This collection consists of Dorothy Otto's personal and professional papers related to her long career on the faculty of the Cizik School of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston.

The bulk of the collection dates from the founding of the UT School of Nursing in 1972. Dr. Otto's papers include her office files, records of her professional involvement, and some materials reflecting her personal interests. In addition to paper records, there are also a small number of VHS tapes, floppy disks, optical media, and flash drives, as well as artifacts and four large foam presentation boards. The materials labeled "Personal" contain historical nursing stamps she collected, thank you cards and other correspondence, artifacts, and historical nursing quotes Otto made into bookmarks.

Much of the collection documents Otto’s work at the Cizik School of Nursing, as well as the history of the School itself. There are faculty meeting minutes, handbooks, and other records from the School’s early development in the 1970s. Later records include programs and presentation materials relating to Nursing School anniversaries, where Otto often spoke about history of the School.

There is also substantial coverage of Otto’s professional and personal endeavors in nursing beyond Houston. Multiple boxes document her role as Academic Leader for Nursing International Journeys educational trips. Her work on various nursing education committees and in other leadership roles is reflected in printed email correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes.

Otto’s interest in the history of nursing is apparent throughout the collection. There are photocopies of articles and other sources she shared with colleagues or used in preparation for her lectures and speeches. There are also artifacts such as historical nursing stamps and brochures she collected on her travels to places like London’s Florence Nightingale Museum.

There are also copies of Dr. Otto’s master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation.

The Vernie A. Stembridge, MD papers contains professional papers, military records, reprints, administrative records, correspondence, awards, photographs, realia, oversized materials, personal papers, artifacts, yearbooks, textbooks, monographs, printed materials, memorabilia, ceritifactes, artwork, and audiovisual materials. The collection documents the life and career of Dr. Vernie Stembridge who was a leader in the field of pathology. The collection chronicles his medical education and training at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, Oak Ridge, Tennessee as well as his leadership positions and consulting work at Parkland Memorial Hospital of Dallas, Southwestern Medical School, Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School, the Dallas Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor University Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Notable personal materials within the collection include Dr. Stembridge’s projector, plague, gavel, and Tiffany sterling silver bowl. The collection equals of 28 cubic feet and contains 26 boxes, including 3 oversized boxes. The materials date from 1945 to 2000. The materials are in good condition.