Helen F. Cserr papers (Ms.2018.004)

This collection contains the personal and professional papers of Helen F. Cserr, Brown University Professor of Physiology from 1970 to 1993 and scholar of the anatomy and mechanism of the human brain. A notable woman in science, Cserr also made history in 1975 when she joined Lamphere v. Brown University - a class action sex discrimination suit - when she was unjustly denied tenure. In a landmark settlement, Cserr and fellow plaintiffs prevailed and Cserr was awarded retroactive tenure in 1978. The collection includes biographical information, personal and professional correspondence, teaching materials, writings, laboratory research, and legal files stemming from the case and dating from 1965 to 1994.

Series 1, PERSONAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, 1968-1994, includes clippings about Lamphere v. Brown University, photographs, tributes to Cserr following her death, and a "to-do" list that evidences the effect of Cserr's brain tumor on her handwriting. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, CORRESPONDENCE, 1974-1994, contains personal and professional correspondence, including that which documents Cserr's sudden illness in Melbourne, Australia and responses from friends and colleagues to Cserr's health crisis. Series 2 is arranged by subject.

Series 3, TEACHING, 1980-1991, includes a small set of exams and exam keys for the courses of Biology and Biomedicine. This series is arranged alphabetically by course.

Series 4, WRITINGS, 1971-1994, includes articles by Cserr, a bibliography of her writings and publishing correspondence. Cserr wrote extensively about Immunology and hyperosmolality. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 5, RESEARCH, 1965-1994, contains research committee work, conference files, laboratory experiment plans and glass slides, presentation slides, research articles, and a large set of grant files detailing Cserr's laboratory research pertaining to AIDS and humoral immunity and mechanisms of brian volume regulation, among other research topics. Series 5 is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 6, ELECTRONIC RECORDS ON REMOVABLE CARRIERS, 1994, is comprised of one file folder containing three audio cassettes. Two of the cassettes are recordings of Bodil Schmidt Neilson's tribute to Helen Cserr following her death from a brain tumor. The third cassette is unlabeled.

Series 7, RESTRICTED: LAMPHERE V. BROWN UNIVERSITY LEGAL FILES, 1969-1992, includes correspondence, transcripts of depositions, photocopies of Brown University records, memoranda, notes, and other related material documenting Cserr's involvement in the class action sex discrimination lawsuit against Brown University. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type and is closed until January 1, 2025 at which point the materials will open without restriction.