Minority Health

Antonia Novello, born in Puerto Rico in 1944, was the first woman to serve as United States Surgeon General. Speeches, presentations, subject files, electronic born digital files, professional conference and meeting materials, awards, and personal biographical materials document Dr. Novello's professional public health and public service career. The largest portion of the collection relates to Novello's tenure as New York State Commissioner of Health.

Emery A. Johnson (1929-2005), American physician, administrator, and health advocate, devoted his career to improving the health needs of the country's Native American and Alaska Native populations. He was the fourth director of the Indian Health Service (I.H.S.), an Assistant Surgeon General of the United States, and a life-long supporter of allowing American Indians to take control of their own health care management.

Speeches, remarks, statements, talking points delivered by Dr. Elders primarily while U.S. Surgeon-General.

Health related material selected out of the larger Lister Hill collection, University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The bulk of the material (76 reels) pertains to Hill's last 22 years in the Senate (1946-68). Topics include the Hill-Burton Act, Medicare, and assistance to hospitals serving minorities, the poor, and other underserved populations.

Collection primarily consists of the daily record of Dr. Sullivan's term as Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1989-1993. His pre- and post-HHS career as a hematology research scientist and medical educator, health policy expert, advocate for improving health equity and disparities for Black and underserved populations, and increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the health professions are also documented to a smaller degree.