Guide to the Barnes Woodhall Papers, 1930-1978

Archives Department, Duke University Medical Center

Descriptive Summary

Title

Barnes Woodhall Papers, 1930-1978

Creator

Woodhall, Barnes, 1905-

Extent

20 record storage boxes,

30,000 items,

30 linear feet

Repository

Duke University Medical Center Archives

Call Number

MC0043

Information for Users

Asscess Restrictions

No restrictions.

Usage Restrictions

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], Barnes Woodhall Papers, Duke University Medical Center Archives.

Acquisitions Information

Acquired; ca. 1978

Processing Information

Processed by: Archives staff and Emily Glenn, January 2004

Encoded by: Emily Glenn, March 2004

Biographical Note

Barnes Woodhall was born in Rockport, Me., on January 22, 1905 to Charles Henry and Florence (Barnes) Woodhall. Charles Henry was one of the original executives of the Boys' Club of America.

Woodhall received his A.B. degree from Williams College in 1926. During summers at college, he worked in the New York offices of the AT and T and seemed headed toward a career as a stockbroker. Influenced by a biology teacher during his senior year, he became interested in medicine.

He attended medical school at Johns Hopkins University and received his M.D. degree in 1930. During part-time work as a medical student at Hopkins, he became interested in a career in ophthalmology. He was successively an intern, resident and instructor of surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1930 to 1937. During an internship and seven years of surgical residency, his interests changed to neurosurgery. He completed several rotations with Dr. Water Dandy in neurosurgical techniques.

Woodhall began his teaching career at Duke University in Sept. 1937, where he was appointed to the School of Medicine faculty as assistant professor with the responsibility for organizing the neurosurgical service. He served as assistant professor from 1937 to 1946; military service beginning in 1942 briefly interrupted his career. Woodhall served as professor (1937-1960) and professor and chief (1946-1960) of the Division of Neurological Surgery. In the 1950s, Woodhall was one of the first to use chemotherapy for brain tumors. His other research interests included brain energetics.

In 1960, he became the dean of the School of Medicine on July 1,1960. He became assistant provost of Duke University from 1960 to 1961. In 1962, he became vice provost and assumed responsibility for the Medical Center. He relinquished his deanship on June 30, 1964 to devote full time to duties as Vice Provost of the University. On January 15, 1969 he was appointed special assistant to the president. He was appointed associate provost of Duke University and served July 1, 1967 to 1969. He served as chancellor pro-tem from March 1969-1970. He was named James B. Duke Professor of Neurosurgery in March 1969.

During his time in the Army, Woodhall served Lt. Col., Army Medical Corps (1942-1946), where he developed the Army's first neurological service. He also served at Ashford General Hospital in W.Va. He was Chief of Neurosurgery at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C. (1942-1946) and a member of Army Reserve Corps. (1940-1949). In 1946 he was awarded Legion of Merit in 1946 for work dealing with injuries to nerve trunks.

Woodhall later acted as an advisor to many organizations. He served as a neurosurgical consultant to the United States Surgeon General's Office, chief consultant council to the Veteran's Administration; and a member of a special medical advisory group for the Veteran's Administration. He also advised the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, and State Board of Mental Health.

Woodhall's many publications include three monographs on peripheral nerve surgery, neuropathology, and regeneration, including Peripheral Nerve Diagnosis with Dr. William Lyons, written during his Army years. He was the co-editor and contributor to History of Neurosurgery in World War II, which was published under the direction of the United States Army Surgeon General. He wrote over 150 papers during his career, many of which are considered classic in the field. Woodhall also served the Journal of Neurosurgery as a member of the editorial board (1958) and chair (1963).

Throughout his career, Woodhall served as a member of officer in various neurological and neurosurgical societies: American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, International Society of Surgery, World Federation of Neurological Surgery (executive council, 1960), American Surgical Association, Southern Surgical Association, Harvey Cushing Society (president, 1964-1964), American Academy of Neurological Surgeons (president, 1944), Society of Neurological Surgeons (president 1964-1965), Southern Neurological Surgery, Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha, Sigma Xi, and charter member of Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars (1969). HE was also a member of the Board of Regents at the National Library of Medicine. He served as president of multiple societies and groups and has received awards that include the Distinguished Physician Award, Veterans Administration, 1971; and Statesman in Medicine Award by Airley Foundation of Warrentown, Va.

On August 25, 1928, Woodhall married Frances Coleman. Frances was from Duluth, Minn. She was an excellent swimmer and aimed to enter the 1924 Olympics, but decided to pursue medical illustration instead. She studied at the Mayo Clinic, then at Johns Hopkins under Max Brodel. She published The Sign of Babinski: A study of the Evolution of Cortical Dominance in Primates (1932). She later became a sculptor. Together Dr. And Mrs. Woodhall had two children: Colman Barnes Woodhall (of Wheaton, Md.), a nuclear engineer, Mrs. Elizabeth (Charles E. Rackley) of Birmingham, Ala., a housewife and realtor. They also had four grandsons and one granddaughter.

Barnes Woodhall died in 1985.

Collection Overview

Contains correspondence pertaining to the administration of Duke University Medical Center and Woodhall's involvement in professional groups and societies. Most folders contains correspondence, some also contain reports and other materials pertaining to Woodhall's activities. Materials largely pertain to the development of curriculum, regulation, and continuing education of surgeons. Major subjects in this series include Association of American Medical Colleges, Veterans Administration Committee, building, development, and expansion, the Cushing Society, Fallout Preparedness Committee, Health Planning Council for North Carolina, Journal of Neurosurgery, the Medical Center Library, long range planning, North Carolina Atomic Energy Advisory Committee, Research Triangle Institute, and the Veteran's Administration hospitals. Major correspondents include , R. Taylor Cole (provost), Everett Hopkins of the Office of Institutional Advancement, and Douglas M. Knight (president).

Arrangement Note

The ordering system of these records was changed substantially from their original order during initial processing. Subsequent processing retained the imposed ordering scheme for consistency. Arrangement may vary among related collections.

Online Catalog Headings

Cole, Taylor, 1905-

Hopkins, Everett H., 1912-

Knight, Douglas M., 1921-

Health Planning Council for Central North Carolina.

Health Services Administration.

Hospital Design and Construction.

Journal of Neurosurgery.

Neurosurgery--education.

Duke University. Hospital.

Duke University--Faculty.

Duke University. Medical Center.

Duke University. Medical Center. Library.

National Library of Medicine (U.S.). MEDLARS Management Section.

National Institutes of Health (U.S.)

North Carolina. Atomic Energy Advisory Committee.

Research Triangle Institute.

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Collection Series

• Administrative Correspondence and Subject Files, 1956-1970

• Memorabilia, 1930-1978 (bulk 1960-1976)

• Writings and Speeches, ca. 1965-1975

• Planning and Development of the Duke University Medical Center, ca. 1960-1970

• The Fifth Decade Development Campaign, 1967-1969

Detailed Description of the Collection

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