Knopf, S. Adolphus (Sigard Adolphus), 1857-1940

S. Adolphus Knopf (1857-1940) was a pioneer in the campaign for research and treatment of tuberculosis, and spent his entire career combating the disease. His landmark work Pulmonary tuberculosis: its modern prophylaxis and the treatment in special institutions and at home, was the first text book of its kind to appear in English, and won the Alvarenga Prize of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1899. His article "Tuberculosis as a disease of the masses and how to combat it," received the International Congress Prize in 1900. Knopf received numerous other awards for his essays and articles on combating the disease. As part of his public health work, Knopf traveled the world, lecturing on preventative techniques and working to help establish sanitaria, special hospitals, dispensaries, open-air schools and anti-tuberculosis associations. In 1902, he was one of the men responsible for the movement that launched the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis of the Charity Organization Society of New York City. The aim of the committee was to disseminate information that TB was a communicable, preventable, and curable disease. The Committee advanced the movement for hospitals, sanatoriums, and dispensaries for consumptive adults and children. As a result of his focus on the need for a national TB association, in 1904 a voluntary health agency was organized under the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, later renamed the National Tuberculosis Association (NTA) and now known as the American Lung Association. Knopf was the author of over 400 books, brochures, and articles of tuberculosis, school hygiene, pneumonia, medical biography, birth control, alcoholism, and other medical and social subjects.

From the description of Sigard Adolphus Knopf papers, 1879-1940. (National Library of Medicine). WorldCat record id: 14309931

S. Adolphus Knopf (1857-1940) was a pioneer in the campaign for research and treatment of tuberculosis, and spent his entire career combating the disease. His landmark work Pulmonary tuberculosis: its modern prophylaxis and the treatment in special institutions and at home, was the first text book of its kind to appear in English, and won the Alvarenga Prize of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1899. His article "Tuberculosis as a disease of the masses and how to combat it," received the International Congress Prize in 1900. Knopf received numerous other awards for his essays and articles on combating the disease. As part of his public health work, Knopf traveled the world, lecturing on preventative techniques and working to help establish sanitaria, special hospitals, dispensaries, open-air schools and anti-tuberculosis associations. In 1902, he was one of the men responsible for the movement that launched the Committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis of the Charity Organization Society of New York City. The aim of the committee was to disseminate information that TB was a communicable, preventable, and curable disease. The Committee advanced the movement for hospitals, sanatoriums, and dispensaries for consumptive adults and children. As a result of his focus on the need for a national TB association, in 1904 a voluntary health agency was organized under the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, later renamed the National Tuberculosis Association (NTA) and now known as the American Lung Association. Knopf was the author of over 400 books, brochures, and articles of tuberculosis, school hygiene, pneumonia, medical biography, birth control, alcoholism, and other medical and social subjects.

• 1857: Born halle an der Saale, Germany, November 27, 1857
• 1888: M.D., Bellevue Hospital Medical College (New York University)
• 1889: Married Perle Nora Dyar (d. Dec. 24, 1931)
• 1890: A.B., University of Paris (Sorbonne)
• 1895: M.D., Faculty of Medicine, University of Paris
• 1898: Alvarenga Prize. College of Physicians, Philadelphia
• 1899: Published the essay Tuberculosis as a disease of the masses, and how to combat it for which he received International Tuberculosis Congress prize in 1900
• 1901: Official delegate. Tuberculosis Congress, London
• 1904: Advocated the formation of a national tuberculosis association; instrumental in founding of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis
• 1904 - 10 : Associate Director of the New York Municipal Tuberculosis Clinics
• 1904 - 23 : Physician, Riverside Hospital-Sanatorium
• 1905: Official delegate. Tuberculosis Congress, Paris
• 1906 - 22 : Senior Visiting Physician of the New York City Health Department
• 1908: Vice President. Sect. V of Tuberculosis Congress, Washington. Received prize for the essay, The relation of atmospheric air to tuberculosis
• 1908 - 20 : Professor of Phthisiotherapy, New York Post-Graduate Medical School
• 1913: Official delegate, 4th International Congress on School Hygiene, Buffalo
• 1920: Tuberculosis specialist, U.S.P.H.S.
• 1932: Representative of the United States at the International Union against Tuberculosis, The Hague, Holland
• 1935: Married Julia Marie Off
• 1940: Died in New York, July 15, 1940

From the guide to the Sigard Adolphus Knopf Papers, 1879-1940, (History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine)