Dr. Wilfred Gordon Bigelow was born June 18, 1913 in Brandon, Manitoba, and died in Toronto on March 27, 2005. He was the son of Grace Ann Carnegie Gordon Bigelow and Dr. Wilfred Abram Bigelow. Dr. W.A. Bigelow (1879-1966) was a general practitioner and surgeon, a charter member of the American College of Surgeons (1913), and the founder of the first private medical clinic in Canada, in Brandon, 1913.
Dr. W.G. Bigelow was educated at Brandon Collegiate, Brentwood College in Victoria, B.C., Brandon College (1931), and the University of Toronto (B.A. 1935, M.D. 1938, M.S. 1938). His post-graduate medical/surgical training included surgical residencies under Dr. W.E. Gallie at the Toronto General Hospital (TGH), 1938-1941, and a Research Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, 1946-47, where he trained in vascular and cardiac surgery under Dr. Richard Bing and Dr. Alfred Blalock, the founder of modern cardiac surgery.
In July 1941 Dr. Bigelow married Margaret Ruth Jennings, then Assistant Head Nurse at TGH. During the Second World War Dr. Bigelow served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.M.A.C.) Field Transfusion Unit, 1941-42, and then as Graded Surgeon with the 6th Canadian Casualty Clearing Station (a mobile army surgical hospital) in England, Normandy and Northwestern Europe, 1942-45.
Following the war, and the completion of his research fellowship at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Bigelow returned to Toronto and was appointed to the surgical staff at TGH in 1947, and as Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto in 1948. In 1953 he was appointed Head, 3rd Division General Surgery at TGH. From 1956 until his retirement in 1977 Dr. Bigelow served as Head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Division at TGH, and from 1947 to 1977 as Director of the Cardiovascular Laboratory in the Banting Research Institute, where he and his colleagues and research assistants conducted pioneering research in hypothermia, hibernation, and cardiac pacemaker technology.
In addition to his TGH and University of Toronto appointments, Dr. Bigelow served on the surgical staff of Sunnybrook Hospital and as Consultant in Cardiovascular Surgery to Women's College Hospital. Dr. Bigelow's post-retirement appointments include positions as Professor Emeritus of Surgery at the University of Toronto, and as Consulting Surgeon at TGH. From 1977 to 1979 Dr. Bigelow served as Executive Director of the Toronto General Hospital Foundation.
Throughout his career Dr. Bigelow has made numerous important contributions to medical science in general, and to the development of cardiac surgery and the treatment of heart disease in particular. In 1949 he performed only the second mitral commissurotomy operation in Canada, pioneering what would become a standard closed-heart surgical procedure throughout the 1950s. In the 1950s Dr. Bigelow was one of only two or three surgeons to adopt the Internal Mammary Artery Implantation (or Vineberg) operation. His extensive practice in this procedure and corollary clinical research proved the operation's effectiveness, as documented in a paper he and his colleagues presented at the American Association for Thoracic Surgery meeting in 1962 and published the following year. This prompted general acceptance of the Vineberg procedure and led ultimately to the development of modern aorto-coronary bypass surgery.
In 1951, in collaboration with Dr. J.C. Callaghan, and Dr. J.A. Hopps of the National Research Council of Canada, Dr. Bigelow developed and tested the first artificial cardiac pacemaker for human use. Their design, as reported in a paper published that year, formed the basis for subsequent technological developments and refinements leading to the modern implantable cardiac pacemaker.
Between 1947 and 1965, in collaboration with research associates at the Cardiovascular Laboratory in the Banting Research Institute, Dr. Bigelow performed a series of experiments to establish the physiological effects, medical benefits, and a safe technique for inducing and reversing human hypothermia. This work made possible the first open-heart surgery in humans, in 1953, and formed the practical and theoretical basis for what has become the standard practice of protective cooling of the heart during surgery.
Between 1952 and 1956 Dr. Bigelow worked to initiate the planning and secured funding for construction of the TGH Cardiovascular Investigative Unit. The Unit opened in 1956 and facilitated the efficient processing of heart catheterizations, a critical process for the diagnosis of heart disease. In 1956 Dr. Bigelow developed and assumed the direction of the TGH Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, one of the first open-heart surgery teams in Canada.
In 1958 Dr. Bigelow lobbied for and directed the opening of the TGH Cardiovascular Surgery Unit, streamlining cardiac surgery and post-operative care at the hospital. Also in 1958, Dr. Bigelow helped to organize the first Canadian inter-hospital training program in cardiovascular surgery (combining the staff and facilities of TGH, Toronto Western Hospital, and St. Michael's Hospital). Between 1958 and Dr. Bigelow's retirement in 1977, approximately seventy surgeons passed through this program.
As an academic surgeon and clinical scientist Dr. Bigelow has published voluminously, with over 120 papers in various medical/scientific journals. Articles of particular significance include "General Hypothermia for Experimental Intracardiac Surgery" (with J.C. Callaghan and J.A. Hopps), 1950, a revolutionary report of preliminary research into the use of hypothermia to protect the heart during surgery; "An Electrical Artificial Pacemaker for Standstill of the Heart" (with J.C. Callaghan), 1951, describing the first artificial pacemaker for human use; and "Internal Mammary Artery Implantation for Coronary Heart Disease" (with H. Basian and G.A. Trusler), 1963, an important clinical vindication of the effectiveness of the Vineberg operation.
Following his retirement from active surgery in 1977 Dr. Bigelow concentrated on writing medical history, publishing Cold Hearts: The Story of Hypothermia and the Pacemaker in Heart Surgery (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1984), for which he won the Hannah Medal, presented by the Royal Society of Canada, 1986, and Mysterious Heparin: The Key to Open Heart Surgery (Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1990). Dr. Bigelow also edited his father's memoirs for publication: W.A. Bigelow, Forceps, Fin & Feather (Altona, Man.: D.W. Friesen & Sons, 1969).
Throughout his career Dr. Bigelow had been in great demand as a lecturer. He delivered the Hunterian Society Lecture to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of England (1965), the second John Keith Lecture to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (1968), the Moynihan Lecture to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of England (1968), the Henry Jackson Lecture to the New England Cardiovascular Society (1970), the Charles Mickle Lecture at the University of Toronto (1974), the thirteenth John H. Gibbon Jr. Lecture to the American College of Surgeons (1983), and the Convocation Address at the University of Toronto (1992).
Dr. Bigelow had consistently been distinguished as an executive member of numerous medical societies, including the Canadian Federation of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons (President 1967); the James IV Association of Surgeons (Board of Directors 1967); the Society for Vascular Surgery (President 1968-69); the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (Vice President 1969, President 1970-72); the International Cardiovascular Society (Vice President 1956, 1971); the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (President 1974); and the Ontario and Canadian Heart Foundations (Board of Directors, from 1970).
He had been an active member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Heart Association, the American Surgical Association, the Canadian Medical Association, the Central Surgical Association, the Society of University Surgeons, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario; an honorary member of the Ontario Medical Association, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Canadian Society of Cardiovascular Surgeons; a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of England.
Dr. Bigelow also served on several important medical-scientific boards and committees, including the Subcommittee on Cardiology, Public Health Research Advisory Committee of the Department of National Health and Welfare (Canada), 1962-65; the Surgical Research Assessment Group, Medical Research Council of the National Research Council of Canada, 1967-68; the Subcommittee on Highly Specialized Services, Ontario Council of Health, Ontario Department of Health, 1967; and the Defence Research Board of Canada, 1967-72.
Among the many awards and honours conferred on Dr. Bigelow in the course of his career are included the Lister Prize and Peters Prize, University of Toronto, 1949; the Gairdner Foundation Award, 1959; the Centennial Medal, 1967; the Charles Mickle Fellowship, University of Toronto, 1973; the National Heart Foundation of Canada Award of Merit and Queen's Medal, 1977; the City of Toronto Award of Merit, 1978; an Honorary Dr. Med.degree, Hamburg, 1990; the Commemorative Medal on the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation, 1992; a D.Sc. (honoris causa) degree, University of Toronto, 1992; and the Starr Medal, presented by the Canadian Medical Association, 1992. In May 1960 Dr. Bigelow was accorded the honour of participating in the 27th All-Union Congress of Surgeons of the U.S.S.R. in Moscow. In 1981 he was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
In addition to his professional medical and scientific interests, Dr. Bigelow maintained an abiding interest in and involvement with nature and the cause of environmental conservation, as an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and angler. He had served as the Chairman (1985-87) and member of the Board of Trustees (1980-90) of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
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Full
Final
University Health Network Archives
Title based on contents of fonds.
The Dr. W.G. Bigelow fonds consists of 21 series of textual records documenting the life and work of the pioneering Canadian heart surgeon, medical researcher, and co-developer of the cardiac pacemaker, Dr. Wilfred G. Bigelow:
0094-1 Appointment books
0094-2 Medical textbooks
0094-3 Case histories
0094-4 Medical conference programs
0094-5 Patient/surgery lists
0094-6 General patient files
0094-7 Correspondence
0094-8 Experimental and clinical research files
0094-9 Lectures and speeches
0094-10 Diagnoses and procedures
0094-11 Medical research grants-in-aid
0094-12 Professional Societies, Associations and Committees
0094-13 Toronto General Hospital files
0094-14 Medical insurance accounts
0094-15 University of Toronto files
0094-16 Medical journal publications
0094-17 Meetings
0094-18 Japanese publications on hypothermia research
0094-19 Travel files
0094-20 Medical office expenses
0094-21 Income tax returns
Collectively, the materials comprising this fonds illustrate virtually every aspect of Dr. Bigelow's personal and professional life as a surgeon and hospital division head, academic instructor and researcher, clinical investigator, author, lecturer, medical conference presenter and panellist, and member of numerous medical societies and medical/scientific committees.
In particular the fonds provides information about Dr. Bigelow's contributions to the advancement of cardiac surgery and the treatment of heart disease, especially his central accomplishments in contributing to the innovation and development of the surgical use of hypothermia in open-heart surgery and the electrical artificial cardiac pacemaker.
Materials donated by Dr. W.G. Bigelow in August 1994.
Further accruals not expected.
The textual records comprising the Dr. W.G. Bigelow fonds were created, collected and maintained by Dr. Wilfred G. Bigelow and were donated by him to the Archives in August 1994 as Accession no. 0094.
Some files are restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see series and sub-series descriptions and file lists for further details.
Some files are restricted for 100 years from date of creation due to personal non-health information. To request access to these items, please follow procedures outlined in UHN Administrative Policy 1.30.008, Access to Archival Records. Please see series and sub-series descriptions and file lists for further details.
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This series consists of Dr. Bigelow's personal appointment diaries for the years 1952-1977. Two appointment books exist for each of the years 1966 and 1967: these books contain parallel but not identical information - it is necessary to consult both books for a comprehensive account of Dr. Bigelow's activities during these years. The series lacks an appointment book for 1976.
The appointment books document Dr. Bigelow's personal and professional activities, including patient consultations; surgeries performed; meetings with medical colleagues; surgical rounds; committee and professional association meetings attended; medical conferences attended; lectures and speeches delivered; dates of patients' admission to hospital and surgery, often with notes attached detailing their condition, treatment, prognosis etc.; and personal social and travel schedules.
Access to records in this series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA).
File list is available.
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This series consists of four medical textbooks annotated by Dr. Bigelow in the course of his research, surgical, teaching and reviewing activities.
File 0094-2-0-4 contains, affixed to the inside front cover, a presentation card from the author addressed to Dr. Bigelow. Dr. Bigelow has annotated the card: "1994 - I was asked to write the book review by Anne [?] Sabaston - Annals Surg."
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
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This series consists of patient case files illustrating various surgical problems and techniques, medical conditions and treatments. The materials in this series have been arranged into 20 sub-series, each dedicated to a specific medical or surgical subject:
0094-3-1 Case Histories - Ventriculomytomy
0094-3-2 Case Histories - Aorto-Coronary Bypass
0094-3-3 Case Histories - Hypothermia
0094-3-4 Case Histories - Auricular/Atrial Septal Defect
0094-3-5 Case Histories - Mitral Valvoplasty
0094-3-6 Case Histories - Aortic Valves Homograft
0094-3-7 Case Histories - Aortic Bicuspidization
0094-3-8 Case Histories - Coarctation of Aorta
0094-3-9 Case Histories - Mitral Annuloplasty
0094-3-10 Case Histories - Mitral Commissurotomy
0094-3-11 Case Histories - Tricuspid Annuloplasty
0094-3-12 Case Histories - Pacemaker Insertion
0094-3-13 Case Histories - Pericardiectomy
0094-3-14 Case Histories - Aorto-Iliac Arterial Graft
0094-3-15 Case Histories - Atrial Myxoma
0094-3-16 Case Histories - Sinus of Valsalva
0094-3-17 Case Histories - Aortic Valvoplasty
0094-3-18 Case Histories - Abdominal (Aortic) Aneurysm
0094-3-19 Case Histories - Combined Aorto-Coronary Bypass/Internal Mammary Artery Implant
0094-3-20 Case Histories - Internal Mammary Artery Implant
Case history files typically contain standard medical documents including operation records, consultation records, autopsy reports, clinical histories, discharge summary reports, cardiovascular rounds reports, pathology reports, radiology reports, heart catheterization reports, angiograms, and electrocardiograms. The files also contain correspondence between Dr. Bigelow and medical colleagues and/or patients, and documents relating to patients' medical insurance and bills for service.
The materials in this series document developments in the medical and surgical treatment of specific cardiovascular defects and provide evidence of Dr. Bigelow's contributions to the innovation and development of such treatments.
Although most of the surgical procedures documented in this series were first performed predominantly on public ward patients, the files comprising this series are nearly exclusively those of Dr. Bigelow's private patients, whose medical records he was responsible for maintaining. Case files for public ward patients were maintained by the Toronto General Hospital's Department of Medical Records, and files compiled prior to 1980 have largely been destroyed.
Access to records in this series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see sub-series descriptions and file lists for further details.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating ventriculomyotomies performed by Dr. Bigelow. Files pertaining to Dr. Bigelow's public patients are arranged alphabetically by patient surname. The remaining files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating aorto-coronary bypass operations performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Related material is arranged in subseries 0094-3-19: Case histories - Combined Aorto-Coronary Bypass/ Internal Mammary Artery Implant.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating Dr. Bigelow's use of hypothermia in cardiovascular surgeries. The files are are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating Dr. Bigelow's surgical treatment of auricular/atrial septal defects. Files pertaining to Dr. Bigelow's public patients are arranged alphabetically by patient surname. The remaining files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
See also sub-series 0094-3-3, Case histories-Hypothermia (hypothermia was widely used during surgeries to correct ASDs).
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating mitral valvoplasties performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating aortic valves homograft operations performed by Dr. Bigelow. Files pertaining to Dr. Bigelow's public patients are arranged alphabetically by patient surname. The remaining files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating aortic bicuspidization surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. Files pertaining to Dr. Bigelow's public patients are arranged alphabetically by patient surname. The remaining files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating coarctation of aorta surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating mitral annuloplasty surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. Files pertaining to Dr. Bigelow's public patients are arranged alphabetically by patient surname. The remaining files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating mitral commissurotomy surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating tricuspid annuloplasty surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating pacemaker insertion surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating pericardiectomy surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating aorto-iliac arterial graft surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating atrial myxoma surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. Files pertaining to Dr. Bigelow's public patients are arranged alphabetically by patient surname. The remaining files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating Dr. Bigelow's surgical treatment of sinus of valsalva aneurysms. Files pertaining to Dr. Bigelow's public patients are arranged alphabetically by patient surname. The remaining files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating aortic valvoplasty surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating Dr. Bigelow's surgical treatment of abdominal (aortic) aneurysms. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating combined aorto-coronary bypass/ internal mammary artery implant surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained. Files pertaining to Dr. Bigelow's staff patients are arranged alphabetically by patient surname.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
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This sub-series consists of patient case files illustrating internal mammary artery implant surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow. The files are ordered by patient case number, which can be found on the physical records. Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
The files are arranged in three groups. Group A consists of the case files of some of the patients who participated in an Internal Mammary Artery Implant follow-up study conducted in 1977 by Dr. Bigelow and several colleagues at the Toronto Hospital. Related material is found in Series 0094-8, Files 0094-8-0-62 and -63. Group B consists of files grouped by Dr. Bigelow - "patients who died or had revascularization after first surgery." File # 0094-3-20-25 is also part of this group but for administrative purposes was filed with Group A. Group C is a selection of patient case files illustrating Dr. Bigelow's internal mammary artery implant surgeries 1953-1967 (i.e. prior to the period covered in Group A).
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). In cases where the individual has died, if earlier than the 120 year restriction, the restriction period is for 50 years from proven date of death. To request access to these items, please submit an application to UHN’s Research Ethics Board using the appropriate online forms and procedures. Please see file lists for further details. In cases where the restriction period has expired, access is open.
File list is available.
published
Series consists of programs of annual clinical, research, and scientific meetings of various medical associations and societies. The programs contain meeting agendas, names of participants, and the titles, and in some instances, abstracts of papers presented at the meeting.
Several of the programs have been annotated by Dr. Bigelow with critical notes pursuant to papers presented at the meeting. The programs are useful as evidence of Dr. Bigelow's participation in continuing education activities and in the affairs of various professional medical associations and societies, and the annotations provide evidence of his opinion of research conducted by medical colleagues.
Programs for some years are missing from the range indicated by file titles.
File 0094-4-0-13 includes material from:
1. International Medical Assembly of Southwest Texas, 24th Annual Meeting, 1960.
2. Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Association of Surgeons of India & the Final Joint Session of the Indian Society of Anaesthetists, 1964.
3. American College of Chest Physicians, 33rd Annual Meeting, 1967.
4. 2nd Henry Ford Hospital International Symposium on Cardiac Surgery, 1975.
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
The files in this series contain chronological lists of patients on whom surgery was performed by Dr. Bigelow (WGB) and (in the case of files 0094-5-0-4, -9, -10, -12, -13, and -37) other surgeons at the Toronto General Hospital (TGH) between 1949 and 1977. The lists were compiled between [1952?] and 1977.
With the exception of files 0094-5-0-1 (a comprehensive list of all surgeries performed by Dr. Bigelow between 1975 and 1977) and 0094-5-0-19, the files are specific to a particular type of surgery.
The files contain patient names and file numbers, dates of operation, dates of death (if applicable), and in some instances notes on particular problems encountered during surgery and/or the patient's post-operative results/ prognosis.
Information in files sometimes post-dates the date range in the file titles.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted until 2097 due to Personal Health Information.
File list is available.
published
This series consists of a 10% selection of Dr. Bigelow's general patient case files. These files contain predominantly correspondence and standard medical records pursuant to Dr. Bigelow's examination of, or consultation with, patients referred by other physicians. The files do contain some examples of surgical cases, but surgical case files are predominantly collected in Series 0094-3, Case histories.
Files typically contain correspondence between Dr. Bigelow and a referring physician, and standard medical documents including operation records, consultation records, clinical histories, discharge summary reports, cardiovascular rounds reports, pathology reports, radiology reports, heart catheterization reports, angiograms, and electrocardiograms. The files also contain documents relating to patients' medical insurance and bills for service.
Patient case numbers have been omitted from file titles to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA), but the original order has been retained.
Access to records in this sub-series is restricted until 2098 due to Personal Health Information.
File list is available.
published
Series consists of general professional and personal correspondence sent and received by Dr. Bigelow between 1947 and 1977. The arrangement of these files preserves the division of Dr. Bigelow's correspondence into three categories by various medical secretaries under Dr. Bigelow's general direction.
Files 0094-7-0-1 to 0094-7-0-5 contain personal correspondence between Dr. Bigelow and his friends and family. Files 0094-7-0-6 to 0094-7-0-10 contain correspondence between Dr. Bigelow and medical colleagues and others on professional matters, including consultations about specific patients, their medical problems and treatment. Files 0094-7-0-11 to 0094-7-0-18 contain correspondence of a more personal, casual nature between Dr. Bigelow and various professional friends, and correspondence pertaining to Dr. Bigelow's personal professional career.
File 0094-7-0-19 contains correspondence generally concerning Dr. Bigelow's philosophical interest in metaphysics and in particular relating to an article published in the Montreal Gazette, December 18, 1970, regarding Dr. Bigelow's thoughts on the nature of the human soul.
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
Series consists of materials pursuant to experimental and clinical research in cardiovascular medicine and surgery conducted or consulted by Dr. Bigelow and his colleagues and research assistants. Included are correspondence; statistics and summary reports of success/mortality rates relating to particular surgeries at the Toronto General Hospital; reprints and abstracts of pertinent articles; research papers presented at medical conferences and association meetings and other venues; documents relating to proposals for funding of research studies either prepared by Dr. Bigelow and/or his colleagues, or appraised by Dr. Bigelow; prospectuses for clinical studies and experiments; and case study reports.
File 0094-8-0-2 contains correspondence supporting Bills 73 and 194, introduced in the Ontario Legislature in 1969, and which provided that unwanted animals be sold to research laboratories; and correspondence from and about an anti-vivisectionist.
File 0094-8-0-5 contains data and summary reports of a clinical post-operative study (conducted in 1966) of aortic valve replacements with the Starr-Edwards Prosthetic Heart Valve, and documents pertaining to a proposed prosthetic valve replacement follow-up clinic and computerized patient registry at the Toronto General Hospital, 1973-1974. See also Series 0094-9, File 0094-9-0-2 for a lecture and research paper, "Aortic Valve Replacement 1963-1972: Long Term Results".
Files 0094-8-0-11 to 0094-8-0-15 contain correspondence relating to the administration of the cardiovascular laboratory in the Banting Research Institute, with information pertaining to staffing, budgets, equipment, space allocation and renovation.
File 0094-8-0-27 contains material relating to the First International Roundtable Conference on Fascia Lata Heart Valves, held at Toronto in October 1970 and co-organized by Dr. Bigelow.
File 0094-8-0-34 contains correspondence relating to the supply and maintenance of subject animals (groundhogs) for hibernation research conducted by Dr. Bigelow and his colleagues in the Cardiovascular Unit of the Banting Research Institute.
File 0094-8-0-42 contains correspondence and data relating to the identification, extraction, analysis and clinical-surgical use of Hibernin, an extract of the hibernating gland of hibernal animals.
Files 0094-8-0-49 to 0094-8-0-58 contain materials relating to hypothermia research conducted by Dr. Bigelow and his colleagues and research assistants. Several theses produced by various research assistants and containing detailed experimental data have been retained by Dr. Bigelow but are expected to be donated to the Toronto Hospital Archives. Related material is filed in Series 0094-12, File 0094-12-0-107.
File 0094-8-0-59 contains annual reports of hypothermia and hibernation research prepared by Dr. Bigelow and his colleagues for various funding agencies, including the Defence Research Board, National Research Council, Ontario Heart Foundation, and the McLean Foundation.
Files 0094-8-0-67 to 0094-8-0-71 contain, among other matter, reviews/appraisals of applications for research grants conducted by Dr. Bigelow, in particular for the Department of National Health and Welfare.
File 0094-8-0-97 contains annual reports prepared by members of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto (including Dr. Bigelow) for the Dean of Medicine. These reports summarize research in progress and other significant achievements including publications and grants received.
Files 0094-8-0-63, 0094-8-0-85, 0094-8-0-105, and 0094-8-0-109 are restricted for 120 years from date of creation, to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). Please see file list for further details.
File list is available.
published
Series consists of correspondence, manuscript and printed texts, drafts, outlines and notes of lectures and speeches delivered by Dr. Bigelow, principally to medical and nursing students at the University of Toronto and to medical colleagues at various conferences and association meetings.
Further accruals expected. Additional related material retained by Dr. Bigelow is expected to be donated to the Archives by the end of 1995.
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
Series consists principally of operation records and discharge summaries for a selection of Dr. Bigelow's surgical cases, organized by medical problem/ surgical procedure, and used as an aid for diagnosis and the determination of appropriate surgical procedures for use with new patients. These files were also used for research purposes in preparing case study reports and statistical analyses of specific surgeries. Some of the files are subdivided by facets of the medical problem/ surgical procedure exemplified: for example, File 0094-10-0-10 subdivides records exemplifying patent ductus arteriosus surgery into sections devoted to "division" and "ligation".
Access to records in this series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). See file list for details.
File list is available.
published
Series consists of materials relating to the application for and expenditure of cardiovascular research grants-in-aid presented to and/or funded by various public and private agencies and foundations. The files comprising this series are arranged by sponsoring agency and typically include correspondence, research proposals, formal applications for funding, budget estimates and statements of expenditure, and research progress reports.
Included are funding applications prepared and presented and funded research conducted, in whole or in part, by Dr. Bigelow (WGB); sponsored by Dr. Bigelow; or prepared, presented, and conducted by Dr. Bigelow's research associates at the Toronto General Hospital and the Banting Research Institute Cardiovascular Laboratories. Also included are materials relating to the use of special contingency funds dedicated to cardiovascular research and administered by Dr. Bigelow in his capacities as Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto and Head, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital (see Files 0094-11-0-56 to 0094-11-0-62).
The files comprising this series have been divided into five groups, consisting respectively of files pertaining to research funded by or applications for grants-in-aid presented to the Ontario Heart Foundation (Group A: Files 0094-11-0-1 to 0094-11-0-30), the Medical Research Council of the National Research Council of Canada (Group B: Files 0094-11-0-31 to 0094-11-0-43), the Department of National Health and Welfare (Canada) (Group C: Files 0094-11-0-44 to 0094-11-0-45), the Ontario Department of Health (Group D: Files 0094-11-0-46 to 0094-11-0-47), and various miscellaneous funding bodies (Group E: Files 0094-11-0-48 to 0094-11-0-65).
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
The files comprising this series document Dr. Bigelow's involvement with various professional medical associations, societies and committees. The files typically include correspondence; agendas, programmes and minutes of meetings; reports, and abstracts of papers presented at meetings; financial statements; constitutions/by-laws; and lists of members and prospective members, and applications for membership. The files are arranged by name of organization and, where necessary, by organizational subdivisions such as committees, or type of material, such as correspondence. Dr. Bigelow was an active member of most, but not all of these organizations, as outlined in the following list (dates are truncated and indicate the year in which WGB was elected or appointed to membership or to a particular committee or board):
• American Association for Thoracic Surgery Associate Member 61; Active Member 62; Membership Committee 63; Evarts A. Graham Travelling Fellowship Committee 67 (Chair 69); Council 70; President 74
• American College of Surgeons Member 55
• American Heart Association Program Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery; Executive Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery
• American Surgical Association Member 53; Membership Committee 63
• Canada. Department of National Defence. Defence Research Board Member 67-72
• Canada. Department of National Health and Welfare. Public Health Research Advisory Committee. Subcommittee on Cardiology Member 62-65
• Canadian Association of Clinical Surgeons Member 51
• Canadian Federation of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons Charter Member and First President 67
• Canadian Cardiovascular Society Vice-President 69; Chairman, Nomenclature Committee 71; President 70-72; Programme Chairman for 1972 Annual Meeting; Chairman, Nominating Committee 74
• Canadian Heart Association Charter Member 48
• Canadian Heart Foundation Board of Directors 70
• Canadian Medical Protective Association Member 56
• Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation Honourary Member 67
• Cardiovascular Surgeons' Club Charter Member 53
• Central Surgical Association Member 50
• International Cardiovascular Society Vice-President 56, 71
• James IV Association of Surgeons, Inc. Member 59; Board of Directors 67
• Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (American Association for Thoracic Surgery) Editorial Board 62
• Medico-Legal Society of Toronto Council 52; President 68
• National Research Council of Canada. Medical Research Council. Surgical Research Assessment Group Member 67-68
• Nu Sigma Nu Fraternity Board of Directors 53
• Ontario. Department of Health. Ontario Council of Health. Subcommittee on Highly Specialized Services (Hilliard Committee) Member 69
• Ontario Heart Foundation Medical Members Committee 57-59, 76-77
• Ontario Medical Association Honourary Member 67
• Pan-Pacific Surgical Association Member 69
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Fellow 47
• Society for Vascular Surgery Member 49; President 68-69
• Society of Thoracic Surgeons Honourary Member 93
• Society of Thoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland Honourary Member 61
• Society of University Surgeons Member 53
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
The files comprising this series document Dr. Bigelow's professional activities as a member of the medical staff of the Toronto General Hospital, including his service on various institutional committees, particularly within the Department of Surgery and the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery. The materials comprising the series include correspondence, notices and minutes of meetings, surgical statistics, and committee reports. File 0094-13-0-23 includes a brief memorandum (1971?) by WGB on the history of the Cardiovascular Service at TGH. File 0094-13-0-24 includes documents on the planning and establishment of the Cardiovascular Investigative Unit at TGH. File 0094-13-0-26 includes in-training evaluations of surgical residents. File 0094-13-0-28 includes protocols for diagnosis and surgical treatment of various cardiovascular conditions.
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
The materials comprising this series consist of remittance advices and account statements issued by various medical insurance agencies pursuant to medical services provided by Dr. Bigelow, and correspondence between these agencies and Dr. Bigelow's office.
Access to records in this series is restricted for 120 years from date of creation to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). See file list for details.
File list is available.
published
The files comprising this series document Dr. Bigelow's professional academic activities as a member of the Faculty of Medicine and Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto, including his service on various institutional committees. The materials comprising the series include lecture schedules, academic curricula, correspondence, notices and minutes of meetings, and committee reports. File 0094-15-0-29 includes a list of medical staff titles and correspondence from other centres describing their academic conventions. File 0094-15-0-30 includes the terms of reference for the UofT Department of Surgery’s Personnel Committee.
Access to Files 0094-15-0-26, 0094-15-0-34, and 0094-15-0-36 is restricted for 100 years from the date of their creation due to the presence of sensitive information about individual students and academic appointees. The remaining files in this series are not restricted.
File list is available.
published
This series consists of reprints, and in some case photocopies, of articles published by Dr. Bigelow, alone and in collaboration with colleagues, in various medical journals.
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
This series consists of materials (predominantly correspondence and conference/symposia programs) documenting Dr. Bigelow's invitation to participate in (as a lecturer, panellist, moderator or presenter) and attendance/ non-attendance at various medical-scientific meetings, conferences, symposia, and post-graduate medical courses, as well as his invitation to contribute to various publications.
The materials comprising this series are predominantly, but not exclusively related to meetings sponsored or invitations issued by organizations of which Dr. Bigelow was not a member at the time the invitation to attend, present, lecture, or publish was received.
For similar material pursuant to Dr. Bigelow's attendance at meetings etc. sponsored by organizations with which he was affiliated, see Series 0094-12.
For related material see also Series 0094-1, which consists of Dr. Bigelow's appointment books. These contain notations regarding Dr. Bigelow's invitation to participate in and attendance/ non-attendance at various scientific and other professional medical meetings. Other related material can be found in Series 0094-19, which consists of documents related to Dr. Bigelow's travel to participate in various meetings.
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
Series consists of reprint journal articles on hypothermia by Japanese researchers. The articles were collected and received by Dr. Bigelow.
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
This series consists of correspondence, itineraries, expense accounts, receipts etc. relating to Dr. Bigelow's professional and personal travel activities. Most of the materials in this series document Dr. Bigelow's travel to participate in various professional medical/scientific meetings. Files 0094-19-0-3 to 0094-19-0-5 consists of materials documenting Dr. Bigelow's trip to participate in the 27th All-Union Congress of Surgeons of the U.S.S.R. in Moscow, May 23-28 1960, as well as preliminary correspondence and post-Congress correspondence with Soviet/Russian medical colleagues and associates. File 0094-19-0-8b includes an International Certificates of Vaccination booklet issued to Dr. Bigelow by the Department of National Health and Welfare (Canada) which includes records of vaccinations received by Dr. Bigelow between 1959 and 1964.
File 0094-19-0-8b is restricted until 2055 to ensure compliance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). Access to all other files in this series is open.
File list is available.
published
This series consists of one file which includes correspondence, suppliers' invoices and receipts, equipment maintenance agreements, and tax assessments documenting the equipment and operation of Dr. Bigelow's medical office.
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.
published
This series consists of 1 file of Dr. Bigelow's personal income tax returns for the taxation years 1945-1952.
Access to the materials in this series is not restricted.
File list is available.