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E. V. Cowdry Papers Series
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Activity and address book, 1947-1957.

When EVC moved his cancer research laboratory activity to the Washington University medical campus he began keeping track of his professional contacts by writing their names in a medium-sized loose-leaf book. At some point now unknown the cover of this book was lost, leaving the pages intact in the three-ring spine and back cover. To facilitate the microfilm edition (2001-2002) this remnant of the binding was discarded and the pages placed in folders

Annotated wall calendars, 1959-1972.

EVC is not known to have kept a formal diary, but, like numerous other persons with complicated careers, jotted down reminders of selected events in his life on a series of wall calendars. Exactly how early this practice began is not known: what we have here are mostly from his years of official retirement. The items seem to have been used at his office in the Anatomy Department, rather than his residence, and some of them bear inscriptions in hands other than his. Not microfilmed.

Autobiography.

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.

Care of the Geriatric Patient, 1951-1959.

Between 1958 and 1983, Care of the geriatric patient appeared in six editions and in a Spanish translation of the first edition (Mexico City, 1962). EVC was the primary editor for the first four editions (1958, 1963, 1968, 1971) and worked with Franz U. Steinberg to produce the fifth (1976). Most of the documentation of these efforts are found in this and two subsequent series of his papers. See also Series 13, 14, and 34

Care of the Geriatric Patient, 1969-1972.

The last of the three series devoted to Care of the geriatric patient is mainly devoted to preparations for the fourth edition (1971), having curiously skipped over documentation about the third edition (1968).

Correspondence and booklets concerning the White House Conference on Aging, 1960-1961.

White House Conferences were prominent means of bringing experts on important national issues together to provide advice on policy and legislation. EVC was appointed to the Missouri Committee that prepared for the federal event organized to discuss implications of aging, but after its deliberations in Jefferson City he resigned, objecting to portions of the committee's final report. Thereafter he was appointed to a discussion group on "surgery and susceptibility to stress" sponsored by the Public Health Service and in that capacity attended the culminating meeting in Washington, held in January, 1961

Correspondence and financial records concerning the Fourth International Cancer Congress and International Cancer Research Commission, 1947-1951.

EVC was in his day among the premier organizers of international scientific meetings. One such achievement was the Fourth International Cancer Congress, held in St. Louis September 2-7, 1947, for which EVC served as president. Over 200 scientists from more than 40 countries attended meetings at the Jefferson Hotel, with informal gatherings held also at the two local university campuses. The delegates were considered to be official representatives of their respective countries, a fact reflected in the arrangement of the series, which is alphabetical by name of country. See also Series 62, which contains press clippings concerning the event. The meeting established an International Cancer Research Commission, on which EVC served as the United States representative until 1954. Series 10 concludes with two files of financial data for, respectively, the Congress and the Commission. Boxes 77-78, Reels 66-68.

Correspondence concerning a dinner honoring Cowdry, Detroit, 1954.

In 1954 two former trainees and junior colleagues of EVC who had taken positions in Detroit organized a dinner in their city honoring his achievements in medical sciences. The chief organizer of the event was Gordon H. Scott, who was then dean of Wayne University College of Medicine. He was assisted by William L. Simpson, scientific director of the Detroit Institute of Cancer Research, the institutional sponsor of the event, which took place on October 26. The series does not document who actually attended the dinner but rather is composed of communications from the many invited from St. Louis and elsewhere who wrote instead to indicate that they could not be there. Several writers included significant reminiscences and tributes to EVC. All items are dated 1954. From the early Cowdry accessions, 1967-1990.

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

Correspondence concerning Human biology and racial welfare, 1926-1931.

EVC's contacts with Paul B. Hoeber, who published the anthology Special Cytology (1928, see Series 2), led to his being named editor of a collection intended for a lay audience, which after some deliberation was given the title Human biology and racial welfare. Including EVC, 28 authors contributed essays. The basic scope of the book concerns the whole of the human species. Hoeber published it in 1930. The series also contains correspondence concerning Special cytology.

Correspondence concerning leprosy research, 1935-1965.

In 1940 and 1941 EVC and his staff at Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital conducted experiments using Promin, a preparation of glucosulfone sodium developed by the Parke Davis Company. Their findings contributed to clinical trials of the drug at the United States Marine Hospital in Carville, Louisiana, where Promin was shown to be effective in the treatment of leprosy. In the early 1960s a controversy developed involving a historical review by James A. Doull, whom EVC believed did not give proper credit to his contributions to leprosy research. Boxes 39-40, Reels 35-36.

Correspondence concerning post as cancer advisor in India, 1951-1960.

In 1951 and 1952 EVC was an advisor on cancer to the government of India, funded by the US State Department Point IV Program (a Truman Administration initiative to assist lesser-developed countries). He visited India in 1952. Most of the correspondence is with Indian nationals, but included as well are personal and professional communications with others. Boxes 95-96, Reels 83-85.

Correspondence concerning Textbook of Histology, 1941-1950.

A textbook of histology was among EVC's best known monographs. The first edition appeared in 1934, the second in 1938, the third in 1944, and the fourth in 1950. A fifth edition appeared in 1960 in collaboration with John C. Finerty, but documentation for it is not included in this series. (See Series 9, under Finerty.) Alphabetical arrangement. Box 43, Reels 38-39.

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.

Correspondence concerning the City of Hope, 1959-1961.

From 1954 to 1960 EVC was chair of the national Scientific Council of the City of Hope, an important independent cancer treatment and research center in Duarte, California, north of Los Angeles. Coming toward the end of his active career, the opportunity prompted EVC to discuss candidly several significant issues of his life in this correspondence

Correspondence concerning the Club for Research on Ageing, 1937-1950.

In the late 1930s contacts developed between scientists in various disciplines interested in aging, which led to the formation of a group which called itself the Club for Research on Ageing (sic: EVC used the British spelling of the word in his files). EVC was from the beginning a recognized leader among the group. One result of the contacts was the formation of a formal organization, the Gerontology Society, Inc., in 1945. Boxes 41-42, Reels 36-38.

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