Stanley Cohen papers

Collection

Identifier: EBL-1005

Staff Only

Collection Scope and Content Summary

These papers include laboratory notebooks, personal and professional correspondence, grant records, travel and conference records, publication manuscripts, awards, and laboratory artifacts. The laboratory notebooks were kept by staff and graduate students, including Brenda Crews, C. Richard Savage, and Katherine Chen. The papers in the collection date from the late 1960s until the late 2000s.

While there is much correspondence within these papers, there is very little of a personal nature. Most of the scientific correspondence is within the context of reviews, reference letters, and other professional transactions.

These materials also include unsolicited letters from members of the public, as well as evidence of Dr. Cohen's philanthropic and humanitarian activities.

Dates

Majority of material found within 1960 - 2008

Creator

Cohen, Stanley (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

Dr. Stanley Cohen (1922-2020), professor of biochemistry at Vanderbilt University, won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology with his former colleague Rita Levi-Montalcini for their research in nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor. His research centered on cell growth and has led to better treatments for burn victims, cancer patients and others who have benefited from improved cell repair. After receiving the Nobel Prize, he remained at Vanderbilt working in his lab and with graduate students until his retirement in January 2000.

Dr. Cohen was born November 17, 1922 in Brooklyn, NY. He was educated at Brooklyn College (BA 1943, chemistry and zoology), Oberlin College (MA 1945, zoology), and the University of Michigan (Ph.D. 1948, biochemistry). After six years of teaching biochemistry at the University of Michigan and Colorado School of Medicine, he went to Washington University in St. Louis, first as a post-doctoral fellow and then as an associate professor. In 1959 he joined the faculty of the Department of Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, engaged in teaching and research and rapidly advanced to the rank of professor. In 1986, the Board of Trust of Vanderbilt conferred on him the honor of Distinguished Professor. Stanley Cohen was the first ever to be so honored in the Medical School.

In addition to honorary degrees and special named prizes awarded from Brandeis, Columbia, the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin, Stanley Cohen received the following high honors over the years: American Cancer Society Research Professor of Biochemistry (1976); National Medal of Science (1986); Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation (1986).

Dr. Cohen died February 5, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Extent

21.3 Linear Feet (44 document cases and three records storage boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Professional and personal papers of Dr. Stanley Cohen, professor of biochemistry at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. These papers include laboratory notebooks, personal and professional correspondence, grant records, travel and conference records, publication manuscripts, awards, and laboratory artifacts.