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National Library of Medicine. Office of the Director. Deputy Director Correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 205

Abstract

Primarily correspondence files of AML/NLM Deputy Director Scott Adams. Topics include AML transfer, MEDLARS origins, science and technology literature and informatics, NLM Extramural Programs creation.

Dates

  • Creation: 1936-1969

Extent

2.31 Linear Feet (6 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.

Collection Summary

Primarily correspondence emanating from, and received by, NLM's Deputy Director's Office during the tenure of Scott Adams during an important transitional period in NLM's history as it evolved from being the Army Medical Library. Topics in the first series of subject files include debates about federal scientific and medical information policy and NLM's role in indexing, computer systems, and information dissemination. Correspondence from various interest groups share their opinions about ongoing policy development, the growing information boom, and NLM's important role as a content provider, literature indexer, and information clearinghouse. Another major topic is NLM's recently established extramural grants program and its anticipated impact on medical publishing and informatics research. Related to both these topics are the folders titled "MEDLARS," which describe the earliest conceptualizations for a medical information indexing and retrieval system, "Publications Support" and "Research and development" and "National Research Council reports", all of which contain various correspondence, reports and analysis data. Of special note is the relationship between NLM and the National Research Council's Committee on the Army Medical Library ("Reports" folder), Charles Bernier's technical analysis of the original MEDLARS system, and the PHS Advisory Committee on Scientific Publications ("PHS Advisory Committee" folder).

Much of these debates also involved the physical and administrative transfer of the AML. The "Army Medical Library" and "AML transfer" folders document the significant debates over the transfer of the AML out of the Department of Defense. The AML administration did not favor a reorganization and created the Association of Honorary Consultants to the Army Medical Library as a lobbying group to keep the AML within the Army. Chauncey Leake headed the group and important thoughts on the topic are contributed by Michael DeBakey, Joseph McNinch and Harold W. Jones. A transfer to the Public Health Sevice was strongly opposed, with one alternative being incoprporation under the Smithsonian Institute. Other topics here important to NLM's evolution are debates over choosing Frank Rogers as Director, the proposed site move to Capital Hill, and the formation of NLM's Board of Trustees.

Within the earlier dated AML folders are internal library division annual reports, division chief meeting minutes, and general reference correspondence. The History of Medicine Division is also most widely documented in these early years with correspondence from Thomas Keys, Officer in Charge, Cleveland Branch, and Max Fisch, HMD Division Chief. The AML/NLM folders dated later primarily consist of Dorothy Schullian correspondence related to her writing a history of the Army Medical Library and John Shaw Billings, as well as HMD collection development correspondence.

Abstract

Primarily correspondence files of AML/NLM Deputy Director Scott Adams. Topics include AML transfer, MEDLARS origins, science and technology literature and informatics, NLM Extramural Programs creation.

Physical Location

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

Provenance

Internal transfer.

General

Processed by
HMD Staff; Jim Labosier
Re-Processing Completed
July 2005
Encoded by
Jim Labosier
Title
National Library of Medicine (U.S.). Office of the Director. Deputy Director Correspondence, 1936-1969
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
HMD Staff; Jim Labosier
Date
July 2005
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:
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Bldg 38/1E-21, MSC 3819
Bethesda MD 20894 US
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