 |
| Robert
Abbe |
Robert Abbe was a man of many
interests and talents. He was a world-famous
surgeon and medical pioneer, humanitarian and
artist. Locally, he was well known for his many
contributions toward preserving and enhancing
the quality of life on Mount Desert Island.
Robert Abbe was born in New
York City. His father, George Waldo Abbe, was
a businessman, philanthropist and leader of the
Baptist Church. His mother, Charlotte Colgate
Abbe, was the daughter of Bowles Colgate, founder
of the Colgate Soap Company. Robert was the youngest
of five sons. He also had two younger sisters.
“Father’s home seemed to attract every
sort of worthwhile person…they always seemed
to relish our big roast beef dinners” (Stark,
1955: 941).
With the exception of William
(1843-1879), who died from complications from
wounds received at the Battle of Gettysburg, all
the Abbe sons became scientists. Cleveland (1838-1916)
is the best known. He became a meteorologist and
developed the U.S. Weather Bureau, later renamed
the National Weather Service. Walter was a chemist
and Charles an inventor. Robert attended The College
of the City of New York. Following graduation,
he taught there as an instructor in drawing, geometry
and English before entering medical school.
Dr. Abbe became a renowned surgeon
and medical pioneer. He was an attending surgeon
at St. Luke's Hospital in New York, where the
plastic surgical laboratory is named for him.
He developed new techniques for facial, internal
and spinal plastic surgery that are still used
today.
 |
One
of Dr. Abbe's pet swans. They were named Pierre
and Marie after his friends the Curies
|
In 1904, after corresponding
with Marie and Pierre Curie about their research
on radiation, he visited their laboratories in
Paris. Convinced of the benefits of radiation
therapy, Dr. Abbe brought samples back to the
United States and began experimental therapies
for cancer treatment. Today, he is known as the
founder of radiation therapy in the United States.
At the time, researchers knew little about the
risks of radiation exposure. Toward the end of
his life, Dr. Abbe suffered from a rare form of
anemia that was likely the result of exposure
to radiation.
A Man of Many Interests
Robert Abbe’s interests
were wide ranging. He experimented with instantaneous
photography shortly after its invention in 1884.
He was an artist, wrote poetry and made three-dimensional
plaster maps.
 |
|
A watercolor done by Dr. Abbe of the Museum
at Sieur de Monts. |
Dr. Abbe was also deeply interested
in archaeology. He made scrapbooks with clippings
from journals and newspapers that described important
finds, excavations and research. It was this interest
that led to the founding of the Abbe Museum. |
