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Robert Fortuine papers

Guide to the Robert Fortuine papers
1934-2008

Collection number: HMC-0455.
Creator: Fortuine, Robert.
Title: Robert Fortuine papers.
Dates: 1934-2008.
Volume of collection: 16 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Papers of an Alaskan public health physician.

Biographical note:
Robert Fortuine was a public health physician. He received his medical degree from McGill University in 1960 and his Masters of Public Health from Harvard University in 1968. Fortuine served with the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) from 1962 until his retirement in 1987. Fortuine first came to Alaska in 1963, and has held the following positions: service unit director for the USPHS Alaska Native Hospital in Kanakanak (1963-1964); service unit director for the USPHS Alaska Native Hospital in Bethel (1964-1967); director of the USPHS Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage (1971-1977); and deputy chief of family medicine (1980-1987). Doctor Fortuine has also been active in national and Alaskan medical professional associations, as well as the American Society for Circumpolar Health and the International Symposium for Circumpolar Health. He has published numerous articles on medicine and Alaskan and native medical history, and has authored books including: The Alaska diary of Adelbert von Chamisso: naturalist on the Kotzebue voyage, 1815-1818 (translator and editor, 1986), Alaska Native Medical Center: a history 1953-1983 (1986), Chills and fever: health and disease in the early history of Alaska (1989), and Must we all die: Alaska’s enduring struggle with tuberculosis (2005). Dr. Fortuine died in 2009.

Collection description:
The collection consists of research materials and drafts related to Robert Fortuine’s published and unpublished writings, as well as papers relating to circumpolar health organizations, correspondence, and approximately 2,500 35 mm color photographic slides.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into eight series:

  • Series 1: Manuscripts and research materials; 1956-1996
  • Series 2: Circumpolar health conference and organization records; 1984-1996
  • Series 3: Publication records; 1958-2004
  • Series 4: 35 mm color photographic slides; 1961-1987
  • Series 5: Journals and memoirs; 1944-2002
    • Subseries 5a: Handwritten journals; 1956-2002
    • Subseries 5b: Transcribed journals; 2002
    •  Subseries 5c: Memoirs; 1935-1981
    •  Subseries 5d: Notebooks; 1970-1980
  • Series 6: Correspondence files: 1934-2007
  • Series 7: Instruction and curriculum files; 1994-2007
  • Series 8: Personal records; 1964, 1997-2007

Alternative formats: Final versions of Dr. Fortuine’s drafts may be available through multiple libraries or online through the Arctic Health website.

Digitized copies: Selected Alaskan images from the slides have been placed online in the Alaska’s Digital Archives.

Rights note: Some of the materials in the collection, primarily those not authored by Dr. Fortuine, may be subject to copyright restrictions.

Preferred citation: Robert Fortuine papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Index: A geographical index to the 35 mm photographic slides as created by Dr. Fortuine is appended.

Separated materials: A set of Dr. Fortuine’s publications is held by the Alaska Medical Library in the Consortium Library.

Acquisition note: Approximately half the collection was given to the Archives between 1996 and 2005 by Dr. Fortuine. In 2010, Sheila Fortuine, his wife, provided the remainder (correspondence files and notebooks) after Dr. Fortuine’s death to the Archives.

Processing information: This first portion of this collection was arranged and described by Jeffrey Sinnott in 1998. The photograph description was added in 2008 by Arlene Schmuland. With the large addition to the collection in 2010, the finding aid was revised, published materials were removed from the collection and given to the Alaska Medical Library, and description for the additional boxes was completed. The 2010 work was completed by Arlene Schmuland. This collection was consolidated in 2023 by Shelby Lawson.

Container list:

Series 1: Manuscripts and research materials; 1956-1996. 4.0 cubic feet. Handwritten and typescript drafts of various works authored and co-authored by Robert Fortuine. Some publications were never published. Arranged mostly chronologically. Final versions of the drafts may be available through multiple libraries or online through the Arctic Health website.

Box/Folder Description Date
1/1 Goethe’s Doctors in Fact and Fiction typescript draft, 19 pages. 1956 May
1/2 Friedrich Schiller’s Medical Career handwritten and typescript drafts. 1959
1/3 The Crab: Ancient Concepts of Malignant Disease handwritten draft. 1959
1/4 Current Status of Animal-Borne Diseases Among the Eskimos handwritten draft. 1961
1/5 John Rae, Surgeon to the Hudson’s Bay Company typescript draft. 1962
1/6 Acute Purulent Meningitis in Alaska Natives: Epidemiology, Diagnosis & Prognosis typescript draft. 1965
1/7 Hemophilus aphrophilus edocarditis, with cerebral embolism, in an Alaskan Eskimo typescript draft, 8 pages. 1966
1/8 Health Conditions Among the Eskimos of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska handwritten and typescript drafts. 1966
1/9 Unusual Occurrence of Neonatal Meningitis Due to Group B. Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci typescript draft. 1966
1/10 Georg Wilhelm Steller: Physician – Naturalist on the Bering Expedition to Alaska handwritten and typescript drafts. 1967
1/11 The Health of the Eskimos: A Classified Bibliography 1857-1966 typescript drafts. 1967
1/12 Characteristics of Cancer in the Eskimos of Southwestern Alaska three typescript drafts and related materials. 1967
1/13 Sir John Richardson, M.D.: Arctic Naturalist and Explorer handwritten and typescript drafts, plus research materials. 1968
1/14 The Availability and Utilization of Medical Services in an Alaskan Eskimo Community handwritten draft. 1969
1/15 The Health of the Eskimos, As Portrayed in the Earliest Written Accounts typescript draft. 1971
1/16 “Polar Hayes”: An Essay on the Life of the American Arctic Explorer, Isaac Israel Hayes, M.D. (1832-1881) handwritten draft. 1970
1/17 Medical Audit and the Problem-Oriented Record typescript draft, 9 pages. 1972
1/18 Book review of Federal Health Care (With Reservations!) typescript draft. 1972
1/19 Health and Disease of American Indians North of Mexico: A Bibliography, 1800-1969 bibliographies and notes. 1972
1/20 Twenty Years of Progress: A Brief History of the Alaska Native Medical Center typed draft, 26 pages. 1974
1/21 Book review of Discovery in Russian and Siberian Waters by L.H. Neatby, typescript draft. 1974
1/22 Health Care and the Alaska Native: The Search for a System of Health Care presented at the Annual Meeting of the Oklahoma Public Health Association, Tulsa, Oklahoma, typescript draft, 74 pages. 1975
1/23 The Hand-On Provider: Where Does He Input Decisions on Financing, Organizing, & Delivering Health Services? presented at the 6th Alaska Health Congress, Anchorage typescript draft, 14 pages. 1981
1/24 Traditional Surgery of the Alaska Natives handwritten and typescript drafts. 1983
1/25 Ships’ Surgeons and Naturalists in the Early History of Alaska. Part I. Voyages of Discovery, 1741-1786 handwritten and typescript drafts. 1983
1/26 Ship’s Surgeons and Naturalists in the Early History of Alaska. Part 2. Voyages of Trade and Science, 1786-1807 handwritten and typescript drafts. 1983
1/27 E.S. (“Stu”) Rabeau, M.D. (1920-1984) handwritten and typescript drafts. 1984
1/28 Ship’s Surgeons and Naturalists in the Early History of Alaska. Part 3. Voyages for Empire and the Northwest Passage, 1814-1854 handwritten and typescript drafts. 1983
1/29 Physicians and Alaska Place Names handwritten draft. 1983
1/30-33 Lancets of Stone: Traditional Methods of Surgery Among the Alaska Natives handwritten and typescript drafts. 1983
1/34 Communicable Disease Control in the Early History of Alaska. 1. Smallpox handwritten draft and typed outline. 1983
1/35 Communicable Disease Control in the Early History of Alaska. 2. Syphilis handwritten and typescript drafts and outline. 1983
1/36 Alaska’s First Hospital for presentation at the 6th International Symposium on Circumpolar Health, Anchorage, Alaska (1984), handwritten draft. 1983 December
1/37 Portrait of Alaska Native Health, 1800 For presentation at the 6th International Symposium on Circumpolar Health, Anchorage, Alaska (1984), handwritten draft. 1983 December
1/38 Alaska Through the Eyes of a German Poet: The Diary of Adelbert von Chamisso, Naturalist on the Kotzebue Voyage handwritten draft. 1984
1/39-1/42 The Alaska Diary of Adelbert von Chamisso, Naturalist on the Kotzebue Voyage, 1815- typescript and handwritten drafts, galley proof, research materials, correspondence, and photographs. 1985-1986
1/43-44 A History of the Alaska Native Medical Center, 1953-1983 handwritten draft of volume 1. 1985-198
1/45-47 A History of the Alaska Native Medical Center, 1953-1983 handwritten draft of volume 2, typescript draft. 1985-1986
2/1 Early Evidence of Infections Among Alaska Natives handwritten and typescript drafts. 1983-1984
2/2 Empirical Healing Among the Alaska Natives: An Historical Perspective presented at the Seventh International Conference on Circumpolar Health, Umeå, Sweden, typescript draft. 1987
2/3 Scurvy and Its Influence on Early Alaskan History presented at the 7th International Conference on Circumpolar Health, Umeå, Sweden, typescript draft. 1987
2/4 ASCH Members Contribute Papers to 7th ICCH typescript draft. 1987 July 4
2/5 Arctic Medical History and Traditional Medicine typescript draft. 1987 July 6
2/6 Scurvy and the Exploration and Settlement of Alaska, 1741-1807 handwritten draft. 1988
2/7 Medicinal Plants monograph handwritten draft. 1987
2/8-9 The Use of Medicinal Plants By the Alaska Natives hand-edited typescript draft and final typescript draft. 1987
2/10 Empirical Healing Among the Alaska Natives: An Historical Perspective handwritten and typescript drafts. 1987
2/11 Scurvy and Its Influence on Early Alaskan History typescript draft. 1987
2/12-3/11 Chills and Fever: Health and Disease in the Early History of Alaska drafts, galley proofs, data, notes. 1982-1989
3/12-14 Footprints across the snow: Learning from arctic medical history handwritten and typescript drafts. 1990
3/15 Book review of Remarks and observations on a voyage around the world from 1803-1807 by Georg Heinrich von Langsdorff, translated and annotated by Victoria Moessner, edited by Richard A. Pierce, typescript draft. 1983
3/16 Educating medical students for Alaska typescript drafts and abstract. 1996
3/17 C. Earl Albrecht and the struggle against tuberculosis in Alaska typescript drafts and abstract. 1996
3/18 Book review of Frontier physician: The life and legacy of Dr. C. Earl Albrecht, by Nancy Jordan, typescript draft. 1996
3/19 – 4/58 Medicine and the bible (proposed title?) research notes. Undated
4/59 – 4/64 Other research files. Includes research on medicine and literature, art, and music, and the Public Health Service. Undated
4/65 – 4/70 Must we all die: Alaska’s enduring struggle with tuberculosis edited draft, correspondence, and research notes. 1999-2004

Series 2: Circumpolar health conference and organization records: 1984-1996. 0.3 cubic feet. Arranged by conference or organization, thereunder chronologically.

Box/Folder Description Dates
5/1-9 International Congress on Circumpolar Health records. 1984-2000
5/10 American Society for Circumpolar Health records. 1980-1991

Series 3: Publication records; 1958-2004. 0.1 cubic feet. This series includes correspondence and notes pertaining to some of Dr. Fortuine’s published writings as well as three journal covers which include photographs taken by Dr. Fortuine.

Box/Folder Description Dates
5/11 Publication correspondence. 1958-1996
5/12 University of Alaska Press correspondence. 1999-2004
5/13 Journal covers. 1974-1977

Series 4: 35 mm color photographic slides; 1961-1987. 1.0 cubic feet. Images taken by Dr. Fortuine. The listings below do not include all locations represented in the slides. An index to the locations in the slides is available in the Archives research area.

Box/Folder Description Dates
5/14 Slide numbers 6108K37-6310bB12. Outside Alaska: Belcourt (North Dakota), Gallup (New Mexico), Phoenix (Arizona), Fort Apache (Arizona), Whiteriver Reservation (Arizona).  Alaska: Anchorage, Kanakanak, Dillingham, Naknek, King Salmon, Ekwok, Kokhanok, Aleknagik, Koliganek, Levelock, Pilot Point, Port Heiden, Chignik, Perryville. 1961-1963
5/15 Slide numbers 6310bB13-6407B10. Perryville, Ugashik, Clark’s Point, Ekuk, Egegik, Goodnews Bay, New Stuyahok. 1963-1964
5/16 Slide numbers 6407B01-6605bP5K10 Alaska: Bethel, Napaskiak, Russian Mission, Holy Cross, Anchorage, Kwigillingok, Hooper Bay. 1964-1966
5/17 Slide numbers 6605bP5K11-6705aK17. Hooper Bay, Mountain Village, Emmonak. 1966-1967
5/18 Slide numbers 6705aK19-6708R3K08. Alaska: Emmonak, Bethel, Kwethluk, Hooper Bay, Kalskag, Russian Mission, Ft. Kalmakoff, Tuluksak, Akiak, Anchorage, Juneau, Inside Passage between Juneau and Sitka, Sitka. 1967
5/19 Slide numbers 6708hR3K09-6907bD1K20. Alaska: Sitka. Outside Alaska: Belcourt (North Dakota), Rapid City (South Dakota), Pine Ridge (South Dakota), Rosebud (South Dakota), Phoenix (Arizona), Sacaton (Arizona), Tucson (Arizona), Pendleton (Oregon), Sante Fe (New Mexico), Dulce (New Mexico), Jicarilla (New Mexico), Cherokee (North Carolina), Philadelphia (Mississippi). 1967-1969
5/20 Slide numbers 6908.15-7104dH3K09. Outside Alaska: Tulsa (Oklahoma), Tahlequah (Oklahoma), Anadarko (Oklahoma), Bandolier National Monument (New Mexico), Aztec (New Mexico), Mesa Verde (Colorado), Shiprock (New Mexico), Fort Defiance (Arizona), Window Rock (Arizona), Kinlichee (Arizona), Canyon de Chelly (Arizona), Tucson (Arizona). 1969-1971
5/21 Slide numbers 7104dH3K19-7206bP6K02. Outside Alaska: Montezuma’s Castle (New Mexico), Crystal (Arizona), Fort Defiance (Arizona), Red Lake (Arizona), Canyon de Chelly (Arizona), Zuni (New Mexico), Phoenix (Arizona).  Alaska: Anchorage. 1971-1972
5/22 Slide numbers 7206bP6K08-7210eP4K02. Anchorage, Unalaska, St. Paul Island, Hope, Seldovia, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Denali National Park, Cold Bay. 1972
5/23 Slide numbers 7210eP4K03-7707bW5K05.  Alaska: Dutch Harbor, Anchorage, Whittier, Valdez, Juneau, St. Paul Island, St. George Island, Cold Bay, Bethel, Glacier Bay, Gustavus, Tanana, Homer, Fairbanks, Barrow, Wasilla. 1972-1977
5/24 Slide numbers 8012P09K01-8602P9K32.  Alaska: Tok, Tetlin, Northway, Tanacross, Tatitlek, Anchorage, Unalakleet, Birchwood, Bethel, Kenai, Kachemak Bay, Hatcher Pass, Eklutna. 1980-1986

Series 5: Journals and memoirs; 1944-2002. 3.3 cubic feet.

Series 5: Journals. Subseries 5a: Handwritten journals; 1956-2002. 1.6 cubic feet. Dr. Fortuine’s original handwritten personal diaries.  Most of the diaries predating 1962 were transferred to the Osler Library Archives at McGill University at Dr. Fortuine’s request, but duplicate copies were made and retained as part of this collection. The listing below indicates the copied volumes. Arranged chronologically.

Box/Item Description Dates
6/1 Volume 1 (copy) 1956 August 4-December 11
6/2 Volume 2 (copy) 1956 December 11-1957 March 10
6/3 Volume 3 (copy) 1957 March 10-August 6
6/4 Volume 4 (copy) 1957 August 7-December 1
6/5 Volume 5 (copy) 1957 December 1-1958 April 20
6/6 Volume 6 (copy) 1958 April 20-December 15
6/7 Diary extract (copy) 1958 December 17-24
6/8 Log of the Grenfell Mission boat M.V. Maraval 1959
6/9 Volume 7 (copy) 1959 August-1960 May 15
6/10 Volume 8 (copy) 1960 May 16-September 13
6/11 Volume 9 (copy) 1960 September 15-1961 May 27
6/12 Volume 10 (copy) 1961 June 1-1962 January 14
6/13 Volume 11 1962 January 18-October 14
6/14 Volume 12 1962 October 27-1963 October 5
6/15 Volume 13 1963 October 8-1965 October 24
6/16 Volume 14 1965 October 24-1967 May 7
6/17 Volume 15 1967 May 11-1968 August 11
6/18 Volume 16 1968 September 14-1969 June 22
6/19 Volume 17 1969 June 24-1970 April 10
6/20 Volume 18 1970 April 19–December 24
6/21 Volume 19 1970 December 25-1971 May 16
6/22 Volume 20 1971 May 18-October 29
6/23 Volume 21 1971 October 29-1972 October 9
6/24 Volume 22 1972 October 10-1973 August 22
6/25 Volume 23 1973 August-1976 March
6/26 Volume 24 Trip to the Far East, Tokyo, Jakmi, Kyoto, Taipei, Hong Kong, Honolulu 1975 September-October
6/27 Volume 25 Trip to India 1976 September-November 1976
6/28 Volume 26 Anchorage Alaska 1976 March-1977 April
6/29 Volume 1 Geneva 1977
7/1 Volume 2 Geneva 1978
7/2 Volume 3 Geneva 1979
7/3 Volume 4 Geneva 1980
7/4 Volume 5 Anchorage, Alaska 1980 August 4-1981 December 23
7/5 Hansel De Lupo Clarissing Historia 1976
7/6 Volume 6 Haitian refugee camp, Miami (Florida). 1981 August-September, 1982 May
7/7 Volume 7 Anchorage, Alaska 1982-1983
7/8 Volume 8 Anchorage, Alaska 1984
7/9 Volume 9 Anchorage, Alaska 1985-1986
7/10 Volume 10 1987 January 1-December 30
7/11 Volume 11 1988
7/12 Netherlands, UK, Iceland 3 June – 1 July, 1993
7/13 Notes: trip to Switzerland, Netherlands and Scotland 2000 September11-October 1
7/14 Trip to New England 2002 May

Series 5: Journals. Subseries 5b: Transcribed journals; 2002. 0.6 cubic feet. Transcribed versions of the diaries in subseries 5a. Includes comb-bound paper copies as well as electronic versions on compact disc. The date span covered in the transcribed journals is 1952-2002. Arranged chronologically.

Box/Item Description Dates covered
7/15 Volume 1 1956-1960
7/16 Volume 2 1960-1968
7/17 Volume 3 1968-1975
7/18 Volume 4 1975-1977
7/19 Volume 5 1978-1979
7/20 Volume 6 1980-1984
7/21 Volume 7 1984-2002
7/22 Volume 8, Miscellaneous autobiographical writings 1952-2002
7/23 Supplemental volume, Biographical odds and ends undated
7/24 CD’s of Robert Fortuine Journals: text pdf and photos 1956-2002

Series 5: Journals. Subseries 5c: Memoirs; 1935-1981. 0.4 cubic feet.  Handwritten, typescript and some desktop published versions of memoir-type writings. Arranged chronologically by time span covered in the memoir.

Box/Item Description Dates covered
8/1 Beautiful home by the sea: a memoir of my boyhood and school days. Desktop published, 2006 1935-1956
8/2 Exeter sketches. Handwritten memoir 1949-1952
8/3 Summer with the AFS parts 1 and 2. Typescript memoir 1952 July 19-September 5
8/4 A summer in the Netherlands: family letters of an AFS summer exchange student. Desktop published version of the preceding item, 2001 1952 July 19-September 5
8/5 A student confronts medicine: journals and letters from medical school. Desktop published, 1994 1956-1961
8/6 Separated and unequal: a doctor’s journal of life in a Haitian detention camp. Handwritten memoir 1981 August-September

 

Series 5: Journals. Subseries 5d: Notebooks; 1970-1980. 0.7 cubic feet. Handwritten spiral-bound notebooks containing Dr. Fortuine’s notes on events, conferences, and activities. Arranged chronologically.

Box/Item Description Dates
8/7 Notebook 1970 March 2 – 1970 May 1
8/8 Notebook Alaska 1 1971 May – September 10
8/9 Notebook 2 1971 September 10 – October 22
8/10 Notebook 3 1971 October 10 – November 26
8/11 Notebook 4 1971 November 29 – 1972 February 2
8/12 Notebook 5 1971 December 14 – 1972 April 24
8/13 Notebook 6 1972 April 25 – 1972 May 22
8/14 Notebook 7 1972 May 22 – 1972 July 26
8/15 Notebook 8 1972 July 27 – 1972 November 2
8/16 Notebook 9 1972 November 7 – 1973 April 6
8/17 Notebook 10 1973 April 9 – 1973 July 2
8/18 Notebook 11 1973 July 2 – 1973 October 29
8/19 Notebook 12 1973 October 30 – 1974 January 31
8/20 Notebook 13 1974 February 1 – 1974 April 8
8/21 Notebook 14 1974 March 26 – 1974 May 23
8/22 Notebook 15 1974 May 29 – 1974 August 16
8/23 Notebook 16 1974 August 20 – 1974 December 10
8/24 Notebook 17 1974 December 11 – 1975 April 10
8/25 Notebook 18 1975 April 11 – 1975 July 8
8/26 Notebook 19 1975 July 14 – 1976 January 2
8/27 Notebook 1972 June 25 – 1974 February 15
8/28 Notebook 1976 January 6 – 1976 April 14
8/29 Notebook 1976 April 14 – 1976 July 27
8/30 Notebook 1976 July 28 – 1976 October 12
8/31 Notebook 1976 October 14 – 1976 November 15
8/32 Notebook 1976 November 16 – 1977 March 29
8/33 Notebook 1 1977 July 18 – 1977 August 3
8/34 Notebook 2 1977 August 4 – 1977 November 8
8/35 Notebook 3 1977 November 9 – 1978 January 25
8/36 Notebook 4 1978 January 26 – 1978 May 5
8/37 Notebook 5 1978 May 6 – 1978 September 8
8/38 Notebook 6 1978 September 14 – 1978 November 10
8/39 Notebook 7 1978 November 15 – 1978 December 13
8/40 Notebook 8 1978 December 11 – 1979 January 22
8/41 Notebook 9 1979 January 29 – 1979 March 26
8/42 Notebook 10 1979 March 27 – 1979 June 21
9/1 Notebook 11 1979 May 9 – 1979 November 2
9/2 Notebook 12 1979 November 3 – 1979 December 13
9/3 Notebook 13 1979 December 13 – 1980 January 21
9/4 Notebook 14 1980 January 22 – 1980 May 2
9/5 Misc Notes undated

Series 6: Correspondence files; 1934-2007. 7.4 cubic feet. Personal and professional correspondence. Arranged chronologically by year or year grouping.

Box Date span
9/6-9/19 1934-1952
10 1952-1960
11 1960-1970
12 1970-1980
13 1978-1980
14 1980-1988
15 1989-1999
16/1 – 16/18 2000-2007

Series 7: Instruction and curriculum files; 1994-2007. 0.4 cubic feet. Materials related to lectures and courses delivered by Dr. Fortuine, primarily with the WWAMI medical education program and the University of Alaska Anchorage Biomedical program.

Box Description Dates
16/19 – 16/32 Lecture notes, invitations, and course syllabi.  1994-2007

Series 8: Personal records; 1964, 1997-2007. 0.2 cubic feet. Personal genealogical research writings authored and collected by Dr. Fortuine, certificates of study, and photographs of graduate groups.

Box Description Dates
16/33 – 16/39 Genealogical writings, certificates, photographs. 1964, 1997-2007

 

 

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