Guide to the Thomas Parran Papers, 1892-1968 UA.90.F14

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Thomas Parran Papers
Creator
Parran, Thomas
Collection Number
UA.90.F14
Extent
75.94 Linear Feet (139 boxes)
Date
1916-1962
Abstract
The papers of Thomas Parran consist primarily of material related to his tenure as Surgeon General of the United States, as one of the founders of the World Health Organization, and the first dean of the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health. Dr. Parran served as Surgeon General from 1936-1948. During his career, Dr. Parran worked to eradicate such diseases as tuberculosis, veneral disease, diphtheria, malaria, hookworm and maternal and infant mortality.
Language
English .
Author
Archives Service Center Staff. This guide to the collection was originally prepared by: David Pearlman. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in November 2001.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Scope and Content Notes

The University Archives accessioned and processed the papers of Dr. Thomas Parran in 1982-1983. The significance of these papers lies in the depth, scope and time frame of the material. The collection spans the years 1916-1962, beginning with Dr. Parran career as a field investigator for the U.S. Public Health Service through his retirement in 1958 as Dean of the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health. The material from 1958-1962 concern various organizations with which Dr. Parran was involved.

In 1930 Dr. Parran met with the Governor of New York , Franklin D. Roosevelt. His association with Roosevelt lead to his career with the Public Health Service and his appointment as Surgeon General of the United States in 1936.

During World War II, Parran's career took on an international perspective as he became involved in world health concerns with the United Nations. He traveled to many parts of the world including the Soviet Union, China, Latin America and eventually to Japan where he studied the effects of radiation caused by the atomic bomb.

In 1948, the Board of Trustees of the University of Pittsburgh successfully recruited Dr. Parran to become Dean of the newly formed Graduate School of Public Health. He served as Dean until 1958.

The papers include some information gathered by Dr. Parran for his numerous publications on venereal disease and public health as well has background material for his highly acclaimed book on venereal disease, Shadow on the Land.

Access Restrictions

Some folders in Series X and XI are marked as Confidential and require access permission from the University Archivist.

Acquisition Information

Transferred to the Archives from Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh in 1981.

Previous Citation

Thomas Parran Papers, 1916-1962, UA.90.F14, University Archives, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Thomas Parran Papers, 1916-1962, UA.90.F14, University Archives, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Archives Service Center Staff in 1982-1983.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Eric Skinner in November 2001. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1423705

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • United Nations -- Economic assistance

    Personal Names

    • Davis, Michael Marks -- Correspondence
    • De Kruif, Paul -- Correspondence
    • Moore, Joseph Earle -- Correspondence
    • Parran, Thomas

    Geographic Names

    • New York (State) -- Medical care

    Occupations

    • Medicine -- New York (State) -- Societies, etc.

    Other Subjects

    • International agencies
    • United Nations associations
    • University of Pittsburgh
    • International cooperation -- Societies, etc.
    • Faculty papers
    • Health and medicine
    • Research institutes -- Illinois -- Chicago
    • Public health administration -- United States
    • Public health -- Study and teaching -- Pennsylvania
    • Universities and colleges -- Pennsylvania
    • Public health -- International cooperation
    • Public health -- United States
    • Preventive health services
    • Medicine -- New York (State)
    • Science -- Societies, etc.
    • Medicine -- Societies, etc.
    • Radio in health education -- United States
    • Population
    • International organization
    • World health -- Societies, etc.
    • Public health -- Societies, etc.
    • Cancer -- United States
    • Cancer -- Research -- Societies, etc.
    • Charities -- United States
    • Vitamins -- Societies, etc
    • Trade and professional associations -- United States
    • Nutrition -- Societies, etc.
    • Research institutes -- Illinois
    • Universities and colleges -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

Container List