Elmer Belt
Encyclopedia
Elmer Belt was an American urologist, surgeon and pioneer in sex reassignment surgery
. He was also known as a collector of works relating to Leonardo da Vinci
that now reside in the University of California, Los Angeles Library System
.
in 1916, a master's in 1917 and a doctorate's in 1920. Belt was a member of the first class taught by Herbert McLean Evans
.
. Before the Christine Jorgensen
story became headline news, Belt had been quietly performing sex changes for a few years. He performed primarily male-to-female operations but did perform a few female-to-male. Some of his most well known patients were Patricia Morgan, Mario Martino and Aleshia Brevard. After family pressure, Dr. Belt finally ceased performing sex change operations in 1962.
Dr. and Mrs. Belt gave some notable collections to Los Angeles-area academic libraries:
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
. He was also known as a collector of works relating to Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
that now reside in the University of California, Los Angeles Library System
University of California, Los Angeles Library System
The library system of the University of California, Los Angeles is among the top 10 academic research libraries in North America and has in its collection over eight million books and 70,000 serials...
.
Early life and education
Arthur Elmer Belt was born April 10, 1893. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1916, a master's in 1917 and a doctorate's in 1920. Belt was a member of the first class taught by Herbert McLean Evans
Herbert McLean Evans
Herbert McLean Evans was a U.S. anatomist and embryologist.He was born in Modesto, California. In 1908, he obtained his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University, eventually becoming its associate professor of anatomy...
.
Career
Dr. Belt was associate professor of urology and clinical professor of surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. Dr. Belt began performing male to female sex change operations after being contacted by Dr. Harry BenjaminHarry Benjamin
Harry Benjamin was a German endocrinologist, widely known for his clinical work with transsexualism. He was raised in an observant Ashkenazy Jewish home.- Early life and career :...
. Before the Christine Jorgensen
Christine Jorgensen
Christine Jorgensen was the first widely known person to have sex reassignment surgery—in this case, male to female.-Early life:...
story became headline news, Belt had been quietly performing sex changes for a few years. He performed primarily male-to-female operations but did perform a few female-to-male. Some of his most well known patients were Patricia Morgan, Mario Martino and Aleshia Brevard. After family pressure, Dr. Belt finally ceased performing sex change operations in 1962.
Dr. and Mrs. Belt gave some notable collections to Los Angeles-area academic libraries:
- The Upton Sinclair Collection to the Occidental CollegeOccidental CollegeOccidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
Library in 1950 - The UCLA Elmer Belt Florence Nightingale Collection to the UCLA Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library in 1958
- The Elmer Belt Library of Vinciana to the UCLA Arts Library in 1961.
Marriage and children
Belt married the former Mary Ruth Smart in 1919. The couple had two sons, Charles Elmer and Gregory Bruce.Awards and honors
- 1951: honorary Phi Beta KappaPhi Beta Kappa SocietyThe Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
key - 1962: honorary Doctor of Laws degree, University of California, Los Angeles
- 1972: Sir Thomas More Medal for Book Collecting, University of San FranciscoUniversity of San FranciscoThe University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
- 1977: Aesculapian Award, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine