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Documents on the origin and development of the Tuskegee syphilis study

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 264

Abstract

Copies of articles, reports and correspondence compiled for the ad hoc advisory panel commissioned to investigate the PHS's Tuskegee syphilis study in 1973.

Dates

  • 1921-1973

Extent

2.1 Linear Feet (5 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

NLM does not possess copyright to the collection. 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.

Material from the Fisk University Archives may only be reproduced with the written permission of their librarian. The dissertation by Mrs. Myrtle Winters and the manuscript by Dr. Leonard J. Goldwater may only be reproduced with their permission. It is thought that the other material in the collection may be freely used.

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

Beginning in 1932, the Public Health Service began a study of the effects of untreated syphilis on black men in Macon County, Alabama. On August 24, 1972 Merlin K. DuVal, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health and Scientific Affairs in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, announced the appointment of an ad hoc panel headed by Broadus N. Butler, president of Dillard University, to investigate the study. The panel was empowered to explore whether the study was justified, whether it should be continued, and if existing H.E.W. regulations properly protected the rights of patients. The final report of the panel was delivered on April 28, 1973.

Collection Summary

During the course of its investigation, the panel collected a broad variety of historical documents and other papers. In 1973 a copy of the working papers of the panel was deposited in the National Library of Medicine by Dr. R. C. Backus, the Executive Secretary of the Tuskegee Syphilis Ad Hoc Advisory panel. These working papers constitute the collection known as "Documents on origin and development of the Tuskegee syphilis study".

The collection consist of photocopies of twelve volumes. The material was organized by the panel into ten general groupings identified in the general index to the papers. An item-level index to the material was also prepared. In the upper right hand corner of each page of the index is found a roman numeral control number, indicating the major grouping in which the material belongs, and the box number in which the material is found. Each entry in the finding aid is preceded by this index number.

Abstract

Copies of articles, reports and correspondence compiled for the ad hoc advisory panel commissioned to investigate the PHS's Tuskegee syphilis study in 1973.

Physical Location

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

Provenance

Gift of Dr. R.C. Backus, the Executive Secretary of the Tuskegee Syphilis Ad Hoc Advisory Panel, 1973.

General

Processed by
Peter B. Hirtle; Jim Labosier
Re-Processing Completed
2004
Encoded by
Jim Labosier
Title
Finding Aid to the Documents on the origin and development of the Tuskegee syphilis study, 1921-1973
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
Archives and Modern Manuscripts Program, History of Medicine Division
Date
2000
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 Collection Collecting Area

Contact:
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