The UCLA Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library History and Special Collections division has received the William H. Sweet, M.D., D.Sc., Collection of Papers, Books, Surgical Instruments, Stereotactic Devices and Memorabilia. Donated by his widow, Elizabeth D. Sweet, the gift includes $100,000 to support the costs of accessioning, processing, preserving and cataloging the collection.

"We are honored that Mrs. Sweet has chosen the UCLA Library as the home for this unique collection," said University Librarian Gary E. Strong. "It complements our existing holdings in the history of medicine and particularly enhances our collections in the history of pain and of neuroscience."

Sweet (1910-2001) was a professor of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and served most of his career at Massachusetts General Hospital, culminating in his tenure as chief of the neurosurgical service from 1961 to 1977. He served on the board of directors of the American Pain Society during its formative years and was a founding member of the International Association for the Study of Pain.

Sweet's best-known contributions to neurosurgery were the development of proton-beam and neutron-capture therapy for the treatment of brain tumors, and the establishment of one of the first brain imaging laboratories. He also pioneered the development of noninvasive treatments of trigeminal neuralgia and the use of cordotomy for the treatment of intractable pain. His work in the 1950s laid the foundation for the development of the neurostimulators used today to treat severe pain.

"Sweet was a leading neurosurgeon with collaborators in the fields of neurology, neurophysiology and pain research," said Marcia Meldrum, a lecturer and researcher in medical history at UCLA who was instrumental in acquiring the Sweet Collection and securing funds for its processing. "His papers are a potential treasure trove of knowledge relating to the development of all four fields in the 20th century."

The collection consists of nearly 400 linear feet of manuscripts and 600 monographs documenting Sweet's life and career, including personal and professional papers, research
files, association and committee records, and publications. It also includes his personal, gold-tipped operating instruments, stereotactic devices, medals and neurosurgical patient records.

Cherry Dunham Williams has been named archivist of the collection; she has also been appointed special projects librarian. Inquiries from researchers about the collection can be sent to her attention at cndw@library.ucla.edu.

About History and Special Collections
The Biomedical Library History and Special Collections collects materials in the areas of medicine and the life sciences from the 15th to the early 20th century. Holdings in medicine document the history of medical thought and practice from the earliest times to the recent past, and materials in the life sciences emphasize natural history, zoology, botany, evolution and evolutionary theory. Total collections number more than 30,000 rare books and close to 300 manuscript collections, as well as an extensive selection of prints, portraits and museum objects.

Holdings related to the Sweet Collection include the John C. Liebeskind History of Pain Collection (http://www.library.ucla.edu/biomed/his/pain.html) and collections of the UCLA Neuroscience History Archives (http://www.neurosciencearchives.org).

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