Frances A. Hellebrandt papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library
James Branch Cabell Library
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 842003
901 Park Avenue
Richmond, VA 23284-2003
Contact for questions and access:
POC: SCA Staff
Phone: (804) 828-1108
Fax: (804) 828-0151
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

The Frances A. Hellebrandt Collection, Accession #87/Jul/34, Special Collections and Archives, Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

Summary

Extent:
0.8 Linear Feet
Creator:
Hellebrandt, Frances A. (Frances Anna), 1901- 1992
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

The Frances A. Hellebrandt Collection, Accession #87/Jul/34, Special Collections and Archives, Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection focuses on Hellebrandt's work with the Baruch Center for Physical Medicine. It contains annual reports, course descriptions, and documents related to the operation of the Center. Also included are several reprints of articles written by Hellebrandt and her staff on the subject of physical medicine. The collection does not contain any information regarding Hellebrandt's research or work apart from the Center.

Biographical / historical:

Frances Anna Hellebrandt was born 26 Aug, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. Being good at science, she earned a BA in Physical Education and a MD from the University of Wisconsin by 1929. Hellebrandt held several faculty positions in Anatomy and Physiology at Wisconsin before accepting a research grant at the Clinic for Sportsmen at Charles University in Prague, Czechoslovakia from 1937-38.

She returned to Wisconsin and began to specialize in physical rehabilitation. By 1943, she had become chairman of the physical therapy department at Wisconsin. Due to the growing need for physical rehabilitation as solders return from the war, the Woman's Army Corps selected Wisconsin as a site for emergency physical therapy training. In 1944, Hellebrandt accepted a position to head the newly created Baruch Center for Physical Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia.

Hellebrandt brought most of her staff with her and founded a degree program in physical medicine at MCV, the first such facility in the South. After consolidating the department in South Hospital, Hellebrandt worked to make the Baruch Center the rehabilitation center for the State of Virginia. Hellebrandt returned to Chicago in 1951 to serve as professor and chair of physical medicine at the University of Illinois. Due to declining health, she retired in 1955. In 1957, finding retirement not to her liking, she started as a visiting lecturer, and then resumed a professorship at Wisconsin until her second retirement in 1964. She was awarded emeritus status that same year.

Hellebrandt authored over 150 scientific papers and served on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Physiology, and American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Along with Prof. L. Kelso, she created several research tools and devices still in use today. She served as a Trustee for the Easter Seals Research Foundation, and received the Anderson Award from the American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The American Physiological Society's tum Suden/Hellebrandt Award is named in her honor.

Hellebrandt died 02 February, 1992 at the age of 90.

Acquisition information:
The collection was received as a gift from Dr. Suzanne Hirt.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged by subject.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard