
Descriptive Summary
	Collection Number:	MS C 225
	Creator:	Ulmer, Jacob M. 1886-1972
	Title:	Jacob M. Ulmer Papers Relating to the promotion and funding of research to prevent blindness
	Dates:	1949-1969
	Quantity:	34 MS boxes and 62 v.
	Abstract:	Jacob Ulmer was secretary of the National Foundation for Eye Research and served on the National Advisory Neurological Diseases and Blindness Council. Contains correspondence, memoranda, clippings, and printed material on ophthalmology, medical research, rehabilitation of the blind, and persons and organizations active in those fields in the United States and abroad.

Biographical Note

Jacob M. Ulmer was born in Shreve, OH, 19 November 1886 and died in 1972. He received his LLB from Western Reserve University's Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law in 1908. A lawyer by training and profession, cataracts developed in Ulmer's eyes and he began to go blind in 1946. After several operations to remove the cataracts, Ulmer began investigating the state of eye disease research and discovered that over 75% of all the blinding diseases were unknown to science. He decided that something had to be done about the state of opthomological research and since then devoted the rest of his life to the field.

In 1949, Ulmer, along with Al Hirshberg (another layman) and Dr. V. Everett Kinsey (Howe Laboratory of Opthamology, Harvard Medical School) joined forces and created the National Foundation for Eye Research in Washington, D.C. The group immediately began looking for the finances to support their eye research proposals. Several groups came to their aid, most notably the Lasker Foundation. With the personal support of Albert and Mary Lasker and the Lasker Foundation, Ulmer lobbied Congress to create an institute on blindness. In 1950 Public Law 692 was passed, establishing the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Blindness under the Public Health Service. In 1968, the National Eye Institute became a separate institute.

Ulmer also had a profound affect on the operational structure of NIH itself. After establishing NINDB, Ulmer proposed a revolutionary method of financing medical research. His idea was for NINDB to distribute grant money directly to individual medical schools and research institutes to foster eye research projects. Medical schools were at first sceptical, fearing NIH was trying to take control their activities after making them dependent on the grant money. After much negotiating between the schools and and extensive study performed by NIH's Inter-Council Committee on Institutional Grants, the idea of "block grants" was instituted, whereby grants applicants spelled out who was receiving the funds, who the researchers were, scope of the project, etc., so that when the grant was made the researchers were free of any interference by NIH. This method of encouraging research via institutional grants changed forever how NIH operated and helped foster its own prominence in the scientific world.

Ulmer spent the remainder of his life devoted to educating himself and the world about the treatment of blindness and eye disease. It was mainly through his efforts that physicians changed their focus from simply rehabilitating the blind to seeking out the causes of blindness and developing treatments and cures.

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Collection Summary

Papers are arranged into 7 series: I. General, II. Correspondence and papers, III. Miscellaneous papers, IV. Clippings and miscellaneous data, V. International papers and correspondence, VI. Congressional papers, VII. Bound volumes.

Papers contain correspondence, memoranda, clippings, and printed material on ophthalmology, medical research, rehabilitation of the blind, and persons and organizations active in those fields in the United States and abroad.

Correspondents include Silas Adelsheim, Pearce Bailey, Harold T. Clark, Charles Austin Doan, Stewart Duke-Elder, Edwin B. Dunphy, Novice G. Fawcett, Jonas S. Friedenwald, William Henry Havener, Lister Hill, Victor Everett Kinsey, Richard L. Masland, Leonard A. Scheele, Frederick Logan Stone, Derrick Vail, and C. J. Van Slyke. Organizations represented are the American Foundation for the Blind, the Howe Laboratory of Ophthalmology, the National Committee for Research in Neurological Disorders, the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, the Ohio State University Institute for Research in Vision, and the Retina Foundation.

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Restrictions

Collection is not restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access. For online customer service, please visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/contacts/custserv-email.html.

Copyright

NLM does possess copyright to the collection. Contact the Reference Staff for details regarding rights. For online customer service, please visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/contacts/custserv-email.html.

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Index Terms
	These terms are indexed in the National Library of Medicine's online catalog LocatorPlus. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog using these terms.
	MeSH Subjects
		Diseases / Eye
		Ophthalmology
	Personal Names
		Havener, William H. (William Henry), 1924-
		Kinsey, Victor Everett, 1909-
		Stone, Frederick Logan, 1915-
	Corporate Names
		Lasker Foundation
		National Foundation for Eye Research
		National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness (U.S.)
		Ohio. State University. Columbus. Institute for Research in Vision

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Administrative Information

Prefered Citation

[Call Number, Collection Name, Series Number], Modern Manuscripts Collection, History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, USA.

Provenance

Gift of J. M. Ulmer, 1969.

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Series Descriptions



General, 1949-1969
Box
01		Biographical Data
01		"other people's opinions"
01		Interview with Wyndham D. Miles, April 1969
01		Volume of general data relating to collection
01		Volumes 1-3, newspaper clippings and data related to eye research
1		Report-Inter-Council Committee of Institutional Grants, 1952
1		Study and report, retrolental fibroplasia. "America's first national program in eye research",
1		Volume: Miscellaneous data on prevention of blindness thru research, with index
1		Notes, drafts, memoranda
1		Reports, speeches, and papers
1		Clippings

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Correspondence and Papers, 1949-1969
Box
1	Adelsheim, S., 1949-1958
2	Adelsheim, S., 1959-1967
2	Adler, A.
2	Adler, F.H.
2	Alexander, E.B., Optometric Extension Program
2	Allen, E.M.
2	Allen, J.H.
2	American Association of Ophthalmology
2	American Contract Bridge League, 1952-1954
	American Association for the Blind, 1949-1969

		Correspondence

2			General, A - Z
2			Barnett, M.R., 1949-1958
2			Irwin, R.B.
2			Walker, H.C.
2-3		Publications
3	American Foundation for the Overseas Blind
3	American Foundation Studies
		-- Medical Research: A Mid-Century Survey - Reviews
3	American Foundations Information Service
3	American Foundations News, 1959-1960
3	American Medical Association
3	Animal Experimentation - Reprints and miscellaneous data
3	Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation
3	Association of American Medical Colleges
3	Bailey, P., 1951-1960
4	Bayne-Jones, S.
4	Burney, L.E.
4	Carroll, T.J. - "Cerebral Death; Theological Considerations"
4	Clark, H.T. and clippings, 1948-1960
4	Cleveland Mental Health Association
4	Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital
4	Cleveland Mount Sinai Hospital
4	Cleveland Plain Dealer
	Cleveland Press

4		General
4		Seltzer, L.B.
4	Cleveland Society for the Blind
4	Cogan, D.g., 1951-1970
4	Commonwealth Fund
4	Cummings, M.M.
4	Deignan, S.L., 1949-1959
	Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1956-1969, n.d.

5		Annual Report, 1956
5		Children's Bureau
5		Medical Research Activities
5		Office of Education Publications
5		Report, Resources for medical research
5	Dow Corning Center for Aid to Medical Research, 1959-1969
5	Duke-Elder, S., 1949-1967
5	Dunphy, E.B., 1950-1968
	Excerpta Medica, 1952-1956

5		Correspondence, 1952-1956
5		Miscellaneous printed material
	Eye Bank for Sight Restoration, Inc

5		Correspondence, 1952-1960
5		Manual
6		Miscellaneous printed material
	Eye Banks

6		Correspondence, A - W,
6		Fact Sheets
6		Miscellaneous printed material
	Eye Banks - Rochester,

6		Correspondence, 1952-1959
6		Publications
	Federal Register. New Drug Regulations, 1963
6	Federal Register. Reprints re: Food and Drug Administration and drug abuse, 1963-1968
7	Federal Register. Reprints re: Food and Drug Administration and drug abuse, 1969
7	Federal Security Agency
		-- Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Social Security Administration - Publications
7	Felix, R.H., 1951-1964
7	Flemming, A.S.
7	Food and Drug Administration. Proceedings of Conference on 1965 Drug Abuse Control Amendments, 1965
7	Friedenwald, J.S.
7	Fulbright Professors
7	Gans, J.
7	Glaucoma Survey - Cleveland
7	Grant, W. Morton
7	Gregg, Alan, 1950-1960
	Health Information Foundation

7		An Inventory of Social and Economic Research in Health, 1952
7		"Progress in Health Services", 1956-1966
	Hinsey, J.C.

7		Correspondence
7		Articles
	Howe Laboratory of Ophthalmology

7		Correspondence, 1958-1970
8		Application for research grant
8		Program
8		1964 Report
	Illinois Society for Medical Research, 1962-1969

8		Bulletins, 1962-1969
8		Correspondence, 1962-1963
8	Imus, H.A.
8	Institute for Advancement of Medical Communication
8	Johnson, L.V.
8	Kellogg Foundation
8	Kennedy, President J.F. and Lee C. White
8	Keppel, F.
	Kinsey, V.E., 1948-1968

8		Correspondence, 1948-1968
8		Retrolental Fibrolasia Project
8	Kintner, K.
	Knights Templar

		Correspondence

9			Delamater, W.A., 1956-1962
9			Wieber, L.H.
9	Kloss, A.G.
9	Kresge Eye Institute Publications
9	Lanning, L. McC, 1951-1960
9	Lape, E.E>, 1955-1958
	Lasker, M., 1949-1961

9		Correspondence, 1949-1961
9		Clippings
9		Factsheet on Blindness
	Lasker Awards

9		General
9		"Out of Darkness"
9		"Wassaic Story"
	Lasker Foundation

		Correspondence

9			Fordyce, A.
9			Mantell, H.
9			McDonough, J.E.
9			Zikmund, H.L.
	Lions Club

9		Indiana
9		Massachusetts, 1951-1956
		Ohio

10			Publications
10			Steece, E.
10	Lions Clubs
10	Lions International
10	Masland, R.L., 1959-1967
10	Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
10	Mayo, L.W.
10	Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, Inc.
10	Mutual Security Program
10	National Committee for Research in Eye Diseases and Disabilities
10	National Committee for Research in Neurological Disorders. Chiefly correspondence with A.B. Baker, 1952-1966
11	National Committee for Research in Neurological Disorders, 1966-1967
		-- Program
11	National Committee for Research in Ophthalmology and Blindness, 1957-1967
11	National Conference on Cardiovascular Disease
	National Council to Combat Blindness,

11		General information
11		Correspondence - Wisenfeld, M., 1946-1967
11	National Foundation for Eye Research, 1948-1957
12	National Health Education Committee, Inc. - Publications
13	National Heart Institute - Publications
	National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness

13		Advisory Council, 1950-1951
13		Booklet - "Exploring the Brain of Man"
13		Budgets and other information, 1955-1968
13		Miscellaneous correspondence
13		Publications
13		Reports
13		NINDB Review, 1963-1966
	National Institutes of Health

13		Clippings
		Inter-Council Committee on Institutional Grants, 1950-1952

13			Correspondence 1950-1952
13			Report, 1952
13			Scrapbook compiled by Ulmer
14			Notebooks
14		National Advisory Research Resources Committee
14		News Releases, 1949-1968
14		Publications and Information
14		Scientific Directories, 1964, 1967
14		Woolridge Committee Report
14	National Library of Medicine - MEDLARS information
	National Medical Foundation for Eye Care

14		Correspondence and miscellaneous
15		Jaeckle, C.E.
15		Publications
15		News Bulletin, 1961-1965
	National Multiple Sclerosis Society

		Correspondence

15			Lawry, S.
15			Traeger, C.
15		Publications
15	National Neurological Research Foundation
	National Science Foundation, n.d., 1955

15		Annual Reports
15		Correspondence, 1955
15	National Society for Crippled Children
	National Society for the Prevention of Blindness

15		Correspondence
15		Miscellaneous Publications
15	Naval Research Technical Reports re: Ophthalmology
16	Nestingen, I.A.
16	New York Association for the Blind
16	New York Guild for the Jewish Blind
16	New York Institute for the Education of the Blind - "No More Light"
	Newell, F.W.

16		Correspondence, 1955-1968
16		National Committee for Research in Ophthalmology and Blindness
16	Nixon, R.M.
	Office of Technical Services (Dept. of Commerce)

16		OTS Selective Bibliography
	Ohio State Correspondence, 1950-1958

16		DiSalle, M.V., 1958-1962
16		Ferguson, D. McK.
16		Lausche, F.J.
16		McClure, J.F.
16		Porterfield, J.D., 1950-1957
16		Steece, E.R.
16		Others, A-Z
16	Ohio State Legislature - Name Lists and Ulmer letters
16	Ohio State - Services for Preschool Blind Children
	Ohio State University

		Correspondence

17			Collins, A.D. - re: medical ethics and College of Optometry
17			Culler, A.M., 1949-1953
17			Doan, C.A. 1949-1961
17			Fawcett, N.G. 1958-1965
			Havener, W.H., 1955-1967

17				Correspondence, 1955-1967
17				Publications and printed matter,
17			Meiling, R.L.
17			Others, A - T
18		Hospitals
18		Institute for Research in Vision
18		Ophthalmology
18		Printed Matter re: Optometry
18	"Ohio Story" Radio Program
	Ophthalmology Foundation, Inc., 1943-1959

18		Annual Reports and miscellaneous, 1943-1951
18		Berens, C., 1947-1957
18		Tolman, C.P., 1958-1959
	Optometry - miscellaneous

18		Information Re: Ohio State controversy
18	Papian, W.N. - Computer Technology
18	Perkins Institution
18	Permanent Charity Fund - Year Book for 1961
18	Perrott, G. St. J.
18	Porterfield, J.D.
18	Potts, A.M.
18	Price, D.E., 1950-1964
19	Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology
	Public Health Service

19		Eighth Annual Report of the Surgeon General, 1964
19		Miscellaneous publications
19		Grants and Awards, 1967
19		Research Grants and Fellowships, 1941-1955
19		Impact of Public Health Grant Programs on Medical Research and Education. Report of Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee
19	Putnam, P.
19	Radiation accidents - Information
19	Reader's Digest correspondence, 1950-1962
	Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc

19		Correspondence
19		Stein, J.
19		Stein, J. - Clippings
	Retina Foundation

20		Correspondence, chiefly with C.L. Schepens,
20		Description of Eye Research,
20		Miscellaneous Printed Material
20		Report for 1964-1965, 1964-1965
20	Retrolental Fibroplasia Study
20	Robert, L.
20	Rockefeller Foundation, 1947-1958
20	Rockefeller, N.A.
20	Scheele, L.A., 1950-1962
20	Schilling, Capt. C.W., 1950-1955
20	Sebrell, W.H.
20	Sherman, A.W.
20	Sloan Foundation
		-- Zurcher, A.J., 1955-1965
21	Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
21	Smelser, G.K.
21	Social Legislation Information Service. Washington Bulletin, 1957-1969
	Stone, F.L., 1951-1965

22		Correspondence, 1951-1965
22		Miscellaneous
	Stone, W., Jr., 1952-1963

22		Correspondence, 1952-1963
22		Miscellaneous
22	Swan, K.C.
22	Symposium on Research in Blindness and Severe Visual Impairment
22	Tankersley, Mrs. G.E.
22	Thygeson, P.
22	Trachoma data
22	Tufts-New England Medical Center News
22	Vail, D., 1952-1963
22	Van Slyke, C.J., 1949-1963
22	Volk, David
22	Watizman, M.B.
23	Warren, S.L.
23	Western Reserve University - Miscellaneous
23	Williams, G.
23	Winter, N.
23	Woods, A.C., 1950-1958
23	World Federation of Neurology - Reports
23	World Health Organization - Newsletter, 1955-1956
23	Zacharias, L., 1952-1958

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Miscellaneous papers and correspondence

Box

Ab - Fr (Includes A. Celebrezze)

G - Z (includes H. Hoover, H. Keller)

Miscellaneous Legal Sized Items

National Institutes of Health

Research Projects Grants Awarded to Foreign Institutions and International Organizations, 1962

Research at the National Institutes of Health

Parke Davis & Co. A History of Medicine in Pictures

Roche Medical Image, 1962

Western Reserve University Medical Center

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Clippings and Miscellaneous data
Box
25	Blindness - rehabilitation
25	Cancer
25	Cataracts
25	Cerebral Palsy
25	Computers
25	Contact lenses
25	Corneal diseases, transplants
25	Cryosurgery
25	Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
25	Diseases
25	Drug Control
25	Drugs - use and abuse
25	Education, general
25	Educatioin, medical
26	Education, science
26	Eye care
26	Eye diseases
26	Eye research
26	Food and Drug Administration
26	Foreign aid
26	Foundations
26	Glaucoma
26	Heart disease
26	Lasers
26	Legal medicine
26	Medicare
26	Medicine, general
26	Mental health, psychology, behavior
26	Miscellaneous
26	Multiple sclerosis
26	Ophthalmology
26	Optometry
26	Physiology
26	Research, general
27	Research Facilities
27	Research Funds
		Support of Medical Research: A Symposium (Published by the Council for Internal Organizations of Medical Sciences, 1956)
27	Retinal detachment
27	Retrolental Fibroplasia
27	Scholarships
27	Science and Government
27	Surgery
27	Trachoma
27	Ultrasonics data

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International Papers and correspondence
Box
27	Africa
27	Bangkok, Thailand
27	Brazil - Koch-Weser, d.
	Denmark, 1950, n.d.

27		Miscellaneous health data
27		National Morbidity Study, 1950
27		Ronne, G.
27	Egypt
27	England - Researchers in Ophthalmology
27	Greece
	Holland

27		General correspondence
27		Flieringa, H.J.
	Hong Kong,

28		Blindness survey
28		Correspondence re: Ulmer's trip
28		Ophthalmology research
	28, India

28		Basu, P.K.
28		Bombay, Lion; Indian Lion
28		Clippings and articles
28		Clippings and notes
28		Commission on International Economic Growth - Conference on India and the U.S., 1959
28		Cooper, S.N., 1957-1964
28		Galbraith, J.K.,
28		Gerstein, A.
28		Krishna, N., 1958-1962
28		Lazarus, A.S.
28		Mohatta, B.S.
28		Monnier, D.C.
28		Nain, J.L., 1957-1961
28		Nehru, J.
28		Pandit, Y.K.C.
28		Rambo, V.C.
28		Schroff, M.S.
28		West, K.M.
28		Wood, C.T.
28		General Correspondence - A-D
29		General Correspondence - G-Y
29	International - France, Italy, Switzerland
29	International Cooperation Administration
29	International health - Miscellaneous data
	Israel, 1959-1964

29		Feigenbaum, A.
29		Kornbleuth, W., 1959-1964
29		Reprints and clippings re: eye research
	Japan, 1956-1960

29		Correspondence and miscellaneous
29		Inouye, M.
29		Nakajima, A.
29		Nakaizumi, Y.
29		Sato, T., 1956-1960
29	Lebanon
29	Mexico - Instituto Nacional de Oftalmologia
29	Norway
29	Researchers in foreign countries
29	Russia - Articles, clippings
30	Spain - Mier, L.
30	Sweden

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Congressional Papers, 1949-1969
Box
30	Data re: establishment of Eye Institute
	House Correspondence

30		General
30		Bolton, F.T.
30		Celler, E.
30		Elliott, C.
30		Fogarty, J.E.
30		Priest, P.
30		Young, S.M., 1949-1960
	Senate Correspondence, 1957-1968

30		General
30		Cooper, J.S.
30		Hill, L., 1958-1968
30		Kefauver, E.
30		Neuberger, R.L., 1957-1960
30	Related Correspondence - Quinn, L.C., Jr., 1957-1966
31	Related correspondence - Quinn, L.C., Jr. - and miscellaneous, 1967
	House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 1949-1960

31		Correspodence, 1949-1960
31		Statements re: Eye Institute
		Hearings, 1949-1955

31			Mental Health Study Act of 1955, 1955
31			Construction of Medical Schools
31			Health Inquiry, 1953
31			Health Plan, 1949
31			Research Facilities
32	House Committee on Appropriations, Statements and Reports, 1952-1967
33	House Committee on Education and Labor. Hearings on Scholarship and Loan Program, 1958
33	Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. Health Hearings and Reports
33	Public Laws re: health and research, 1950-1965
34	Senate Bills, acts, amendments, 1949, 1957-1967
34	House bills, acts, amendments, 1949-1965
34	Resolutions
34	Congressional Record - Miscellaneous excerpts

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Bound Volumes, 1948-1970

Box

Volumes

Howe Laboratory of Ophthamology, Annual Reports, 1948-1970

v.1-8

Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Anti-trust and Monopoly. Hearings, Parts 18-24, 26 on Administered Prices in the Drug Industry, 1960

v.9-25

Senate Committee on Apropriations. Subcommittee Hearings on Labor-Health, Education, and Welfare Appropriations, 1954, 1958-1967

v.26-29

House Committee on Appropriation. Subcommittee Hearings on Appropriations for the Labor Department and Federal Security Agency, 1954-1955

v.30-62

House Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee Hearings on Appropriations for the Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare, 1957-1968

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Last updated: 28 June 2004
First published: 28 June 2004
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanent: Dynamic Content

Finding Aid to the Jacob M. Ulmer Papers , 1949-1969Relating to the promotion and funding of research to prevent blindness

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Restrictions

Restrictions

Copyright

General, 1949-1969

Correspondence and Papers, 1949-1969

Miscellaneous papers and correspondence

Clippings and Miscellaneous data

International Papers and correspondence

Congressional Papers, 1949-1969

Bound Volumes, 1948-1970