Arthur S. Hamilton

Link to Hamilton Eulogy

Arthur S. Hamilton was born November 28, 1872 in Wyoming, Iowa of Scott Hamilton and Susanna P. Boyle. He was awarded the degree of doctor of medicine by the University of Pennsylvania in 1897. He was assistant physician at the Independence, Iowa State Hospital for seven years.  In 1904, he entered the private practice of neurology and psychiatry in Minneapolis. Dr. Hamilton was appointed assistant in pathology of the nervous system, Department of Pathology and Bacteriology, at the University, College of Medicine and Surgery in 1905.  In 1906, Dr. Hamilton became instructor in pathology of the nervous system and in sole charge of the course on pathology of the nervous system. Thus began thedichotomy of Neuropathology.  In 1907, Dr. Hamilton was also named clinical instructor in nervous and mental diseases, the first faculty member to hold a dual appointment. He conducted a clinic at the University Free Dispensary near Seven Corners in Minneapolis.  Dr. Hamilton became assistant professor of nervous and mental diseases in 1912, associate professor and director of the Division of Nervous and Mental Diseases in 1913, and professor and director of the division in 1915.  He was a founder and first secretary of the Minnesota Neurological Society in 1909 and of the Central Neuropsychiatric Association in 1922.  He had a great interest in medical history and medical literature.  His breadth of knowledge, clear analytic thinking, careful technique, gentleness with patients and consideration for the younger colleagues' opinions constituted in him the nearly ideal combination for an adviser and preceptor of the more advanced students.  Dr. Hamilton was an early and forceful advocate of postgraduate medical education. He contributed of his time and private funds to further this program.  A number of teaching fellows had the good fortune to come under his tutelage. His two outstanding students were Henry W. Woltman, who became chairman of the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in 1930, and J. Charnley McKinley, who succeeded Dr. Hamilton in 1935.