Catherine Strunk Amatruda papers

The Catherine Strunk Amatruda Papers consist of correspondence, writings, research data, examination materials, and printed material, which document Catherine Amatruda's professional career as a research pediatrician at Yale University. The papers highlight Amatruda's clinical research and writing on the norms for infant development and methods for the developmental diagnosis of infant behavior and her collaborative work with Arnold Gesell.

The Amatruda Papers are organized in five series. SERIES I,DEVELOPMENTAL DIAGNOSIS, contains annotated drafts of the child development study written by Amatruda and Arnold Gesell. This work is the outgrowth of years of clinical research with infants and young children. Amatruda's annotations are often quite extensive, and reflect substantive changes in the format and content of the volume. Appendices (folder 21) contain a series of charts and tables which outlines much of the experimental work conducted.

SERIES II, DEVELOPMENTAL SCHEDULES, contains the raw data used in the formulation of schedules forDevelopmental Diagnosis. Portions of the data in these files are unpublished, however. Data recorded in parentheses appear to be that of Amatruda, while Gesell's normative data are recorded without parentheses. Asterisks next to data items indicate representative behavior in children at that particular age level.

SERIES III, TOPICAL FILES, contains annual reports, articles, book reviews, correspondence, lectures, miscellanea, and photographs. Annual reports (folder 40) date from 1929 to 1951 and include summary statements on the yearly work of the Yale University Clinic of Child Development and Child Study Center. These reports contain updates on the progress of literary and research projects for Amatruda, Gesell, and others, as well as evaluations of the ongoing work of the entire institution. Articles (folders 41-43) consist of medical and scientific articles written by Amatruda, Gesell, and others.

Correspondence (folders 45-48) contains a single folder of letters to Amatruda (folder 45). These letters are brief notes of thanks or inquiry and include one from Yale president Charles Seymour, who congratulated Amatruda on her bookDevelopmental Diagnosis. The correspondence of Toby (William T.) Amatruda, Catherine Amatruda's son, is arranged in this series (folder 46). Toby and Joseph V. Baldwin, a long-time colleague of Catherine Amatruda, exchanged letters in 1981-1982. Baldwin responded in great detail to requests for biographical and personal information on Amatruda, and he also contributed manuscript materials to the Amatruda Papers. Among his contributions are letters with Arnold Gesell (folder 47). These letters are routine notes, frequently confirming speaking engagements. Two clippings, however, contain articles about the Yale Child Study Center. Baldwin also included his correspondence on the donation of the Amatruda Papers to Yale University (folder 48).

Other material arranged in this series consists of book reviews ofDevelopment Diagnosisand other works by Amatruda (folder 44), lectures delivered at a psychiatry seminar (folder 49), photographs of Amatruda with patients (folder 51), and miscellaneous notes and papers (folder 50).

SERIES IV, EXAMINATION MATERIALS, contains a collection of children's toys, such as rattles, balls, blocks, bells, crayons, cards, rings, and books. Other objects include a bottle with pellets, a spoon, penknife, and paper. These items were used extensively in the course of testing conducted by Amatruda.

SERIES V, PRINTED MATERIAL, contains published works which Amatruda authored or contributed to in her professional career.