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University of Chicago Library

Guide to Ivan Albright, Medical drawings made direct from patients & in operating room in Base Hospital # 11 located at Nantes, France. Manuscript, 1918-1919

© 2018 University of Chicago Library

Descriptive Summary

Title:

Albright, Ivan, Medical drawings made direct from patients & in operating room in Base Hospital # 11 located at Nantes, France, Manuscript (Ms 1560)

Dates:

1918-1919

Manuscript Number:

Codex Ms 1560

Size:

1 volume, 25 x 35 cm.

Repository:

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

Abstract:

Medical drawings of soldiers’ wounds by artist Ivan Albright, made in a military hospital in Nantes, France, 1918-1919. Codex Ms 1560.

Information on Use

Access

The manuscript is open for research.

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Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Albright, Ivan, Medical drawings made direct from patients & in operating room in Base Hospital # 11 located at Nantes, France. Manuscript, Codex Ms 1560, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Biographical Note

Ivan Lorraine Albright (1897-1983) is most famously known for his grotesque yet highly detailed art that embodies the “Magic Realism” (also known as “Fabulism”) art movement of the 1930s. Prior to the creation of his most famous works, he was a medical drawer stationed in France during World War I from 1918-1919. This collection is comprised of a series of sketches from his time in operating rooms and hospitals recording the injuries and X-ray scans of injured soldiers.

Albright was born to Adam Emory Albright, a painter, and Clara Wilson Albright on February 20, 1897 in North Harvey, Illinois. Albright’s twin brother Malvin would study sculpture concurrent to Ivan’s portraiture study. Unlike their father who did impressionist style landscapes and scenes for commercials, Ivan demonstrated an interest in older schools including the work of Le Greco and Dreyer Albright briefly attended Northwestern University in 1915 but left in 1916, resuming his studies studying architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years. His education was stalled by the outbreak of World War I.

Albright was enlisted as a solider in American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, and stationed in Base Hospital 11 in Nantes, France. It was during this time, he witnessed firsthand the medical atrocities and recorded the injuries for study. His talent was recognized by those around him and it became his job to record the injuries and information in watercolor, pen, and sometimes chalk or charcoal. His style was noted for being crisp and detailed, yet somewhat softly rendered given the exposed tendons and organs he would paint and sketch. Albright himself had not thought of himself as an artist during this time, but the experience built a foundation for his future artistic success.

After the war, Albright became an artist whose work is prominently displayed in the Art Institute of Chicago and other museums. He graduated from the Art Institute in Chicago, specializing in painting on 1923, and later attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, and the National Academy of Design, New York. He married Josephine Medill Patterson, and had four children: Joseph, Adam, Blandina, and Alice. Albright would spend years perfecting a single portrait, utilizing meticulous attention to detail in the form of single hair brushes for minute details like hair and lace

Albright died of a stroke in November 18, 1983, in Woodstock, Vermont. Even on his deathbed, he still continued to paint and draw with the expressive illusory realism that characterized his entire catalogue.

Scope Note

The collection contains 42 sheets with 61 drawings made by Ivan Albright while serving as a medical drawer in a military hospital in Nantes, France from September, 1918 through January, 1919. The drawings include watercolor, pen, and pencil illustrations of soldiers’ wounds and transcriptions of x-rays of many of the same wounds.

Most of the drawings include an inscription identifying the soldier by name, serial number, rank, and company. In some cases, soldiers’ death dates are noted. Four drawings depict German prisoners of war.

The drawings in the collection are from two sketchbooks, purchased from Albright by Senator William Benton, and later donated by Benton to the University of Chicago. The drawings were exhibited by the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago in June, 1972. The drawings are now bound in a single volume in the order (largely chronological) in which they were displayed by the Renaissance Society, and retain the numbers assigned to them in the exhibit catalog. Four drawings, numbers 10, 13, 14, and 20, were not included in the collection when it was transferred to the University Library in 1984. Albright’s handwritten title pages for the two original sketchbooks may be found as part of sheets seven and nine. The drawings are listed and displayed here in the order in which they are now bound.

Related Resources

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Ivan Albright, Medical Sketchbook, 1918, at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Subject Headings

INVENTORY

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 1

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Calf Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt. Stearns, Roy W.; Co M 126th Inf.; Serial #281422
  • Drawn 9/7/18
  • Signed
  • Hospital Center-Nantes. France –A.E.F.

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 2

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Forearm Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt [Keelerz?], Stanley; 126 Inf. Co L.; Serial #1848136
  • Drawn 9/13/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 3

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break, Right-Leg and Foot Wounds

  • Inscribed: Serial no #1709558; Cpl. Stio, Michael, R.; Co I. 308 Inf
  • Drawn 9/16/18
  • Signed- Ivan Lorraine Albright, Medical Drawer B. H #11

Back, Left-Bone Break, Right-Calf Wound

  • Inscribed: Cpl. Kannert, Ed. M. 58 B.N. MGI Co. B 15th Machine Gun Battalion
  • Drawn 9/12/18
  • Signed: By Ivan Lorraine Albright, Medical Drawer B. H#11

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 4

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Hip Wound

  • Inscribed: Cpl Silverman, Henry; Co I. 308 Inf.; Serial #1709542
  • Drawn 9/17/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 5

9 x 24 1/4 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Arm Bone Breaks, Right-Forearm Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #1629853; Pvt. Duran, Jose S.; Co M. 110 Inf
  • Drawn 9/18/18
  • Signed B. H #11

Back, Left-Bone Break, Right-blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 6

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Throat Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt Belvey, Angelene C,; Co G. 108 Mg.; Serial 1257461; Died 9/18/18
  • Drawn 9/18/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 7

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Calf Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #1598232; Pvt Rettinger, Jonas A.; Co I 305 Inf.
  • Drawn 9/23/18
  • Signed B. H#11

Front, Right-Preface to Vol. I

  • Inscribed: “PROPERTY OF IVAN LORRAINE ALBRIGHT, WARRENVILLE ILL.”
  • “Vol I: Medical drawings made direct from patients + in operating room in Base Hospital #11 located at Nantes France. A. E. F. Base Section 1. H. P. O. 767 1918-1919. By Ivan Lorraine Albright, Medical Drawer.”
  • Stamped: “This is the Personal Property of Senator William Benton”

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 8

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Hip Wound

  • Inscribed: Cpl Silverman, Henry; Co I. 308 Inf-; Serial #1709542
  • Drawn 9/27/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 9

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left- Buttock Wound

  • Inscribed: (Wag) Taylor, Andy; Co. Supply 125 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/3/18
  • Signed

Front, Right-Preface to Vol. II

  • Inscribed: “MEDICAL DRAWINGS made direct from patients in wards + in operating rooms of Base Hospital #11 located at Nantes France AEF 1918-19 by Ivan Lorraine Albright Medical Drawer”

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 11

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Thigh Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt Franklin, Thomas H. Jr.; Co C. 305 Inf; Serial #1697351
  • Drawn 10/7/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 12

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Calf Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #1734617; Sgt. Hufeld. Otto; Co C 302 Engrs.
  • Drawn 10/7/18
  • Signed

Back, Bone break

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 15

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Leg Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial no. 377812.; Pvt Weiner Philip; Co M. 111 Infantry
  • Gas infection
  • Drawn 10/10/18
  • Ivan Lorraine Albright; Medical Artist

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 16

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Hip Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt Good, George L.; Co F. 137 Infantry; Serial #No 1448551
  • Drawn 10/10/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 17

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break, Right-Open Buttock Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #2216644; Cpl. Munkers. Wm.; Co C. 357 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/11/18
  • Signed

Back, Left- blank, Right- Forearm Wound

  • Inscribed: German Prisoner; 1st Lieut. Schrimpf, Richard; Co 36 ?6 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/16/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 18

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break, Right-Calf Wounds

  • Inscribed: Serial #1472467; Pvt Johnston, Clarence; 138 Ambulance Comp.
  • Drawn 10/11/18
  • Signed

Back, Left- Bone break, Right- Shoulder Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial # 1763785; Pvt. Thomas Sprague Co J 311 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/23/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 19

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Shoulder Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt Sandova, Anthony; Co K. 146 Inf; Serial #2965287
  • Drawn 10/12/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 21

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Foot Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt Hagohian, Hasroo; Co E. 310 Inf.; Serial #2941815. G. S. W.
  • Drawn 10/12/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 22

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Thigh Wound

  • Inscribed: German Prisoner; Pvt Farber, Peter; G I. 151 Reg.
  • Drawn 10/16/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 23

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Hip Wound

  • Inscribed: Cpl Becker, Albert J.; Co J 313. Inf.; Serial #1980271
  • Drawn 10/17/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 24

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Thigh Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt Johanson, John ?; Co L. 111 Inf.; Serial # 1850562.
  • Drawn 10/17/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 25

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Foot Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt Stuart, Otis C.; Co A, 340 Inf.; Serial #2291388
  • Gas Infection
  • Drawn 10/18/18
  • By the Medical Drawer; Ivan Lorraine Albright

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 26

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break, Right-Upper Thigh Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt Strotsky; Co E. 146 Inf; Serial #2715704
  • Gas Infection
  • Drawn 10/18/18
  • Ivan Lorraine Albright, Medical Artist

Back, Left-blank, Right-Upper Arm Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial # 4001312; Pvt. Hauser, Robert R.; G # I F Inf.
  • Drawn 11/27/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 27

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break, Right-Anal and Buttock Wounds

  • Inscribed: Mustard Gas & SHRAPNEL
  • Pvt Grollman M.; Co D. 309 Infantry; Serial #1751869
  • Drawn 10/19/18
  • Signed

Back, Left-blank, Right-Leg Wounds

  • Inscribed: Serial #120.812.; Sgt. Brown, Ivan J.; 76th Co U.S.M.C.
  • Drawn 11/11/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 28

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break

  • Inscribed: F. Body

Front, Right-Leg Wounds

  • Inscribed: Serial # 1215468; Pvt Wells, Henry W.; Co B. 129 M.G.
  • Drawn 10/21/18
  • Ivan Lorraine Albright, Medical Artist

Back, Left-Bone Break, Right-Forearm Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial # 1831312; Hillebrecht Wm. R.; Co L.. 320 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/11/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 29

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Arm Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #2669195; Pvt Pofh. Alfred, H.; Co G. 309 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/24/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 30

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Leg Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial 3752499; Pvt Schael, Henry; Co A. 311 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/24/18
  • Signed

Back, Bone Break

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 31

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break, Forearm, Right-Shoulder Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial 1.756269; Pvt Pellegrini Joseph; Co A. 310 Inf
  • Drawn 10/24/18
  • Signed

Back, Left-blank, Right-Thigh Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #1.735.245; Pvt. Grotty(?) Patrick J.; Co K 309 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/28/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 32

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Buttock Wound

  • Inscribed: Died 10/28/18; Serial #3128078; Pvt Stalemo, Theodore; Co H 306 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/25/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 33

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Buttock Wound

  • Inscribed: Sgt Rose, Harold; Co B. 309 Inf.; Serial #2412067
  • Drawn 10/25/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 34

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Upper Chest Wound

  • Inscribed: Pvt Cronier Philip; Co L. 112. Inf.; Serial No 2300392
  • Drawn 10/26/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 35

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Shoulder Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #1737467; Sgt. Grady, Walter A.; Co L. 310 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/27/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 36

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Temple and Skull Wounds

  • Inscribed: Sgt. Grady, Walter A.; Co L. 310 Inf.; Serial 1737467
  • Drawn 10/27/18
  • Signed

Back, Bone Break

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 37

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Three Leg Wounds (double spread)

  • Inscribed: [in another hand]: Wounded Oct. 14/18. Argonne (Shrapnel); Edward J. Schneider. Sgt Maj.; Hdqrs Co. 328th Inf. 82nd Div.
  • Inscribed: [in Albright’s hand]: Sgt Schneider, Ed. J.; Co Hq 328 Inf. Serial #1908768.
  • Wounded 10/14/18 G. S. W.
  • Drawn 11/3/18
  • Signed

Back, Left-Healed leg Wound

  • Inscribed: Healed Jan. 23/19

Back, Right-Leg and Calf Wounds

  • Inscribed: 2nd Lieut. Benley; Co B. 309 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/26/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 38

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break, Right-Shoulder Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #2407589; Pvt Benjamin Ensman; Co I. 309 Infantry
  • Drawn 11/5/18
  • Signed

Back, Left-Bone Break, Right-Upper Arm Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #3.300435; Pvt. Carlson, Alfred; Co M. 60 Infantry
  • Drawn 11/11/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 39

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break, Right-Upper Thigh Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial 1780.328; Pvt Miller Chas E.; Co J. 2 Bn. Scouts.
  • Gas Infection
  • Drawn 11/7/18
  • Signed

Back, Left-blank, Right-Shoulder Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #2.225.890; Sgt. Thorne, Ebert; Co L. 359 Inf.
  • Drawn 11/15/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 40

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Break, Right-Buttock Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial 2.218 860; Pvt Starks-Wm. L.; Co C. 315 7. S. B.
  • Drawn 11/11/18
  • Signed

Back, Left-Bone Break, Right-Knee Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #1.905.696; Pvt Skinner, Arthur; Co A 327 Inf.
  • Drawn 11/11/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 41

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Shoulder and Ribs, Right-Thigh Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial 2.806 186; Cpl Porter, Martin L.; Co H. 359 Infantry.
  • Drawn 11/11/18
  • Ivan Lorraine Albright, M.D.

Back, Left-Bone Break, Right-Leg in Traction

  • Inscribed: Serial # 1784977; Bugler, Nicholas; Co E. 315 Infantry
  • Drawn 11/5/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 42

9 x 24 ¼ inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Left-Bone Injury, Knee Area, Right-Thigh Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial 2867 558; Pvt Wilson, John E.; Co I. Reg 61st Infantry
  • Drawn 11/13/18
  • Signed

Back, Left-Bone Break, Right-Forearm Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #3.339809; Pvt Wendland, Wm. (William) F. C.; Co A 310 Inf.
  • Drawn 10/28/18
  • Signed

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 43

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Ankle Wound

  • Inscribed: Serial #2182142; Sgt Reed Roy C; Co I. 355 Inf.
  • Drawn 11/27/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 44

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Liver

  • Inscribed: German Prisoner B. H 34; Liver Died 14/12/18 [written over as 12/14/18]; Died of pneumonia
  • Drawn 14/1/19
  • Ivan Lorraine Albright

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 45

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Buttock and Thigh Wound

  • No inscription

Back, blank

View drawing.

Codex Ms 1560

Sheet 46

9 x 12 inches, watercolor, pen, and pencil

Front, Ear and Neck Wound

  • No inscription
  • Drawn 10/17/18
  • Signed

Back, blank

View drawing.