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URMC / Libraries / Edward G. Miner Library / Rare Books and Manuscripts / Archives and Manuscripts / Faculty Collections / Harry L. Segal, M.D.
 

Harry L. Segal, M.D.

Biography

Harry L. Segal, M.D.Harry L. Segal (1900-1990) was born in Philadelphia 13 June 1900. At age three, his family moved to Rome, New York. After graduating from the Rome Free Academy in 1917, Segal obtained work as a timekeeper in a local factory. With the entry of the United States into war in 1918, Segal took advantage of the financial inducements of the newly formed Student Army Training Company to attend nearby Syracuse University, which he entered in September 1918. He received his undergraduate degree from Syracuse in 1922, and his medical degree from the same university in 1924. From 1924 to 1926 Dr. Segal was an intern at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, where in 1926/27 he was chief resident (medicine). After a year as a Fellow in Research Medicine at the Nelson Morris Institute in Chicago, Dr. Segal spent September 1928-May 1929 in the clinics of the University of Vienna.

In 1929 Dr. Segal was appointed Assistant in Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry. He remained with the University of Rochester his entire career, where, in 1970, he was made Professor of Medicine, Emeritus. In 1930 Dr. Segal had joined the staff of the Genesee Hospital. He served as its Physician-in-Chief from 1956 to 1967, and Coordinator of Medical Education from 1970 to 1973.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Segal did extensive research in the field of gastroenterology (he was the author of 78 scientific articles and three book chapters on the topic). Dr. Segal's investigations at the University of Rochester resulted in the first successful application of color photography through the semi-flexible gastroscope, the introduction of tubeless gastric analysis, and the separation by column chromatography of varying numbers of human pepsinogens.

Dr. Segal was also intensely interested in medical education in developing countries. He was deeply involved in the exchange program between the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry and the Medical College of the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Following the establishment of the Commonwealth Fund sponsored program in 1962, Dr. Segal made eight three-to-four month sojourns in Lagos as a visiting professor.

Dr. Segal was married to the abstract painter Evelyn Buff Segal. They had no children. He died in Rochester in 1990.

Organization of the Collection

The bulk of the papers in the Harry L. Segal collection span the period 1941-1987. They were presented to the Rare Books & Manuscripts section of the Edward G. Miner Library in the autumn of 1991 by Dr. Segal's widow, Evelyn Buff Segal. Processing of the collection was completed on 13 July 1992. The Segal papers are contained in twenty-eight boxes and occupy eighteen linear feet.

The Papers of Harry L. Segal, M.D. are arranged as follows:

  • General files (Boxes 1-4)
  • Correspondence, 1941-1987 (Boxes 5-6)
  • Research notes (Boxes 7-8)
  • Reprints and lecture manuscripts (Boxes 9-10)
  • Rochester/Lagos Exchange Program (Boxes 11-15)
  • Segal Medical Research Fund (Boxes 16-19)
  • Evelyn Buff Segal material (Box 20)
  • Photographs and memorabilia (Boxes 21-26)
  • Patient records (Boxes 27-28)

Considering the extent of his research activity, the files pertaining to Dr. Segal's research (boxes 7-8) are rather scant, i.e., not representative of his laboratory work. A good idea of the work in which Dr. Segal and his colleagues were engaged may be derived from the files of the Segal Medical Research Fund, which was established in 1946 under the directorship of HLS.

The largest and in many respects the most interesting series in the collection is the material pertaining to the Rochester/Lagos Exchange Program -- a project of great personal importance to Dr. Segal. Among the Nigeria files are nine folders of correspondence by-or-to Evelyn Buff Segal, which paint a sensitive portrait of the life of foreign visitors in the Nigerian capital.


Container List


Box One - General

  • Folder 1 - Curriculum vitae
  • Folder 2 - Birth certificate (photocopy)
  • Folder 3 - Who's Who entries
  • Folder 4 - "Thoughts and Non-Thoughts" (1974 & after)
  • Folder 5 - Miscellaneous "thoughts"
  • Folder 6 - "A report of fifty years of research, 1928-1978"
  • Folder 7 - Last will and testament (1988); sequel to pre-1980 will
  • Folder 8 - Condolences on death of HLS (1990)
  • Folder 9 - Household inventory of 30 Stoneham Dr.
  • Folder 10 - Passports
  • Folder 11 - Newspaper clippings
  • Folder 12 - Notes of lectures taken in Vienna, 1928-29
  • Folder 13 - Dogs (1954 & after)
  • Folder 14 - Division of income among Drs. Segal, Watson Friedman & Burton (1956)
  • Folder 15 - Albert D. Kaiser Award, Rochester Academy of Medicine (1959)
  • Folder 16 - Albert D. Kaiser Award, Rochester Academy of Medicine - letters of congratulations
  • Folder 17 - University of Pittsburgh conference on the professional school and world affairs (1961)


Box Two - General

  • Folder 1 - Rochester Academy of Medicine - Awards committee (1961)
  • Folder 2 - David Diamond - sheet music for piece entitled "Prayer" (1964), dedicated to HLSÉ
  • Folder 3 - Genesee Hospital dinner (1966)
  • Folder 4 - World Congress of Gastroenterology (3rd; Tokyo;1966)
  • Folder 5- Special medical education fund, Univ. of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (1969-1971)
  • Folder 6 - Office yearly statements (1970-1976)
  • Folder 7 - Segal Symposium (1972)
  • Folder 8 - Proposed move of Eastman School of Music from downtown Rochester (1974)
  • Folder 9 - Coordinating Council on Medical Education - Conference on foreign medical graduates (Washington, DC; 1975)
  • Folder 10 - Hildegarde Watson memorial service (1976)
  • Folder 11 - Trip to Spain (1976)
  • Folder 12 - American Geriatrics Society (Rochester; 1977)
  • Folder 13 - American Association of Foundations for Medical Care (San Francisco; 1981)


Box Three - General

  • Folder 1 - Genesee Hospital - personal agreement (1958)
  • Folder 2 - Genesee Hospital - Segal-Genesee Hospital fund ( 1967-1973)
  • Folder 3 - Genesee Hospital - correspondence with Paul Hanson (1974-1979)
  • Folder 4 - Genesee Hospital - correspondence with Paul Hanson (1980-1988)
  • Folders 5-23 - Search committee for Dean (1966-1967)
  • Folder 24 - Journal Club / GI Journal Club (1970-71)
  • Folder 25 - Journal Club / GI Journal Club (1972-73)
  • Folder 26 - Journal Club / GI Journal Club ( 1974)


Box Four - General

  • Folder 1 - Journal Club / GI Journal Club (1975)
  • Folder 2 - Journal Club / GI Journal Club (1976)
  • Folder 3 - Journal Club / GI Journal Club (1977)
  • Folder 4 - Journal Club / GI Journal Club (1978)
  • Folder 5 - Gut Club (1974-1980)
  • Folder 6 - Friday AM GI Conference (1975-1978)
  • Folder 7 - Syracuse University - Class of 1922
  • Folder 8 - Syracuse University (1958-1962)
  • Folder 9 - Syracuse University (1975-1979)
  • Folder 12 - Syracuse University (1980-1982)
  • Folder 13 - Syracuse University (1983-1986)


Box Five - Personal Correspondence

  • Folder 1 - Correspondence (1941-1944)
  • Folder 2 - Correspondence (1945-1947)
  • Folder 3 - Correspondence (1948-1958)
  • Folder 4 - Correspondence (1960-1964)
  • Folder 5 - Correspondence (1965)
  • Folder 6 - Correspondence (1966-1967)
  • Folder 7 - Correspondence (1968)
  • Folder 8 - Correspondence (1969-1973)
  • Folder 9 - Correspondence (1974-1975)
  • Folder 10 - Correspondence (1976)
  • Folder 11 - Correspondence (Jan-May 1977)
  • Folder 12 - Correspondence (Jun-Dec 1977)
  • Folder 13 - Correspondence (Jan-Apr 1978)
  • Folder 14 - Correspondence (May-Dec 1978)
  • Folder 15 - Correspondence (Jan-Apr 1979)
  • Folder 16 - Correspondence (May-Jun 1979)


Box Six - Personal Correspondence

  • Folder 1 - Correspondence (Jul-Oct 1979)
  • Folder 2 - Correspondence (Nov-Dec 1979)
  • Folder 3 - Correspondence (Jan-Mar 1980)
  • Folder 4 - Correspondence (Apr-Jun 1980)
  • Folder 5 - Correspondence (Jul-Dec 1980)
  • Folder 6 - Correspondence (Jan-Apr 1981)
  • Folder 7 - Correspondence (May-Nov 1981)
  • Folder 8 - Correspondence (1983)
  • Folder 9 - Correspondence (Feb-Aug 1984)
  • Folder 10 - Correspondence (Sep-Dec 1984)
  • Folder 11 - Correspondence (1985)
  • Folder 12 - Correspondence (1986-1987)
     

Box Seven - Research

  • Folder 1 - Peptic ulcer (1945-46)
  • Folder 2 - Peptic ulcer - nutrition experiment and artificial ulcers [S. Fried] (1946)
  • Folder 3 - Peptic ulcer - ideas (1946-47)
  • Folder 4 - Peptic ulcer - vagotomy (1946-47)
  • Folder 5 - Peptic ulcer - Viobin "fat chick" ulcers (1947)
  • Folder 6 - Peptic ulcer - animal experiments with anti-histamine drug #315
  • Folder 7 - Essenamine - Burbridge correspondence (1945-47)
  • Folder 8 - Essenamine - peptic ulcer case studies (1944-45)
  • Folder 9 - Essenamine - study
  • Folder 10 - Essenamine - essenamine diet
  • Folder 11 - Essenamine - 606
  • Folder 12 - Essenamine - gelatin experiments [H. Coates], lab notebook
  • Folder 13 - Essenamine - protein hydrolysate
  • Folder 14 - Essenamine
     

Box Eight - Research

  • Folder 1 - Resin - Resinous Products & Chemical Co. (1944-46)
  • Folder 2 - Resin - correspondence (1946-47)
  • Folder 3 - Resin - Resinat promotional literature
  • Folder 4 - Resin - Resinat studies
  • Folder 5 - Resin - studies
  • Folder 6 - Resin - resin paper I-II
  • Folder 7 - Resin - resin paper III (1947)
  • Folder 8 - Squibb consultancy (1952-56)
  • Folder 9 - Enzyme research (1960-64)
  • Folder 10 - Simplified uropepsin determination [Segal & Samloff] (1963)


Box Nine - Reprints/Lectures

  • Folder 1 - Reprints (1930-1947)
  • Folder 2 - Reprints (1948-1960)
  • Folder 3 - Reprints (1963-1964)
  • Folder 4 - Reprints (1965-1973)
  • Folder 5 - Peptic ulcer lecture (1948)
  • Folder 6 - A health book plan for medical care (1951)
  • Folder 7 - Separation of human pepsins (196?)
  • Folder 8 - Human pepsinogens & their derivatives - abstract (1962)
  • Folder 9 - The pathophysiology of peptic ulcer (1962)
  • Folder 10 - Gastric ulcer (1963)
  • Folder 11 - Gastric analysis (1964-66)
  • Folder 12 - Chromatographic separation of pepsinogens and pepsins (1964)
  • Folder 13 - Therapy of peptic ulcer (1965)
  • Folder 14 - Gastric mucosa (1974)
  • Folder 15 - Clinical significance of gastric secretory activity (1965)
  • Folder 16 - Gastric analysis [Segal & Samloff] (after 1966)
  • Folder 17 - Human pepsinogens and pepsins (1968)
  • Folder 18 - The development of a medical school in a developing country, 1972-1970 (1970)
  • Folder 19 - University: 1970 (Sierra Leone, 1970)
  • Folder 20 - Immunology and cancer (1970)
  • Folder 21 - The gastric mucosa (Sierra Leone, 1970)
  • Folder 22 - Nigeria lecture material (1971)
  • Folder 23 - The end of the internship (1971)
  • Folder 24 - Medical education in tropical Africa (1973)
  • Folder 25 - Dinner talk, Symposium on GI hormone research, American Society of Physiology (1973)
  • Folder 26 - Re-organization of medical house staff, Genesee Hospital (1973)


Box Ten - Lectures

  • Folder 1 - Peptic ulcer: a manuscript for general class exercise (1973)
  • Folder 2 - Immunology and gastrointestinal cancer (Haiti, 1973)
  • Folder 3 - Dysfunction of the colon (1974)
  • Folder 4 - Fifty years out of medical school (1974)
  • Folder 5 - The Genesee Hospital: saga of its teaching affiliation, 1945-1974 (1974)
  • Folder 6 - University of Rochester: the Medical School and its associated hospitals (after 1974)
  • Folder 7 - University of Rochester: the Medical School and its associated hospitals (1975?)
  • Folder 8 - Medical care of the older population (1975)
  • Folder 9 - Blood tests for cancer (1975)
  • Folder 10 - Peptic ulcer: general class exercises (1978)
  • Folder 11 - A chair of psychosocial medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (1979)
  • Folder 12 - What is the hope? (198-?)
  • Folder 13 - Remarks about Rochester (1983)
  • Folder 14 - Report of a medical career, 1924-1985 (1985)


Box Eleven - Nigeria

  • Folder 1 - Correspondence (Donald G. Anderson), Feb-Apr 1962
  • Folder 2 - Correspondence (Donald G. Anderson), May-Oct 1962
  • Folder 3 - Correspondence (HLS), 1962
  • Folder 4 - Correspondence (HLS), 1963
  • Folder 5 - Correspondence (HLS), Jan-Jul 1964
  • Folder 6 - Correspondence (HLS), Aug 1964
  • Folder 7 - Correspondence (HLS), Sep-Oct 1964
  • Folder 8 - Correspondence (HLS), 1965-1967
  • Folder 9 - Correspondence (HLS), Jan 1968
  • Folder 10 - Correspondence (HLS), Feb 1968
  • Folder 11 - Correspondence (HLS), Mar 1968
  • Folder 12 - Correspondence (HLS), Jan-May 1970
  • Folder 13 - Correspondence (HLS), May-Jun 1970
  • Folder 14 - Correspondence (HLS), 1978


Box Twelve - Nigeria

  • Folder 1 - Correspondence (HLS), 1979
  • Folder 2 - Correspondence (HLS), Feb-Mar 1980
  • Folder 3 - Correspondence (HLS), Apr-Jul 1980
  • Folder 4 - Correspondence (HLS), Aug-Dec 1980
  • Folder 5 - Correspondence (HLS), 1981-1983
  • Folder 6 - Correspondence (HLS), 1983-1984 (with N.A. Omoigui)
  • Folder 7 - Correspondence (HLS), 1985-1990
  • Folder 8 - "A Message from Lagos" (HLS & EBS), 25 Dec 1962
  • Folder 9 - Correspondence (Evelyn Buff Segal), 1962
  • Folder 10 - Correspondence (EBS), Jan-Feb 1963
  • Folder 11 - Correspondence (EBS), Mar-Oct 1963
  • Folder 12 - Correspondence (EBS) - unfinished letters & reflections, 1962-1963
  • Folder 13 - Correspondence (EBS) - unfinished letters & reflections, 1962-1963
  • Folder 14 - Correspondence (EBS), 1964
  • Folder 15 - Correspondence (EBS) - unfinished letters & reflections, 1964
  • Folder 16 - Correspondence (EBS), 1965-1967
  • Folder 17 - Correspondence (EBS), 1968
  • Folder 18 - Correspondence (W. Lotspeich), 1962-1964
  • Folder 19 - Lotspeich columns in Democrat & Chronicle, -1962-1963


Box Thirteen - Nigeria

  • Folder 1 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine - opening ceremony, 3 Oct 1962-
  • Folder 2 - Commonwealth Fund report, 1979
  • Folder 3 - Invitations
  • Folder 4 - HLS' Nigerian medical license (1962)
  • Folder 5 - Newspaper clippings (Rochester)
  • Folder 6 - Newspaper clippings (other)
  • Folder 7 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine - catalogs (1962/63-1965/66, 1970/71)
  • Folder 8 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine - miscellaneous publications
  • Folder 9 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine - external examinations (Jun 1967)
  • Folder 10 - Univ. of Lagos. Teaching Hospital - case record summaries (1966-1968)
  • Folder 11 - Association of Medical Schools in Africa - 7th annual conference (Apr 1968)
  • Folder 12 - Working notebook in Lagos, and journal of trip to Israel & Europe (1970)
  • Folder 13 - Address at the Univ. of Sierra Leone (1 Apr 1970)
  • Folder 14 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine - telephone directory (Feb-Jul 1970)
  • Folder 15 - Presentation of plaque from the Univ. of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry to H.O. Thomas (1971)
  • Folder 16 - "Medical Education in Tropical Africa," Corner Society address (11 Dec 1973)
  • Folder 17 - Nigerians in the Dept. of Surgery, UR
  • Folder 18 - Miscellaneous articles on medical education in Africa (1958-1979)


Box Fourteen - Nigeria

  • Folder 1 - Miscellaneous pamphlets on Nigeria
  • Folder 2 - Miscellaneous pamphlets on Nigeria
  • Folder 3 - Postacrds - Lagos
  • Folder 4 - Postcards - other
  • Folder 5 - Photos - people of Nigeria
  • Folder 6 - Photos - arts of Nigeria
  • Folder 7 - Photos - places in Nigeria
  • Folder 8 - Photos - Segals and friends
  • Folder 9 - Photos - Univ. of Lagos Medical School
  • Folder 10 - Photos - Univ. of Lagos Teaching Hospital
  • Folder 11 - Photos - Nigerian political leaders
  • Folder 12 - Photos - Reception in honor of officers of Nigerian communications corps
  • at 30 Stoneham Drive (Jun 1976)
  • Folder 13 - Photos - Reception in honor of officers of Nigerian communications corps
  • at 30 Stoneham Drive (Jun 1976)


Box Fifteen - Nigeria

  • Folder 1 - University of Lagos Act (1962)
  • Folder 2 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine. Management Board. Standing orders (1962?)
  • Folder 3 - Univ. of Lagos - annual reports
  • Folder 4 - "Report on training of health personnel in Nigeria," by Thomas McKeown, (31 Jul 1962)
  • Folder 5 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine - Clinical students' introductory course (1964)
  • Folder 6 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine -IRS tax exemption application (1964)
  • Folder 7 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine - monthly newsletter (Jul-Oct 1964)
  • Folder 8 - "Medical education in Nigeria," by W.R.F. Collis [typescript] (21 Oct 1964)
  • Folder 9 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine - library bulletin (1967)
  • Folder 10 - Univ. of Lagos - installation of chancellor (18 Jan 1968)
  • Folder 11 - Univ. of Lagos. College of Medicine - miscellanea (1968)
  • Folder 12 - "The role of higher education in development," by O.S. Biobaku, Commonwealth Education Conference (9 Mar 1968)
  • Folder 13 - Association of Medical Schools in Africa, (7th conference, Lagos (Apr 1968)
  • Folder 14 - West African Society of Gastroenterology, 1st annual conf. (Mar 1969); 2nd biennial conf. (Apr 1970)
  • Folder 15 - Nigerian Medical Association, annual meeting (Apr 1970)
  • Folder 16 - West African Society of Gastroenterology, (1971 & 1972 biennial conferences)
  • Folder 17 - Association of Medical Schools in Africa, (7th annual conference (Apr 1972)
  • Folder 18 - Teaching trip to Lagos (May-Jun 1973)
  • Folder 19 - "Medical education and health care delivery in Nigeria," address in Rochester by A.Y. Eke (22 Apr 1983)


Box Sixteen - Segal Medical Research Fund

  • Folder 1 - Segal Medical Research Fund (SMRF) - original agreement
  • Folder 2 - SMRF, 1945-46
  • Folder 3 - SMRF, 1947
  • Folder 4 - SMRF, 1948
  • Folder 5 - SMRF, 1949
  • Folder 6 - SMRF, 1950
  • Folder 7 - SMRF, 1950
  • Folder 8 - SMRF, 1951
  • Folder 9 - SMRF, 1952
  • Folder 10 - SMRF, 1953
  • Folder 11 - SMRF, 1954
  • Folder 12 - SMRF, 1955
  • Folder 13 - SMRF, 1956
  • Folder 14 - SMRF - ten year report, 1946-1956


Box Seventeen - Segal Medical Research Fund

  • Folder 1 - SMRF, 1957-58
  • Folder 2 - SMRF, 1958-59
  • Folder 3 - SMRF, 1959-60
  • Folder 4 - SMRF, 1960-61
  • Folder 5 - SMRF, 1961-62
  • Folder 6 - SMRF, 1962-63
  • Folder 7 - SMRF, 1963-64
  • Folder 8 - SMRF, 1964-65
  • Folder 9 - SMRF, 1965-66
  • Folder 10 - SMRF, 1966-67
  • Folder 11 - SMRF, 1967-68
  • Folder 12 - SMRF, 1968-69
  • Folder 13 - SMRF, 1969-70


Box Eighteen - Segal Medical Research Fund

  • Folder 1 - SMRF, 1970-71
  • Folder 2 - SMRF, 1971-72
  • Folder 3 - SMRF, 1972-73
  • Folder 4 - SMRF, 1973-74
  • Folder 5 - SMRF, 1974-75
  • Folder 6 - SMRF, 1974-75
  • Folder 7 - SMRF, 1975-76
  • Folder 8 - SMRF, 1976-77
     

Box Nineteen - Segal Medical Research Fund

  • Folder 1 - SMRF, 1976-77
  • Folder 2 - SMRF, 1977-78
  • Folder 3 - SMRF, 1977-78
  • Folder 4 - SMRF, 1985-86
  • Folder 5 - SMRF, 1987
  • Folder 6 - Watson-Segal Professorship, 1965-1987
  • Folder 7 - Anna Mapstone correspondence, 1975-1982
  • Folder 8 - Anna Mapstone correspondence, 1983-1986


Box Twenty - Evelyn Buff Segal

  • Folder 1 - Newspaper clippings (EBS)
  • Folder 2 - Curriculum viae of Evelyn Buff Segal
  • Folder 3 - Passport (EBS)
  • Folder 4 - Photographs of EBS
  • Folder 5 - Photographs of EBS
  • Folder 6 - Photographs of EBS
  • Folder 7 - Photographs of friends & family of EBS
  • Folder 8 - Birthday party at Lorenzo's Restaurant (12 Jan 1949) - photographs
  • Folder 9 - Birthday party at Lorenzo's Restaurant (12 Jan 1949) - telegrams, etc.É
  • Folder 10 - "Homage to Nigera" [exhibition catalog] (Dec 1975-Jan 1976) -
  • Folder 11 - "Homage to Nigeria" (Dec. 1975-Jan 1976) - color transparencies
  • Folder 12 - "Homage to Nigeria" (Dec. 1975-Jan 1976) - exhibition correspondence
  • Folder 13 - Photograph exhibit - Memorial Art Gallery (1977-78)-
  • Folder 14 - Miscellaneous exhibition catalogs
  • Folder 15 - Miscellanea
  • Folder 16 - Leo Hohler


Box Twenty-One

  • Miscellaneous photographs


Box Twenty-Two

  • Photographs of HLS and EBS


Box Twenty-Three

  • Diplomas, awards, certificates


Box Twenty-Four

  • Large folding map of Nigeria (c1959)
  • Nigerian flag


Box Twenty-Five

  • Oversize photographs of HLS and EBS


Box Twenty-Six

  • Plaques and medals


Box Twenty-Seven

  • Patient records


Box Twenty-Eight

  • Patient records