Guide to the Alfred Gras Interview, 2005
Abstract:
Alfred Gras was a graduate of Duke University Medical School in 1944. He went into internal medical practice in Newark and Nutley, New Jersey; and Vermont. Contains audiotapes and transcript of an oral history interview with Alfred Gras. Major subjects in this interview include penicillin and medical education. This interview was conducted September 23, 2005 by Jessica Roseberry.
- Contact Information:
- Duke University Medical Center
Archives and Memorabilia
DUMC 3702
Durham, North Carolina
27710 USA
Phone: (919) 383-2653
Fax: (919) 383-1649
Email: dumc.archives@mc.duke.edu
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Alfred Gras Interview, 2005
- Extent
-
- 1 record storage box,
- 1 item,
- .25 linear feet
- Creator
- Gras, Alfred
- Repository
- Duke University Medical Center Archives
- Call Number
- GrasA 1
- Location
- Archives Stacks: Oral History Collection
Administrative Information
- Copyright Notice
- Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], Alfred Gras Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives.
- Processing Information
- Processed by Jessica Roseberry, May 2006
- Encoded by Jessica Roseberry, June 2006
- Revised by Dawne Howard Lucas, June 2007
Biographical Note
Dr. Alfred Gras was a graduate of Duke University Medical School in 1944. He was the twenty-third reported case in the New England Journal of Medicine as a recipient of penicillin, an event which occurred when he was a student at Duke University Medical School. Dr. Gras went into internal medical practice in Newark and Nutley, New Jersey; and Vermont.
Collection Overview
Contains audiotapes and transcript of an oral history interview with Alfred Gras. Gras discusses his experiences with penicillin as a medical student at Duke University School of Medicine.
Online Catalog Headings
- Gras, Alfred
- Oral histories.
- Interviews.
- Transcripts.
Collection Series
Detailed Description of the Collection
Dr. Gras discusses his renaissance of interest in his own receipt of penicillin as medical student; notes from his father's journal about the event; Mary Poston; David Tillerson Smith; sulfonamides; his near death and miraculous recovery from bilateral staphylococcal pneumonia from use of penicillin; availability of penicillin at the time; Dr. Edward Levy and Dr. John Peck setting up penicillin drip; Dr. Levy and Dr. Peck telling him he was receiving a vitabrew in his leg; vein problems due to the treatment; further use of the penicillin extracted from his urine; obtaining the penicillin; his lack of having heard about penicillin; write-up of case in New England Journal of Medicine; cost (none) of his experimental penicillin versus estimated cost of same amount ($10,000); coming to Duke Medical School; lack of event status of the incident among his peers; cessation of penicillin due to complications from intravenous delivery; further career.
Related Material
J. Lamar Callaway Collection, Duke University Medical Center Archives
65th General Hospital Collection, Duke University Medical Center Archives
David Tillerson Smith Papers, Duke University Medical Center Archives
William Henry Muller, Jr. Oral History Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives
Martin Cummings Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives
Ivan Brown Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives
Charles Kernodle Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives
John Wilson Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives
Francis McCullough Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives