William G. Cahan M.D. Papers
Scope and Contents
4.3 cubic feet. Correspondence, reprints, speeches, meeting files, subject files, films, videotapes regarding cryosurgery, mediatinoscopy, tobacco studies, and instrument brochures. Contains information relating to the cryosurgical techniques pioneered in the mid 1960s by William G. Cahan. Publicity surrounding Dr. Cahan's surgical procedures led to his receiving numerous letters containing pleas for assistance from people afflicted with various ailments.
Dates
- 1945 - 1989
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Material is stored off site and requires three business days advance notice for retrieval. To inquire about the collection, please contact the MSK Archivist.
Conditions Governing Use
Due to the sensitive nature of some of the content within MSK’s collections, advance permission is needed before citing or reproducing collection content. To inquire about the collection, please contact the MSK Archivist.
Biographical / Historical
Born August 2nd, 1914, William George Cahan studied medicine at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating in 1939. In 1949, Cahan became a member of the surgery department at Memorial and worked as a thoracic surgeon for over 50 years, being appointed as senior attending surgeon at MSK in 1990. Cahan was a major antismoking advocate, raising awareness about the carcinogenic effects of smoking and lobbying for its restriction in his role as chairman of People for a Smoke-Free Indoors. Cahan also made significant accomplishments in studying the effects of radiation and in lung cancer surgery practices. He died on October 7th, 2001 at the age of 87.
Extent
1.75 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
Received by the MSKCC Archives from the office of Dr. Cahan
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Special Collections and Archives Repository