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Robert E. Schlueter Papers

Historical Note

Robert E. Schlueter (1872-1955) graduated from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1891. Four years later he graduated cum laude from the Missouri Medical College, where he then began teaching in the departments of Physiology and Pharmacy. During this time, Dr. Schlueter also served an informal internship at St. John’s Hospital as a surgical assistant for Dr. Theodore F. Prewitt. Although he disapproved of the absorption of Missouri Medical College into Washington University, Dr. Schlueter was appointed Instructor in Surgery at the Medical Department. He held this position at Washington University until 1916.

Dr. Schlueter joined the faculty of the St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1923 as associate professor of Surgery. In addition to his role as educator, Dr. Schlueter was a leading St. Louis surgeon, holding staff appointments at the O’Fallon Dispensary and at City, Lutheran, Mullanphy, DePaul, St. John’s, Deaconess, and St. Anthony’s Hospitals. Throughout his professional career, Dr. Schlueter held a number of administrative positions in professional organizations including serving as president of the St. Louis Medical Society (1911), the Missouri State Medical Association (1918), and the St. Louis Surgical Society (1941).

In 1909-1910, Dr. Schlueter enjoyed fourteen months of travel and post-graduate study of surgery, pathology, and medical history in Europe. While studying abroad, he amassed a large collection of books that he retained for further study and future publications. Dr. Schlueter later donated his large collection on Paracelsus, the sixteenth century physician and philosopher, to the St. Louis Medical Society in 1938. The Bernard Becker Medical Library now houses the Robert E. Schlueter–Paracelsus Collection.

Provenance

The items in this collection were the gift of the St. Louis Society for Medical and Scientific Education. (1990-061)

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 Department of the Becker Medical Library (arb@wusm.wustl.edu).

Scope and Content

The collection contains three versions of Schlueter’s autobiography, fragmentary incoming correspondence, notes, and drafts. Also included are reprints of Dr. Schlueter’s writings and addresses on medical history and medicine. His autobiography is well-written and revealing of his likes, dislikes, loyalties, the details of his medical practice, travels and post-graduate studies abroad, and his work in various St. Louis hospitals and for Washington University. Also included is the St. Louis Medical Society Library correspondence concerning his estate.

Preferred Citation

Robert E. Schlueter Papers, Washington University School of Medicine.

Related Material

Also available at the Bernard Becker Medical Library are the Robert E. Schlueter–Paracelsus Collection of rare books and Robert E. Schlueter visual collection (VC158) consisting of photographs, postcards, and lecture cards.

Organization of the Collection (Series List)

Total Boxes: 3

Series 1: Correspondence and Miscellaneous, 1906-1967. Box 1.

Series 2: Autobiography, 1935. Boxes 1-2.

Series 3: Notes, Manuscripts, and Publications, 1907-1949. Boxes 2-3.

Container List

Series 1: Correspondence and Miscellaneous, 1906-1967. Box 1.

This series contains material regarding Dr. Schlueter and his estate from the St. Louis Medical Society Library. It also includes incoming correspondence and a visitor’s register from a 1939 American Medical Association meeting in St. Louis.

Box 1 of 3

1.	AMA 90th meeting, visitors register, 1939.
2.	First Schlueter memorial lecture, T.S. Danowski, M.D., May 1963.
3.	Elevator installation at St. Louis Medical Society Library from Schlueter bequest, 1967.
4.	St. Louis Medical Society Library, Schlueter estate, 1961-1962.
5.	St. Louis Medical Society Library, Schlueter estate, 1960.
6.	A. Berkley-Heyer correspondence, 1950-1955.
	The folders, 7 to 14, contain incoming correspondence.
7.	1906-1917.
8.	1921-1932.
9.	1933.
10.	1934.
11.	1935.
12.	1936.
13.	1937-1939.
14.	1940-1955.
15.	Foreign language correspondence, 1916-1939.
16.	Various correspondents, undated.
17.	Osler, Sir William to RES, undated.

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Series 2: Autobiography, 1935. Boxes 1-2.

This series contains notes and drafts of Dr. Schlueter’s autobiography.

Box 1 of 3

18.	Autobiography, part 1 of 5, undated.
19.	Autobiography, part 2 of 5, undated.
20.	Autobiography, part 3 of 5, undated.
21.	Autobiography, part 4 of 5, undated.
22.	Autobiography, part 5 of 5, undated.

Box 2 of 3

1.	Autobiography, part 1 of 4, 1935.
2.	Autobiography, part 2 of 4, 1935.
3.	Autobiography, part 3 of 4, 1935.
4.	Autobiography, part 4 of 4, 1935.
5.	Autobiography, handwritten, 1 of 6, undated.
6.	Autobiography, handwritten, 2 of 6, undated.
7.	Autobiography, handwritten, 3 of 6, undated.
8.	Autobiography, handwritten, 4 of 6, undated.
9.	Autobiography, handwritten, 5 of 6, undated.
10.	Autobiography, handwritten, 6 of 6, undated.

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Series 3: Notes, Manuscripts, and Publications, 1907-1949. Boxes 2-3.

This series contains notes, drafts, and reprints for writings and talks on medicine and the history of medicine.

Box 2 of 3

11.	History of nursing, manuscript, 1928.
12.	History of nursing, draft, background material, 1928.
13.	The necessity for studying medical history, St. Louis Medical History Club original manuscript, 1914.
14.	Address to Greater Society of Radiologists, undated.
15.	Histories of medical schools, notes, faculty lists, handwritten, undated.
16.	Various notes and papers, 1928-1932.

Box 3 of 3

1.	Paper on history of the University of Vienna, 1911.
2.	The noble profession of a trained nurse, undated.
3.	Remarks at AMA meeting, May 1922.
4.	Remarks to St. Louis Medical Society to accept portrait of C. W. Stevens, January 1922.
5.	Medical aspects of life of Dr. O. A. Wall, address to St. Louis College of Pharmacy, March 1922.
6.	Open safety pin in esophagus, address to Alumni Association of the Medical Department, November 1907.
7.	Acute abdomen, undated.
8.	After fifty golden years, speech given at the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Reverend Mother M. Coelestine, November 1934.
9.	The art of medicine, manuscript for centennial dinner, April 1937.
10.	Two papers on John Hunter, 1934.
11.	Treatment of varicose ulcer, Rolla District Medical Society, July 1911.
12.	Partial manuscript, undated.
13.	H.A. Hanser obituary, 1940.
14.	Dr. Alexander Macdonald Davison, March 1935.
15.	Untitled essay, typed and handwritten versions, February 1935.
16.	Manuscripts, various authors, 1912-1949.
17.	Schlueter reprints, 1911-1949.
18.	Remarks on presentation of death mask of John Hunter to the St. Louis Medical Society, duplicate copies, December 1932.
19.	Bulletin. Medical Library of the St. Louis Society for medical and Scientific Education, undated.
20.	William Beaumont Centennial Celebration, St. Louis Medical Society, November 1933.

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