Mason C. Andrews Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Old Dominion University
3023 Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library
Old Dominion University
4427 Hampton Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23529
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jessica Ritchie
Phone: (757) 683-4483
Fax: (757) 683-5954
Restrictions:

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Mason C. Andrews Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
61.3 Linear Feet and 95 Hollinger document cases, 16 oversized boxes, 2 artifact boxes, and one audiovisual box boxes
Creator:
Andrews, Mason Cooke (1919-2006)
Abstract:
Physician, former city council member and mayor of Norfolk. Served on Norfolk city council from 1974 to 2000 and as the city's mayor from 1992-1994. Was instrumental in the development of the Eastern Virginia Medical School complex and the redevelopment of downtown Norfolk. The collection includes personal, business, and political papers.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Mason C. Andrews Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes correspondence, photographs, medical articles, newspaper clippings, architectural drawings, reports, and other material maintained by Mason C. Andrews, an OB/GYN doctor and Norfolk City Council member. The bulk of the material relates to the development of the Norfolk Medical Center and the Eastern Virginia Medical School, as well as Andrews' tenure on the Norfolk City Council from 1974 to 1997.

Biographical / historical:

Mason C. Andrews was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1919. He graduated from Maury High School, and later received his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Princeton and his M.D. from John's Hopkins University. He specialized in obstetrics and gynecology and completed his residency training at Johns Hopkins as well. Andrews then began a successful OB/GYN private practice in Norfolk in 1950. Additionally, Dr. Andrews taught Obstetrics and Gynecology at Johns Hopkins University and later at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Andrews' community service began during the 1950's with service on the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and the Health Welfare and Recreation Planning Council. While serving as president of the Norfolk County Medical Society, Andrews appointed a bipartisan committee to study the need for a medical school in the area. The study was able to convince the Virginia General Assembly of the need for a new medical school. In 1964 the Eastern Virginia Medical Center authority was formed with the charge of developing the new medical school. Andrews served as the chairman of the authority from 1964-1970. Under his leadership a medical center complex was built in an area that has once been slums. The medical complex now consists of Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), Norfolk General Hospital, Medical Tower, Public Health Department, Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters and Tidewater Rehabilitation Institute. In addition, as chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at EVMS Andrews was instrumental in bringing the team of Drs. Howard and Georgeanna Jones to Norfolk. The Drs. Jones specialized in treating infertility problems. In 1981 they brought notoriety to Norfolk with the role they played in the first successful birth, in the United States, of a baby conceived by in-vitro fertilization. With the success of the in-vitro fertilization program the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine was founded in 1983.

Andrews also served on the Norfolk City Council from 1974 to 2000 and as the city's mayor from 1992 to 1994. During his tenure on the council he was instrumental in the redevelopment of the downtown waterfront. Andrews introduced the developer of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, James Rouse, to Norfolk. Rouse designed the Waterside Festival Marketplace for the Norfolk waterfront. Other downtown projects promoted by Andrews included Nauticus, the Norfolk campus of Tidewater Community College, and the MacArthur Center Mall. Mason Andrews declined to run for re-election to city council in 2000.

Andrews passed away on October 13, 2006.

Note written by Janice Halecki

Acquisition information:

Dr. Mason C. Andrews

Gift. Accession #A98-10

Arrangement:

This collection is broken down into groups based on when they were given to Special Collections and University Archives: Record Group 1: First Accession; and Record Group 2: Second Accession. Each record group is further organized into series within each record group.

Accruals:

Second accession was donated in November 2011

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard