Dates

• Existence: 1925-2003

Biography

Paul Frederic Cranefield was born April 28, 1925 in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Paul F. and Edna Rothnick Cranefield. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he obtained his Ph.B degree in 1946 and his Ph.D. in 1952 before going on to obtain his M.D. degree at Yeshiva University in 1964.   He spent his entire career as a professor at Rockefeller Univeristy in New York City, where he was also editor of the Journal of General Physiology from 1966 to 1995. Under his editorship, this journal achieved a reputation for the high quality of the papers it presented, due in large part to his scrupulous review process.   He made many contributions to cardiac electrophysiology, but also was a medical historian. His writings include The Historical Development of Physiological Thought (edited with C. McBrooks, 1959), Electrophysiology of the Heart (with Brian F. Hoffman, 1960), The Way In and the Way Out (1974), Conduction of the Cardiac Impulse (1975), Cardiac Arrythmias (with R. S. Aronson, 1988), Science and Empire (1990), and Born Wanderer (1995).   He was a fellow of the International Academy of the History of Medicine and of the New York Academy of Medicine, where he served as editor of the Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine. He was an avid bibliophile and book collector, and also served the New York Academy of medicne by serving as Chairman of the Committee on the Library and as president of the Friends of the Rare Book Room.   He apparently lived most of his adult life in New York City and was very involved in his community in lower Manhattan. He was a founder, director, and supporter of La Mama Experimental Threate and Chair ofthe Kesselring Prize for playwrights at the National Arts Club. He was a member of the Grolier Club, The Century, The Coffee Club, and the Savile Club.   Dr. Cranfield died on May 31, 2003 at the age of 78. He is buried at Rock Lake Cemetery, Lake Mills, Wisconsin.

Citation:

Author: Jacque Roethler

Citation:

Jouranl of General Physiology, Vol 122:No.1 (July 2003), 1-2. http://jgp.rupress.org/cgi/content/full/122/1/1

New York Times obituary, June 3, 2003

Contemporary Authors

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