Announcements

A generous gift from Virginia Bowden, PhD, Library Director emeritus and Charles

Virginia Bowden, PhD, and Charles Bowden, MD recently made a gift in support of the University Archives and other special collections.

Bowden, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry and pharmacology, will enhance the development of the UT Health Science Center University Archives. As a repository for the preservation of historically important university records, the archives house university publications, correspondence of key UT Health Science Center officials, minutes of meetings, and student yearbooks. The archives also include photographs and papers of many early San Antonio physicians.

In the past the archives have been used to research the history of the UT Health Science Center for publications and exhibit materials, genealogy searches, photographs, resources for classes in the history of medicine and anatomical drawing and for many other purposes. Current archives projects include development of a digital collection of important materials in the archives, processing of photographs and negatives received from Academic Technology Services and the Ruth Stewart nursing archives scrapbooks, and the creation of finding aids available via the Internet for manuscript collections of prominent San Antonio physicians. Photographs and personal papers of Dr. Mario E. Ramirez, donated to the Ramirez Library at the RAHC in Harlingen, are being processed and digitized to tell the story of Dr. Ramirez’s career as a physician in the Rio Grande Valley. Of particular note is Dr. Ramirez’s collection of photos taken during the devastation wrought by Hurricane Beulah in 1967. These are only some of the projects in progress through the University Archives.

In addition to the Bowdens’ gift, The Libraries were recently awarded a grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities to improve the library’s preservation practices. See the related article on page 3.

The archives are managed by Anne Comeaux, Assistant Library Director for Digital and Special Collections. Ms. Comeaux also serves as the UT Health Science Center’s Records Management Officer and frequently consults with departments on the types of records that must be retained, including archival records.

The Bowdens’ commitment to enhancing the Health Science Center’s library will ensure that the archives continue to provide important materials for historical research into the future.

For additional information about the archives, including guidelines for submitting documents and other materials, contact Anne Comeaux at 210-567-2428 or via email at comeaux@uthscsa.edu.

Rajia Tobia, Executive Director of Libraries

National Public Health Week (NPHW) is April 4-10.  This year’s theme is “Safety is NO Accident,” and the focus of the week will be on educating citizens about preventing injuries at home, at work, and in the community.

The American Public Health Association (APHA), organizer of NPHW, develops a national campaign to educate the public, policy-makers and practitioners about issues related to each year’s theme. APHA creates comprehensive planning, organizing and outreach materials that can be used to raise awareness.

The National Public Health Week Web site encourages assessment of home, workplace, and community spaces for easily-remedied hazards such as:

• Maintaining fire alarms
• Changing burnt-out light bulbs
• Covering electrical outlets in homes with small children
• Understanding national and state laws on workplace safety
• Joining the neighborhood watch association.

The Libraries have created an exhibit showcasing the public health programs offered at the UT Health Science Center.  The exhibit is currently on display outside the Briscoe Library on the Long Campus.

Lydia Fletcher
Outreach Library Assistant