding equipment. Administrative matters concerning the Harrison Department are covered in correspondence with William S. Blakemore (1956-1962), Henry B. Keep (1961-1967) and I.S. Ravdin (1952-1965). Several files concern Rosenthal's references for colleagues or assistants who were seeking positions. These include Joan D. Bartlett, Norman E. Conger, Henry Grossfeld, and Endre Tarjan. Information on Rosenthal's work on nutrition and liver disease is contained in his correspondence (1955-1956) with a technician, John Vincent Coyle, whom Rosenthal helped to seek a deferment from induction into the Army. Rosenthal's research on the enzyme phosphatase is discussed in a letter from James C. Fahl dated 25 January 1953.

Series 2 contains correspondence and occasional related materials such as membership lists and constitutions describing Otto Rosenthal's affiliation with the John Morgan Society and the Faculty Research Club at the University of Pennsylvania and the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. In the 1950s, Rosenthal also reviewed and abstracted several biochemistry works for "Biological Abstracts". His abstracts and some candid personal evaluations are contained in Series 3.