United States Strategic Bombing Survey: Atomic Bombs, Japan's Struggle to End the War

Identity elements

Reference code

MS 177

Level of description

Collection

Title

United States Strategic Bombing Survey: Atomic Bombs, Japan's Struggle to End the War

Date(s)

  • 1946 (Creation)

Extent

0.0625 cubic feet (0 boxes)
2 pamphlets

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 United States Strategic Bombing Survey consists of two pamphlets published in 1946 by the United States government’s Strategic Bombing Survey. There are two titles in the collection: “The Effects of the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki” published 30 June, 1946 and “Japan’s Struggle to End the War” published 1 July, 1946. Both publications are important to understanding some aspects of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission. Both pamphlets are fairly good shape although the acidic paper has lost flexibility.

Both pamphlets are fairly good shape although the acidic paper has lost flexibility will start to crumble in a few years. Care should be used when handling these documents. Conservation work or copying will be critical to preserve the material. The pamphlets are 8.5 inches wide by 10.25 inches long. The collection contains one folder in the Small Manuscript Collection (SMS) box.

Subjects: World War II, atomic bombs, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, strategic bombing, United States Strategic Bombing Survey

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

No access restrictions. Open for research.

Physical access

Materials are in good condition.

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Some copyright restrictions may apply.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Finding aids

None.

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Deed-4

Immediate source of acquisition

Lee Pecht donated this material to the McGovern Historical Center. Mr. Pecht is the director of the Woodson Research Center, the archive and special collections of Rice University’s Fondren Library.

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

Notes element

Specialized notes

  • Citation: United States Strategic Bombing Survey: Atomic Bombs, Japan's Struggle to End the War; MS 177; 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

00277

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Sources used

Archivist's note

Processed by Philip Montgomery, 2013.

Access points

Place access points

Genre access points

Accession area