A Guide to the Papers of Russell V. Bowers 91.May.11
A Collection in Special Collections and Archives, Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Accession number 91.May.11
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VCU Health Sciences Library
Special Collections and Archives 509 N 12th StBox 980582
Richmond, Virginia 23298
Business Number: (804) 828-9898
libhssca@vcu.edu
URL: https://www.library.vcu.edu/research-teaching/special-collections-and-archives/locations/
Jody Romero
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
No restrictions on use.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access.
Preferred Citation
Bowers, Russell V. Collection, Accession # 91/May/11, Special Collections and Archives, Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated by Mrs. Joanne Bowers.
Biographical / Historical
Russell Vernon Bowers was born 20 April, 1915 in Canton, Georgia. His father, a railroad worker, was transferred between several towns in Virginia during Bowers' early years. He received his BS from Lynchburg College in 1937 and a MS in biochemistry from the Medical College of Virginia in 1939. He then became a research assistant at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Virginia in 1940.
During World War II, Bowers was commissioned a Captain and served in the Army at the Edgewood Arsenal, now part of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. This Arsenal specialized in chemical warfare. After the war, Bowers returned to the Medical College of Virginia, earning his MD in 1950. He settled in the Mechanicsville area where he served as a general practice doctor for over 37 years.
Bowers had the honor of being given a unique medical artifact. While visiting his son in England, Bowers was introduced to Dr. N.G. Heatley, a leader in the development of penicillin. Bowers was given one of the original penicillin culture vessels "as a gesture of scientific friendship." This vessel is now in the Smithsonian Institution.
Bowers had a love for history, especially concerning the Civil War and Medicine. He wrote several articles including histories on Sir William Osler, William Halsted, and the development of penicillin. Bowers was also active in the community and in politics. He served as a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention and was a member of the Electoral College in 1964. Bowers was also instrumental in creating a student loan fund for Hanover County students who attend Virginia Commonwealth University.
Bowers died 06 Oct, 1990 at age 75. He is buried in Richmond, Virginia.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains speeches, photographs, and secondary source research material on several subjects of historical interest for Bowers including the history of penicillin, William Osler and William Halsted. The collection does not include anything on Bowers' medical practice or his personal life.
Arrangement
Records are arranged in chronological order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Bowers, Russell V. (Russell Vernon), 1915-1990 -- Archives
- Halsted, William, 1852-1922
- Osler, William, Sir, 1849-1919
- Penicillin -- history.
- Physicians -- Archives. -- Virginia -- Mechanicsville
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Bowers, Russell V. (Russell Vernon), 1915-1990
- Bowers, Russell V. (Russell Vernon), 1915-1990 -- Archives
- Halsted, William, 1852-1922
- Osler, William, Sir, 1849-1919
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.1
"William Halsted"
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.2
"Penicillin: Discovery and Early Research"Scope and Contents
Incomplete speech. Ends at page 8.
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.3
"April 20th, 1977"Scope and Contents
Possibly written by N. Heatley of early penicillin research at Oxford
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 1.4
Oxford: It's Doctors and their Incomes
All material are reprints of published articles.
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
Sir William Osler
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
The Great PhysicianScope and Contents
Reid, Edith. Oxford Press, 1939
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
Osler's Remains Rest Among His Books
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
The Unveiling of the Oxford Memorial
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
The Sir William Osler Memorial at Oxford
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
Sir William Osler: Last Days
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
LetterScope and Contents
Letter by Martha Hubbard concerning Revere Osler's library at the Stuart and Tutor Club.
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
Osler's PracticeScope and Contents
Harrell, George
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
"Where Wilson was a Summer Boarder"
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
Information regarding Osler's home
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.1
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.2
William HalstedScope and Contents
General photocopies from a book, a biography of his life
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.3
Miscellaneous ResearchScope and Contents
Photocopies of several books
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.3
Surgery of WarScope and Contents
Article on Alexander Fleming
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.3
Bertichte Der Deutschen Chemischen GesellschaftScope and Contents
German language journal about penicillin
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 2.3
All of the articles in this folder are reprints and secondary sources. In many cases they are photocopies.
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.1
"Chimborazo Hospital"Scope and Contents
The history of the hospital. From the Confederate medical exhibit of the Civil War centennial.
-
Sir William Osler
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.2
"19th Century Medicine"Feb 1976Scope and Contents
Journal of the American Medical Association , Vol 235. No. 5
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.2
"Osler's English School"July, 1973Scope and Contents
Medical History , Vol. XVII No. 3
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.2
"The Men who Inspired Osler"Feb. 1972Scope and Contents
Southern Medical Journal , Vol. 65 No. 2.
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.2
"Medical Tributes to Sir William Osler and Their Medical Associations"Dec. 1989Scope and Contents
Journal of the American Medical Association , Vol 242 No. 26
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.2
"Did William Osler Have Carcinoma of the Lung?"1974Scope and Contents
Chest , Vol. 66.
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.2
"Osler Centenary Celebration at Oxford"Jul. 1949Scope and Contents
The Lancet
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.2
"A Hitherto Unpublished Appreciation of Sir William Osler"1977Scope and Contents
Johns Hopkins Medical Journal , 140
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.2
-
Richmond Academy of Medicine
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.3
Richmond Medical JournalJan. 1866Scope and Contents
Photocopy of first edition.
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.3
"History of the Richmond Academy of Medicine"Oct. 1962Scope and Contents
Virginia Medical Monthly Vol. 89
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.3
-
History of Medicine
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.4
Catalogue of an Exhibition of Books on Medical, Surgery and Physiology1947Scope and Contents
Bodleian Library, Oxford
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.4
Surgeons and Surgical Care of the Confederate States of America1960Scope and Contents
Stark, R. New York, NY
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.4
"Some Highlighting in the History of Amputation Reflecting Lessons in Wound Healing"1967Scope and Contents
Bulletin of the History of Medicine , Vol. XLI No. 2
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.4
University of Oxford Medical School, Prospectus of the Clinical School1974Scope and Contents
Oxford Press
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.4
Dun's Library1976Scope and Contents
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.4
-
Miscellaneous
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"Amino-ethyl Phosphoric Ester from Tumors"1936Scope and Contents
The Biochemical Journal, Vol. XXX , No. 2
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"Acute Adrenal Cortex Exhaustion and its Relationship to Shock"1938Scope and Contents
The American Journal of Surgery , Vol. XL No. 3
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"The Biochemical Behavior of Lead"Jan. 1940Scope and Contents
The Journal of Biological Chemistry , Vol. 132, No. 1
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"Phosphatase Studies: The Hydrolysis of Amino-Ethylphosphate..."Feb. 1940Scope and Contents
The Journal of Biological Chemistry , Vol 132, No. 2
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"Choline Metabolism"Feb. 1940Scope and Contents
The Journal of Biological Chemistry , Vol 132, No. 2
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"The Clinical Application of the Hippuric Acid and the Prothrombin Tests"Mar. 1940Scope and Contents
American Journal of Clinical Pathology , Vol. 10 No. 3
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"Recurrent Pneumoccic Meningitis Treated with Sulfapyridine"1941Scope and Contents
Journal of the American Medical Association , Vol 116
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"Alcohol Absorption From the Skin in Man"1942Scope and Contents
Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol , Vol. III, No. 1,
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"Stingray Injuries"1959Scope and Contents
Public Health Reports , Vol. 74, No.10
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
"Medical Intelligence"1962Scope and Contents
New England Journal of Medicine , Vol. 266
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 3.5
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 4.1
Clippings1976
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 4.1
"Ceramic Vessel Held World's Medical Genie"15 Jun, 1976Scope and Contents
Richmond Times Dispatch
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 4.1
"Penicillin Vessel to be Displayed at UVa"28 July, 1976Scope and Contents
The Daily Progress
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 4.1
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 4.2
Photograph of Samuel Preston Moore1880
- Mixed Materials Box-folder: 4.3
PhotographsScope and Contents
This folder contains various photographs of paintings of William Osler, George Bakeman, Halsted, Osler, and Relly, James Basil Bowers, and a group photograph where Bowers is on the front row, right.