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J. Roberts Willson papers

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Held at: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia [Contact Us]19 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

J. Robert Willson, M. D. was born in Flint, Michigan on the first of October 1912. He attended Flint Junior College and the University of Michigan for undergraduate work, and graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1937. Dr. Willson spent four years as an intern and resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Hospital, completing residency in 1941. One year later, he was awarded a Master of Science degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology from U of M, where he also served as an Instructor in the field.

From 1942 to 1946, Dr. Willson was an Instructor and then Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago. He became a Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Temple University School of Medicine in 1947, a position, which he held until 1963.

The Bates Professor of Diseases of Women and Children

Dr. Willson returned to Ann Arbor in 1964 to become the Bates Professor of Diseases of Women and Children, and Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School, a position he held for 14 years. Dr, Willson retired as Chair in 1978 but continued as Bates Professor of Diseases of Women and Children and as Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Michigan until 1983.

From 1983 to the present time, Dr. Willson has been the Bates Professor Emeritus of Diseases of Women and Children, Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the U of M Medical School, in addition to being an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

The Outstanding Career of a Leader

Dr. Willson has had an outstanding career. He has been a member of all distinguished societies within his discipline: Director of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1964 to 1970; President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for 1970-71; President of the American Gynecological Society from 1979 to 1981; a member of the Council of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society at its formation from 1981 to 1984.

He served as President of the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics in 1965-66, and Chairman of the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1967 to 1970. Dr. Willson was a member of the Part II Test Committee of the National Board of Medical Examiners from 1963 to 1965. He was also a Council Member of the Society for Gynecological Investigation from 1954 to 1956. He is indeed a leader in the discipline.

For This and For All His Past Contributions

Dr. Willson developed a strong and outstanding Department while at the University of Michigan, as well as placing distinguished faculty members from his staff at Michigan in medical schools throughout the country. With more than 80 publications, he has been an active contributor to scholarly literature. His textbook "Obstetrics and Gynecology," co-authored with Elsie Carrington, M.D., is now in its eighth edition having first been published in 1958. Dr. Willson has continued to be an active teacher and innovator, one of the leading figures in de· signing resident education for the future. For this and for all his past contributions, he was honored by being selected the Abram Sager Lecturer in 1987 at the University of Michigan.

Taken from: "James Robert Willson." Faculty History Project. Millenium Project, University of Michigan, 2011. Web. 27 May 2015. http://www.lib.umich.edu/faculty-history/faculty/james-robert-willson/bio

This collection has not been processed. However, the contents of the six boxes seem to be somewhat arranged in a comprehensive manner. The collection includes operation files; correspondence; reprints; speeches and other writings; photgraphs; and awards, certificates, and licenses.

The J. Robert Willson papers were donated to the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by Willson's wife in June and July of 1994.

Publisher
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Collection Inventory

1. 1948, 1948.
Box 1 Folder 1
2. 1949, 1949.
Box 1 Folder 2
3. 1950, 1950.
Box 1 Folder 3
4. 1951, 1951.
Box 1 Folder 4
5. 1952, 1952.
Box 1 Folder 5
6. 1953, 1953.
Box 1 Folder 6
7. 1954, 1954.
Box 1 Folder 7
8. 1955, 1955.
Box 1 Folder 8
9. 1960, 1960.
Box 1 Folder 9
10. 1961, 1961.
Box 1 Folder 10

1. Germany, 1950-1955; 1981.
Box 1 Folder 11
2. Bob's German trip, June-July, includes family letters and diary, 1950.
Box 1 Folder 12
3. Dr. Victor Hansen, 1962-1963.
Box 1 Folder 13
4. Elsie Seyffert, 1966-1979.
Box 1 Folder 14
5. Willson Society, 1970-1993.
Box 1 Folder 15
6. Some correspondence while in New Mexico, 1986-1993.
Box 1 Folder 16
7. Miscellaneous professional correspondence, 1939-1985.
Box 1 Folder 17

1. J. Robert Willson reprints, 1936-1991.
Box 1 Folder 18-19
2. Reprints by other individuals, 1960-1992.
Box 1 Folder 20
3. Newsclippings, 1950-1989.
Box 1 Folder 21
4. Hartman, Carl G. Studies in the reproduction of the monkey, undated.
Box 1 Volume 22
5. Ramsey, Elizabeth Mapelsden. The vascular pattern of the endometrium of the pregnant rhesus monkey ., 1949.
Box 1 Volume 23
6. Temple University, 1959-1963.
Box 1 Folder 24
7.Chicago Lying In Hospital, 1945-1970.

1. Speeches and articles, 1951-1991.
Box 1 Folder 25
2. Willson, J. Robert, The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology the University of Michigan Medical School, 1992.
Box 1 Volume 26
Series 5. PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS, 1944-1990.
Box 1 Folder 27
Series 6. MISCELLANEOUS, 1950-1977.
Box 1 Folder 28

1. Elsie R. Carrington, 1968-1982.
Box 2 Folder 1
2. American Gynecological Society, 1949-1979.
Box 2 Folder 2
3. American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Minutes, 1980 Sept. 2-3.
Box 2 Folder 3
4. American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society / American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 1968-1982.
Box 2 Folder 4
5. Clayton T. Beecham, 1969-1977.
Box 2 Folder 5
6. C. V. Mosby Company, 1953-1983.
Box 2 Folder 6
7. Unsorted correspondence and miscellaneous biographical material, 1944-1994.
Box 2 Folder 7

1. Willson, J. Robert, et al. Lectures in obstetrics and gynecology, 1953.
Box 2 Volume 8
2. Willson, J. Robert, and Elsie Reid Carrington. Obstetrics and gynecology 8th ed.: typescript, 1986.
Box 2 Folder 9
3. Willson, J. Robert, The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology the University of Michigan Medical School, 1992.
Box 2 Volume 10
4. Willson, J. Robert, Psychosexual dysfunction: typescript, undated.
Box 2 Folder 11

1.Ford, Edward, David Rittenhouse,astronomer patriot 1946 (1 volume) 1980 (1 volume, 1946.
Box 2 Folder 12
2. Randall Clyde L. Developments in the certification of obstetricians and gynecologists, 1980.
Box 2 Volume 13

1. Miscellaneous photographic prints, 1967-1992.
Box 2 Folder 14
2. A photographic memoir of the Obstetrical Society for J. R. Willson, 1993.
Box 2 Volume 15
Series 11. APPOINTMENT BOOKS AND CALENDARS, 1949-1987.
Boxes 3-4 Volume 1-43

1. Miscellaneous certificates, 1937-1993.
Box 5 Folder 1
2. Cross of Merit: award, correspondence, newsclippings and photographic prints, 1988-1989.
Box 5 Folder 2
3. Medals, 1959-1992.
Box 5 Folder 3

1. H. M. Stauffer photographic prints, circa 1914-1971.
Box 6 Folder 1
2. Cruikshank, George. The cholic: print, undated.
Box 6 Folder 2
3. Hippocratic material: includes leaf, 1500, undated.
Box 6 Folder 3

Print, Suggest