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University of Chicago Library

Guide to the Bernard Fantus Collection 1874-2009

© 2011 University of Chicago Library

Descriptive Summary

Title:

Fantus, Bernard. Collection

Dates:

1874-2009

Size:

7.75 linear feet (10 boxes)

Repository:

Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center
University of Chicago Library
1100 East 57th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.

Abstract:

The Bernard Fantus Collection primarily consists of correspondence, photographs, professional documents, biographical materials and newspaper clipping focused on the life and death of Bernard Fantus. Also contained within the collection are articles and newspaper clippings about blood banks and the Cook County Medical Center.

Information on Use

Access

This collection is open for research.

Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Fantus, Bernard. Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Biographical Note

Bernard Fantus was born in 1874 in Hungary, and came to the United States in 1889. He began working in a drugstore, and by 1899 he had received an M.D. from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine. In 1902, Fantus moved with his family to Chicago and began to teach at the University of Illinois college of Medicine. He was in charge of the Medical Dispensary at the University of Illinois from 1902 to 1913, and was appointed Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Illinois in 1903 until his death in 1940. From 1924 to 1932, he worked as Associate Professor of Medicine at Rush Medical College.

Fantus worked primarily in therapeutics, and with many pharmaceutical companies. He also wrote two important textbooks: “Text-book of Prescription-Writing and Pharmacy” and “Essentials of Prescription-Writing.” In 1937, while Director of Therapueutics at Cook County Hospital, Chicago IL, Fantus brought together the technologies and processes for collecting, storing, and distribution of blood in a hospital or clinical setting and coined the term “blood bank” to describe it.

Scope Note

The Bernard Fantus Collection primarily consists of correspondence, photographs, professional documents, biographical materials and newspaper clipping focused on the life and death of Bernard Fantus. Also contained within the collection are articles and newspaper clippings about blood banks and the Cook County Medical Center.

The collection is organized into seven series. Series I Correspondence; Series II Academic and Professional; Series III Biographical; Series IV Writings by Others; Series V Photographs; Series VI Artifacts; and Series VII Oversized. Originally, most of the collection was contained within two large scrapbooks created by Emily Fantus, the wife of Bernard Fantus, and Maurice Fulton, his niece. While some of the materials contained within the scrapbooks were created during his lifetime, many of the documents were articles written after his death and referenced his life and accomplishments.

Series I, consists of the correspondence of Bernard Fantus and his family. The letters written to Bernard Fantus after his death are form letters requesting information. Also included are photocopies of letters Bernard Fantus wrote to Emily Fantus during their courtship. A small collection of letters from Fantus’ daughter, Ruth. It should be noted that, at some point (it seems it occurred in 1968), Ruth took the name of Valerie Gendron. She used Val Gendron largely as a penname, but this collection does show that she conducted some of her correspondence under the name as well. Folders 10-12 of this series contains the correspondence of Ruth/ Valerie.

Series II, consists of material of Bernard Fantus that pertains to his professional and academic career.

Series III, consists of newspaper clippings, articles and other documents summarizing the life and honoring the achievements of Bernard Fantus. The distinction between the obituaries and tributes folders and the posthumous honors, retrospectives and anniversaries folders is that obituaries and tributes occurred near the time of the death of Fantus, while the posthumous honors, retrospectives and anniversaries occurred sometime after the death of Fantus. Also included in Box 3 is the collected genealogical information gathered by Dr. Fantus’ grand-nephew, Norman Senn Brubeck.

Series IV, contains writings by others that relate to Fantus, his medical discoveries, or the organizations he was involved in. This series contains several folders of newspaper clippings; effort was made to distinguish between the dated and undated articles.

Series V, contains various photographs of Bernard Fantus and his family. Series VI, consists of artifacts from Bernard Fantus’s life and various artifacts from memorials and other events honoring Fantus. Series VII, Oversized, consist of oversized documents and artifacts from other series within the collection.

Related Resources

Browse finding aids by topic.

Subject Headings

INVENTORY

Series I: Correspondence

Box 1   Folder 1

Personal Correspondence,1910-1940

Box 1   Folder 2

Academic Correspondence,1913-1927

Box 1   Folder 3

Professional Correspondence, 1897-1943

Box 1   Folder 4

Department of State Correspondence, 1904-1909

Box 1   Folder 5

Letters of Promotion, 1903-1928

Box 1   Folder 6

Letters of Condolence to Emily Fantus (wife), 1940

Box 1   Folder 7

Letters of Condolence to Emily Fantus (wife), 1940

Box 1   Folder 8

Correspondence of Emily Fantus (wife), 1940-1954

Box 1   Folder 8A

Correspondence of Emily Fantus, Addenda

Box 1   Folder 9

Correspondence of Maurice Fulton (niece), 1987-1990

Box 1   Folder 10

Correspondence of Ruth Fantus, 1968

Box 1   Folder 11

Correspondence of Valerie Gendron (Ruth Fantus), 1962-1968

Box 1   Folder 12

Valerie Gendron, Miscellaneous

Series II: Academic and Professional Papers

Box 1   Folder 13

Academic Documents, 1885-1915

Box 1   Folder 14

Professional Documents, 1891-1922

Box 1   Folder 15

Biographic entries, 1938 and Undated

Box 1   Folder 16

Bibliographies, Undated

Box 1   Folder 17

Typed Manuscripts, 1937 and Undated

Box 1   Folder 18

Published Articles, 1910-1939

Series III: Biographical

Box 2   Folder 1

Obituaries and Tributes, 1940

Box 2   Folder 2

Obituaries and Tributes, 1940

Box 2   Folder 3

Obituaries and Tributes, 1940

Box 2   Folder 4

Ernest Fantus, 1942-1960

Box 2   Folder 5

Bernard Fantus, 1892-1935

Box 2   Folder 6

Valerie Gendron, Diaries, 1961

Box 2   Folder 7

Valerie Gendron, Blood of Life draft, undated

Box 2   Folder 8

In Memoriam resolution from University of Illinois,1940

Box 2   Folder 9

In Memoriam resolution from Phenolphthalein Research Inc.,1940

Box 2   Folder 10

Posthumous Honors, Retrospectives, and Anniversaries, 1943-1961

Box 2   Folder 11

Posthumous Honors, Retrospectives, and Anniversaries, 1987-2009

Box 3   Folder 1

Genealogy, 1963

Box 3   Folder 2

Genealogy, 1874

Box 3   Folder 3

Collected Genealogy

Box 3   Folder 4

Collected Genealogy, cont.

Box 3   Folder 5

Collected Genealogy, cont.

Box 4

Roll 1: Fantus Family Tree, undated

Box 4

Roll 2: Fantus Family Tree, undated

Series IV: Writings by Others

Box 5   Folder 1

Newspaper Clippings, 1910-1940

Box 5   Folder 2

Newspaper Clippings, 1962

Box 5   Folder 3

Newspaper Clippings, 1940-1970

Box 5   Folder 4

Newspaper Clippings, 1970-2000

Box 5   Folder 5

Newspaper Clippings, Unidentified

Box 5   Folder 6

Blood Bank Articles, 1938-1987

Box 5   Folder 7

Cook County Medical Center Articles, 1944-1949

Box 5   Folder 8

Cook County Medical Center Articles, 1957-1990

Box 5   Folder 9

Complete Magazines, 1987-1988

Box 5   Folder 10

Complete Magazines and Newspapers, 1990-1996

Box 5   Folder 11

Publications, 1944

Series V: Photographs

Box 6   Folder 1

Photographs without Fantus, Undated

Box 6   Folder 2

Photographs of Fantus with family and others, Undated

Box 6   Folder 3

Photographs of Fantus , Undated

Box 6   Folder 4

Photographs, undated

Box 6   Folder 5

Photographs, 1895

Series VI: Artifacts

Box 6   Folder 1

Illustrated book, The True Story of Christopher Columbus. Given to Ruth (daughter), 1922

Box 6   Folder 2

Posthumous Alumnus of the Year Plaque, 1996

Box 6   Folder 3

40th Anniversary American Blood Association Packet, 1987

Box 7   Folder 4

Bernard Fantus Lifetime Achievement Award awarded to Patrick L. Mollision, 1987

Box 7   Folder 5

Fantas Coffee Mug, 1977

Box 7   Folder 6

Jane Addams memorial tokens, 1935

Series VII: Oversized

Box 8   Folder 1

Fantus’s Hungarian Birth Certificate, 1874

Box 8   Folder 2

Photograph of Cook County Hospital, Undated

Box 8   Folder 3

Photograph of Bernard Fantus, Undated

Box 8   Folder 4

Certificate of Appreciation from the State of Illinois, 1987

Box 8   Folder 5

50th Anniversary of the Founding of the First Blood Bank Poster, 1987

Box 9   Folder 1

Plaque of Fantus with damaged corner, Undated

Box 10

Anniversary of the founding of the first blood bank, banner