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National Library of Medicine: records relating to the construction of a new medical library

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 47

Abstract

Documents, correspondence, and clippings relating to efforts made by library officials to secure approval and funding for a new library building, 1874-1955, and to legislation creating the National Library of Medicine and the process involved in selecting a building site, 1956-1959.

Dates

  • Creation: 1882-1959

Extent

0.63 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Creator

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Language of Materials

Collection materials primarily in English

Restrictions

Collection is not restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access.

Copyright and Re-use Information

Donor's copyrights were transferred to the public domain. Archival collections often contain mixed copyrights; while NLM is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. It is the user's responsibility to research and understand any applicable copyright and re-publication rights not allowed by fair use. NLM does not grant permissions to publish.

Privacy Information

Archives and manuscript collections may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in any collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications for which the National Library of Medicine assumes no responsibility.

Historical Note

In the 1870s the Surgeon General's library occupied space in Ford's theater in Washington, D.C. Beginning in 1872 library officials began seeking legislative funding and approval for a proper building. Concerted efforts during the 1880s won approval for a new building at 7th and Independence, which was occupied in 1887. In the 1910s, having outgrown this facility, the library began requesting another new building. These attempts failed until 1938, when a new Armed Forces Medical Library building was finally approved by Congress. Over the next several years, however, funding failed to be appropriated and no action was taken. In 1956 legislation incorporated the Armed Forces Medical Library under the Public Health Service into the newly- created National Library of Medicine. Construction for a new building began in 1959 on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD.

Collection Summary

Contains documents, correspondence, and clippings. Material pertains chiefly to the National Library of Medicine Act, 1956. Correspondents include Michael E. DeBakey, Alan Gregg, Paul R. Hawley, Senator Lister Hill, Stockton Kimball, Theodore G. Klumpp, Keyes Metcalf, William G. Reidy, Henry R. Viets, Huntington Williams, and Kenneth Williamson. Includes letter of transmittal from William G. Reidy (1959). Hill was chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare; Reidy was a Staff member on the Committee.

Abstract

Documents, correspondence, and clippings relating to efforts made by library officials to secure approval and funding for a new library building, 1874-1955, and to legislation creating the National Library of Medicine and the process involved in selecting a building site, 1956-1959.

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Provenance

Unknown.

General

Processed by
HMD Staff
Processing Completed
2004
Encoded by
Jim Labosier
Title
Finding Aid to the National Library of Medicine: records relating to the construction of a new medical library 1882-1959
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
HMD Staff
Date
2004
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English
Edition statement
1.0

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Archives and Modern Manuscripts Collections Collecting Area

Contact:
8600 Rockville Pike
Bldg 38/1E-21, MSC 3819
Bethesda MD 20894 US
1-888-FINDNLM (1-888-346-3656)