John F. Fulton, M.D., and the founding of the Journal of Neurosurgery

The Journal of Neurosurgery, although the idea of a Chilean neurosurgeon, Alfonso Asenjo, was the product of a well-placed and energetic charter member of the Harvey Cushing Society, John F. Fulton. In the researched files the first formal correspondence is that of Asenjo dated May 20, 1943. When he received Paul Bucy's encouraging reply of June 19, 1943, he promptly betook himself to New Haven, where he spent July 3 and 4 with Fulton. Within a week of that visit, Fulton was writing to the Executive Committee of the Harvey Cushing Society recommending the establishment of such a journal. Fulton contacted his friend and publisher, Charles C. Thomas, and by the end of October he was meeting with representatives of the Banta Publishing Company to discuss matters relating to the printing of the Journal of Neurosurgery, in particular, the scarcity of paper. The twin problems of shortages of paper and financing were soon resolved under the guidance of Thomas, but other details remained. Thus, the first issue, scheduled to appear in January, 1944, was not mailed until the middle of March of that year, but thereafter a regular bimonthly schedule was maintained. While Asenjo should be given proper credit for the idea, this essay confirms the validity of Bucy's listing: "John F. Fulton--Founder (1944)."