Series consists of two separate accessions of material related to the Toronto General Hospital and accumulated by the Office of the Surgeon-in-Chief.
Files 6.1.1 to 6.1.2 consist of a half-filled bound volume of signatures spanning the time period of April 5, 1935 to January 16, 1959, and an accompanying 5 page description of its history by Ronald J. Baird, Professor of Surgery, University of Toronto, and Senior Cardiovascular Surgeon at The Toronto Hospital. The book of signatures is a combination visitors’ register/attendance book with groups of signatures that do not always indicate the occasion. Some of the occasions noted include post-graduate courses and club meetings, such as for the Interurban Orthopaedic Club, McGill Toronto Surgical Club, and the Cardiovascular Surgeons Club. Notable signatories include Evarts A. Graham, Charles H. Best, Gordon Murray, Frederick G. Banting, Wilder Penfield, and Norman Bethune. Regarding the first pages of this volume, Dr. Baird remarks in his description, “what a galaxie [sic] of future stars in Toronto Surgery!” Dr. Baird’s description gives extensive details as to how the volume came to be in his possession before being passed onto Surgeon-in-Chief, Dr. Paul Walker.
Files 6.1.3 to 6.1.5 consist of various agreements and indentures that were originally kept in one file folder. The file had originally been in the possession of Dr. Alan Hudson, McCutcheon Chair and Surgeon-in-Chief at The Toronto Hospital from 1989-1991, and President and Chief Executive Officer, from 1991-2000. The file had been passed onto his successor Dr. Paul Walker, Vice President Surgical Directorate and Surgeon-in-Chief of The Toronto Hospital during a transfer of office either when Dr. Hudson became President and Chief Executive Officer (1991) or when Dr. Paul Walker resigned as the James McCutcheon Chair and Surgeon-in-Chief (March 31, 1999) to become Vice-President of the Toronto General Hospital (April 1, 1999). Subsequently the file came to be held by Dr. Walker’s successor as McCutcheon Chair in Surgery, Surgeon-in-Chief & Director of Surgical Services at University Health Network, Dr. Bryce Taylor (April 1, 1999- ).
