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E. V. Cowdry Papers

E. V. Cowdry
E. V. Cowdry
E. V. Cowdry Papers
Volume: 93 linear feet
Inclusive dates: 1909-1975
Collection code: FC008
Organization of the Collection
Container List
PDF Versions:
Part 1 - Series 1 - 8
Part 2 - Series 9 - 23
Part 3 - Series 24 - 49
Part 4 - Series 50-74
All Series (371 pages, 1.3 MB)

Historical Note

The interests and achievements of Edmund Vincent Cowdry (1888-1975) combined several careers in one. He was born in Alberta province, Canada, and grew up in Ontario. He studied at the University of Toronto, receiving his BA in 1909. Continuing with graduate training in anatomy, he received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1913. He was on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University from 1913 to 1917. From 1917 to 1921, he was among the first professors at Peking Union Medical College, established by the Rockefeller Foundation in Beijing, China. From 1921 until 1928, EVC was an associate member of the Rockefeller Institute, the medical research center in Manhattan that is now known as Rockefeller University. Beginning with that period, he made several esearch trips to African countries. In South Africa, he was instrumental in isolating the organism (thereafter called Cowdria ruminantium) which causes heartwater in animals. In Tunisia, he investigated the etiology of malaria. In Kenya, his chief interest was yellow fever.

EVC joined Washington University School of Medicine in 1928 as head of the Cytology program and co-chair of the Department of Anatomy, and for that purpose moved to St. Louis. The city became his and his family’s home for the remainder of his life, although he continued his earlier pattern of extended leaves and foreign travel. He became a United State citizen in 1930. Later he became director of research at Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital (1939), then an independent hospital, but which he guided toward eventual integration with Washington University School of Medicine. In 1941 he became the formal head of the Department of Anatomy (1941). EVC’s chief laboratory research interests in those years came to focus on cancer. He was noted not only for work in the laboratory, but also for his advocacy of increased public support for programs to fight malignant diseases. He was also widely known for coordinating interdisciplinary work in gerontology and is considered today to be one of the founders of contemporary scientific approaches in that branch of applied medicine and social work. EVC stepped down as head of anatomy in 1950, accepting in its place the position of director of the Wernse Cancer Research Laboratory at the school. He was named professor emeritus and director emeritus of the Wernse laboratory in 1960. EVC remained active in research in the university and at Jewish Hospital of St. Louis until his death in 1975.

Provenance

EVC formally declared his wish “to donate my letters and unpublished documents to the Library” in a statement signed February 24, 1967. He sent the materials to the Library in segments in 1967 (67-003, 67-004, 67-006, 67-016, 67-022, 67-023), 1969 (69-005), and 1974 (74-042). After his death there were gifts in name of the estate and by the Cowdry family (1975, 75-031, 75-032, 75-039; 1976, 76-019; 1988, 88-041; 1990, 90-062). Together all their contents are identified in the individual series descriptions as “Cowdry accessions, 1967-1990.” In addition, there were two significant transfers of documents to the Library directly from the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (1979, 79-009; 1990, 91-007). No meaningful description of 79-009 was made at the time of accession other than to note it contained 9 ft. of correspondence, so in effect these files must now also be considered to be part of the Cowdry accessions. Accession 91-007 encompasses series 47 through 60, and resulted from the rediscovery in 1990 of 12 linear feet of EVC’s files that had been stored in a “crawl space” between the fourth and fifth floors of the North Building, amidst pipes, power lines, and environmental debris. Substantial portions of those file series (notably in series 60) were damaged beyond restoration. Further details about the various accessions may be found in the collection control file that is maintained by the Archivist.

Access and Use

The collection is open and accessible for research. Certain categories of documentation, however, may carry restrictions on access. For detailed information, contact the Archives and Rare Book Section (arb@wusm.wustl.edu). The Library holds copyright to the writings of E. V. Cowdry.

Scope and Content

The Cowdry papers consist of 74 document series of various lengths, most of which are on paper. The arrangement of the series reflect various phases, locales, and time periods of his long career. In terms of subjects, the collection concerns a variety of basic scientific and clinical areas, among them anatomy, cytology, gerontology, cancers, arteriosclerosis, leprosy, and yellow fever. There is an extensive array of important institutions that figure prominently in this collection: Peking Union Medical College, China Medical Board, Rockefeller Institute, American Society for the Aged, Carnegie Corporation, National Research Council, American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, International Cancer Research Council, International Union Against Cancer, American Association for Cancer Research, City of Hope Medical Center (Los Angeles), Tata Memorial Hospital (Bombay), International Association of Gerontology, International Gerontological Congresses, Gerontological Society, Bermuda Biological Station for Research, and the Institutum Divi Thomae Foundation. Of local interest there is material on Washington University School of Medicine administration, the Department of Anatomy and its Division of Cytology, Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital, and Jewish Hospital of St. Louis. Formats of documents comprising the collection include correspondence, departmental records, notebooks, scrapbooks, manuscripts, certificates, photographs, and press clippings. In addition, certain series represent EVC’s complete short publications – papers on scientific topics for the most part – which were bound together in volumes at his request. EVC’s many monographic works and collaborative volumes under single titles are cataloged and stored separately from the collection, but citations to these works may be found in Series 1.

Microfilm Edition

This edition is funded by the state of Missouri, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and supported by the Missouri State Archives, a division of the Office of Secretary of State.

Organization of the Collection (Series List)

Series 1: Autobiography. Box 1. Reel 1.

Series 2: General Correspondence, 1906-1928. Boxes 2-22. Reels 1-22.

Series 3: South African Correspondence, 1924-1925. Box 23. Reel 22.

Series 4: General Correspondence, 1928-1940. Boxes 24-38, Reels 22-35.

Series 5: Correspondence Concerning Leprosy Research, 1935-1965. Boxes 39-40, Reels 35-36

Series 6: Correspondence Concerning the Club for Research on Ageing, 1937-1950. Boxes 41-42, Reels 36-38.

Series 7: Correspondence Concerning Textbook of Histology, 1941-1950. Box 43, Reels 38-39.

Series 8: General Correspondence, 1941-1950. Boxes 44-54, Reels 39-47.

Series 9: General Correspondence, 1950-1960. Boxes 55-76, Reels 47-66.

Series 10: Correspondence and Financial Records Concerning the Fourth International Cancer Congress and International Cancer Research Commission, 1947-1951. Boxes 77-78, Reels 66-68.

Series 11: Correspondence with Foreign Cancer Research Colleagues, 1948-1960. Boxes 79-83, Reels 68-73.

Series 12: Correspondence with University and Medical Center Administrations, 1948-1960. Box 84, Reels 73-74.

Series 13: Correspondence with Scientific Colleagues Concerning Books, 1959-1971. Boxes 85-86, Reels 74-76.

Series 14: Correspondence with Publishers, 1950-1972. Boxes 87-88, Reels 76-77.

Series 15: Correspondence Concerning the International Association of Gerontology, 1951-1957. Boxes 89-93, Reels 78-82.

Series 16: Invitations to Professional Events, 1952-1958. Box 94, Reel 83.

Series 17: Correspondence Concerning Post as Cancer Advisor in India, 1951-1960. Boxes 95-96, Reel 84-85.

Series 18: General Correspondence, 1955-1961. Boxes 97-104, Reels 85-92.

Series 19: Correspondence Concerning International Gerontology Meetings, 1956-1959. Boxes 105-107, Reels 92-95.

Series 20: Correspondence Concerning the Veterans Administration Advisory Committee on Problems of Aging, 1955-1958. Box 108, Reel 95.

Series 21: Care of the Geriatric Patient, 1951-1959. Boxes 109-110, Reels 95-97.

Series 22: Care of the Geriatric Patient, 1958-1963. Boxes 111-112, Reels 97-99.

Series 23: Care of the Geriatric Patient, 1969-1972. Boxes 113-114, Reels 99-100.

Series 24: Correspondence Concerning the City of Hope, 1959-1961. Box 115, Reels 100-101.

Series 25: Correspondence and Booklets Concerning the White House Conference on Aging, 1960-1961. Boxes 116-117, Reels 101-102.

Series 26: General Correspondence, 1952-1961. Boxes 118-122, Reels 102-106.

Series 27: General Correspondence, 1960-1963. Boxes 123-126, Reels 106-111.

Series 28: General Correspondence, 1961-1970. Boxes 127-131, Reels 111-115.

Series 29: General Correspondence, 1964-1971. Boxes 132-138, Reels 115-121.

Series 30: Files Relating to “Tribute to Lord Nuffield,” 1971-1973. Box 139, Reels 121-122.

Series 31: Correspondence Concerning the Cancer Control Foundation, 1969. Box 139, Reel 122.

Series 32: General Correspondence, 1974. Box 140, Reel 122-123.

Series 33: General Correspondence, 1975. Box 141, Reel 123.

Series 34: Correspondence Concerning Aging Better and Care of the Geriatric Patient, 1971-1974. Box 141, Reel 123.

Series 35: Manuscript of Citizen Cells, an unpublished book, late 1930s. Box 142, Reels 123-124.

Series 36: Files Concerning the Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital, 1941-1952. Box 143, Reels 124.

Series 37: Grant Files, 1939-1953. Boxes 144-146, Reels 124-127.

Series 38: Personal Income Tax Records, 1921-1956. Boxes 147-148, Reels 127-128.

Series 39: Records of the Second International Gerontological Congress, 1951-1952. Box 149, Reel128.

Series 40: Veterans Administration Hospital Grants, 1950-1957. Boxes 150-151, Reels128-129.

Series 41: Washington University Senate Finance Committee Minutes, 1936-1939. Box 152, Reel 129.

Series 42: Overseas Travel Accounts from the 1930s. Box 153, Reels 129-130.

Series 43: Selected Texts on Scientific Themes from the 1930s and 1940s. Box 153, Reel 130.

Series 44: Personal Financial Files, 1930-1933. Box 153, Reel 130.

Series 45: General Correspondence, 1957-1969. Boxes 153-154, Reels 130-131.

Series 46: Miscellaneous Personal Items, 1938-1960. Box 155, Reel 131.

Series 47: General Correspondence, 1917-1918. Box 156, Reel 131.

Series 48: General Correspondence, 1924-1926. Boxes 157-158, Reels 131-133.

Series 49: General Correspondence, 1927-1929. Boxes 159-162, Reels 133-135.

Series 50: General Correspondence, 1930-1931. Boxes 163-164, Reels 135-137.

Series 51: General Correspondence, 1932-1934. Boxes 165-166, Reels 137-138.

Series 52: General Correspondence, 1934-1935. Box 167, Reels 138-139.

Series 53: General Correspondence, 1935-1936. Boxes 168-169, Reels 139-140.

Series 54: General Correspondence, 1936-1937. Boxes 170-171, Reels 140-141.

Series 55: General Correspondence, 1938-1940. Boxes 172-174, Reels 141-143.

Series 56: Course Files, 1931-1944, 1956. Boxes 175-176, Reels 143-144.

Series 57: Cytology Department Files, 1932-1933. Box 177, Reels 144-145.

Series 58: Correspondence Concerning Human Biology and Racial Welfare, 1926-1931. Box 178, Reels 145-146.

Series 59: Recommendation Letters, 1938-1950. Box 179, Reel 146.

Series 60: General Correspondence, 1943-1950. Box 180, Reels 146-147.

Series 61: Correspondence Concerning a Dinner honoring Cowdry, Detroit, 1954. Box 181, Reel 147.

Series 62: Activity and Address Book, 1947-1957. Box 182, Reel 147.

Series 63: Passports of Edmund Vincent Cowdry and Alice Hanford Cowdry, 1949-1957. Box 182, Reel 147.

Series 64: Correspondence Log, 1960-1974. Box 183, Reels 147-148.

Series 65: Cancer Research Laboratory Guest Book, 1948-1964. Box 183, Reel 148.

Series 66: Press Clippings from Scrapbooks on the Fourth International Cancer Congress, 1947, and the Second International Gerontological Congress, 1951. Box 184. Reel 148.

Series 67: Rockefeller Institute Monthly Expense Books, 1924, 1927, 1928. Box 185. Not microfilmed.

Series 68: East Coast Fever Experiment Log Books, 1930. Box 185. Not microfilmed.

Series 69: Films of Travel in East Africa, 1930. Box 186. Not microfilmed.

Series 70: Sound Recordings, 1951-1952. Box 187. Not microfilmed.

Series 71: Annotated Wall Calendars, 1959-1972. Box 188. Not microfilmed.

Series 72: Published Papers and Chapters of Books, 1911-1971. Volumes 1-4, Box 189. Not microfilmed.

Series 73: Published Papers, Contributions from the Peking Union Medical College, Department of Anatomy, 1918-1920. Volumes 1, 3, 5, Box 190. Not microfilmed.

Series 74: Published Papers, Cancer Research at Washington University, 1933-1950. Volumes 1-2, Box 190. Not microfilmed.

Container List

Series 1: Autobiography, 1930-1984

Narratives, most of which concern foreign travels, and an early version of EVC’s bibliography. Dated writings are from 1930, 1944, 1965, 1969-1972, and 1984.

Box 1

Reel 1

Back to Series List

Series 2: General Correspondence, 1906-1928

Files covering the period of EVC’s life from his undergraduate studies in Toronto to his acceptance of a professorship at Washington University. Boxes 2-22, reels 1-22. See also Series 3 (legal size correspondence from his year in South Africa, 1924-1925).

Box 2

Reel 1 (continued)

Reel 2

Box 3

Reel 3

Box 4

Box 5

Reel 4

Reel 5

Box 6

Reel 6

Reel 7

Box 7

Reel 8

Box 8

Reel 9

Box 9

Box 10

Reel 10

Box 11

Reel 11

Reel 12

Box 12

Box 13

Reel 13

Box 14

Reel 14

Box 15

Reel 15

Box 16

Reel 16

Reel 17

Box 17

Reel 18

Box 18

Reel 19

Box 19

Box 20

Reel 20

Reel 21

Box 21

Box 22

Reel 22

Back to Series List

Series 3: South African Correspondence, 1924-1925

Files compiled during the months when EVC was a researcher at Onderstepoort, near Pretoria, South Africa (using primarily a larger size of paper for his correspondence than is used in the US, and thus filed separately from Series 2). Box 23, reel 22.

Box 23

Reel 22 (continued)

Back to Series List

Series 4: General Correspondence, 1928-1940

Files from the period when EVC came to St. Louis to direct the Cytology Division of the Department of Anatomy at Washington University School of Medicine. Some files contain items dated as late as 1942. Boxes 24-38, Reels 22-35.

Box 24

Reel 22 (continued)

Reel 23

Box 25

Reel 24

Box 26

Reel 25

Box 27

Reel 26

Box 28

Box 29

Reel 27

Reel 28