Adolf Nichtenhauser was born in Vienna, Austria in 1903. After studying psychology, art history, literature, and motion picture production at the Universities of Berlin, Bonn and Heidelberg, he received an M.D. degree in 1931 from the University of Vienna. Even before he began his medical career, he was intrigued by the educational and aesthetic possibilities of film. He frequently reviewed his films, studied their cultural applications, and directed and edited his own documentary on an Austrian labor organization.
Nichtenhauser's work with film continued after his arrival in the United States in 1939, first as an assistant to the director of health education for the National Tuberculosis Association, and later as a consultant to several federal and private agencies. One agency which employed Nichtenhauser as a consultant was the Armed Forces Medical Library (later the National Library of Medicine) for whom Nichtenhauser prepared a plan to collect and preserve medical motion pictures.
Nichtenhauser's major accomplishment is the unpublished "History of Motion Pictures in Medicine." In February, 1947 Capt. Robert V. Schultz (MC) of the U.S. Navy's Audio-Visual Training Section, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, initiated a contract to Nichtenhauser for the production of a monograph on the general status of medical films. The contract was later transferred to the Office of Naval Research and broadened to encompass the history of films in medicine. The Film Library of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) became the grant administrator, although it was Nichtenhauser who continued to broaden and polish the draft. Efforts to publish the history after Nichtenhauser's death in November, 1953, were unsuccessful.
The typescript was given to NLM in 1981, while the photographs and a photostat of the typescript were transferred to Robert J.T. Joy, M.D. of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. In 1991 Joy gave to the library the photographs and negatives, completing once more the original Nichtenhauser collection.
Nichtenhauser's material is divided into two different numbered collections. MS C 277 contains material from the original donation of 1954. It consists of correspondence, notes and other research materials assembled by Nichtenhauser during the course of his career. The typescript "History of Motion Pictures in Medicine" is found in MS C 380. Photographs recieved in 1991 and found in the text have been identified by figure number and filed accordingly. Photographs which could not positively be identified in the text are found at the end of the collection, as is a collection of unsorted negatives.
Collection is not restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access. For online customer service, please visit custserv@nlm.nih.gov.
NLM does possess copyright to the collection. Contact the Reference Staff for details regarding rights. For online customer service, please visit custserv@nlm.nih.gov.
In 1954 MOMA offered to the National Library of Medicine Dr. Nichtenhauser's research papers, files, and correspondence. Some time after 1979 MOMA transferred to the Naval Health Sciences Education and Training Command Nichtenhauser's typescript history and accompanying photographs and negatives.
Nichtenhauser, Adolf. Adolf Nichtenauser papers. 1933-1955. Located in: Modern Manuscripts Collection, History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.; MS C 277.
Given to the National Library of Medicine in 1981, additional acquistions made in 1991 courtesy of Robert J.T. Joy, M.D.
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Medical Motion Picture Materials, 1933-1955
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| Box |
| 1 | | Nichtenhauser, Adolf |
| 1 | | Adams, H.S. |
| 1 | | Addresses |
| 1 | | A.F. Films, Inc. |
| 1 | | Agenda, 1935-1945 |
| 1 | | American Medical Association film clippings |
| 1 | | American Cancer Society |
| 1 | | American College of Surgeons |
| 1 | | American College of Surgeons Convention, 1952 |
| 1 | | American Council of Education, 1934-1935 |
| 1 | | American Council of Education, 1936-1939 |
| 1 | | American Film Center |
| 1 | | American Film Center, 1941-1944 |
| 1 | | American Medical Association |
| 2 | | American Nurses Association, 1941-1953 |
| 2 | | Anesthesia |
| 2 | | Applicants, 1951 |
| 2 | | Appraisals of films |
| 2 | | Armed Forces Medical Library, 1952-1953 |
| 2 | | Armed Forces Medical Library (Permalife copy), 1952-1953 |
| 2 | | Arm Amputation Program |
| 2 | | Army Amputation Program (Permalife copy) |
| 2 | | Army films |
| 2 | | Army films (Permalife copy) |
| 2 | | Army - Navy Medical films |
| 3 | | Army-Navy Medical films (Permalife copy) (1) |
| 3 | | Army-Navy Medical films (Permalife copy) (2) |
| 3 | | Army-Navy Reviews (1) - 1940s |
| 3 | | Army-Navy Reviews (2), 1940s |
| 3 | | Army-Navy Reviews (Permalife copy) (1), 1940s |
| 3 | | Army-Navy Reviews (Permalife copy) (2), 1940s |
| 3 | | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| 3 | | Association of Documentary - Television Film Cameramen |
| 3 | | Association of Scientific Workers (London) |
| 3 | | Atomic Energy Commission |
| 3 | | Atomic Medicine |
| 3 | | Audio-Visual Committee, 1946-1948 |
| 3 | | Audio-Visual Section |
| 4 | | Baby and child health |
| 4 | | Bacteria |
| 4 | | Barr, Capt. J.S. |
| 4 | | Beginnings - (Post Marey) |
| 4 | | Benedict, William L. (Dr.) |
| 4 | | Bibliography - Education films |
| 4 | | Biographical Notes |
| 4 | | Biological and Medical Committee |
| 4 | | Biological Photographic Association |
| 4 | | Booking |
| 4 | | British Information Services |
| 4 | | Bureau of Aeronautics (Film History) (1), 1941-1945 |
| 4 | | Bureau of Aeronautics (Film History) (2), 1941-1945 |
| 4 | | Bureau of Aeronautics - (Film History) (3), 1941-1945 |
| 4 | | Bureau of Aeronautics - (Film History) (4), 1941-1945 |
| 4 | | Canada |
| 4 | | Cancer, 1948 |
| 5 | | Cancer film reviews |
| 5 | | Cardiovascular Reviews (1) |
| 5 | | Cardiovascular Reviews (2) |
| 5 | | Cardiovascular Reviews (3) |
| 5 | | Cardiovascular Reviews (4) |
| 5 | | Cardiovascular System |
| 5 | | Catalog of Medical Films |
| 5 | | Child Health Council |
| 5 | | Ciba Pharmaceutical Products |
| 5 | | Classification |
| 5 | | Clinical Film Company |
| 5 | | Coffey, Dr. E.R. |
| 5 | | Coleman, Mrs. |
| 5 | | Comments on Film Reviews, 1950-1951 |
| 5 | | Communicable Disease Center |
| 6 | | Communicable Disease Center |
| 6 | | Conference on medical films, 1942 |
| 6 | | Conferences , 1950 |
| 6 | | Contracts, 1948-1950 |
| 6 | | Convention Film Programs |
| 6 | | Corey, Stephen M. |
| 6 | | Cornelison, Floyd (Corres.), 1951-1952 |
| 6 | | Coronet Films |
| 6 | | Correspondence, 1933-1936 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, 1937-1941 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, 1942 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, July 1943 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, Aug. - Dec. 1943 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, Jan. - May 1944 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, June - Oct. 1944 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, Nov. 1944- Feb. 1945 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, March 1945 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, April 1945 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, May - Aug. 1945 |
| 6 | | Correspondence, Sept. - Dec. 1945 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, Jan. - May 1946 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, June - July 1946 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, Aug. 1946 - June 1947 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, July 1947 - Aug. 1949 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, Sept. - Dec. 1949 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, Jan. - June 1950 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, July 1950 - March 1951 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, April - Aug. 1951 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, Sept. 1951 - Feb. 1952 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, April - June 1952 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, July - Dec. 1952 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, Jan. - June 1953 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, July - Dec. 1953 |
| 7 | | Correspondence, July - Dec. 1955 |
| 7 | | Creer, Ralph P. (Correspondence) |
| 7 | | Critical Catalog, 1948-1951 |
| 7 | | Dental |
| 7 | | Dental films |
| 7 | | Distribution lists |
| 8 | | Documentary films (Profitable Production) |
| 8 | | Dungal, Niels |
| 8 | | Eastman classroom |
| 8 | | Educational films |
| 8 | | Educational Film Library Association, Inc. (1) |
| 8 | | Educational Film Library Association, Inc. (2) |
| 8 | | Educational Film Library Association, Inc. (3) |
| 8 | | Educational Film Library Association Meeting, 1947 |
| 8 | | Educational Film Library Association Meeting |
| 8 | | Encyclopedia Britannica films |
| 8 | | England |
| 8 | | Farm Security Administration |
| 8 | | Farris, E.J., 1941-1942 |
| 8 | | Film Advisory Center |
| 8 | | Film Council of American, 1945 |
| 9 | | Film notes, 1936 |
| 9 | | Film research and studies |
| 9 | | Film sources |
| 9 | | Film training |
| 9 | | Food |
| 9 | | France |
| 9 | | France - health items |
| 9 | | France - med. teaching films |
| 9 | | G.B. Instructional Films |
| 9 | | Germany |
| 9 | | Germany, 1920s |
| 9 | | Germany - Health Films |
| 9 | | Germany - med. teaching films |
| 9 | | Gessell, Dr. |
| 9 | | Graduate Fortnight |
| 9 | | Grant applications |
| 10 | | Great Britain |
| 10 | | Gregg, Alan, 1941-1944 |
| 10 | | Harrington, Marie C. |
| 10 | | Health education |
| 10 | | Health films (1), 1930-1944 |
| 10 | | Heal films (2), 1930-1944 |
| 10 | | Health films (3), 1930-1944 |
| 10 | | Health Film Center, 1940 |
| 10 | | Health Film Committee, 1944 |
| 10 | | Health films and programs (World Today) (1), 1950 |
| 10 | | Health films and programs (World Today) (2), 1950 |
| 10 | | Health films and programs (World Today) (3), 1950-1951 |
| 10 | | Health films and programs (World Today) (4), 1951 |
| 10 | | Health film lists, 1939-1944 |
| 10 | | Health films (misc.) (1) |
| 10 | | Health films (misc.) (2) |
| 10 | | Historical aspects of medical films |
| 11 | | Hollywood Quarterly |
| 11 | | Hospital Administration |
| 11 | | Hull, Thomas G. |
| 11 | | Illustrations, 1948 |
| 11 | | Illustration legends (1) |
| 11 | | Illustration legends (2) |
| 11 | | illustration films |
| 11 | | inquiries of films |
| 11 | | Inter-American Affairs (Coordinator) (1), 1941-1943 |
| 11 | | Inter-American Affairs (Coordinator) (2), 1943-1944 |
| 11 | | Inter-American Affairs, (1944) |
| 11 | | Interviews |
| 11 | | Job description |
| 11 | | Johnson and Johnson |
| 11 | | Journal of Medical Education |
| 11 | | King, C.G. |
| 11 | | Kleinschmidt, H.E. |
| 11 | | Larson, L.C. |
| 11 | | Library of Congress |
| 11 | | List of special health films |
| 11 | | List of USPHS films |
| 11 | | Louisville Medical School |
| 12 | | Mailing list (1), 1943 |
| 12 | | Mailing list (2), 1943 |
| 12 | | Mailing list (3), 1943 |
| 12 | | Mailing list (4), 1943 |
| 12 | | Mailing list (5), 1943 |
| 12 | | Mailing list (1), 1944 |
| 12 | | Mailing list (2), 1944 |
| 12 | | Mailing list (3), 1944 |
| 12 | | Marey, J. |
| 12 | | Mavey - (Establishment) |
| 12 | | Med. and Biological Films |
| 13 | | Med. and Biological Films Catalog (1) |
| 13 | | Med. and Biological Films Catalog (2) |
| 13 | | Medical and dental films |
| 13 | | Medical films |
| 13 | | Medical films (draft) (1), 1920s |
| 13 | | Medical films (draft) (1), 1920s-1930s |
| 13 | | Medical films (draft) (1), mid-1920s |
| 13 | | Medical films (draft) (2), 1920s |
| 13 | | Medical films (draft) (2), mid-1920s |
| 13 | | Medical films (draft) (2), 1920s-1930s |
| 13 | | Medical films (draft) (1), 1935-1943 |
| 13 | | Medical films (draft) (2), 1935-1943 |
| 14 | | Medical films (draft) (1) - World War II |
| 14 | | Medical films (draft) (2) - World War II |
| 14 | | Medical films and sources |
| 14 | | Medical Film Guild |
| 14 | | Medical Film Institute (1) |
| 14 | | Medical Film Institute (2) |
| 14 | | Medical Film Reviews |
| 14 | | Medical health films - (misc.) |
| 14 | | Medical teaching films |
| 14 | | Medical teaching films and production, 1951-1952 |
| 14 | | Meetings and Conventions (1) |
| 14 | | Meetings and Conventions (2) |
| 14 | | Memoranda and agencies |
| 15 | | Memoranda - (Dr. Nick) (1) |
| 15 | | Memoranda - (Dr. Nick) (2) |
| 15 | | Memoranda, 1945 |
| 15 | | Memoranda, 1945-1946 |
| 15 | | Memorandums, Reports, etc., 1941-1943 |
| 15 | | Memorandums, Reports, etc., 1944-1946 |
| 15 | | Memos (Intra-Office) (1), 1941-1942 |
| 15 | | Memos (Intra-Office) (2), 1941-1942 |
| 15 | | Memos (Intra-Office), 1943-1944 |
| 15 | | Mental health |
| 15 | | Mental health, 1951 |
| 15 | | Mental Hygiene films |
| 15 | | Meyer, John L. (Correspondence) |
| 15 | | Micro-vessels |
| 15 | | Mosquito mounting film |
| 15 | | Muybridge, Eadweard |
| 15 | | National Film Board of Canada |
| 15 | | National Film Institute, 1945-1946 |
| 15 | | National Film Institute, 1946-1947 |
| 15 | | National Film Institute - Memorandums, Reports, etc., 1944-1946 |
| 15 | | National Health Film Library, See Box 24 |
| 15 | | National Tuberculosis Association |
| 16 | | Navy, 1948 |
| 16 | | Navy correspondence, 1950-1952 |
| 16 | | Navy department films |
| 16 | | Navy film history |
| 16 | | Navy Med. Film Project, 1945-1947 |
| 16 | | Neoplastic Diseases - (Reviews), 1951 |
| 16 | | Neuro-Psychiatry |
| 16 | | Newsletter, 1950-1952 |
| 16 | | New York State |
| 16 | | Nichtenhauser, Adolf |
| 16 | | Nichtenhauser, Adolf (typescripts) |
| 16 | | Nursing test films |
| 16 | | Nutrition, 1944-1951 |
| 16 | | Nutrition |
| 16 | | Nutrition Committee |
| 16 | | Nutrition Film Program, 1944 |
| 17 | | Official papers |
| 17 | | Office of Naval Research Contract |
| 17 | | Office of Naval Research Contract - Communications |
| 17 | | Office of Naval Research - (Museum of Modern Art) |
| 17 | | Office of Naval Research - Miscellaneous |
| 17 | | Organizations - (Misc.) |
| 17 | | Orthopedic Surgery |
| 17 | | Panels |
| 17 | | Penn State College, (1), 1947 |
| 17 | | Penn State College (2), 1947 |
| 17 | | Peter, W.W. (1) |
| 17 | | Peter, W.W. (2) |
| 17 | | Pharmacology |
| 17 | | Pharmacology Film List |
| 17 | | Photography (Med. Bibliography) |
| 17 | | Physical Medicine |
| 17 | | Physiotherapy - Rehabilitation |
| 17 | | Postwar Research, 1918-1925 |
| 17 | | President's Address |
| 17 | | Production Research |
| 17 | | Production Suggestions, 1942-1943 |
| 18 | | Protocol - (MFI), 1948 |
| 18 | | Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| 18 | | Psychiatric Reviews - Mailing List |
| 18 | | Psychology, 1938-1947 |
| 18 | | Psychology Reviews |
| 18 | | Public Health |
| 18 | | Public Health Service |
| 18 | | Publications, 1941-1942 |
| 18 | | Publications, 1942-1943 |
| 18 | | Publications, 1944 |
| 18 | | Publication, 1949 |
| 18 | | Publications, 1950-1953 |
| 18 | | Rabies manuscripts |
| 18 | | Reports, bulletins, articles (Miscellaneous) (1) |
| 18 | | Reports, bulletins, articles (Miscellaneous) (2) |
| 18 | | Reports, bulletins, articles (Miscellaneous) (3) |
| 18 | | Reports, bulletins, articles (Miscellaneous) (4) |
| 19 | | Reports, bulletins, articles (Miscellaneous) (5) |
| 19 | | Reports, bulletins, articles (Miscellaneous) (6) |
| 19 | | Reports, bulletins, articles (Miscellaneous) (7) |
| 19 | | Reports, bulletins, articles (Miscellaneous) (8) |
| 19 | | Research and studies |
| 19 | | Reviews in publication |
| 19 | | Reviews of films, A - B |
| 19 | | Reviews, C - D |
| 19 | | Reviews, E - G |
| 19 | | Reviews, H - I |
| 19 | | Reviews, J - M |
| 19 | | Reviews, N |
| 19 | | Reviews, O - Pi |
| 20 | | Reviews, P |
| 20 | | Reviews, R - S |
| 20 | | Reviews, S |
| 20 | | Reviews, S |
| 20 | | Reviews, T - Z |
| 20 | | Reviews of films - (foreign countries) |
| 20 | | Reviews - (Misc.) (1) |
| 20 | | Reviews - (Misc.) (2) |
| 20 | | Reviews - (Misc.) (3) |
| 20 | | Rockefeller Foundation |
| 20 | | Rome Institute |
| 20 | | Ruhe, David S. (1) |
| 20 | | Ruhe, David S. (2) |
| 20 | | Safety |
| 20 | | Sample reviews (1) |
| 20 | | Sample reviews (2) |
| 21 | | Schultz, Robert |
| 21 | | Schultz, William H. |
| 21 | | Scientific Film Association (1) |
| 21 | | Scientific Film Association (2) |
| 21 | | Scientific Film Association (3) |
| 21 | | Scientific Film Association - Britain |
| 21 | | Shades of Grey |
| 21 | | Silverstein, Martin (Reviews) |
| 21 | | Society of American Bacteriologists (1) |
| 21 | | Society of American Bacteriologists (2) |
| 21 | | Society of American Bacteriologists (3) |
| 21 | | Society of American Bacteriologists (4) |
| 21 | | Society of American Bacteriologists (5) |
| 21 | | Squibb, E.R. and Sons |
| 21 | | State Department |
| 21 | | State Department Memoranda, 1946-1947 |
| 21 | | State Department Reviews, A - R |
| 21 | | State Department Reviews, S - Z |
| 22 | | State Reviews (1) |
| 22 | | State Reviews (2) |
| 22 | | Statements (supporting), 1948 |
| 22 | | Strauss, Henriette |
| 22 | | Sturgis-Grant Productions |
| 22 | | Sturgis-Warren |
| 22 | | Suggestions for health films |
| 22 | | Teaching aids |
| 22 | | Technical report |
| 22 | | Technical report - (film instruction) (1) |
| 22 | | Technical report - (film instruction) (2) |
| 22 | | Technical report - (film instruction) (3) |
| 22 | | Technical report - (film instruction) (4) |
| 22 | | Technical report - (film instruction) (5) |
| 22 | | Television films, 1951 |
| 22 | | Television films, 1951-1952 |
| 22 | | Training Aids Guides |
| 22 | | Tuberculosis |
| 22 | | UFA (Beginning) |
| 22 | | UFA - Development |
| 22 | | UFA - Films |
| 22 | | Unesco (1) |
| 23 | | Unesco (2) |
| 23 | | Unesco (3) |
| 23 | | Unesco (4) |
| 23 | | Unesco (5) |
| 23 | | Unesco Month Med. Film Program |
| 23 | | United Nations Films |
| 23 | | United World Films |
| 23 | | U.S.A. Health Films |
| 23 | | U.S.A. - Institute |
| 23 | | U.S.A. Medical Films, 1900-1926 |
| 23 | | U.S.A. Medical Films, 1927-1929 |
| 23 | | U.S.A. - Medical Films, 1930-1934 |
| 23 | | U.S.A. - Medical Films, 1935-1938 |
| 23 | | U.S.A. Medical Films, 1939 |
| 23 | | U.S.A. - Medical Films, 1940-1944 |
| 23 | | U.S.A. - Medical Films, 1945-1949 |
| 24 | | USSR Health films |
| 24 | | Utilization of films, 1951-1952 |
| 24 | | Venereal disease |
| 24 | | Veterans Administration (1) |
| 24 | | Veterans Administration (2) |
| 24 | | Veterans Administration, 1947 |
| 24 | | Vouchers (Dr. Nick), 1952-1953 |
| 24 | | War Food Administration |
| 24 | | Washington (1) |
| 24 | | Washington (2) |
| 24 | | Washington Visual Workers, 1946-1947 |
| 24 | | Washington Visual Workers, 1947-1948 |
| 24 | | Washington Visual Workers, 1948-1950 |
| 24 | | Wilkinson, S.F. |
| 24 | | Wistar Institute |
| 24 | | World War I |
| 24 | | Catalog - National Health Film Library |
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