William Henry Sebrell Papers

Collection Scope and Content Summary
Personal papers of nutritionist William Henry Sebrell (1901-1992). Subjects covered include biography, awards, pellagra, NIH, Columbia University, Weight Watchers International. Located within the Goldberger - Sebrell Collection.
Dates
- 1940 - 1993
Creator
- Sebrell, W.H. (William Henry) (Person)
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
William Henry Sebrell (1901-1992) was a physician, researcher in nutrition, administrator, and educator. He is known for studies on vitamin B: riboflavin (1930-39), Pantothenic Acid (1939), Folic Acid (1942), and Thiamin. He also conducted research into pellagra and the role of diet in cirrhosis of the liver. He was the first to recognize and describe the dietary deficiency disease, ariboflavinosis.
Dr. Sebrell received his M.D. from the University of Virginia Medical School in 1925. He then worked at the United States Public Health Service from 1926-1955, becoming the Assistant Surgeon General in 1950. During World War II he served as Co-Director of the Nutrition Education Division of the War Food Administration from 1941-1945. Afterwards he took Nutrition Surveys in the U.S. Zone of Occupation in Europe from 1945-1947. Then he served as Director of the Experimental Biology and Medicine Institute from 1947-1950. Then he was the Director of the National Institutes of Health from 1950-1955. Dr. Sebrell then was Professor of Nutrition and Head of the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University from 1957-1971; Emeritus, 1971. He served as Executive Director of Weight Watcher's International from 1971-1992.
He received the following awards: Mead Johnson Prize, 1940; Research Medal, Southern Medical Association, 1946; Legion of Merit, 1946; Joseph Goldberger Award, A.M.A., 1952; Conrad Elvehjem Award, American Society for Clinical Nutrition, 1968; National Order of the Cedar (Lebanon), 1971. Also Dr. Sebrell was a member of the following organizations: Fellow of American College of Physicians; American Public Health Association; American Academy of Arts and Sciences; American Institute of Nutrition (Pres., 1955); Associate Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics; Member of American Society for Clinical Nutrition (Pres., 1963); Association of American Physicians; and American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Dr. Sebrell died in Pompano Beach, Florida on September 29, 1992.
Extent
5.19 Cubic Feet (14 Hollinger boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Personal papers of nutritionist William Henry Sebrell (1901-1992). Subjects covered include biography, awards, pellagra, NIH, Columbia University, Weight Watchers International. Located within the Goldberger - Sebrell Collection.
Acquisition Information
The Joseph Goldberger Collection was donated in 1977 as reported in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Library Annual Report 1976-1977. A subsequent addition made by Dr. Sebrell is described in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Library Annual Report in 1988-89, and was most likely materials pertaining to Dr. Sebrell.
Processing History
Likely processed in 1989-1990 following acquision from Dr. Sebrell
- Title
- William Henry Sebrell Papers
- Status
- Unprocessed
- Author
- History of Medicine Collections Staff
- Date
- 2004-10-29
- 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
Eskind Biomedical Library
2209 Garland Ave.
Nashville TN 37232
historyofmedicine@vanderbilt.edu