Luther P. Christman papers

 Collection
Identifier: EBL-0016

  • Staff Only

Collection Scope and Content Summary

Personal papers of Luther P. Christman, nurse, sociologist, educator, and Dean of Vanderbilt Nursing School from 1967-1972. Materials include photographs, correspondence, and other papers.

Dates

  • 1939 - 1999

Creator

Notes about Access to this Collection

All collections are subject to applicable Vanderbilt University privacy and confidentiality policies. Collection specific restrictions: No Restrictions.

Reproduction Rights

Copyright is retained by History of Medicine Collections, Eskind Biomedical Library, Vanderbilt University or is retained by the authors of specific published items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Historical or Biographical Note

Luther P. Christman (1915-2011) was a nurse, professor, sociologist, and administrator. He was the first male dean of a nursing school in the United States. As dean of Vanderbilt University's School of Nursing, he was the first to employ African-American women as faculty at Vanderbilt.

Christman was born in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania February 26, 1915. He graduated from the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing for Men in 1939. He earned his BA in nursing (1948) and his MA in clinical psychology (1952) from Temple University. Dr Christman received his PhD in sociology and anthropology from Michigan State University in 1965.

Mr. Christman was a private duty nurse at the Pennsylvania Hospital from 1939-1948. Then he became an instructor at the Cooper Hospital School of Nursing from 1948-1953. Luther was director of nursing at the Yankton State Hospital from 1953-1956. Then he was a nursing consultant for the Michigan Department of Mental Health from 1956-1963. Then he joined the University of Michigan as an associate professor of psychiatric nursing from 1963-1967. He also worked as a research associate for both the Institute of Social Research and the Bureau of Hospital Administration from 1964-1967 and 1965-1967. Luther then became a professor of nursing and sociology, Dean of the school of nursing, and Director of nursing services at Vanderbilt University and Hospital from 1967-1972. Luther then went to Rush University as a professor of nursing and sociology, dean of the college of nursing, and vice-president of nursing affairs from 1972-1987. He was also a senior scientist and attending staff at the Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center from 1972-1988. Luther then returned to Vanderbilt as an adjunct professor of nursing from 1991-1995. He died in Nashville on June 7, 2011.

Extent

0.19 Cubic Feet (1 half Hollinger box.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Personal papers of Luther P. Christman, nurse, sociologist, educator, and Dean of Vanderbilt Nursing School from 1967-1972. Materials include photographs, correspondence, and other papers.

Acquisition Information

Acquired on 08/12/1997

Processing History

processed on 08/01/1997

Title
Luther P. Christman Papers
Status
Completed
Author
History of Medicine Collections Staff
Date
2004-10-28
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Eskind Biomedical Library Manuscripts Collection Repository

Contact:
Eskind Biomedical Library
2209 Garland Ave.
Nashville TN 37232


 

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