Charles Gordon Heyd papers

Collection — Box: 1-10

Identifier: MS-0002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These papers document the career of an alumnus of the University of Buffalo Medical School (1909) who was deeply involved in the politics of medicine throughout his notable career.

Reorganization of the New York Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital was an early concern. A group of letters covering the period 1915-1944 show Dr. Heyd's relationship with the famous surgeon, Dr. John F. Erdman. Stratification of hospital staff forms one facet of this relationship, also revealed in correspondence with other colleagues.

Dr. Heyd helped to create a favorable image of the medical profession through his numerous speaking engagements and radio broadcasts. Representative titles include: "Fight Cancer with Knowledge," "Your Doctor and Your Health" and "The Contributions of Organized Medicine to the Public." He was a vigorous leader, as President of the American Medical Association 1936-1937, in keeping medicine within the free enterprise system. From 1945 on he was active in the United Medical Service, forerunner of the Blue Shield Plan.

This Collection contains materials on the involvement of the American Medical Association in an anti-trust suit, the availability of records to patients, medical ethics and certification, malpractice, and workmen's compensation.

Dr. Heyd headed a "Doctors for Dulles" committee during John Foster Dulles' 1949 senatorial campaign; he received a letter from Thomas E. Dewey in 1942 thanking him for his support; a signed letter from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dated February 3, 1937 declining an invitation to speak before the American Medical Association, but indicating Franklin Delano Roosevelt's concern with those citizens who lacked medical care.

Dates

1893-1961

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

Charles Gordon Heyd papers, 1893-1961, are open for research.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical Note

For an outline similar to the account in Who's Who for 1953, see Folder 50, in Box VIII; there is a partial list of speaking engagements and publications. An "In Memoriam" article (UB Alumni News, Volume 4 Number 9) describes his services to the University: "He founded the first New York City Alumni Club ... trustee of the School of Medicine Alumni Association. He played a leading role in explaining the University's merger with State University ... and the need for continuing alumni support." The Medical School is a beneficiary of Dr. Heyd's estate (UB Alumni News, June, 1970). See also UB Alumni News, June-July, 1971.

Extent

5.5 Linear Feet (10 manuscript boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

These papers document the career of an alumnus of the University of Buffalo Medical School (1909) who was deeply involved in the politics of medicine throughout his notable career. The collection contains personal and professional correspondence, reports and articles, speeches, and various other documents, including materials on the involvement of the American Medical Association in an anti-trust suit, the availability of records to patients, medical ethics and certification, malpractice, and workmen's compensation.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in five series: I. Correspondence, II. Writings, III. Speeches, IV. Other documents, V. Technical Monographs.
The arrangement is roughly chronological by type of document: correspondence, speeches, writings, programs and clippings. An occasional official document or clipping has been retained with the accompanying letter in the correspondence series.