Finding Aid for the Adrian C. Kanaar M.D. papers Biomed.0106

Finding aid prepared by UCLA Biomedical Library staff, 2011.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2011
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Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Adrian C. Kanaar, M.D. papers
Creator: Kanaar, Adrian Charles
Identifier/Call Number: Biomed.0106
Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1940-2001
Abstract: Dr. Kanaar was a British-born and -trained surgeon who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War II, in France and Belgium up to the retreat at Dunkirk, in various battlefield locations after D-day, and in Berlin during the occupation. This collection focuses mostly on his non-medical writings, namely descriptions of his war experiences in Europe and of the conditions he observed there. Included are several typescripts of two unpublished books: 1. "War-time reflections by a British Army surgeon", which was based partly on a series of talks given by Capt. Kanaar during three months spent in the United States while on special leave; 2. "The Sign of the Hammer and Sickle " which is also partly based on wartime experiences; 3. typescripts of a number of published and unpublished essays, articles, and letters to newspapers. The bulk of the collection dates to 1940-1948.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Access

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

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Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Adrian C. Kanaar, M.D. papers (Collection 106). Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library History and Special Collections for the Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles.

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UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 9966614103606533 

Acquisition Information

The collection was a gift from Dr. Margaret H. Jones-Kanaar to the UCLA Biomedical Library.

Biography

Adrian C. Kanaar, MD, MRCP (London), FRCS (Edinburgh) (1911-1993) qualified M.B. at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, in 1934, received a B.S. from London University in 1936, had surgical training at Edinburgh University, and was awarded the M.D. from the British Postgraduate Medical School in 1939. That year he was called to active service with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was active in France and Belgium through the retreat at Dunkirk; he returned to the Continent after D-Day and served in various stations, including occupied Berlin. On special leave in 1942 in the U.S., Captain Kanaar began a series of talks about his war experiences, wanting to foster Anglo-American cooperation and to clear up what he felt were misconceptions about the war and about the British. These talks evolved into some of the manuscript chapters included in this collection. His experiences in Germany after the war's end, and especially his impressions of the administration in the Russian zone, are described in the second major manuscript in this collection, and in many of the shorter pieces.
In 1948 Dr. Kanaar had the honor of presenting a Hunterian lecture to the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Shortly thereafter he and his wife and son emigrated to Eastern Canada where he practiced orthopedic surgery and physical medicine. In 1959 he moved to Buffalo, NY, to become Director of Physical Medicine, Department of Public Health, and Associate Professor at the University of Buffalo Medical School. In 1964, the year he became a US citizen, the family moved to Poughkeepsie, NY, where he maintained a private practice in physical medicine and rehabilitation until his retirement in 1984. He was active in and cited for community leadership in physical fitness, and was a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. He published widely in the fields of rehabilitation and fitness, and practiced what he preached: as a young man he made two attempts to swim the English Channel, coming within a mile and a half of his goal; at age 74, he swam the 28.5 miles around New York City's Manhattan Island. He stated that the Channel swims were motivated by the wish to demonstrate that a dedicated Christian could also be an athlete and a strong individual.
After the death of his wife of 47 years, Dr. Kanaar retired and moved to Pacific Palisades, California. There he met and married Margaret H. [Holden] Jones, MD in 1989.

Scope and Content

The collection focuses mainly on Dr. Kanaar's non-medical writings for 1940-1948, namely accounts of his experiences and observations in Europe during World War II and the subsequent occupation of Germany. There are various typescripts of two unpublished works, "United we stand: war-time reflections of a British Army surgeon", covering his service from the war's beginning through the evacuation from Dunkirk; and "The sign of the Hammer and Sickle", focusing more on the time of the occupation. Also included are a number of published and unpublished commentaries, letters to newspapers, and articles by Kanaar.
The collection is organized into the following series:
  • Series 1. Professional Activities. 3 folders
  • Series 2. Personal Beliefs and Accounts. 12 folders
  • Series 4. Personal Information. 4 folders

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, English.
Physicians -- Personal narratives.
Jones, Margaret Holden
Kanaar, Adrian Charles -- Manuscripts

 

Professional Activities Series 1.

Physical Description: 3 folders

Scope and Contents note

materials pertaining to a Hunterian Lecture delivered to the Royal College of Surgeons
box 1, folder 1

Application for Hunterian Professorship. 1948

Scope and Contents note

original application letter and a follow-up note, both signed by Dr. Kanaar; photocopy of précis for lecture on "Pulmonary atelectasis in general surgery, with special reference to aetiology"
box 1, folder 2

"Pulmonary atelectasis in postoperative and traumatic cases: some recent advances", Hunterian Lecture delivered to the Royal College of Surgeons of England by A. C. Kanaar. 1948

General Physical Description note: 23 l. plus illustrations and tables

Scope and Contents note

a short "Introduction/Abstract" to the paper by Margaret H. Jones-Kanaar, MD, written after her husband's death; text and illustrations of the lecture; letter from "The Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England" regretting inability to publish the lecture because of its length, and suggesting submission to a different journal
box 1, folder 3

Early versions of the atelectasis study.

Scope and Contents note

text and data drafts, lecture notes, case notes

General note

mostly undated; some case notes dated 1948
 

Personal Beliefs and Accounts Series 2.

Physical Description: 12 folders

Scope and Contents note

writings and related materials on: World War II; Russian occupation in Germany and Poland; Communism; Religion
box 1, folder 4

"War-time reflections by a British Army surgeon", by Capt. A. C. Kanaar, MD, MRCP (London), FRCS (Edin). 1940

General Physical Description note: 92 l.

Scope and Contents note

quoting from the cover page: "This narrative of one man's early World War II experiences evolved from a series of talks given by Capt. Kanaar during three months spent in America while on special leave because of his wife' illness"; typed copy
box 1, folder 5

"United we stand: war-time reflections of a British Army surgeon". 1943

General Physical Description note: ca. 73,600 words

Scope and Contents note

typed draft of a projected book, incorporating Capt. Kanaar's experiences in France up to and through the evacuation of the British Army at Dunkirk (see Folder 4, above) as Part I; Britain during the war (Part II); Looking ahead (Part III)

General note

missing from this manuscript: Part II, chapters 2-4, 8; Part III, chapters 2, 3, 5-9
box 1, folder 6

"United we stand: war-time reflections of a British Army surgeon". 1943

Scope and Contents note

photocopy of the typescript above
box 1, folder 7

"The Sign of the Hammer and Sickle", by A. C. Kanaar. undated

Scope and Contents note

partial typescript of an expanded version of "United we stand"; included are: Preface; Table of contents; Précis of chapters; Chapters 3-6, 8-19

General note

the paper is in fragile condition, with tears, worn edges, rust stains
box 1, folder 8

"The Sign of the Hammer and Sickle", by A. C. Kanaar. undated

Scope and Contents note

photocopy of the typescript above

General note

these pages are easier to handle and read
box 2, folder 1

"The Sign of the Hammer and Sickle", by A. C. Kanaar. undated

Scope and Contents note

the most complete version of the projected book, missing only the Foreword promised by Lord Bertrand Russell; included are: Table of Contents; Illustrations, Maps and Cartoons; Preface; Précis of chapters; 19 chapters
box 2, folder 2

Alleged Russian misconduct in occupied Germany. 1945-1946

General Physical Description note: original and photocopy for each item

Scope and Contents note

manuscript letter from Bertrand Russell to Kanaar; short typed letter from A. C. Russell, Ingham Infirmary, South Shields, to Kanaar; clipping from the weekly periodical "Forward", Glasgow, Dec. 15, 1945, titled "What is happening in Germany? A Scots soldier replies to Bertrand Russell", by Tim Christie; correspondence with the editor of "Forward", and Kanaar's rebuttal to Christie, titled "More about Germany"

General note

Christie questioned the assertions of Russian misconduct made by Russell in his article "The German Disaster", published in "Forward", Nov. 17, 1945, assertions which Kanaar believed to be true
box 2, folder 3

List of articles by A. C. Kanaar published in 1945-1947.

Scope and Contents note

the list provides dates and names of newspapers/magazines, and the following titles: "Report on Germany"; "The trail of the beast in Holland"; "What I saw in Germany"; "Land reform in Germany"; "The spectre behind the Iron Curtain"; "Why doctors said 'no' to Mr. Bevan"; "What the doctors want"; "The doctors and the State"; "What does Mr. Bevan want?"
box 2, folder 4

Unpublished commentaries/articles by Kanaar.

Scope and Contents note

originals and photocopies of the following items: "Escape to freedom"; "Genocide continues, despite Nuremberg"; "Agrarreform et alia"; "The lake in the wood"; "Denazification of a whole community" [a number of separate observations and comments]

General note

the focus of all the items is on behavior of Russian troops and administrators in occupied areas of Germany and Poland post World War II
box 2, folder 5

Communism.

Scope and Contents note

typed "Selected bibliography on Communism" [by D. Fetler?], listing items 1935-1962; two sets of manuscript notes, one headed "Communism, peaceful co-existence", the other "Communism past and present, lecture to ???, 1979"
box 2, folder 6

Miscellaneous newspaper/magazine clippings on communism and the cold war. 1948-1979

Scope and Contents note

items taken from both British and American publications
box 2, folder 7

"A physicians faith", by Adrian C. Kanaar. 1987 June 21

General Physical Description note: 7 l.

Scope and Contents note

typescript, edited from a talk given at the Baptist Church, Poughkeepsie, New York
 

Personal Information Series 4.

Physical Description: 4 folders
box 2, folder 8

Photograph. 1958

Scope and Contents note

3x4" portrait of Dr. Kanaar
box 2, folder 9

Biographical materials.

Scope and Contents note

selective list of "Personal particulars", 1911-1947; curriculum vitae, Nov. 1976 (updated to June 1986)
box 2, folder 10

Obituary and memorial letter. 1993

Scope and Contents note

one-page typed obituary; Christmas letter to Dear Family and Friends, signed Margaret, with snapshots of the Drs. Kanaar and Jones-Kanaar together, and Dr. Kanaar alone
box 2, folder 11

Margaret Holden Jones-Kanaar, MD, 1904–2001.

Scope and Contents note

manuscript letter from Dr. Kanaar's second wife, covering transmittal of additional Kanaar material to the UCLA Biomedical Library, 21 Sep 1994; clipping of Dr. Jones-Kanaar's obituary from the "Los Angeles Times", 12 Dec 2001

General note

Dr. Margaret Jones-Kanaar was a retired UCLA pediatrician and renowned pioneer in the treatment of cerebral palsy