William C. Moloney MD kept a personal journal, with photographs, for much of his two years in Japan with the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission. In January of 1986, Dr. Moloney donated his journal, correspondence and diary pages to the Harris County Medical Archive. He died in 1998 at the age of 91. His first contribution was a set of ten reprints representing his work with the ABCC from 1952 to 1954. Dr. Moloney's journal is a fine document, one which will be of great use to historians. It is an important record of personal impressions, thoughts and details of events. The journal gives new insights into the work of the ABCC and into the people who participated in that work. Dr. Moloney wrote in his journal from April 1952 to February 1954. The Korean War was on and there was a great deal of military activity in southern Japan. The collection is open for research. The collection consists of a handwritten journal, loose letters and reprints.
In this collection are letters, a journal and reprints. There are three letters written in May and July 1952. Two are typed and one handwritten. There are also loose pages from his diary starting on the Moloney family's departure from Boston in April 14, 1952 with the last entry dated December 11, 1952. There are references to their near disaster off Hilo on the way to Japan. The last item in this series is the jewel in the crown - Dr. Moloney's journal. The entries date from January 16, 1953 to February 27, 1954. Unfortunately there are gaps where he did not make entries. The numbered pages between 195 and 200 are missing. Dr. Moloney literally wrote from cover to cover in his journal. Glued or taped onto the journal pages are 165 black and white glossy photographs (there are 166 photographs in the journal) and a variety of other items (business cards, invitations, clippings, announcements, a golf score card, yen, postcards, driver's permits.) The typescript translation of an article from The Chugoku Press, 20 September 1953 originally placed between pages 101 and 102 has been removed and placed in envelopes. A folded map of Japan remains in the back of the journal.
The physical condition of the journal is mixed. The photographs are in good condition and the ink on the pages remains clear and crisp. The spine is broken and the pages are becoming detached. The tape and news clippings have yellowed and become brittle. The collection encompasses the years 1952-1954 and is 0.25 cubic feet (1 box).
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