Because the papers include Confidential Health Information (CHI) as defined by Columbia University policies governing data security and privacy, access is allowed only under the terms of Archives and Special Collections’ Access Policy to Records Containing Confidential Health Information.
Records of patients seen by Hunt, approximately 4,219 cases dating from 1903 to 1937. Each record has the patient's name, age, occupation, residence, diagnosis, as well as a medical history, which is often extensive. Also included may be laboratory results, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other printed material. There is a large amount of correspondence; while some is from patients, the bulk comes from referring physicians, family members, teachers, psychologists, and others involved in a particular case. The cases here appear to be Hunt's private patients. Typical of early 20th century U.S. neurologists, Hunt’s practice included many patients who today would be under the care of a psychiatrist.
The records were originally housed in 30 case books: 29 volumes of cases and a one-volume name index. Because the volumes were so tightly bound that it was difficult to use them, Archives & Special Collections staff in 2012 unbound the volumes and filed each case in its own folder. The 30 books were rehoused in 44 document boxes.
History and Biography
Hunt received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1893 and quickly become one of the country's leading neurologists. He was on the faculty of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University in 1911-13 and again from 1924 until his death. He was Consulting Neurologist and Senior Attending Neurologist at the Neurological Institute of New York from c.1914 to 1937.
Subject Headings and Related Records
Administrative Information
Gift of Alice Hunt Sokoloff, daughter of J.R. Hunt, 1984.