Ira Solomon Wile papers
Biographical / Historical note
Dr. Ira S. Wile, physician, lecturer, and author, was born in Rochester, New York on November 29, 1877. He received an A.B. and B.S. degree from the University of Rochester in 1898. He received a degree in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1902, and an M.S. from the University of Rochester in 1908. He was commissioner of education in New York City from 1912 to 1918, and founded the New York City school lunch system and the Manhattanville Nursery. Dr. Wile edited various medical journals, including Medical Pickwick and the Medical Review of Reviews. He was noted as a lecturer, and was an associate in pediatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Scope and Contents
The Ira Solomon Wile papers date from between 1877 and 1943 and reflect the many interests of Dr. Wile, particularly public health and social medicine. The materials are divided, broadly, into Dr. Wile's published writing (arranged chronologically), and his research files (sorted by subject). There is much material relating to the early birth control movement in the United States, many letters from the founder of the American Birth Control League, Mrs. Margaret Sanger, and one letter from deafblind author, activist, and lecturer, Helen Keller. There is also material from Dr. Wile's extensive study of left- and right-handedness, and copies of many of his articles and speeches on psychology, social and mental hygiene, birth control, and pediatrics.
The papers are arranged in six series:
Series I: Articles and speeches (1904-1943), contain published print editions of Dr. Wile's articles, arranged chronologically. The last, dated 1943, were published posthumously. Not all of Wile's published articles are included. A bibliography of all of Dr. Wile's published works is included in the first box.
Series II: Manuscripts (1877-1943) contains drafts for Dr. Wile's published papers, including those for pieces which were never published.
Series III: Reprints (1904-1927) contains several bound volumes with pasted in printed versions of many of his published materials, in chronological order. These are not itemized, and may contain articles not included in Series I.
Series IV: Birth control (1915-1943) contains research, correspondence, notes, and writings pertaining to Dr. Wile's views on the ethics and rationale of birth control.
Series V: Handedness (1928-1936 and undated) contains Dr. Wile's research and writings on the phenomenon of handedness, predominantly examinations of causes, societal impacts, and effect on the psyche of left-handedness in the West.
Series VI: Scrapbooks (1878 and undated), contains a single bound scrapbook into which a young Wile pasted poems, editorial articles, and human interest stories clipped from local newspapers.
Researchers should know that the collection contains material and language which include discussions of eugenics, ableism, forced sterilization, classist oppression and violence, derogatory views of people with mental, developmental, and physical disabilities, and homophobia.
Creator
- Wile, Ira S. (Ira Solomon), 1877-1943 (Person)
- Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966 (Person)
Dates
- Creation: 1894-1943
Language of Materials
English
Extent
22 box(es) (21 boxes and one boxed scrapbook volume)
Access
The Ira Solomon Wile Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Use
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Papers were the gift of Dr. Wile, 1943, and of Mrs. Wile, 1944.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Ira Solomon Wile Papers, A.W66, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Subject
- Wile, Ira S. (Ira Solomon), 1877-1943 (Person)
- Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966 (Person)
- Title
- Ira Solomon Wile papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
- Date
- undated
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- July 2023: The finding aid was rewritten in order to reflect the physical arrangement of the materials, to update information about the arrangement and scope and content, and to add relevant subject headings. The arrangement of the materials themselves has not been altered.
Library Details
Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library
