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E. V. Cowdry Papers
Series 26 – 45

Series List

Series 26: General Correspondence, 1952-1961

From 1960, when he retired, until his death in 1975 EVC continued to compile general correspondence file series. Series 26 also includes materials dated several years earlier than 1960-1961. Boxes 118-122, Reels 102-106.

Box 118

Reel 102 (continued)

Reel 103

Box 119

Reel 104

Box 120

Reel 105

Box 121

Box 122

Reel 106

Series List

Series 27: General Correspondence, 1960-1963

Series 27 is notable for the prominent reemergence of items documenting EVC’s ties to China, albeit the pre-Communist China in exile or associated with the Nationalist government on Taiwan. Boxes 123-126, Reels 106-111.

Box 123

Reel 106 (continued)

Reel 107

Box 124

Reel 108

Box 125

Reel 109

Box 126

Reel 110

Reel 111

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Series 28: General Correspondence, 1961-1970

Series 28 documents EVC’s continued and remarkably vigorous efforts to maintain contacts with scientists in his fields of interest around the world. In those years he traveled extensively, including visits to Japan, Russia, Portugal, and Taiwan. Boxes 127-131, Reels 111-115.

Box 127

Reel 111 (continued)

Reel 112

Box 128

Box 129

Reel 113

Box 130

Reel 114

Box 131

Reel 115

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Series 29: General Correspondence, 1964-1971

This last lengthy general correspondence series touches upon nearly all the major themes of EVC’s career, from cytology and East Asia to gerontology and life in retirement. Boxes 132-138, Reels 115-121.

Box 132

Reel 115 (continued)

Reel 116

Box 133

Reel 117

Box 134

Box 135

Reel 118

Box 136

Reel 119

Box 137

Reel 120

Box 138

Reel 121

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Series 30: Files Relating to “Tribute to Lord Nuffield,” 1971-1973

Viscount Nuffield, born William Richard Morris (1877-1963), was a leading British automobile manufacturer best known for the mass-produced brands Morris, MG, and (after merger with a rival firm) Austin. He was a generous philanthropist, particularly toward medical and educational causes. EVC met him in connection with his support for the International Conference of Gerontological Societies in 1950. EVC wrote and attempted to publish this tribute in a gerontological journal, but the piece apparently never saw print. Box 139.

Box 139

Reel 121 (continued)

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Series 31: Correspondence Concerning the Cancer Control Foundation, 1969

In early 1969 EVC was approached by the Cancer Control Foundation of North Hollywood, California and the related Cancer Control Center, said to be developing a self-administered cancer test for women. EVC was initially interested in these enterprises, and particularly about the prospect of becoming a paid consultant. Later, after checking with trusted colleagues, who informed him that Cancer Control’s claims were dubious, he broke off negotiations and returned money that he had already received. Box 139.

Box 139

Reel 121 (continued)

Reel 122

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Series 32: General Correspondence, 1974.

The year in which these files were compiled witnessed a marked deterioration in EVC’s health and the death of his wife, Alice. Much of the correspondence and other documents relate to his feeling compelled to acknowledge the end of career activities and relationships. Box 140.

Box 140

Reel 122 (continued)

Reel 123

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Series 33: General Correspondence, 1975

EVC was unable to return to active professional life following a severe injury in late 1974. Files in this series were compiled largely without his supervision by Dorothy R. Long (“DRL”), his secretary. EVC died June 25, 1975. Box 141.

Box 141

Reel 123

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Series 34: Correspondence Concerning Aging Better and Care of the Geriatric Patient, 1971-1974

Aging better (1972) is EVC’s last major publication. It is basically a textbook of scientific information compiled for the benefit of various kinds of health professionals who care for senior citizens. But the work also contains reflections on cultural and philosophical aspects of aging and death that carry with them that bear the stamp of EVC’s own beliefs. As for Care of the geriatric patient, the files here continue what was left off in Series 23. Box 141.

Box 141

Reel 123 (continued)

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Series 35: Manuscript of Citizen Cells, an Unpublished Book, Late 1930s

Judging from the reference notes found at the end of this manuscript, late in the 1930s, or so it seems, EVC wrote a book-length manuscript for a lay public comparing human cells and their functions to individuals in human society. His choice for a title was “Citizen cells: how cells manage their social problems.” The work was inevitably a statement of this particular scientist’s perspective on how economic, political, and other cultural institutions function in the “body politic” of a technologically-developed nation. A file containing what is likely to be an early outline draft of the work is found in Series 43. Box 142.

Box 142

Reel 123 (continued)

Reel 124

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Series 36: Files Concerning Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital, 1941-1952

Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital was an independent specialty clinic founded in 1905 and supported by local philanthropy. Cancer research was a relatively minor function until 1939, when EVC was appointed research director, an event coinciding with his own primary career interest. EVC succeeded in acquiring federal grants for Barnard, which led to differences with the hospital management over how the income should be used. EVC resigned as research director in 1948, but not before settings events in motion leading to the moving of the hospital and merger with Washington University. A legal challenge delayed this process, but by 1952 the authorization to relocate Barnard adjacent to Barnes Hospital had been secured. Box 143.

Box 143

Reel 124 (continued)

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Series 37: Grant Files, 1939-1953

EVC came to Washington University already experienced in support from private philanthropy for science research and continued in seeking such funding sources throughout his career. In addition, he was the first to win federal grant dollars from the National Cancer Institute for local programs. Boxes 144-146.

Box 144

Reel 124 (continued)

Reel 125

Box 145

Reel 126