Women Physicians

Identity elements

Reference code

MS 123

Level of description

Collection

Title

Women Physicians

Date(s)

  • 1855-1996 (Creation)

Extent

1.5 cubic feet (3 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

This collection includes newspaper clippings, medical license update cards, copies of journal articles and book chapters, and other material relating to women in medicine, and female doctors in Texas in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Subjects: Family practice, midwife.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

No restriction to access.

Physical access

The materials are in fair condition. There is some water damage, possibly from Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Inventory, undated.

Uploaded finding aid

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Deed-4

Immediate source of acquisition

Dina R. Mody, MD, 2008.

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: Women Physicians; MS 123; 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.

Alternative identifier(s)

TARO

00236

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Sources used

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Accession area