Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Raymond D. Pruitt papers
Date(s)
- 1930-1993 (Creation)
Extent
6 cubic feet (12 boxes, 1 oversized box, 1 oversized portrait)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Dr. Raymond Donald Pruitt received the B.S. degree from Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas, in 1933; the B.A. degree in physiology in 1936 from Oxford University where he was a Rhodes Scholar; the M.D. degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1939; the M.S. degree in medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1944; and the M.A. degree from Oxford University in 1963. An internationally renowned cardiologist, Dr. Pruitt was Director of the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Minnesota from 1968 to 1975; Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine from 1959-1968; Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief Executive Officer at Baylor from 1966 to 1968; Director, Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, University of Minnesota from 1968-1975; Director for Education, Mayo Foundation, from 1968 to1977; and Founding Dean of the Mayo Medical School from 1971 to 1977. He retired in July 1992 as Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, College of Medicine, and Consultant in Cardiology at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Hospital.
During his career, Dr. Pruitt was president of the Association of University Cardiologists, secretary of the American Board for Cardiovascular Disease, president of the American Osler Society, and a member of the National Research Resources Advisory council, the National Advisory Heart Council, the President’s Committee on Heart Disease, Alpha Omega Alpha, and the editorial boards of American Heart Journal (1960-1968) and Circulation (1962-1967 and 1969-1973.) From 1969 to 1970, he was chairman, Section of Internal Medicine, of the American Medical Association, and from 1968 to 1973 he was a member of Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committees.
He earned an honorary D.Sc. degree from Baker University in 1956, the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Minnesota in 1964, the Distinguished Medical Alumnus Award from the University of Kansas in 1967, the Distinguished Service Award from that same university in 1971, an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1980, and a trustee medallion from Baylor College of Medicine in 1988.
Dr. Pruitt was born February 6, 1912 in Wheaton, Minnesota and died January 14, 1993. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian, and was survived by his children, Virginia, Kristin, David, Charles, and grandchildren.
Adapted from Houston Medicine, June 1993, Volume 9, page 29.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The bulk of the Raymond D. Pruitt Papers consists of original manuscripts and/or copies of his professional and personal writings. A bibliography compiled from his curriculum vitae, documents in the papers and a PubMed search is provided. The major portion of his published and non-published documents cited in the bibliography are in this collection. Also included are photographs used in some of the printed articles and correspondence about some of his writings.
Personal material includes original correspondence and photographic negatives from his year at Oxford University. Copies of some of Dr. Pruitt's medical records are in the collection. A reflex hammer and stethoscope labeled with his name. Some personal remembrances of his youth, college and university life are included in letters and printed material.
Studio photographic portraits of various sizes are included in the collection. Diplomas, awards and commendations are also included. There are several folders which contain information about his tenure as an officer and as President of the American Osler Society.
There is information about the establishment of the Mayo Medical School and its beginning years. Included in the letters is correspondence about his decision to leave Baylor College of Medicine to undertake that endeavor. Copies of many publications which covered the origin of the School are included.
System of arrangement
Arrangement Series I-Personal History / Curriculum Vitae-Page 6 Series II-Correspondence Series III-Writings (published and unpublished), Speeches, Presentations Series IV-Mayo Medical School Series V-Photographs Series VI-Certificates, Realia, and Oversize
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Some documents may have restricted use. Please contact the Archivist for further information.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Deed-3
Immediate source of acquisition
These papers were a gift from Dr. Pruitt’s family, with delivery arranged by David Pruitt, M.D., in September 2004. Additional material was received in August, 2009 from Virginia Pruitt, Ph.D
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
No accruals are expected for this collection.
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
- Citation: Raymond D. Pruitt papers; MS 113; 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: The collection was reviewed for duplicate materials and to develop the order. Duplicate reprints were discarded. Paperclips and most other binding material were removed. When necessary, materials were interleaved with archival bond or put into L-velopes. Some articles and reports on acidic paper were copied onto archival bond and then discarded. Legal documents folded and housed in letter-sized folders were unfolded and the letter-sized folders replaced with legal-sized folders. Oversize materials were relocated to the oversize sections. new locations are noted in the detailed description below.
Alternative identifier(s)
TARO
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Archivist's note
Finding aid encoded by M.J. Figard November 30, 2005.
Archivist's note
Revised September 8, 2009.
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Baylor College of Medicine (Subject)
- Mayo Medical School (Subject)
- American Osler Society (Subject)
- Pruitt, Raymond D. (Subject)