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David Y. Cooper Papers

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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center [Contact Us]3401 Market Street, Suite 210, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
UPT 50 C776
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center
Extent:
8 cubic feet
Language:
English
Date:
1821-1999 (inclusive) and 1978-1990 (bulk)
Creator:
Cooper, David Y.
Abstract:
David Y. Cooper was a graduate and later faculty member of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, well known for his research work in a number of fields. This collection primarily documents his work and reserach into topics relating to the history of medicine and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

David Young Cooper was born on August 14, 1924 in Henderson, North Carolina. He prepared for college at the Woodbury Forest School in Orange, Virginia, where he took a strong interest in science. Cooper studied chemistry at University of North Carolina from 1942 to 1944 and earned his Bachelor of Science in Medicine in 1946. While a student at North Carolina he entered the United States Naval Reserve (USNR) and served two years of active duty, 1943-45. In 1946 Cooper entered the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree two years later. Following graduation he interned at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) for a year. 

Cooper returned to active duty with the USNR in 1949, continuing in the service until the end of 1952. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant and received an honorable discharge in 1958. 

In 1953 to 1957 Cooper was a resident in surgery at HUP. During those years he performed dual duties as a resident and a fellow of the Department of Surgical Research. He earned board certification in surgery in 1959 and was appointed to the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in the Harrison Department of Surgical Research. He spent his entire career at Penn before retiring and being named Professor Emeritus in 2004. 

Cooper's most notable contributions in the medical field include the discovery of the role of cytochrome P-450, which is a series of enzymes found in the body, and the introduction of mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration.

During his long career he wrote dozens of scholarly articles and at least two books. One in particular that he co-authored, Innovation and Tradition at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine: An Anecdotal Journey, (1990), was published in conjunction with the 225th anniversary of Penn's medical school. 

Cooper belonged to several professional organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the New York Academy of Science. He served on several local and national committees, such as the National Institute of Health. 

Cooper died on August 2, 2013 in Gladwyne, PA.

Dr. Cooper's life-long study of medicine produced a prolific career. He contributed primarily to biochemistry and pharmacology research. However his career took him into other fields of research such as the history of science and medicine. The collection reflects his interest. It consists of Dr. Cooper's professional papers from 1950 to the 1990s. There are six bound volumes of published papers from 1950 to 1985 and three unbound volumes of papers including letters, manuscripts and photographs from 1978 to 1990s. In addition to his personal papers, the collection consists of several books from his personal library. The collection includes nineteen books on various medical subjects, such as female medicine and surgery. Eight volumes pertain to medical history and biography. The remaining items are medical instruction and general medical information books. One other item in the collection includes a reel of film, thought to be of Prof. Harvey's medical lecturers. 

The David Y. Cooper Papers are organized into the following series and sub-series: Innovation and Tradition at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, original drafts, second drafts, third drafts; Research, Bound volumes, David Young Cooper Collection Abstracts and Papers; Photographs; Historical medical text books; Film. All series and sub-series are arranged in alphabetical order with the exception of the Innovation and Tradition series, which is arranged by chapter.

Gift of Dr. David Y. Cooper (1948, M.D.) on 21 June 2004 (accession 2004:42).

Subject

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: University Archives and Records Center
Finding Aid Author
Norma Rosado-Blake
Finding Aid Date
January 2005
Access Restrictions

Access to collections is granted in accordance with the Protocols for the University Archives and Records Centers.

Collection Inventory

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Chapter 1.
Box 1 Folder 1
Chapter 2.
Box 1 Folder 2
Chapter 3.
Box 1 Folder 3
Chapter 4.
Box 1 Folder 4
Chapter 5.
Box 1 Folder 5
Chapter 6.
Box 1 Folder 6
Chapter 7.
Box 1 Folder 7
Chapter 9.
Box 1 Folder 8
Chapter 10.
Box 1 Folder 9
Chapter 11.
Box 1 Folder 10
Chapter 12.
Box 1 Folder 11
Chapter 13.
Box 1 Folder 12
Chapter 1 (spiral bound).
Box 1 Folder 14
Chapter 2 (spiral bound).
Box 1 Folder 15
Chapter 3 (spiral bound).
Box 1 Folder 16
Chapter 1.
Box 1 Folder 17
Chapter 2.
Box 1 Folder 18
Chapter 3.
Box 1 Folder 19
Chapter 3 (continued).
Box 1 Folder 20
Chapter 4.
Box 1 Folder 21
Chapter 10.
Box 1 Folder 22
Chapter 12.
Box 1 Folder 23
Chapter 14.
Box 1 Folder 24
Chapter 16.
Box 1 Folder 25
Chapter 17.
Box 1 Folder 26
Chapter 18.
Box 1 Folder 27
Chapter 20.
Box 1 Folder 28
Chapter 1.
Box 2 Folder 1
Chapter 2.
Box 2 Folder 2
Chapter 3.
Box 2 Folder 3
Chapter 4.
Box 2 Folder 4
Chapter 5.
Box 2 Folder 5
Chapter 7.
Box 2 Folder 6
Chapter 8.
Box 2 Folder 7
Chapter 9.
Box 2 Folder 8
Chapter 10.
Box 2 Folder 9
Chapter 11.
Box 2 Folder 10
Chapter 12.
Box 2 Folder 11
Chapter 13.
Box 2 Folder 12
Chapter 2.
Box 2 Folder 14
Chapter 3.
Box 2 Folder 15
Chapter 4.
Box 2 Folder 16
Chapter 5.
Box 2 Folder 17
Chapter 9.
Box 2 Folder 18
Chapter 10.
Box 2 Folder 19
Chapter 11.
Box 2 Folder 20
Chapter 12.
Box 2 Folder 21
Chapter 13.
Box 2 Folder 22
Chapter 14.
Box 2 Folder 23
Chapter 15.
Box 2 Folder 24
Chapter 16.
Box 2 Folder 25
Miscellaneous.
Box 2 Folder 26
Contributions of the University of Pennsylvania and Its Medical School to Medical Science, Volume 1.
Box 2 Folder 27

Volume I, 1985.
Box 2 Folder 28
Volume II, 1985.
Box 2 Folder 29
Volume III, 1985.
Box 2 Folder 30
Volume IV, 1985.
Box 2 Folder 31
Volume V, 1985.
Box 3 Folder 1
Published papers on Cytochrome P-450, 1968 2003.
Box 3 Folder 2
Personal account of Mott Cannon by G.J. Mannering, September 1992.
Box 3 Folder 3
Articles related to the history of Cytochrome P-450 and medical education in binder, 1978-1991.
Box 3 Folder 4
Published papers on Cytochrome P-450 and history of medical education in binder, 1986-1999.
Box 3 Folder 5
Drug metabolism in binder, c. 1990.
Box 3 Folder 6

Colleagues [unknown], c. 1990.
Box 3 Folder 4
The 4th International Symposium on Molecular Steroidogenesis, 25 August 1999.
Box 3 Folder 5

American Medical Biographies, 1920.
Box 3 Folder 6
American Medical Biography, 1861.
Box 3 Folder 7
A Cyclopedia of American Medical Biography, Volume I, 1912.
Box 3 Folder 8
A Cyclopedia of American Medical Biography, Volume II, 1912.
Box 3 Folder 9
The Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia, 1886.
Box 3 Folder 10
Elements of Surgery, Volume I, 1813.
Box 3 Folder 11
Elements of Surgery, Volume II, 1813.
Box 7 Folder 1
An Eulogium on William P. Dewees, M.D., 1842.
Box 7 Folder 2
Female Perineum, 1882.
Box 7 Folder 3
History of the Life of D. Hayes Agnew, M.D., 1892.
Box 7 Folder 4
The History of Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, 1869.
Box 7 Folder 5
Volume II, 1821.
Box 7 Folder 6
Volume III, 1821.
Box 7 Folder 7
Volume IV, 1822.
Box 7 Folder 8
Volume V, 1822.
Box 7 Folder 9
Volume VI, 1823.
Box 7 Folder 10
Volume VII, 1823.
Box 7 Folder 11
Volume VIII, 1824.
Box 8 Folder 1
Volume IX, 1824.
Box 8 Folder 2
Volume I (new series), 1825.
Box 8 Folder 3
The Principles and Practice of Obstetrics, 1866.
Box 8 Folder 5

Professor Harvey's lectures, c. 1960.
Box OS 1

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