William B. Kountz Papers Finding Aid

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William B. Kountz Papers

William B. Kountz Papers

William B. Kountz
Volume: 1.5 linear feet Inclusive dates: 1924-1979 Collection code: FC045
Organization of the Collection
Container List
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Historical Note

William B. Kountz was born in Saxton, Missouri in 1896 and attended schools in nearby St. Joseph. He entered Washington University as an undergraduate in 1918 and (without formally completing a bachelor’s degree) continued on through medical school, graduating in 1926. Until 1928 WBK was an intern and resident physician at Barnes, St. Louis Maternity, and St. Louis Children’s Hospitals. He then became a physician with the cardiovascular service of the Washington University Dispensary. The award of a national Research Council Fellowship offered WBK the opportunity for further training abroad, and for eighteen months beginning in 1930 he visited hospitals in Britain, Germany, and Egypt. (He later recalled that the chance to study Egyptian mummies inspired his interest in aging.) He returned in late 1931 to join the clinical faculty of the School and to launch he career as a leading cardiologist in St. Louis.

WBK served on the staff of Barnes and Lutheran Hospitals, but became particularly well known for his treatment and study of aged patients at the St. Louis City Infirmary (later, St. Louis Chronic Hospital) on Arsenal Street. In 1938 he helped establish a special geriatrics research unit at the Infirmary. In 1946 WUSM organized a Division of Gerontology based at the Chronic Hospital and WBK was named its director of clinical services. That same year WBK became a founding member of the American Society for the Study of Arteriosclerosis, which later became a branch of the American Heart Association. In 1954 WBK’s work received additional support through the establishment of a St. Louis-based Gerontological Research Foundation.

WBK died in 1962. He was succeeded as head of the Division of Gerontology by John Esben Kirk, under whom the program continued until 1973.

Provenance

Gift of Willie Mae Kountz, 1984.

Access and Use

The collection is open and accessible for research. Certain categories of documentation, however, may carry restrictions on access. For detailed information, contact the Archives and Rare Book Section (arb@wusm.wustl.edu). The Library holds copyright.

Scope and Content

The Kountz papers are arranged in five short series, including one (Series 5) comprising correspondence received by his wife, Willie Mae Kountz, after his death. In general, the papers reflect to a significant extent Mrs. Kountz’s selections of materials to document her husband’s career. Included are correspondence, press clippings, and publications.

Organization of the Collection (Series list)

Series 1: Alphabetical correspondence files, 1930-1965. Box 1.

Series 2: Chronological press clipping and correspondence files, 1932-1965. Box 2.

Series 3: Gerontological Research Foundation publications, 1959-1962. Box 2.

Series 4: Scientific publications, 1924-1955. Box 3.

Series 5: Correspondence of Willie Mae Kountz, 1967-1979. Box 3.

Container List

Series 1: Alphabetical Correspondence Files, 1930-1965

This short series is comprised of correspondence and other general file documents. It appears to have been selected and rearranged (probably by Willie Mae Kountz) following WBK’s death, inasmuch as it hardly could have been the complete correspondence generated during his long medical career, and because it contains documents pertaining to the Gerontological Research Foundation from as late as 1965. It remains nevertheless a collection affording significant information relating to WBK’s career, gerontology as a specialty, and programs at the St. Louis Infirmary (later Chronic Hospital), among other subjects. Box 1.

Box 1

A, 1939-1958, 1:1.
American Geriatrics Society, 1962, 1:2.
American Society for the Aged, n.d., 1:3.
B, 1949-1958, 1:4.
C, 1951-1957, 1:5.
Cantor, Eddie, 1950-1951, 1:6.
Committee on Gerontology, 1956, 1:7.
Cowdry, E. V., 1942-1958, 1:8.
Creative Frontiers, 1951, 1:9.
G, 1958-1959, 1:10.
Gerontological Research Foundation, 1955-1965, 1:11.
Division of Gerontology, 1946-1948 and n.d., 1:12.
H, 1957-1961, 1:13.
- Includes letter from Sen. Thomas C. Hennings.
Institute on Problems of Aging, WU, 1949, 1:14.
International Association of Gerontology, 1954, 1:15.
International Gerontological Congress, 1956, 1:16.
K, 1949-1957, 1:17.
Kountz, WB. Biographical, 1940-1960, 1:18.
Kountz, WB. Curriculum vitae, drafts, 1930-1957, 1:19.
Kountz, WB. Cards from family, 1958-1959, and n.d., 1:20.
Kountz, WB. “The cardiac in industry,” fragment of address to A.S.S.E., 1958, 1:21.
Kountz, WB. Degeneration associated with age, text of radio interview recorded at American Medical Association meeting, San Francisco, 1946, 1:22.
Kountz, WB. Reviews of Thyroid function and its possible role in vascular degeneration, 1952, 1:23.
Kountz, WB. Funeral address by Methodist Bishop Ivan Lee Holt, 1962, 1:24.
L, 1950-1958, 1:25.
M, 1942-1961, 1:26.
Missouri League of Nursing Education, Three institutes on geriatrics and geriatric nursing, 1949, 1:27.
N, 1938-1957, 1:28.
Oxytropin-lipotropin, 1952-1960, 1:29.
- WBK endured an unwanted brush with national notoriety beginning in 1952, when he was quoted in the popular press as endorsing two not-scientifically tested compounds, oxytropin and lipotropin, that, taken together, constituted “the anti-old-age drug.” He refuted the report and threatened to take legal action to clear his name. The controversy nevertheless dogged him for years thereafter.
P, 1945-1960, 1:30.
Pan-American Congress of Gerontology. 1956, 1:31.
Post-Graduate Course in Geriatric Medicine, WU. 1957, 1:32.
R, 1939-1960, 1:33.
S, 1949-1960, 1:34.
St. Louis City Infirmary, 1943-1946, 1:35.
Smith, John Russell, 1939, 1:36.
T, 1949-1960, 1:37.
Theses of conference papers on the problem of the source of senility, Kiev, USSR, 1938, 1:38.
Time (magazine), Problem of old age article, 1956, 1:39.
V, 1958, 1:40.
W, 1943-1960, 1:41.
- Includes report to W. Barry Wood on research at the St. Louis Infirmary.
WU Alumni Citation, Founders Day, 1957-1958, 1:42.
Washington University, appointment letters 1938-1940, 1:43.

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Series 2: Chronological Press Clipping and Correspondence Files, 1932-1965

The items in this series are mainly clippings from the local St. Louis press, photocopied for content preservation, with correspondence and other items interspersed among them. Chronological arrangement.

Box 2

1932, a Barnes Hospital patient’s appreciation, 2:1.
1937, machine to resuscitate a human heart, 2:2.
1942, experiment on the heart of an executed prisoner, 2:3.
1943, WBK’s research at the City Infirmary, 2:4.
1947, geriatric research at the City Infirmary, 2:5.
1949, WBK addresses professional and lay audiences, 2:6.
1950, WBK addresses gerontological societies, 2:7.
1951, proposals to improve the lives of senior citizens, 2:8.
1952, WBK addresses Post-Graduate Assembly of South Texas, 2:9.
1953, WBK addresses American Heart Association, UCLA physicians, 2:10.
1954, St. Louis Center for Senior Citizens and other public events, 2:11.
1955, oxygen consumption, exercise, and health, 2:12.
1956, hormone supplements, 2:13.
1957, “anticipatory medicine,” 2:14.
1958, alumni honors, research at Chronic Hospital, etc., 2:15.
1959, professional honors, Metropolitan Church Federation programs, 2:16.
1963, 1965, obituaries, posthumous honors, 2:17.
ND, various topics, 2:18

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Series 3: Gerontological Research Foundation Publications, 1959-1962

The Gerontological Research Foundation was established in 1954 with support drawn mainly from St. Louis area philanthropy, and particularly the contributions of Erwin P. Stupp, a construction firm executive, who thereafter served as president. The foundation was chartered to underwrite clinical and research programs, assist indigent patients, and provide scholarships to students wishing to specialize in the field. WBK was named scientific director and included on his advisory council were faculty colleagues E. V. Cowdry, John Esben Kirk, and Albert I. Lansing, among others. The foundation was liquidated in 1965 and its endowment donated to WUSM in memory of WBK. The materials in this series were written for general public information.

Box 2

Gerontological Research Foundation, essay series by WBK, chapters 1-5, n.d., 2:19.
Gerontological Research Foundation, essay series by WBK, chapters 6-8, n.d., 2:20.
Gerontological Research Foundation, Whither tomorrow (newsletter), 1959-1962, 2:21.
Gerontological Research Foundation, Today and tomorrow (information leaflet series), n.d., 2:22.
Gerontological Research Foundation, Whither tomorrow (brochure), n.d., 2:23.

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Series 4: Scientific Publications, 1924-1955

The short publications are bound together in four chronologically-arranged volumes. WBK’s sole monograph, Thyroid function and its possible role in vascular degeneration (1951), is in its original binding.

Box 3

1924

With Edgar Allen, Byron F. Francis, Leroy L. Robertson, Cleon E. Colgate, Charles G. Johnston, Edward A. Doisy, Harry V. Gibson. The hormone of the ovarian follicle; its localization and action in test animals, and additional points bearing upon the internal secretion of the ovary. American Journal of Anatomy, 34:133-181. In vol. 1, box 3.

1925

With Edgar Allen and Byron F. Francis. Selective elimination of ova in the adult ovary. American Journal of Anatomy, 34:445-467. In vol. 1, box 3.

1927

With Harry L. Alexander, Drew Luten. The effects on the heart of long-standing bronchial asthma. Journal of the American Medical Association, 88:882-884. In vol. 1, box 3.

1928

With Leo Loeb. The effect of injection of follicular extract on the sex organs in the guinea pig and the inter-action between the follicular substances and substances given off by the corpus luteum. American Journal of Physiology, 84:283-306. In vol. 1, box 3.

With H. L. Alexander. Death from bronchial asthma ; report of three cases. Archives of Pathology, 5:1003-1019. In vol. 1, box 3.

1929

With Charles M. Gruber. The electrocardiographic changes in anoxemia. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 1929: xxvii, 170-172. In vol. 1, box 3.

With Charles M. Gruber. The effect of pitressin (vaso-pressin) upon the heart. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 1929:161-162. In vol. 1, box 3.

Periarteritis Nodosa ; report of a case. Archives of Pathology, 10:55-65. In vol. 1, box 3.

1930

With Karl Koenig. Studies of bronchial secretion. Journal of Allergy, 1:429. In vol.1, box 3.

With Charles M. Gruber. Some observations on the effect of pitressin upon the cardiovascular system. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 39:435-447. In vol. 1, box 3.

With Charles M. Gruber. The electrocardiogram of non-anesthetized dogs as modified by the intravenous injection of pitressin, atropine sulphate and vagus section. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 40:253-273. In vol. 1, box 3.

With Charles M. Gruber. II. Observations on the effect of pitressin on blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration in dogs. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 39:275-299. In vol. 1, box 3.

1932

With H. L. Alexander. The mechanism of nonobstructive emphysema. Transactions of the Association of American Physicians, 47:225. In vol. 1 & 3, box 3.

Studies on the coronary arteries of the human heart. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 45:65-76. In vol. 1, box 3.

With M. Hammouda. Effect of asphyxia and of anoxemia on the electrocardiogram. American Heart Journal, 8:3-12. In vol. 1, box 3.

With Emmet F. Pearson and Karl F. Koenig. Observations on intrapleural pressure and its influence on the relative circulation rate in emphysema. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 11:1281-1291. In vol. 1, box 3.

1933

With H. L. Alexander. Symptomatic relief of advanced emphysema. Transactions of the Association of American Physicians, 48:313. In vol. 1, box 3.

With H. L. Alexander. Nonobstructive emphysema. Journal of the American Medical Association. 100:551-555. In vol. 1, box 3.

1934

With H. L. Alexander. Symptomatic relief of emphysema by an abdominal belt. American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 187:687. In vol. 2, box 3.

With H. L. Alexander. Emphysema. Medicine, 13:251-316. In vol. 2, box 3.

With E. F. Pearson and K. F. Koenig. Observations on the effect of vagus and sympathetic stimulation on the coronary flow of the revived human heart. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 13:1065-1078. In vol. 2, box 3.

With M. Prinzmetal. Influence of inversion of the dog on the electrocardiogram. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 31:612:613. In vol. 2, box 3.

With M. Prinzmetal. Intrapleural pressure in orthopnea. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 31:610-611. In vol. 2, box 3.

1935

The effect of position of the heart on the electrocardiogram. With M. Prinzmetal, E. F. Pearson, and K. F. Koenig. I. The electrocardiogram in revived perfused human hearts in normal position. With M. Prinzmetal and J. R. Smith. II. Observations upon the electrocardiogram obtained from a dog’s heart placed in the human pericardial cavity. With M. Prinzmetal and J. R. Smith. III. Observations upon the electrocardiogram in the monkey. American Heart Journal, 10:605-629. In vol. 2, box 3.

With M. Prinzmetal and L. Gottlieb. Influence of point at which ventricle contacts thoracic wall on form of the electrocardiogram. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 32:1411-1413. In vol. 2, box 3.

With M. Prinzmetal. Intrapleural pressure in health and disease and its influence on body function. Medicine, 14:457-498. In vol. 2, box 3.

1936

With H. L. Alexander and M. Prinzmetal. The heart in emphysema. American Heart Journal, 11:163-172. In vol. 2, box 3.

Revival of human hearts. Annals of Internal Medicine, 10:330-336. In vol. 2, box 3.

With L. Gottlieb and R. King. The influence of changes of abdominal tension upon pulmonary function. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 15:601-605. In vol. 2, box 3.

1938

With John R. Smith. The flow of blood in the coronary arteries in pathological hearts. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 17:147-152. In vol. 3, box 3.

With John R. Smith. Observations on passive vascular exercise and other forms of treatment of peripheral vascular disease. American Heart Journal, 16:55-65. In vol. 3, box 3.

1939

With John R. Smith. Vibrations produced by the beating heart. Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, presented before the St. Louis Cardiac Club. In vol. 3, box 3.

Re-establishment of the circulation in extremities. Archives of Physical Therapy, 20:157-162. In vol. 3, box 3.

1940

Anesthesia and the Vascular System. Anesthesia and analgesia, 1-7. In vol. 3, box 3.

With Louis H. Hempelmann. Chromatrophic degeneration and rupture of the aorta following thyroidectomy in cases of hypertension. American Heart Journal, 20:599-610. In vol. 3, box 3.

With John R. Smith and Arthur S. Gilson. A consideration of extra-valvular elements in the first heart sound. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 43:256-258. In vol. 3, box 3.

1941

The Diagnosis and treatment of peripheral vascular disease. New International Clinics, 3:167-176. In vol. 3, box 3.

With John R. Smith. Total cardiac vibrations in aged hearts and in coronary disease. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 47:353-354. In vol. 3, box 3.

With John R. Smith and Arthur S. Gilson. The use of the cathode ray for recording heart sounds and vibrations. American Heart Journal, 21:17-24. In vol. 3, box 3.

1942

With John R. Smith and Sidney T. Wright. Observations on the effect of tourniquets on acute cardiac crises, normal subjects, and chronic heart failure. American Heart Journal, 23:624-636. In vol. 3, box 3.

With John R. Smith. Studies on the early recognition of myocardial disease by use of the vibrocardiogram. Southern Medical Journal, 35:713-720. In vol. 3, box 3.

With John R. Smith. Deformaties of the thoracic spine as a cause of anginoid pain. Annals of Internal Medicine, 17:604-617. In vol. 3, box 3.

1943

Factors of recognition and treatment of early degenerative heart disease. Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association, April 1943:95-97. In vol. 3, box 3.

1944

With Sydney T. Wright. Comparison of total vibration obtained from a normal, rapidly dying, human heart with those obtained in chronic myocardial disease. American Heart Journal, 27:396-408. In vol. 3, box 3.

Special problems of poor surgical risks, especially age. Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association, October 1944:200-202. In vol. 3, box 3.

1945

Research work on degenerative disease. Biological Symposia, 11:74-78. In vol. 3, box 3.

With Arthur Sonnenberg, Lilli Hofstatter, and Gerhard Wolff. Blood cholesterol levels in elderly patients. Biological Symposia, 9:79-86. In vol. 4, box 3.

With Lilli Hofstatter and Arthur Sonnenberg. The glucose tolerance in elderly patients. Biological Symposia, 11:87-95. In vol. 4, box 3.

1946

Management of nephritis in the elderly. Clinics, 4:1185-1203. In vol. 4, box 3.

With Louis H. Jorstad. Special problems of poor surgical risks among the aged. Geriatrics, 1:341-347. In vol. 4, box 3.

1947

Degenerative disease associated with age. Medical Times, April 1947. In vol. 4, box 3.

With Lilli Hofstatter and Philip Ackerman. Nitrogen balance studies in elderly people. Geriatrics, 2:173-182. In vol. 4, box 3.

With Margaret Chieffi. General oxidative processes with relation to degenerative changes in the body. Geriatrics, 2:344-358. In vol. 4, box 3.

1948

With Lilli Hofstatter and Philip Ackerman. Nitrogen balance studies under prolonged high nitrogen intake levels in elderly individuals. Geriatrics, 3:171-183. In vol. 4, box 3.

1949

With Philip Ackermann and Lilli Hofstatter. Concentration of free valine, tryptophane, and histidine of plasma of young and old individulas, determined with the microbiologic method. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 34:234-238. In vol. 4, box 3.

With Margaret Chieffi and Esben Kirk. Serum protein-bound iodine and age. Journal of Gerontology, 4:132-217. In vol. 4, box 3.

With Esben Kirk and Margaret Chieffi. The correlation between thyroid function and the incidence of arteriosclerosis. Journal of Gerontology, 4:212-217. In vol. 4, box 3.

1950

With Cletus L. Krag. Stability of body function in the aged. I. Effect of exposure of the body to cold. Journal of Gerontology, 5:227-235. In vol. 4, box 3.

With Lilli Hofstatter and Philip G. Ackermann. The plasma levels of nine free amino acids in old men and women. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 36:259-265. In vol. 4, box 3.

Vascular degeneration in hypothyroidism. Archives of Pathology, 50:765-777. In vol. 4, box 3.

1951

With Lilli Hofstatter and Philip Ackermann. Nitorgen balance studies in four elderly men. Journal of Gerontology, 6:20-33. In vol. 4, box 3.

Revitalization of tissue and nutrition in older individuals. Annals of Internal Medicine. In vol.4, box 3.

Thyroid function and its possible role in vascular degeneration. A monograph in American Lectures in circulation [series]. Springfield, Ill.: Charles Thomas. In box 3.

1952

With M. W. Warren, L. A. Pratt and E. J. Stieglitz. Geriatric medicine: therapeutic aspects. Journal of Gerontology, 7:1-16. In vol. 4, box 3.

With Cletus L. Krag. Stability of body function in the aged. Journal of Gerontology, 7:61-70. In vol. 4, box 3.

1953

With Philip G. Ackermann, Teofil Kheim, and Gelson Toro. Effects of increased protein intake in older people. Geriatrics, 8:63-69. In vol. 4, box 3.

With Philip G. Ackermann and Teofil Kheim. The influence of some hormonal substances on the nitrogen balance and clinical state of elderly patients. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 13:534-547. In vol. 4, box3.

Principles of geriatric medicine. Presented at the 95th Annual Session of the Missouri State Medical Association. In vol. 4, box 3.

Therapeutic aspects of geriatric medicine. Journal of the American Medical Association, 153:777-782. In vol. 4, box 3.

1954

With Teofil Kheim. The heart and arteries in mid-life. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2:139-145. In vol. 4, box 3.

With P. G. Ackermann and G. Toro. Zone electrophoresis in the study of serum lipoproteins. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine. 44:517-530. In vol. 4, box 3.

With P. G. Ackermann, G. Toro, and T. Kheim. The effect of sex hormone administration on the calcium and nitrogen balance in elderly women. Journal of Gerontology, 9:450-455. In vol. 3, box 3.

1955

With P. G. Ackermann, H. J. Buehler, and G. Toro. Serum cholesterol, phospholipid and lipoprotein levels in elderly male subjects. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 88:447-448. In vol. 4, box 3.

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Series 5: Correspondence of Willie Mae Kountz, 1967-1979

In 1928 WBK married Willie Mae Weissinger of St. Louis. In their later married life, Mrs. Kountz was very active in raising financial support for her husband’s specialty through work with women’s clubs. Following WBK’s death, Mrs. Kountz corresponded with several of his colleagues, the basis of this series. Most numerous are letters from Washington University Vice Chancellors for Medical Affairs, William H. Danforth, and his successor Samuel B. Guze, and the first Kountz Professor, Hugh B. Chaplin.

Box 3

1967-1968, 3:1.
1969-1970, 3:2.
1971-1973, 3:3.
1976-1079, 3:4.

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