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Doris E. Roberts papers
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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing [Contact Us]Claire Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Boulevard, Floor 2U, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4217
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
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Doris E. Roberts, R.N., Ph.D. was an internationally known nurse leader and educator in the field of community health services. Roberts was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1915. She graduated from Peter Bent Brigham, School of Nursing, Boston, MA (1938 ). She accepted a position of staff nurse with the New Haven Visiting Nurse Association. After two years Roberts went to Simmons College, Boston, MA and obtained a certificate in public health nursing (1941) . In 1944 she received a bachelor’s degree from Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA. After serving as senior nurse and director of nursing services with the Neighborhood Association, Millburn Association, NJ (1942-1944), Roberts joined the U S Public Health Service (1945-1975). As a commissioned officer she had various assignments, first with the Tuberculosis Program (1945-1955), then as chief nurse with same program. During this period Roberts worked with local, state and national agencies, taking part in operational research and seeing the importance of systematic study and program evaluation at all levels of health care.
In 1966, Roberts became Chief of the Public Health Nursing Service and. responsible for designing and conducting studies. In this position she was able to introduce epidemiological concepts and study methods into state and local public health agencies. Her major concerns were the need to bring educators and practitioners together to share resources for problem solving and to collaborate as a way to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care. Her writings were published in many professional journals. Roberts ‘influence extended beyond the United States. She provided consultation and assistance to the World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, and Southeast Asia Regional Office of WHO.
In 1958, she received a master’s degree in public health from the University of Minnesota, and in 1967 a doctorate degree in epidemiology from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. Roberts had memberships in Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Science and Delta Omega Society. Also, she was the recipient of awards for distinguished service in public health.
Following her retirement (1975) from the US Public Health Service, Roberts continued her career as a consultant in public health and in health services evaluation research for ten more years. Following these years she became active in volunteering in outreach programs in the community for homeless and neglected people.
Gift of Mabel Harmon Morris and Doris E. Roberts, 1999.
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- University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing
- Finding Aid Author
- Finding aid prepared by Center staff, updated by Bethany Myers
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This collection is unrestricted.
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Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the Center with requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote or reproduce the material.
Collection Inventory
This series includes a biographical sketch, education transcripts , course papers, commencement program, historical manuals for midwifery, hospital nursing , and visiting nursing for the years 1872-1906.
Manuals are located in the Center's book collection.
In this series are the awards Roberts received from the American Public Health Association, Geneva College, and University of Minnesota; also newspaper clippings and journal announcements of awards.
This series includes the large number of addresses and papers presented on numerous occasions, and many articles published in the various journals by Roberts and co-authors.
This series documents Roberts nursing career as a nursing leader in Untied States, Europe, and the Orient; and her association with the American Public Health Association, National Academy of Science and Veterans Administration.
Included in this series are portrait photos taken of Roberts during her nursing career. There are group pictures taken on various social, ceremonial, conferences or seminar occasions.