Archie R. Tunturi collection

Collection

Identifier: 2025-021

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains items both from Oregon Health & Science University’s biographical file on Archie Tunturi, M.D. A later addition of items were donated by Jennifer Xochihua. Xochichua’s mother, Barbara Leighton (née Dimond), worked for Tunturi in the early 1960s. The collection spans from 1943 to 1990 and contains academic work and publications by Tunturi and many news clippings from over the course of his career. There are photographs and negatives of Dr. Tunturi and his colleagues, smany of the images show lab equipment and an oscilloscope. There are also several Christmas cards featuring his artwork and a transcript from a radio interview.

Administrative items in the collection include Tunturi’s curriculum vitae, newsletters from his research laboratory, performance reviews, grant requests, funding proposals, and negotiations to purchase his research data. There are also documents about the administration’s concerns about the validity of Tunturi’s spinal cord research, questionable fundraising practices, and misrepresentation of his credentials.

For more materials on Dr. Tunturi or to see some of artwork, see the Reid “Sam” Connell papers.

Dates

Creation: 1943-1990

Creator

Oregon Health & Science University (Organization)

Biographical Note

Dr. Archie R. Tunturi M.D., PhD. (1917-1990) received his undergraduate degree from Reed College. In 1944, he graduated with both a medical degree and a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Oregon Medical School (UOMS). He went on to work at UOMS as an associate professor of anatomy and a researcher publishing many articles on various topics over his 40-year career. His early research focused on the brain’s auditory cortex and how to trace nerve paths for sound to the brain. Much of this work was done in collaboration with the Office of Naval Research and used advanced technology of the time like data processing computer systems and a 50-channel oscilloscope.

Later in his career, Tunturi focused on spinal cord injuries and attempted to find ways for injured patients to regain the use of their extremities. This research included collaboration with doctors in Leningrad, Russia who were experimenting on ways to repair spinal cord injuries using enzyme therapy. In 1976, a press release in this collection refers to him as “director of the Laboratory for Advancement in Neuroscience in the School of Medicine”. He retired from OHSU in 1984.

Biographical information presented here comes from the collection.

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet (1 legal size document box, 1 flat-file folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Dr. Archie R. Tunturi M.D., PhD. Worked from approximately 1944 to 1984 at the University of Oregon Medical School (UOMS), now Oregon Health & Science University. He was an associate professor of anatomy and a researcher. His early research focused on the brain’s auditory cortex and the nerve paths for sound to the brain. Much of this work was done in collaboration with the Office of Naval Research and used early data processing computer systems and a 50-channel oscilloscope. Tunturi’s later research largely focused on treating spinal cord injuries.

This collection contains items both from OHSU’s biographical file on Archie Tunturi and items saved by Tunturi’s former colleague Barbara Leighton (née Dimond). The materials span from 1943 to 1990 and include academic work and publications, news clippings, photographs and negatives, correspondence, and administrative records. There are also several Christmas cards featuring his artwork and a transcript from a radio interview.

Reid "Sam" Connell papers

The Reid "Sam" Connell papers contain two folders of materials related to this collection.

Archie R. Tunturi photographs, curriculum vitae, correspondence, research proposal, abstract, memorial flyer, conference announcements and presentation, grant application and rejection letters

Archie R. Tunturi sketchbooks, watercolors