Call Number:

1987.029

Repository:

African American Museum in Philadelphia

Extent:

2.5 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1909-1960 (bulk) and 1839-1991 (inclusive)

Creator:

Minton, Russell F.

Abstract:

Dr. Russell F. Minton, born around 1900, was a prominent doctor in the Philadelphia area from the 1930s-1970s. Minton became a radiologist in 1940, and was involved with the merging of Mercy and Frederick Douglass Memorial hospitals. At Mercy-Douglass Hospital he served as chairman of the intern and resident training program, chief of the medical staff, chief of the Radiology Department, and Medical Director from 1949 until 1953. The Dr. Russell F. Minton papers, 1839-1991, bulk 1909-1960, contain correspondence, medical notes and reports, hospital records, newspaper clippings, speeches and articles, numerous photographs, Minton family genealogical items, and other materials. Many documents in the collection are associated with Dr. DeHaven Hinkson, another prominent African American physician in Philadelphia, and the reason for their inclusion with this collection is unclear.

Dr. Russell F. Minton, Senior was born in Philadelphia around 1900. He graduated from Penn State University in 1924 with a major in chemistry, after which he served as head of the Chemistry Department at Tuskegee Institute. In 1929 he obtained his medical degree from Howard University Medical School. Upon receiving his medical degree, Minton was affiliated with both Frederick Douglass Memorial and Mercy hospitals in Philadelphia. Minton became a radiologist in 1940, and once Douglass and Mercy hospitals merged in 1948 to form Mercy-Douglass Hospital at 50th Street and Woodland Avenue, he held many important posts there. He served as chairman of the intern and resident training program, chief of the medical staff, chief of the radiology department, and Medical Director of Mercy-Douglass Hospital from 1949 until 1953. Additionally, Minton was appointed as a medical officer of the Civil Service Commission's Philadelphia regional office in 1966, the first African American physician to hold this post in any regional office. He held this position until retiring in 1975. Minton's wife, Marion Roland, whom he married in 1927, passed away in 1980. Minton himself died in 1997.

Minton was part of several professional groups and medical societies including the Alpha chapter of Sigma Pi Phi, also known as the Boule. Sigma Pi Phi, founded in 1904, was the first Greek letter fraternity to be founded by African American men. Dr. Minton served as Alpha chapter Archon (President) in the 1950s.

The collection consists primarily of materials relating to Russell Minton's medical training and career, such as handwritten letters, notes, and journals; typed notes and reports; laboratory and hospital records; clippings about Minton's career; speeches and published papers/articles written by Minton; certificates; programs; and numerous photographs, many of Mercy-Douglass hospital circa 1940s-1960s. The notes about medicine, circa 1912-1914, are the largest subgrouping in the collection. There are also a quantity of later writings and articles by Minton, many pertaining to medical topics and African Americans in medicine. Some writings are about civil rights generally. Additionally, there are some documents from the Sick Committee of Golden Star Lodge #4 of the Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria, an organization which provided insurance for sickness, burial, and funeral expenses.

There is also a box of family related material including a Minton family Bible with genealogical information dating back to 1828, nineteenth century family photographs, and nineteenth century sheet music. Additionally, the collection includes three Louis Jordan records and a headless green army figure.

Some documents in the collection are associated with Dr. DeHaven Hinkson, another prominent African American physician in Philadelphia. It is unclear if any of these materials may have been created or collected by Hinkson instead of Minton.