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Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Dr. Edward J. Van Liere Papers, A&M 2677, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Dr. Edward J. Van Liere, the first dean of the West Virginia University School of Medicine, was a scientist, physician, and professor of physiology.

Edward J. Van Liere was born on October 30, 1895, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He received multiple degrees, including a BA and MS from the University of Wisconsin in 1915 and 1916, respectively, an MD from Harvard University in 1920, and a PhD from the University of Chicago in 1928. Dr. Van Liere began teaching at West Virginia University in 1921 and remained at the school as a professor of physiology until 1966. His tenure at WVU also included serving as chair of the physiology department from 1921 to 1955 and serving as the dean of the medical school from 1935 to 1960. Dr. Van Liere also served as an associate editor of the West Virginia Medical Journal for more than forty years.

Dr. Edward J. Van Liere died on September 5, 1979, in Morgantown. After his death the Edward J. Van Liere Professorship in Physiology at the School of Medicine at West Virginia University was established.

Scope and Contents

Dr. Edward J. Van Liere, the first dean of the West Virginia University School of Medicine, was a scientist, physician, and professor of physiology. He served the School of Medicine for more than fifty years as both professor and administrator.

Initial acquisition of 1979:

Papers chiefly include correspondence files, subject and research files, medical articles and publications, photographs, and files related to the creation and development of the medical center and school of medicine at WVU and to Dr. Van Liere's personal research and scholarship. Materials date from the 1920s to the 1970s and are still arranged in their original file folders.

Materials chiefly document the creation and early operations of the West Virginia University Medical Center (now the School of Medicine) and Dr. Edward J. Van Liere's personal involvement with the school, his research on anoxia, his scholarship, and his work with the West Virginia Medical Journal. Materials related to the WVU Medical Center and University Hospital date from the 1920s to the 1970s and are chiefly found in box 6. Topics include early efforts to establish a four-year medical program in the 1920s; the reorganization of the medical program in the late 1930s; plans for facilities, including the medical library, 1950s; annual reports, 1956-1960; and the history of the program, 1930s-1940s and 1970s. Other materials related to the school found in other boxes in the collection include operating budgets, 1935-1955 (box 8); scrapbooks, 1935, 1942 (box 6); alumni association materials, 1960s-1970s (box 7); and photographs (box 2, oversize box 2).

Other materials center on Van Liere's research and scholarship and his involvement with other medical professionals. These consist of research materials, correspondence files, subject files, certificates, scientific journals, and Van Liere's own publications. These materials are housed in different boxes, which are listed below.

Printed and manuscript copies of Van Liere's articles from 1927 to 1975, correspondence related to the publication of his books, a list of his publications from 1916 to 1979, and a bound volume of his articles from 1916 to 1942 can be found in boxes 1, 3, 4, 5, 12, and 13.

Van Liere's research materials on hypoxia, hypertension, and anoxia from the 1930s to the 1970s can be found in box 3, box 8, and box 11. His work on Dr. George Goodfellow is housed in box 8, and notes on varied medical topics are in box 9 and box 10. Journal articles written by other medical professionals, most of which related to Van Liere's own research, can be found in box 1, box 3, and box 4.

Correspondence and subject files also document Van Liere's professional work. Correspondence files are chiefly organized in folders according to individual and date from the 1920s to 1970s. These can be found in boxes 5 and 7. Box 5 also contains loose correspondence from the same time period. Subject files include Van Liere's work with various medical associations, 1930s-1950s (box 4); the West Virginia chapter of Sigma Xi, 1960s; the West Virginia Medical Journal, 1930s-1970s (box 3, box 5); Van Liere's retirement as dean, 1959; his fellowship and summer research, 1960s; and the publication of his books, 1940s-1950s, (boxes 3 and 4).

Other materials include Van Liere's course materials, 1921-1975 (box 1) and certificates, largely for medical fraternal organizations (oversize box 1); personal financial files (box 9); and miscellaneous files and letters, 1960s-1970s (box 14).

Addendum of 2018/03/13:

Includes daily diaries from his years at the University of Wisconsin, correspondence, photographs, reprints, a scrapbook from a trip to Europe, and many diplomas and certificates. Also contains numerous artifacts, including antique surgical tools and fly fishing equipment. See contents list for detailed description.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Van Liere, Edward J., 1895-1979