The Edgar Kahn Era Photos (1949-1969)

In 1926, Dr. Edgar Kahn, son of famed architect Albert Kahn – who designed many of the well-known buildings in Detroit and on the University of Michigan’s campus, including the original University Hospital – became the first neurosurgical resident to work with Dr. Peet. In 1949, when Dr. Peet died suddenly in the operating room, Dr. Kahn became the second head of the section. Dr. Kahn created a research laboratory with renowned neuroanatomist Dr. Elizabeth C. Crosby; together, they defined many important aspects of correlative neuroanatomy. Dr. Kahn was one of the first neurosurgeons to introduce contrast material into brain abscesses to follow their size. He also helped pioneer early nuclear medicine scans for localizing brain tumors. Dr. Kahn’s entire career was a gift to the University, as he only accepted one dollar per year in salary.

Request for Photos: If you have any photos from your time in the Department of Neurosurgery (whether recent or dating back many years!), we’d love to include them in this photo archive. Please send photos you’d like to share to Megan Foldenauer at mfoldena@med.umich.edu, or mail them to the address listed below. Please be sure to include names of individuals pictured in the photo(s) along with a date/year, if known. Hard copy photos or digital versions are both fine (Megan can digitize photos as needed). If you send an original copy that you’d like returned to you, please be sure to include a return address.

Mail photos to:

U-M Department of Neurosurgery

Attn: Megan Foldenauer

3552 Taubman Center

1500 E. Medical Center Drive, SPC 5338

Ann Arbor, MI 48109