Beverly Douglas Papers
Content Description
Papers, publications belonging to Dr. Beverly Douglas well-known plastic surgeon and member of both the faculty and later the clinical faculty of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Contents include: biographical materials describling his careeer; research and correspondence related to his medical publications and professional commitments and meetings; materials pertaining to his interest in researching and development of inventions including sketches, reserch, corresponcence and applications related to securing patents; photographic slides and 35mm motion picture film; and two (prototype) medical syringe devices.
Dates
- 1919-1980
Conditions Governing Access
All collections are subject to applicable Vanderbilt University privacy and confidentiality policies. Collection specific restrictions: No Restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Biographical / Historical
Beverly Douglas was born in Nashville on September 23, 1891. He began his academic training at Vanderbilt; however, transferred to Princeton where he received Litt.B. degree. He enrolled at Vanderbilt Medical School in 1914 and completed two years before transferring to Johns Hopkins. After graduation from Hopkins he became the first and for many years the only plastic surgeon in Nashville. He served on both the faculty and clinical faculty at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and was elevated to professor clinical surgery emeritus at the time of his retirement in 1960. Well regarded as both a surgeon and a scientist, Douglas is known for a technique that he developed and bears his name to save the lives of short-jawed infants. He also researched and published extensively on the leg ulcer and spontaneous healing of severed arteries. A man of varied interests and talents, he was also known for his inventions -- both medical and non-medical. Two of his inventions were awarded patents from the U.S. Patent office, the first being a vapor injection system for internal combustion engines (3,930,470) and the second being a chemically heated container for foods and beverages (3,653,372). Dr. Douglas died in Nashville on July 22, 1975.
Extent
5.13 Cubic Feet (4 Paige boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Personal papers, publications, and related materials belonging to Dr. Beverly Douglas well-known plastic surgeon and member of both the faculty and later the clinical faculty of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Materials doucment both his reserch interests and activities as a plastic surgeon and member of the faculty, as well as his interest in developing inventions.
Physical Location
EBL Vault
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by grandaughter Mrs. Frannie Corzine in 2019.
Condition Description
Materials are in fair condition. Moldy materials have either been removed or isolated by placement in polyeser sleeves.
- Title
- Beverly Douglas Papers
- Status
- Unprocessed
- Author
- History of Medicine Collections Staff
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Eskind Biomedical Library Manuscripts Collection Repository
Eskind Biomedical Library
2209 Garland Ave.
Nashville TN 37232
historyofmedicine@vanderbilt.edu