Fonds 1199 - James Arnold Dauphinee fonds

The papers of James Arnold Dauphinee are a particularly fine representation of their type. Highly intelligent and inventive, Dr. Dauphinee had an international reputation in his field, pathological chemistry. He maintained a broad range of other interest, from music to philately, and was known to play the occasional game of golf. He was something of a packrat but, fortunately, also a meticulous record keeper. His papers are of value to the reader from a number of perspectives. A history of the Department of Pathological Chemistry could not be written without reference to them. Dr. Dauphinee's files cover the years 1934-1972 and he also preserved some of the papers of his predecessor as head, Andrew Hunter. The Department is not well represented elsewhere in the holdings in the University Archives.

Dr. Dauphinee was very interested in new developments in research. After his return from military service during World War II, he became deeply involved in the study of the effects of radiation on the human body. His papers are a rich resource for this pioneering work, as they are for the work he began as a medical student on arginase and the functioning of the liver and carried on throughout the rest of his life. Dr. Dauphinee wrote numerous scientific papers, many of which were published. Some very interesting ones exist in draft form only, but contain his evolving ideas on problems being studied. He also believed in the wider dissemination of information, and was much in demand as a speaker. His papers contain many of his addresses and document his enthusiastic support of organizations such as the Royal Canadian. Institute.

He was also keenly interested in professional development and the maintenance of high standards in his discipline. He belonged to a large number of professional associations and devoted much energy to some of them, including the I College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. The qualities evident here and in his research were also reflected in his relationship with his patients. His concern for their well-being is evident in his extensive patient files and in the records he kept while on active service during World War II.