Archive Series Descriptions
Names of Series
Several of the Series of the Wilder Penfield Archive are identified according to initials or abbreviations. These series titles were part of the original archival labeling system imposed on the Penfield Archive in the late 1970s and early 1980s according to the principles of T.R. Schellenberg's 1956 text, Modern Archives: Principles and Technique. While the letter titles of the series were originally supposed to be indicative of their nature or arrangement, explanations as to the meanings of most of these series titles are provided on this page.
Series which were not part of the original archival arrangement have been assigned more descriptive titles.
Arrangement
The Series of the Wilder Penfield Archive are largely arranged as they were when the archive was first catalogued in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This arrangement is partially based upon Dr. Penfield's own filing system, and partly upon the organization, function, chronological periods, places and subjects of the file units. Most of the series are composed of individual file units, which contain materials that relate to the same subject or transaction, or that have the same form. The files may vary in size and form, but they are typically found in a sequential order which was imposed by Dr. Penfield's original filing system.
Series A. -- 9 cm of textual records and graphic materials (1 original illustration, 150 photographs), and objects (1 plaque).
This series consists of records generated by Dr. Penfield as an employee of McGill University or the Montreal Neurological Institute. Most of the material in this series is the property of those institutions, and is not considered personal material.
Sub-Series A/N. -- 1925-1978.-- 9 cm of textual records, graphic materials (1 original illustration, 150 photographs), and objects (1 plaque).
Files which are associated with administration of the MNI, but which contain personal materials and records that belonged to Dr. Penfield.
Series A/V. -- Graphic materials (23 photographs, 7 illustrations).
Photographs and illustrations of colleagues, physicians, and other medical professionals.
Series C. -- 8.39 m of textual records.
This series consists of most of Dr. Penfield's correspondence. The series is composed of three sub-series corresponding to Dr. Penfield's "Simple System". (C = Correspondence)
Sub-Series C/D. -- 1920-1980. -- 2.36 m of textual records.
All of Dr. Penfield's "correspondence-domestic", or personal correspondence, which was taken from his office at the Montreal Neurological Institute. This sub-series includes material which Dr. Penfield had collected before arriving at McGill in 1928.
(C/D = Correspondence/Domestic)
C/D 1 to C/D 9 - filed by year
C/D 10 to C/D 20 - filed by name
D-C/D 21 to D-C/D 26 - filed by year
D-C/D 27 to D-C/D 32 - filed by name
The bulk of this material was filed alphabetically within groups of years. However, it also includes selected files of correspondence with individuals who were Dr. Penfield's personal friends.
NOTE: A prefix "D" has been added to the id numbers for files 21 to 32. This is to indicate that the material in the files was taken from Dr. Penfield's home rather than his office at the Montreal Neurological Institute. This series includes material which he had collected before arriving at McGill in 1928. In particular, it includes correspondence between Dr. Penfield and his wife, Helen Kermott Penfield.
Sub-Series C/G. -- 1920-1980. -- 3.9 m of textual records.
General correspondence, essentially inactive files kept for reference (C/G = Correspondence General). Filed and boxed, for the most part by Dr. Penfield's secretary (Miss Dawson), the sub-series is arranged under a number of headings, including the annual general correspondence. The files are arranged alphabetically by correspondent or institution, and are boxed by year.
C/G 1 to 20 - filed by subject
C/G 25 to 76 - filed by year
Sub-Series C/S. -- 1920-1980. -- 2.13 m of textual records.
Subject files of correspondence (C/S = Correspondence/Subject). Most of these files were active up until Dr. Penfield's death and are largely grouped by subject. They may extend over a number of years but seem to indicate a continuing interest on the part of Dr. Penfield.
NOTE: Some of these files may have been assembled by Dr. Penfield's secretary (Miss Dawson) at the request of Dr. Feindel after Dr. Penfield's death. Thus, their original provenance is not necessarily represented by their present arrangement.
Letters and correspondence related to publications or talks, addresses, or papers, are usually filed with the related manuscripts, and so are to be found throughout all of the sub-series of series W.
Sub-Sub-Series C/SD. -- 49 cm of textual records.
Active office files, filed by subject, pertaining directly to Dr. Penfield, his life, and his activities. (C/SD = Correspondence/Subjects Domestic)
C/SD 1 to C/SD 15 - filed alphabetically by subject
Sub-Sub-Series C/SG. -- 39 cm of textual records.
Active office files, filed by subject, pertaining directly to Dr. Penfield's general administration of the MNI and other activities in which he was professionally involved. (C/SG = Correspondence/Subjects General)
C/SG 1 to C/SG 10 - filed alphabetically by subject
Sub-Sub-Series C/SW. -- 1.25 m of textual records.
Active office files, filed by subject, related to Dr. Penfield's writings and travels. (C/SW = Correspondence/Subjects Writing)
C/SW 1 to C/SW 16 - filed alphabetically by subject
Series E. -- 3.54 m of textual records and graphic materials (ca. 4500 photographs and negatives, 59 illustrations, 77 photograph slides, ca. 50 illustrated postcards).
This series includes records of events, biographical and historical data, and many visual materials. Much of this material is ephemeral and was originally found in Dr. Penfield and Mrs. Penfield's boxes of memorabilia. The series is divided into 15 sub-series, each of which may be grouped into two divisions - general and personal (WGP). Most of the material in this series is found off-site at apartment 1605A, 1212 Avenue des Pins.
Sub-Series E/F-WGP. -- 3 cm of textual records and graphic materials (2 photographs).
Correspondence, paperwork, and articles concerning films, recordings, and television broadcasts that involved Dr. Penfield.
Sub-Series E/I. -- 1.14 m of textual records and graphic materials (1065 photographs, 7 illustrations).
Biographical and iconographic data on individuals, found in vertical, alphabetical files. The files are labelled and arranged by year - month - day/s (i.e. 63-11-5) with a possible note concerning a relevant location or subject. (E/I = Events / Individuals)
Sub-Series E/I-WGP. -- 18 cm of textual records and graphic materials (193 photographs, 1 negative).
Individual biographies and iconographic data on Dr. Penfield (WGP) and family. (E/I-WGP = Events / Individuals-Personal)
E/I-WGP 1 to E/I-WGP 6 - Arranged in vertical files.
Sub-Series E/K. -- 1.57 m of textual records and graphic materials (570 photographs, 77 photograph slides).
Clippings, memorabilia and pictures, filed chronologically by date, i.e. year-month-day (E/K 70-5-16).
Sub-Series E/P. -- 4 cm of textual records and graphic materials (1 photograph).
Published Accounts. (E/P = Events / Published)
E/P 1 to E/P 4 - published articles or stories.
Sub-Series E/P-WGP. -- 3 cm of textual records and graphic materials (3 photographs).
Published accounts regarding Dr. Penfield (WGP). This series contains material related to talks, honours, etc. which were inspired by Dr. Penfield. It also contains materials related to Dr. Penfield's final illness and death in 1976. (E/P-WGP = Events / Published-Personal)
E/P-WGP 1 to E/P-WGP 81 - In vertical files, filed chronologically (by publication date).
Sub-Series E/PN. -- 14 cm of textual records and graphic materials (63 photographs, 3 illustrations).
Published accounts regarding the Montreal Neurological Institute. (E/PN = Events / Published Neuro.)
E/PN 1 to E/PN 6 - In vertical files, filed by subject.
Sub-Series E/PM. -- 4 cm of textual records.
Published accounts regarding McGill University. (E/PM = Events / Published McGill)
E/PM 1 to E/PM 7 - In vertical files, filed by subject.
Sub-Series E/PS. -- 1 cm of textual records.
Published material concerning McGill University and/or Dr. Penfield. (E/PS = Events / Published Standard)
E/PM 1 to E/PM 7 - In vertical files, filed by subject.
Sub-Series E/PV. -- 9 cm of textual records and graphic materials (84 photographs).
Published photo stories about the Montreal Neurological Institute. (E/PV = Events / Published Visual)
Sub-Series E/V. -- 6 cm of textual records and graphic materials (39 photographs, ca. 50 postcards).
General pictorial records concerning Dr. Penfield, the Montreal Neurological Institute, and other individuals in the field of neurology. (E/V = Events / Visual)
E/V 1 to E/V 5 - In vertical files.
Sub-Series E/V-WGP. -- 16 cm of graphic materials (264 photographs, 1 negative, 18 illustrations).
Portraits and portrait snaps of Dr. Penfield and his family, in vertical files. (E/V-WGP = Events / Visual-Personal)
Sub-Series E/VN. -- 30 cm of graphic materials (551 photographs, 31 illustrations).
Pictorial records of events at the Montreal Neurological Institute. (E/VN = Events / Visual Neuro.)
Sub-Series E/VS. -- 5 cm of textual records and graphic materials (17 photographs).
Visual and some textual information concerning particular neurological cases. This material was sent to Dr. Penfield by other neurologists. (E/VS = Events / Visual Sent)
Sub-Series E/Photographs. -- 1910-1980. -- Graphic materials (ca. 1600 photographs and negatives).
This sub-series is a collection of photographs of Dr. Penfield, various members of his family, and/or friends taken between the second decade of the twentieth century and the 1970s.
Series J. -- 97 cm of textual records, graphic materials, and objects (academic robes and hats).
Miscellaneous material produced and collected by Dr. Penfield. This series includes art work, notes, and correspondence, as well as Dr. Penfield's academic robes and hats. The series also includes less than 1 cm of photographs (found in file J 13-1), as well as a framed diploma (file J 2-3).
Series O. -- 2.86 m of textual records and graphic materials.
This series consists of objects or artifacts that belonged to Dr. Penfield.
Sub-Series O/B-Appointment diaries. -- 1957-1971. -- 36 cm of textual records.
Bound appointment diaries used by Dr. Penfield to keep track of both his personal and professional engagements between 1957 and 1971. Given the number of blank pages in many of the diaries, it is likely that Dr. Penfield did not consistently record his engagements in the diaries.
Sub-Series O/H. -- 1909-1978. -- 2.5 m of textual records and objects (26 medals).
This sub-series contains honours, awards, diplomas, tributes, and medals presented to Dr. Penfield throughout his career.
Sub-Series O/T. -- Graphic materials (1038 glass microscope slides).
Glass microscope slides.
Sub-Series O/V. -- Graphic materials (161 photographs, 7 illustrations, and 1 illustrated post card).
Photographs and illustrations (most of which had been framed) found in Dr. Penfield's home and office.
Series TR. -- 27 cm of textual records.
This series consists of correspondence, notes, reports, and report drafts which were created and collected by Dr. Penfield as part of his travels to, and work in, Britain, the Middle East, and the Soviet Union for the National Research Council of Canada during the Second World War. (TR = Travels)
Series W. -- 15.17 m of textual records and graphic materials.
This series consists of the manuscripts, and related materials, of Dr. Penfield's published and unpublished writings.
Sub-Series W/B. -- 4.07 m of textual records and graphic materials (ca. 1500 photographs, ca. 850 illustrations).
This sub-series includes the notes, drafts, correspondence and notes Dr. Penfield produced and collected in creating his various books. (W/B = Writings / Books)
Sub-Series W/BV -- 7 cm of graphic materials (8 photographs, 36 illustrations).
A small collection of visual material (mostly oversized illustrations) used in several of Dr. Penfield's published books.
Sub-Series W/P. -- 4 m of textual records and graphic materials (ca. 1400 photographs, ca. 750 illustrations).
This sub-series includes the notes, drafts, and correspondence Dr. Penfield created and collected in producing his various non-book writings. (W/P = Writings / Published)
Sub-Series W/PV. -- Graphic materials (114 photographs, 306 illustrations).
This sub-series consists of illustrations and photographs which were included as part of a number of Dr. Penfield's published writings. Each of the series' file numbers (ex. W/PV XX) correspond to the published writing file in which the images were used (ex. W/P XX).
Sub-Series W/PNR. -- 80 cm of textual records and graphic materials (ca. 200 photographs, ca. 100 illustrations).
Materials collected and created by Dr. Penfield in producing writings which were not books, and for which no reprints exist. (W/PNR = Writings/Published No Reprint)
Sub-Series W/Q. -- 48 cm of textual records and graphic materials.
This sub-series contains non-professional material created by Dr. Penfield which was unfinished at the time of his death in 1976.
Sub-Series W/U. -- 3.40 m of textual records and graphic materials (ca. 2200 photographs, ca. 1200 illustrations).
Unpublished writings, including talks, addresses, articles, unfinished papers, etc. many of which are printed or published, in full or in part, in some other form and filed elsewhere. (W/U = Writings / Unpublished)
Sub-Series W/US. -- 35 cm of textual records and graphic materials (ca. 200 photographs, ca. 100 illustrations).
Unpublished writings, arranged by subject. This sub-series includes lecture notes, unfinished jobs, and some published writings. In addition, W/US 33, 34 and 35 consist of similar material which was found loose in Dr. Penfield's office after his death. (W/US = Writings / Unpublished by Subject)
Sub-Series W/V.
A collection of visual material Dr. Penfield used to illustrate his writings. (W/V = Writings / Visual)
Sub-Sub-Series W/VG. -- 1923-1976. -- ca. 1600 glass photograph slides.
Dr. Penfield's Collection of glass lantern research slides. This collection has not yet been catalogued, but contains more than 1600 glass slides. Many of the slides are arranged in metal drawers in the order Dr. Penfield maintained them on his slide filing racks. (A listing of and descriptions of the slides are available in card catalogue format at the Osler Library.) Additional research and teaching slides, which were taken or prduced by the MNI's Neuro Photography department, are found in boxes 479 to 488. Each of these additional slides is numbered and has a corresponding Neuro Photography number.
Sub-Series W/Working Files -- 2 m of textual records.
Files containing additional material used by Dr. Penfield in the production of some of his published articles.
Sub-Series W/Z. -- Textual records (ca. 13,900 index cards).
Card indexes of Dr. Penfield's writings. These indexes were produced by Dr. Penfield himself.
Series WP-CTEE. -- 3 m of textual records.
Reports and notes collected and produced by Dr. Penfield as part of his work on committees of the National Research Council of Canada during the Second World War. The documents found in the series include American, British, and Canadian reports on different kinds of medical tests, as well as committee meeting minutes. (WP-CTEE = Wilder Penfield - Committees)
Sermons. -- 1960-1976. -- 12 cm of textual records.
This series contains typed drafts and published sermons both written and delivered by Dr. Penfield, as well as published sermons by various Presbyterian/United Church ministers.
Sussex. -- 1916-1971. -- 24 cm of textual records and graphic materials (32 photographs, 3 postcards).
This series contains material concerning the "Sussex", an English Channel passenger steamer on which Dr. Penfield was travelling in 1916 when it was hit by a German torpedo.
Presbyterian Hospital. -- 1921-1928. -- 32 cm of textual records and graphic materials (854 photographs, 10 illustrations, 1 negative).
This series contains material concerning Columbia University's Presbyterian Hospital in New York, where Dr. Penfield worked as associate attending surgeon from 1921 to 1928, and where he founded the hospital's Laboratory of Neurocytology in 1924.
Helen Kermott Penfield Calendars. -- 1947-1974. -- 24 cm of textual records.
This series contains a group of calendars, or diaries, kept by Dr. Penfield's wife between 1947 and 1974.
Helen Kermott Penfield, Correspondence. -- 1920-1932. -- 14 cm of textual records.
This series contains correspondence between Helen Kermott Penfield and Wilder Graves Penfield, as well as other friends and family between 1920 and 1932.
Penfield Books. -- 1.50 m of textual records and graphic materials (219 photographs, 459 illustrations).
This series contains the final drafts of Dr. Penfield's various published books.
Readings. -- 12 cm of textual records.
Notes produced by Dr. Penfield on books and articles he had read.
Clippings. -- 24 cm of textual records.
Newspaper and magazine article clippings collected by Dr. Penfield.
MNI/Personal Correspondence. -- 1934-1965. -- 80 cm of textual records.
This series contains correspondence between Dr. Penfield and friends and colleagues, as well as social and professional institutions. The series' contents were found at the Montreal Neurological Institute in 2008, and thus, were not included with original correspondence series (Series C) of the Penfield Archive. The records in this series have been catalogued at the item level.
Personal Diaries. -- 1905-1976. -- 72 cm of textual records and graphic materials.
This series contains several of Dr. Penfield's personal appointment diaries. It also currently includes a photograph album from 1913-1916, a scrap book from Dr. Penfield's time at Galahad School (1905), some miscelleneous material collected by Dr. William Feindel concerning Dr. Penfield and the Montreal Neurological Institute, and an old reprint mailing list compiled by Dr. Penfield.
Note: Additional personal diaries can be found in the Osler Library's Jefferson Lewis fonds (P 190).
Material found in boxes 411 to 415.
Photographs/Info - MNI Fellows. -- 1928-1976. -- 50 cm of textual records and graphic materials (284 photographs).
A drawer of catalogue cards with information concerning most MNI Fellows from between the institute's opening to the 1970s. Much of this information consists of mailing addresses which were compiled in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and is thus likely no longer accurate. Many of the cards are also accompanied by photographs of the particular Fellow.