Flexner Family Collection

Collection

Identifier: EBL-0024

Staff Only

Collection Scope and Content Summary

Photos, letters, and publications about Abraham Flexner and other members of the Flexner Family. Dr. Flexner is best known for the highly influential Flexner Report on the state of medical education in the United States. The collection includes photographs, biographical material, correspondence, reprints, manuscripts, and a copy of the privately printed book: A Family Memoir 1899-1989 by Jean Atherton Flexner Lewinson. There is a sizeable section grouping of correspondence and photographs created by Dr. Morris Flexner during his student days at the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University, as well as a collection of photographs taken during his service as a ,medical officer during World War I. The collection also contains a group of notebooks compiled by noted culinary author Marion K. Flexner.

Dates

1898-2011
Majority of material found within 1908 - 1965

Creator

Flexner, Marion Kahn Weil (Person)

Notes about Access to this Collection

All collections are subject to applicable Vanderbilt University privacy and confidentiality policies. Collection specific restrictions: No Restrictions.

Reproduction Rights

Copyright is retained by History of Medicine Collections, Eskind Biomedical Library, Vanderbilt University or is retained by the authors of specific published items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Historical or Biographical Note

Collection contains biographical material on the Flexner family including: Abraham Flexner (1866-1959), Simon Flexner (1863-1946), Morris Flexner (1890-1969), Marion Kahn Weil Flexner (1900-1992) and John Flexner (1926 -2011 ).

Although Abraham Flexner never received a degree from Vanderbilt, or held a professorship at this institution, he exercised a powerful influence over the funding and design of Vanderbilt's new medical school, which opened in September 1925. Abraham Flexner is best known for the highly influential Flexner Report on the state of medical education in the United States. This study, published in 1910 earned Flexner everlasting fame and a powerful position at the General Education Board. This Board funded by the Rockefeller family, dispensed vast sums for the improvement of medical schools in the United States and abroad. Vanderbilt Medical School received 14 million dollars from the General Education Board. This large gift was encouraged by Abraham Flexner, based on his close friendship and great admiration for Vanderbilt's Chancellor James H. Kirkland.

Extent

6.85 Cubic Feet (Five Paige Boxes and 1 oversized flat storage box (13.5"x18.5"x3"), )

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Photos, letters, and publications about Abraham Flexner and other members of the Flexner Family including Morris Flexner, Marion Flexner, Jacob Flexner. and Simon Flexner. Dr. Flexner is best known for the highly influential Flexner Report on the state of medical education in the United States. The collection includes photographs, biographical material, correspondence, reprints, manuscripts, and a copy of the privately printed book: A Family Memoir 1899-1989 by Jean Atherton Flexner Lewinson. There is an interesting collection of World War I photographs taken by Dr. Morris Flexner, during his service in France between 1918 and 1919. Additionally, the collection contains a group of noted cooking author Marion K. Flexner's notebooks of recipies and annotated typescripts for a couple of her published works.

Physical Location

EBL Vault

Acquisition Information

Acquired beginning in the 1990s unitl 2012 from periodic donations made by Dr. John M. Flexner, Professor of Medicine, Emiritus, and members of his immediate family.