Description
The bulk of the collection pertains to Dr. Bonica's professional activities in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Early materials
in the collection include notes from medical school, circa 1938-1940, and correspondence continues until immediately prior
to Bonica's death. Additional post-mortem correspondence by his secretary follows. The collection contains manuscript notes,
data, and correspondence; slides from presentations; original publication illustrations; audio and video tape reels; scrapbook
items;and some personal and conference photographs. Major subjects covered in the collection include pain and its management,
pain clinics, clinical and academic anesthesiology, and obstetric analgesia and anesthesia. Bonica's experience with the foundation
of the International Association for the Study of Pain and the American Pain Society, close involvement with the World Federation
of Societies of Anaesthesiologists, directorship of the University of Washington's Department of Anesthesiology and Multidisciplinary
Pain Clinic, and work as Chief of Anesthesia at Tacoma General Hospital are also reflected in the collection. Frequent correspondents
include Thomas Hornbein, John S. McDonald, Patrick D. Wall, and John D. Loeser.
Background
John J. Bonica (1917-1994), called "pain relief's founding father" by Time magazine (11 June 1984), was an academic and clinical anesthesiologist, educator, and founder of the International Association
for the Study of Pain.
Extent
137 Linear Feet
(137 cubic-foot cartons, ten oversize flat boxes, six 3"x5"x12" boxes, one 4"x6"x12" box, seven letter-size document boxes,
and one legal-size document box.)
Restrictions
Information on permission to reproduce, quote, or publish is available from the History and Special Collections Division.
Availability
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.