Orthopedic Exhibit

Young Orthopedic Patients Children's Hospital 1919 Dr. Arthur Steindler (center), head of the Orthopedics Department from 1915 to 1949, is seen applying a cast to one of his patients.

7. Young orthopedic patients Courtesy of University of Iowa Archives, Main Library

8. Maurice Keefer, Rinsing milk cans Courtesy of the Department of Food and Nutrition The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Maurice E. Keefer, Rinsing Milk Cans Pasteurizing Plant, University Hospital Circa 1940

Physical Therapy
Children's Hospital
January 1921

Courtesy of University of Iowa Archives, Main Library

Casting Room Children's Hospital circa 1921

9. Casting room Courtesy of University of Iowa Archives, Main Library

Physical Therapy
circa 1930

Courtesy of University of Iowa Archives, Main Library

10. Medical students in surgical amphitheater Courtesy of University of Iowa Archives, Main Library

Medical Students in Surgical Amphitheatre University Hospital (Seashore Hall) circa 1905

Boys' Ward Children's Hospital, Iowa City circa 1925

11. Boy's ward Children's Hospital, Iowa City

12. Young boy with polio in respirator with birthday presents

Young Boy in Respirator with Birthday Presents Iowa City 1948

Girl in Casting Room
Children's Hospital, Iowa City
circa 1920

Boy Being Fitted with Leg Braces
Children's Hospital, Iowa City
date unknown

On the Patio Children's Hospital, Iowa City circa 1925

13. On the patio, Children's Hospital Courtesy of University Archives, University of Iowa Libraries

14. Psychologist, Dr. Marie Tily, with patient

Psychologist, Dr. Marie Tilly, with Patient Hospital School, Iowa City date unknown

Children at Craft Therapy Children's Hospital, Iowa City circa 1925

15. Children at craft therapy Children's Hospital, Iowa City

Solarium
University Hospital (Seashore Hall)
Circa 1900

Robertson Ward
University Hospital (Seashore Hall)
Circa 1900

Infant Room
Children's Hospital
circa 1920s

Children's Hospital Festival
circa 1920s

Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital opened in 1919. Each room had French doors, through which patients' beds could be rolled onto a concrete patio. Sunshine and air were regarded as an important part of therapy year-round. Children's Hospital also had a gymnasium with corrective exercise equipment and a school for patients under long-term care.

Adapted from John C. Gerber, A Pictorial History of the University of Iowa, p. 147.

Internationally renowned, Steindler was head of the University of Iowa's Orthopedics Department from 1915 until he left the University in 1949 to establish a private practice at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. He continued to practice into his eighties. Steindler's clinical contributions and efforts in the rehabilitation of disabled children were incredible. Upon his retirement from the UI after 35 years, records indicated he'd seen more than 70,000 private patients in addition to the numerous state patients he saw or whose treatment he supervised. In his honor the Children's Hospital was renamed the Steindler Building in 1983.

The project was successful and for many years the Hospital saved up to 30% on the cost of milk by running its own plant. In 1949, the Pasteurizing Plant closed its doors; high-quality milk products were now easy and economical to obtain locally from commercial dairies.