Collection: Oskar Diethelm Library, Weill Cornell Medical College: Thomas Salmon MD Papers
Description: This grant will fund the digitization of the papers of Thomas Salmon, which have been the library’s most requested collection in-person and virtually over the past two years. It was chosen for digitization not only because of its scholarly importance, but also for preservation purposes because it has been handled frequently. Thomas Salmon (1876-1927) was a leading figure in the field of psychiatry and mental hygiene who was medical director of the National Committee for Mental Hygiene and president of the American Psychiatric Association, established the Ellis Island psychiatric service for immigrants under the United States Marine Hospital Service, and organized neuropsychiatric units for the Army and the Navy during the First World War. In addition to being significant historically, these materials are relevant to current issues surrounding mental health in America today. Once these materials are digitized, there will be less damage to the physical items, and the materials can be utilized by a much wider audience for teaching and research.