This collection consists of Alpers' files in original order with original file titles. Most of the material is arranged by title of publication or address. Many of the folders also contain manuscripts, published copies, correspondence, photographs, ephemera, and notes.
Bernard J. Alpers (1900-1981) was born in Salem, MA on March 14, 1900. He received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1923 and a Doctor of Medical Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1930. Alpers continued his neuropathology training in Germany, Spain, and England. Upon his return from Europe, he acted as the director of a neuropathology laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1938, Alpers joined the faculty of Jefferson Medical College as a Professor of Neurology, eventually becoming Chairman of the Department. He taught at Jefferson until his retirement in 1965. While at Jefferson, he helped establish a neurology residency program at the Jefferson Hospital. The Neurology Department grew considerably under his leadership. He is also notable for his discovery of a rare neurological disease, now called Alpers’ Disease. During the course of his career, he also served as President of the American Neurological Association, the American Association of Neuropathology, the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Diseases, and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Alpers wrote over 100 papers during his tenure at Jefferson. He was also the author of a popular textbook, Clinical Neurology (five editions, 1945-1963). He co-wrote a sixth edition with Dr. Elliott L. Mancall of Philadelphia. Later, Alpers and Mancall also co-wrote the first edition of Essentials of the Neurological Examination (1971).
In addition to his teaching and medical research, Alpers was a Hebrew scholar who enjoyed spending time in his large personal library. He died at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on November 2. 1981, at the age of 81. At the time of his death, he was a resident of Merion, PA. He was survived by three sons and seven grandchildren.
Bernard J. Alpers Papers, MS-005. Thomas Jefferson University - Archives and Special Collections.
Bernard J. Alpers Papers, MS-005. Thomas Jefferson University - Archives and Special Collections. http://aisrmedia1.jefferson.edu:81/repositories/2/resources/1 Accessed May 14, 2024.