HIV/AIDS Houston collection

Identity elements

Reference code

IC 072

Level of description

Collection

Title

HIV/AIDS Houston collection

Date(s)

  • 1951-1995 (Creation)

Extent

3 cubic feet (6 boxes)

Name of creator

(1977-)

Administrative history

The McGovern Historical Center (MHC) is the historical and special collections department for The TMC Library. The MHC maintains rare book and archival collections. Artificial collections have been created to provide access to materials without clear provenance in order to increase discoverability.

The earliest acquisition records for the books in the MHC are found in the Houston Academy of Medicine’s (HAM) Library Committee reports for 1935 and 1936. Thirty Fellows of the Academy raised $300 to purchase a collection of 275 French medical books published between 1730 and 1830. In 1949, HAM and Baylor College of Medicine combined their medical libraries. In anticipation of the completion of the Jesse H. Jones Building for the library, the MD Anderson Foundation purchased the rheumatology collection of a New York physician, Dr. Reginald Burbank. This purchase was followed by a gift from the Cora and Webb Mading Foundation of more than 1,000 titles on sanitation and communicable diseases. After the 1954 dedication of the library building, many physicians donated books or historical pamphlets to be stored in a very small, locked room on the second floor. Soon after his arrival in Houston, Dr. McGovern became one of the Library’s most staunch supporters, annually supplying funds for the purchase of rare books and travel support for the librarians to attend meetings of the American Association for the History of Medicine. In 1977, The Library formed a new department with new quarters to collect historical materials and to enhance the rare book collections. In 1982, Dr. McGovern donated his personal collection of rare and historical books to the Library. In 1996 the Library’s Board of Directors named the historical department in his honor.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

The HIV/AIDS Houston collection consists of 6 boxes that contain newspaper clippings, reprinted articles, correspondence, speeches, guidelines, printed material, and newletters that document the early research of AIDS and the impact of AIDS in the Houston area. The collection has several issues of HIV Treatment and RITA! (Research Initiative, Treatment Action) ranging from 2001-2007. The collection encompasses 1951 – 1995 with earlier materials related to studies on the spread of diseases, such as encephalomyelitis in mice. The collection is in fair condition with some water damage.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted. Material is open for research.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Generated finding aid

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Deed-5

Immediate source of acquisition

Acquisition of this collection is unknown. It is assumed that the materials have been grouped into an artificial collection on AIDS/HIV in Houston. Future accruals will follow this assumption.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

There may be accruals in the futrue for this collection.

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

MS 208 The Joyce E. Yost, PhD papers; MS 138 AIDS Practice Manual; IC 004 Harris County Medical Society

Related descriptions

Notes element

Specialized notes

  • Citation: HIV/AIDS Houston collection; IC 072; John P. McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center, Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library. Please cite the box and folder numbers where appropriate.
  • Processing information: Original Order of the collection has been maintained. The folders are arranged as they were received. The folder headings are those already assigned.

Alternative identifier(s)

TARO

00035

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Sources used

Archivist's note

Processed by Traci Patterson, February 30, 2017.

Access points

Place access points

Genre access points

Accession area