Charles P. Wertenbaker Letterbooks 1889-1913

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Charles P. Wertenbaker Letterbooks, Accession 3619, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Charles P. Wertenbaker Letterbooks, Accession 3619, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

The six letterbooks of Dr. Charles P. Wertenbakerin this collection contain approximately nine hundred items of correspondence, 1889-1913, while Wertenbaker was Medical Officer in Command of the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service, based in Wilmington, North Carolinaand Norfolk, Virginia, and concern his efforts in combatting yellow fever, small pox, and tuberculosis, and in improving general sanitation practices in the South. Included in some of the letterbooks, primarily as loose papers, are clippings, reports, speeches, and articles.

Among the correspondents are Surgeon-General Walter Wyman; Truman A. Parker, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Anti-Tuberculosis Association; Livingston Farrand, Executive Secretary of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis; Ennion G. Williams, Virginia Commissioner of Health; Franklin A. Samsof the Marine Hospital Service; Charles A. Phippsof the University of Pennsylvania; James B. Dudleyof the North Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical College; William S. Doddand Hollis B. Frissellof Hampton Institute; Morgan E. Morrisof Lincoln University; N. B. Youngof the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College; and R. A. Hubbard, Vice-president of North Carolina Mutual and Provident Society.

Approximately 200 incoming letters, telegrams, address, etc., February 1889 to December 1901, largely concerning small pox. The items are pasted in a scrapbook, generally in reverse chronological order. Loose items from this volume are foldered separately.

Approximately 200 incoming letters, etc., March 1902 to November 1913, concerning Dr. Wertenbaker's career in the Public Health Serviceand largely consisting of orders from Surgeon-General Walter Wyman. The items are pasted in a scrapbook, generally in reverse chronological order. Loose items from this volume are foldered separately.

Fifteen incoming letters, July 1910 to November 1912, primarily concerning sanitation and tuberculosis among Negroes. Originally pasted in a scrapbook, these items have been arranged chronologically and placed in a folder.

Approximately 185 incoming letters, cards, telegrams, clippings, speeches, etc., January 1909 to May 1911, concerning tuberculosis. These items are pasted in a scrapbook, generally in reverse chronological order. Loose items from this volume are foldered separately.

Approximately 100 outgoing letters, April 1909 to October 1911, concerning small pox, tuberculosis and general sanitation. These are letterpress copies of typescript letters, in chronological order, and total 150 pages.

Approximately 300 outgoing letters, July 1908 to October 1913, primarily relating to Negro anti-tuberculosis leagues. These are letterpress copies of typescript letters, in chronological order, and total 463 pages.

Acquisition information:
The letterbooks were a gift of Mrs. John Flynn on November 10, 1950.
Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Physical location:
Physical description:
ca. 900 items