Olin West, Sr. (1874-1952) biographical file
Abstract
File contains letters written to Olin West during the years of 1922,1924, 1947, photographs (including two anatomy lab pictures from when he was as student at Vanderbilt in the late 1800s) , newspaper clippings, and published article and obituary from JAMA.
Dates
- 18900 - 1992
Notes about Access to this Collection
All collections are subject to applicable VUMC privacy and confidentiality policies.
Reproduction Rights
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Historical or Biographical Note
Dr. Olin West was a public health expert on smallpox and a primary figure in early development of the Tennessee State Department of Health. Born at Gadsden, Alabama on July 12, 1874, his preliminary education was received at Howard College in Alabama. He received his M.D. from Vanderbilt University Medical Department in 1898. In 1910, after twelve years of practice in Nashville and fifteen years as a member of the faculty of Vanderbilt University, first as instructor and later as assistant professor and associate professor in chemistry, Dr. West became director for the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission and International Health Board in Tennessee where he led the effort against hookworm infection. He served as Secretary and Chief Executive for the Tennessee Board of Health from 1918-1922. Then Dr. West served as Secretary of the A.M.A. from 1922-1946, and later was elected to the office of President-elect of the A.M.A. in 1946. Poor health prevented his nomination and election to the office of President. He died in Nashville, June 20, 1952.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
- Title
- Olin West, Sr. (1874-1952) biographical file
- Author
- Processed by EBL Special Collections Staff
- Date
- 2008-08-14
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is inEnglish.
Repository Details
Part of the VUMC Historical Images and Biographies Repository
Eskind Biomedical Library
2209 Garland Ave.
Nashville TN 37232
historyofmedicine@vanderbilt.edu