University of Virginia Historical Collections at the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

1950s

University of Virginia Health System Scrapbook: The 1950s

1950

  • Library Books and Journals: 29,000
  • Current Library Periodicals: 419
  • Medical School Tuition: Virginia $400, Other: $800
  • Number of Medical Students: 275
  • The Bursar’s Office no longer returns fine money to the Medical Library, resulting in an annual loss of about $150.
  • Additional storage space in Cabell Hall Attic required for Medical Libary.
  • Surgical instruments belonging to an 1831 graduate are donated.
  • Dr. Beverly Smith, speaking for the Library Committee, says the Medical Library needs more space, more help, and more funds.
  • Thirty men of the first year class are WWII veterans.
  • First Staige Davis Blackford Memorial Lecture presented.
Medical School Class of 1950

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1950

Anatomy class

Anatomy class

Henry Mulholland

Henry Mulholland

Roy Beazley, Director of Nurses

Roy Beazley, Director of Nurses

Blue Ridge Hospital opens new West Wing

Blue Ridge Hospital opens new West Wing

Capping Ceremony for Nursing School Class of 1950

Capping Ceremony for School of Nursing Class of 1950

Dr. Harvey Jordan and Miss Russell

Dr. Harvey Jordan and Miss Russell

1951

  • Library Books and Journals: 31,000
  • Current Library Periodicals: 500
  • Medical School Tuition: n/a
  • Number of Medical Students: n/a
  • Dr. Stephen H. Watts presents the Library with a five-volume edition of Galen’s House of Guinta.
  • The Medical Library reports that Dr. R. Earle Glendy has given the Library a set of surgical instruments belonging to an 1831 graduate, Henry Moss Bentley, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Medical School Class of 1951

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1951

Vernon, W. Lippard, Dean, School of Medicine

Vernon W. Lippard, Dean of the School of Medicine

Aerial view of UVa Medical Complex

Aerial view of the University of Virginia medical complex

Learning the nursing arts through observation, first photo

Learning the nursing arts through observation

Learning the nursing arts--checking with her mentor to see if she has it right

Student nurse checks with her mentor

University assigns medical students to the Ranges

University assigns medical students to the Ranges

1952

  • Library Books and Journals: n/a
  • Current Library Periodicals: n/a
  • Medical School Tuition: n/a
  • Number of Medical Students: n/a
Medical School Class of 1952

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1952

Dr. William Parson and Dr. Kenneth Crispell in Research Labs

Mad (?) Scientists Dr. William Parson and Dr. Kenneth Crispell in research labs

Medical student works up a patient

Medical student “works up a patient”

What UVa nurses hear, speak, and see

What University of Virginia nurses hear, speak, and see

UVa Hospital's Newborn Unit

University of Virginia Hospital’s Newborn Unit

1953

  • Library Books and Journals: 27,819
  • Current Library Periodicals: 450
  • Medical School Tuition: n/a
  • Number of Medical Students: n/a
  • A new X-Ray Emergency Room opens for patients on Wednesday, April 29th.
  • University Hospital starts small lending library of 350 books on Wards L and I.
  • Recognizing the Library’s need for financial support, Dean Vernon Lippard states, “There is only from $3,000 to $4,000 a year available to the Library; its minimum requirement is $10,000 a year.”
Dr. Edwin P. Lehman

Dr. Edwin P. Lehman retires as Chief of Surgery after 25 years of service to the University of Virginia

Dr. Thomas H. Hunter

In February, Dr. Thomas H. Hunter takes over as Dean of the School of Medicine

Medical School Class of 1953

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1953

Nursing School Class of 1953

University of Virginia School of Nursing Class of 1953

Dr. E. Cato Drash with Miss Louise Rea and Dr. George R. Minor

Dr. E. Cato Drash, with Miss Louise Rea and Dr. George R. Minor, wages a surgical war in an effort to eradicate pulmonary tuberculosis

1954

  • Library Books and Journals: 39,000
  • Current Library Periodicals: 550
  • Medical School Tuition: Virginia $400, Other $800
  • Number of Medical Students: 285
  • Medical Library receives alumni gift of $4,043.65.
  • First class of the Baccalaureate Program of Nursing graduates.
  • A lending library for the use of staff and patients is started. Two book cases are set up on Wards I and L.
  • Hospital Auxiliary, formerly the Hospital Circle, celebrates 50 years of service.
  • Hospital security program begins.
  • William Muller is new surgery chief.
Medical School Class of 1954

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1954

UVa Barringer Wing progress

Progress continues on the Barringer Wing

Edward Hipp

Edward Hipp opens Vessel Bank for the preservation of human arteries

William Muller and Thomas Hunter

William Muller and Thomas Hunter

C. Bruce Morton, Head Professor Surgery

C. Bruce Morton, Head Professor of Surgery

John Lloyd Newcomb, second president of the University

John Lloyd Newcomb, 1851-1954, second president of the University

Benjamin W. Rawles

Benjamin W. Rawles, 1930 graduate of the School of Medicine

Medical School Reading Room

Medical School Reading Room

John Stacey, Hospital Director

Hospital Director John Stacey outlines building program

1955

  • Library Books and Journals: 41,500
  • Current Library Periodicals: 600
  • Medical School Tuition: Virginia $400, Other $800
  • Number of Medical Students: 285
  • Thermometer breakage at the University of Virginia under study; over 15,000 thermometers issued in 10 months.
  • Planning funds released for proposed $4.5 million multi-story central unit for University of Virginia Hospital.
  • Cerebral Palsy Clinic opens, first in the state.
  • McKim Hall enlarged.
  • University to acquire cobalt unit for cancer treatment.
  • New oxygen system requires two miles of pipe.
  • Douglas Eastwood named Anesthesiology Chairman.
  • New 31-bed unit will open to provide above-average nursing care for the acutely ill and injured, and will set a pattern for the establishment of similar units throughout the country.
Medical School Class of 1955

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1955

University of Virginia School of Nursing Dance

Hospital Directory John Stacey points out features of the building program

Hospital Directory John Stacey points out features of the building program

Dr. Fletcher Woodward

Dr. Fletcher Woodward, advocate of seat belts, practices what he preaches

1956

  • Library Books and Journals: 43,723
  • Current Library Periodicals: 643
  • Medical School Tuition: n/a
  • Number of Medical Students: n/a
  • Construction starts on children’s rehabilitation center.
Medical School Class of 1956

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1956

Nursing students and their patients

Nursing students and their patients

View of UVa Medical School and the corner

Aerial view of University of Virginia Medical School and “The Corner”

Library Reading Room

Medical School Library Reading Room

Medical School Library

Medical School Library

1957

  • Library Books and Journals: n/a
  • Current Library Periodicals: n/a
  • Medical School Tuition: n/a
  • Number of Medical Students: n/a
  • South Wing, the second building of the original hospital built in 1905, to be destroyed.
  • Children’s Rehabilitation Center opens.
Medical School Class of 1957

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1957

Evelyn Bacon, Acting Chairman, School of Nursing

Evelyn Bacon, Acting Chairman, Department of Nursing

Edward Betram Nash

Edward Bertram Nash, one of the two African-Americans in the Medical School Class of 1957

Edward Thomas Wood

Edward Thomas Wood, one of the two African-Americans in the Medical School Class of 1957

Pink Ladies

Pink Ladies

School of Nursing Choral Group

University of Virginia School of Nursing Choral Group

1958

  • Library Books and Journals: n/a
  • Current Library Periodicals: n/a
  • Medical School Tuition: n/a
  • Number of Medical Students: n/a
Medical School Class of 1958

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1958

The Corner in 1958

The Corner in 1958

Ground-breaking ceremonies

Ground-breaking ceremonies for the new multi-story addition to University of Virginia Hospital. From left to right: Dean Hunter, President Darden, Dr. Archer, Dr. Mulholland, and Director Stacey

Byrd S. Leavell named Assistant Dean

Byrd S. Leavell named Assistant Dean

Dr. Henry Bearden Mulholland retires as Assistant Dean

Henry Bearden Mulholland retires as Assistant Dean

Margaret G. Tyson, first Dean of Nursing School

Margaret G. Tyson appointed first Dean of the School of Nursing

1959

  • Library Books and Journals: 51,500
  • Current Library Periodicals: 750
  • Medical School Tuition: Virginia $500, Other $1000
  • Number of Medical Students: 304
  • Total annual appropriations for new equipment is $5000.
  • Rare books by Galen and Vesalius are exhibited.
  • Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery is granted full accreditation for residency training–the first and only program in Virginia.
  • Hospital Auxiliary contributes $10,000, which is used in part to purchase “electronic equipment for recording heart action.”
  • The School of Nursing Baccalaureate Degree Program is the first to be accredited in Virginia.
Medical School Class of 1959

University of Virginia School of Medicine Class of 1959

Construction of multi-story addition

Construction of multi-story hospital addition

Colgate Darden transfers presidency to Edgar Shannon

Colgate W. Darden, Jr. transfers presidency of the University of Virginia to Edgar F. Shannon, Jr.

Ground-breaking ceremony for the replacement hospital

Construction of multi-story hospital addition

First hemodialysis unit at UVa

First hemodialysis unit at UVa

Department of Physical Therapy adds hot tub

Department of Physical Therapy adds a tank for hot tubbing that is useful for polio and arthritic patients.