Holman, Emile, 1890-1977.

Dr. Holman was professor of surgery at the Stanford University School of Medicine, 1926-1955. His professional career was marked by a balance between clinical work, experimental medicine, teaching, adminstration and writing. Although an excellent clinical surgeon, his main interest lay in elucidating basic pathophysiologic changes. He is best known for definitive studies on arteriovenous fistulae, but also published important studies on such various topics as skin grafting, lung abcesses, and biliary surgery. An ardent pacifist and anti-war spokesman, Holman challenged governments and leaders about social injustice, pollution, and foreign policy issues. Beginning with his Oxford years, his humanitarian activities started with serving on President Hoover's Committee for Relief in Belgium and with the American Field Ambulance in the French army. His anti-war stance began with criticizing the American opposition to the League of Nations in 1919, and ended with letters to Presidents Johnson and Nixon over the tragedy of Vietnam. Dr. Holman was interested in the history of surgery and included in the collection is material on William S. Halsted.