Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations Medical Department Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations Medical Department Records

Inclusive Dates

1921-1961

Call Number

RG 144

Creator(s)

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations. Medical Department.

Quantity

5.00 cubic feet (ca. 5,000 items)

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. Medical, educational, and psychological records of living people are closed.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

Established in 1921, the Medical Department was the first organized attempt by the Board of Foreign Missions to supervise the health of missionaries on the foreign field. The PCUSA was one of two pioneer Protestant denominations in this country in the field of organized medical mission work. The establishment of the Department resulted from the growing number of missionaries subject to unsanitary surroundings, malignant diseases and other stresses that would impair their usefulness or threaten their lives. In 1921, Edward M. Dodd, MD, a former missionary to Persia, was appointed Acting Secretary and later elevated to Executive Secretary of the newly formed Department. The Department supervised the health of mission personnel on furlough and in the field and aided in the selection of missionary candidates. It assisted in the recruitment of medical candidates and served as a liaison for medical work on the field.

Collection Overview

Record Group 144 documents the broad range of interest and activity in medical missions of the principal departmental correspondents, Drs. Dodd and W.J.K. Clothier, Medical Secretary and Assistant Medical Secretary respectively, between 1921 and 1961. The collection contains the personal medical correspondence with missionary candidates and missionaries on the field. RG 144 evidences both the concerns of the BFM for the welfare of its numerous workers abroad and their level of response as reflected by problems of personal care and maintenance under generally primitive conditions.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES 1: MEDICAL COUNCIL/COMMITTEE, 1947-1957
SERIES 2: MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, 1926-1959
SERIES 3: MISSIONARY CANDIDATES, 1939-1956
SERIES 4: FOREIGN STUDENTS AND VISITING NATIONALS, 1937-1951
SERIES 5: MISCELLANEOUS, 1927-1956
SERIES 6: MISSIONARY/COLLEAGUES CORRESPONDENCE, 1923-1960
SERIES 7: MISSION INSTITUTIONS, 1937-1959
SERIES 8: GENERAL SUBJECTS, 1924-1961
SERIES 9: MEDICAL/EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE; MEDICAL CONFERENCES, 1925-1960
SERIES 10: SANITARIA/MISSIONARY RETREATS, 1921-1961

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 1980
Robert A. Goldstein, Assistant Records Researcher

Notes added to finding aid: 1983
Frederick J. Heuser, Jr., Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Corporate Subject

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Foreign Missions. Medical Department.

Topical Subject

Missions, Medical.

Missionaries Diseases and hygiene.

Personal Added Name

Dodd, Edward M. (Edward Mills), 1887-1967.

Clothier, W. J. K. (Walter James Kilburn), 1899-

Corporate Added Name

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Foreign Missions. Medical Department.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 144

		SERIES 1: MEDICAL COUNCIL/COMMITTEE, 1947-1957

	2	Meeting minutes/related papers, Medical Committee/Sub-committee, 1947-1952
	3	Correspondence/background papers, Medical Committee, 1947-53
	4	Correspondence/background papers, Medical Committee/Medical Emphasis Year (1950), 1949-1952
	5	Miscellaneous papers, Medical Emphasis Year (1950), 1950-51
	6	Correspondence, Laymen's Work, 1949-1950
	7	Minutes/correspondence, Medical Council/Committee, 1950-51
	8	Meeting minutes/background papers, Special Committee on the Medical Department, 1952-1956
	9	Correspondence, Yedical Council/Committee, 1952-1957

		SERIES 2: MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, 1926-1954

1	10	Administrative and planning papers/reports, 1938-1953
	11	Correspondence/background and administrative papers, 1955-1959
	12	Miscellaneous items, Division of Overseas Administration, 1955-1958
	13	Lists/correspondence, "Hospitals and Dispensaries Overseas in which the UPCUSA Participates," 1958
	14	Lists: Medical missionaries, geographical distribution, furloughed missionaries, 1922-1934
	15	Bulletins of Medical Department, #73-77 (1954-1957), unnumbered, 1957-1958
	16	Form letters, 1948-1949
	17	Miscellaneous domestic correspondence, 1937-1952
	18	Program suggestions/miscellaneous inquiries regarding Medical Missions, 1948-1952
	19	Financial papers/correspondence, 1938-1952
	20	Correspondence/missionarv medical expenditures, 1939-1952
	21	Charity Fund, 1949-1952
	22	Medical expenses of retired missionaries, "Ceiling Committee," 1954-1956
	23	Correspondence regarding personnel/prospective candidates/application process, 1942-1955

		SERIES 3: MISSIONARY CANDIDATES, 1939-1956

1	24	A-B, 1945-1952
	25	B, 1952-1954
	26	C-D, 1944-1953
	27	E-F, 1946-1954
	28	G, 1948-1954
	29	H, 1950-1954
	30	I, 1944-1952
	31	J, 194g-1954
	32	K, 1952-1954
	33	L, 1939-1954
	34	Mc, 1941-1953
	35	M-N, 1949-1954

1	36	O-P, 1950-1954
	37	R, 1947-1954
	38	Candidates withdrawn, 1946-1956

		SERIES 4: FOREIGN STUDENT AND VISITING NATIONALS, 1937-1951

1	39	A-B, 1939-1950
	40	D-H, 1937-1951
	41	I-Le, 1939-1951
	42	Li-P, 1942-1950

		SERIES 5: MISCELLANEOUS, 1927-1956

2	1	B, 1939-1952
	2	D, 1938-1952
	3	E, 1939-1952
	4	F, 1939-1952
	5	G, 1940-1952
	6	E, 1936-1952
	7	I, 1929-1952
	8	J, 1939-1952
	9	K, 1932-1952
	10	L, 1946-1952
	11	M, 1951-1952
	12	N, 1950-1952
	13	O, 1944-1952
	14	P, 1945-1952
	15	R, 1943-1952
	16	S, 1927-1952
	17	Miscellaneous correspondence/background papers, 1928-1956
	18	Correspondence, non-board medical cases, 1949-1452

		SERIES 6: MISSIONARY/COLLEAGUE CORRESPONDENCE, 1923-1960

2	19	Baird, Rev. Richard H, 1950-1952
	20	Barnes, Dr. William J, 1938-1952
	21	Boyd, Dr. E. Forrest, 1943-1952
	22	Chaplin, Dr. Hugh, 1938-1952
	23	Clothier, Dr. W.J.K, 1944-1956
	24	Cochran, Dr. Joseph P, 1941-1954
	25	Cogswell, Franklin D, 1439-1952
	26	Corbett, Mrs. Charles, 1933-1940
	27	Corscaden, Dr. James, 1924-1946
	28	Delphey, Dr. William, 1937-1938; 1946
	29	Dodd, Rev. A.D, 1937-1946
	30	Dodd, Dr. Stuart (and family), 1929-1950
	31	Dodds, Rev. J.J, executive correspondence, 1938-1958
	32	Edwards, Dr. Martin, 1923-1949
	33	Elliott, Miss Ruth, executive correspondence, 1936-1958
	34	Erdman, Dr. Charles R, Board correspondence, 1927-1942
	35	Erdman, Dr. Frederick, 1924-1932
	36	Fletcher, Dr. A.G, Sr, 1953-1959
	37	Graham, Dr. H.C, 1939-1943
	38	Gray, Miss Frances, executive correspondence, 1950-1956
	39	Hadley, Rev. L.B, 1933-1941
	40	Hall, Rev. Dr. Ernest, 1939-1948
	41	Hallock, Miss Constance, 1938: 1943
	42	Hanson, Miss Marjorie L, 1937-1938
	43	Harbaugh, Miss Ann, 1930
	44	Harris, Miss Anita (missionary under Methodist Board); Harris, Rev/Mrs. Herbert (PCUSA missionaries retired), 1940-1957
	45	Harrison, Dr. Paul, 1931-1947
	46	Hooper, Rev. Dr. J.L, executive correspondence, 1939-52
	47	Hughson, Dr. Frances, 1956
	48	Hume, Dr. Edward H, 1946-1957
	49	Ingram, Miss Mary, 1947
	50	Johnston, Rev. Dr. Paul, 1941-1948
	51	Judd, Senator Walter H, Mental hygiene legislation, 1950-1957
	52	King, Frederick (potential medical missionary candidate Guatemala), 1947-1948
	53	Leak, Dr. William H, 1936-1943
	54	Leber, Rev. Dr. Charles T, executive correspondence, 1942-1959
	55	Leber, Rev. Dr/Mrs. Charles T, medical correspondence, 1941-1959
	56	Levonian, Dr. Randel, 1947-1950
	57	Lindholm, Rev. Paul, 1949-1953
	58	Little, Rev. Dr. Henry Jr, executive correspondence, 1948-1952
	59-60	Lodwick, Mrs. Robert (emergency health furlough, general correspondence), 1953-1960
	61	Mackay, Rev. Dr. John A, 1939-1952
	62	Mackenzie, Miss Virginia M, executive correspondence, 1942-45
	63	Mackie, Dr. Thomas T, 1948
	64	Mamontri, Dr. Manu, 1950-1952
	65	Martin, Rev/Mrs. W. Burton, 1949-1953
	66	McGilvray, James, executive correspondence, 1957-1959
	67	McKean, Dr. James W, 1938-1944
	68	Meleney, Dr. Frank L, 1935-1944
	69	Meleney, Dr. Henry E, 1933-1942
	70	Moore, Miss Mary E. (Mrs. R.N. MCLean), executive correspondence, 1938-1941
	71	Morton, Dr. Rosalie Slaughter, 1936-1940

3	1	Newman, Dr. Frank W, 1936-1950
	2	O'Brien, Dr. H.R, 1936-1956
	3	Olivera, Dr. Helia, 1943-1949
	4	Parker, Rev. K.L, 1952
	5	Ranbhise, Dr. M.P, 1949-1952 (including Ranbhise deputation in US for Medical Emphasis Year 1950)
	6	Reid, Miss Ann T, 1940-1955
	7	Rhoads, Dr. Paul S, 1948-1957
	8	Rodger, Dr/Mrs. John R, 1932-1941
	9	Ross, Rev. Dr. Emory, 1938-1951
	10	Roys, Mrs. Charles K, 1939-1952
	11	Rycroft, Rev. Dr. W. Stanley, 1950-1952
	12	Ryburn, Rev. Horace, 1945-1952
	13	Saulsbury, Mrs. Helen, 1948-1951
	14	Scanlan, Dr. Therese, 1938-1948
	15	Schell, Rev. Dr. William P, 1938-1953
	16	Scott, Rev. Dr. George T, 1928-1941
	17	Scudder, Dr. John, 1932-1941
	18	Seymour, Dr. N. Gilbert, 1937-1940
	19	Shepard, Dr. Lorrin A, 1945-1952
	20	Shields, Dr. Randolph T, 1939-1943
	21	Shih, Miss Margaret, 1937-1946
	22	Sinhanetra, Dr. Chinda, 1940-1942
	23	Sinhanetra, Miss Cirili, 1935-1939
	24	Smith, Rev. Dr. John C, executive correspondence, 1952
	25	Speers, Rev. Theodore C, 1935-1952
	26	Strickler, Rev. H.J, 1949
	27	Wong, Dr. Ross, 1946-1949

		SERIES 7: MISSION INSTITUTIONS, 1937-1959

3	28	Chile Mission, 1939-1950
	29	China Missions, 1939-1952
	30	Colombia Mission, 1939-1951
	31	Leper work, 1942-1943
	32	Clinic Colombo-Americana, 1946-1953
	33	Non-mission, 1942-1953
	34	Europe--medical work in connection with European missions, 1948-1952
	35	Guatemala Mission--American Hospital, 1939-1952
	36	India Missions, 1941-1952
	37	Miscellaneous correspondence, 1951-1958
	38-39	Pakistan, Lahore United Christian Hospital, 1947-1958
	40-42	Ludhiana, Women's Christian Medical College, correspondence, minutes, financial papers, 1949-1959
	43	Miraj, 1937-1953
	44	Background papers regarding development, 1954-55
	45	Vellore Hospital and Medical College, 1953-1959
	46	Medical Relief Supplies, US/India Agreement, 1952
	47	Nepal, Proposed United Christian Mission to, 1953
	48	Japan, Christian University Medical School, planning papers, 1948-1951

4	1	Korea mission, 1945-1953
	2	Severance Hospital and Medical Center, 1952-1955
	3	Medical Board correspondence with Dr. Florence J. Murray, 1952-1957
	4	Latin America, Medical deputation correspondence, reports, 1944-1948
	5	Mexico mission, 1944-1952
	6	Philippine mission, correspondence/reports, 1940-1952
	7	Evangelical Medical School, planning papers, 1947-52
	8	Mission minutes, planning correspondence, background papers, 1952-1956
	9	Cebu Hospital, planning correspondence, 1949-1952
	10	Syria-Lebanon mission (Lebanon), Kennedy Memorial Hospital, 1949-1952

		SERIES 8: GENERAL SUBJECTS, 1924-1961

4	11	Adoption of children, 1940-1941
	12	American Relief for Korea, 1951-1953
	13	CMC (Christian Medical Council for Overseas Work) correspondence,1942; 1946-1952
	14	Correspondence of Drs. Douglas, Dodd, Forman, 1948-1958
	15	Minutes (executive committee), reports, background papers, 1940-1956
	16	Church of the Covenant (Cleveland), 1945-1952
	17	Contraception, 1949-1951
	18	Cooperating Board for Christian Education in Chosen, 1953-56
	19	Draft deferment efforts, 1950-1952
	20	Foreign Missions Conference of Morth America, Committee on Missionary Personnel, 1945-1949
	21	Federal Council of Churches, Commission on Religion and Health, 1945-1950
	22	Leprosy Missions, 1951-1953
	23	Methodist Board, Drs. Dodd, Morris Patty correspondence, 1948-1950
	24	Missionary Medical/Dental Licensure, 1939-1949
	25	Pennsylvania Medical Missionary Society, 1933-1951
	26	Presbyterian Hospital, New York, 1921: 1927-1959
	27	Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia, 1924-1952
	28	Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago, 1926-1929
	29	Presbyterian Ministers' Fund, 1938-1947

		SERIES 9: MEDICAL EDUCATION/LITERATURE/MEDICAL CONFERENCES, 1925-1960

5	1	Post-graduate study for Doctors, 1941-1952
	2	Post-graduate study for Nurses, 1925-1951
	3	Nursing education--correspondence, 1934-1952
	4	Iran, 1939-1949
	5	Frontier Nursing Service (KY) midwifery, 1932-1952
	6-7	Medical literature, correspondence with field (requests), 1953-1960
	8	Madras Conference on Medical Work, papers, 1938 (incomplete)
	9	Outgoing missionary conference, planning correspondence, 1952
	10	Medical recruits meeting (Philadelphia), planning correspondence, 1952
	11-12	CMC Annual Conference on Medical Missions, 1953-1959

		SERIES 10: SANITARIA/MISSIONARY RETREAT, 1921-1961

5	13	Sanitaria (US), 1921-1949
	14	Rest/Convalescent homes (US), 1923-1945
	15	Mountain Rest (Lithia, MA), correspondence/background and financial papers, 1948-1953
	16	Mountain Rest, correspondence, background papers re: administration, 1953-1961
	17	Mountain Rest, Dodd-Alden Clark (International Medical Missionary Society), correspondence, 1949-58

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Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations Medical Department Records

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