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Size | 48.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 15,000 items) |
Abstract | The university opened its first infirmary in 1858. Beginning in 1890, members of the medical faculty were responsible for treating students there. The infirmary, however, had no full-time physician until 1919, when the first university physician was appointed. The name infirmary continued to be used informally to designate the building; but as early as 1938, the university physician's annual report referred to the entity as the University Health Service. By the late 1940s, that name had changed to Student Health Service. Originally, the university physician reported to the president, then later to the chancellor, of the university. With the creation of the Division of Student Affairs in 1954, the university physician began reporting to the head of that division, the dean of student affairs (later vice chancellor for student affairs). In 1959, the university physician's title was changed to director of the Student Health Service. Records include correspondence to and from the Directors of the Student Health Service, as well as numerous reports and committee and staff meeting minutes. Files pertain to administrative matters, including space and budget needs, and to various health concerns and issues faced by the Student Health Service. Of particular interest are files relating to sanitary conditions on campus in the 1940s; women's health in the 1970s; the planning and implementation of medical reimbursement insurance for students; the role of testing, self-study, and assessment in counseling, vocational, and other student services during the 1940s-1970s. Student Health Service directors who figure prominently in these records include Edward M. Hedgpeth, James A. Taylor, and Judith R. Cowan. |
Creator | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Student Health Service. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives. |
Language | English. |
Processed by: University Archives Staff, 2001
Encoded by: Elizabeth Johnson, March 2003
Updated by: Amanda Loeb, February 2014; by Nancy Kaiser, May 2019 and October 2020
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
The first infirmary was, appropriately, the last building erected by the university before the Civil War. Completed about 1858, this two-room structure, called the Retreat, was located behind the present Episcopal Church on Franklin Street. Prior to that time, sick students remained in their rooms to be nursed by friends. If the illness was severe, the student's mother or a nurse might be permitted to stay in an adjoining room, or the student and his caretaker might be moved to a hotel.
In 1891 students began paying an annual infirmary fee of five dollars, which entitled them to medical attention at no further charge. With income from these fees and with the financial help of Harry S. Lake, a student from New York City, the university built a new three-room infirmary in 1895. This second infirmary was located near the present site of the Hill Hall Auditorium. It was run by Dr. Richard H. Whitehead, who came to the university in 1890 as the first dean of the School of Medicine. Dr. Charles S. Mangum also attended patients here.
The third infirmary, later named Abernethy Hall, was erected in 1907 on South Columbia Street for a cost of $21,000. The new infirmary accommodated twenty patients and contained a "modernly" equipped operating room. Drs. Charles S. Mangum, Isaac H. Manning, and William DeBernier MacNider cared for patients on a rotating basis during the academic year; and Dr. E. A. Abernethy treated summer school patients until he left to serve in World War I. In 1920, after his return, the Board of Trustees elected him the first university physician, placing him in sole charge of the infirmary. The desire for such a position arose from concern over the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919. In addition, the large number of North Carolinians rejected by the Draft Board had called attention to the inadequacies of local health care. At this time, too, the university took steps to improve its athletic programs, intramural sports, and sanitation.
In October 1945 the infirmary moved into facilities vacated by the Navy Pre-Flight School Hospital, which also left behind most of its equipment. In 1952, the new North Carolina Memorial Hospital absorbed the infirmary building, and the infirmary traded one floor of its space for easy access to hospital staff and facilities. In 1971 the Student Health Service was allotted more space in the hospital. In the late 1970s, after nearly two decades of requests for new quarters, construction began on the James A. Taylor Student Health Service Building.
The name infirmary continued to be used informally to designate the building; but as early as 1938, the university physician's annual report referred to the entity as the University Health Service. By the late 1940s, that name had changed to Student Health Service. Prior to the creation of the Consolidated University of North Carolina in 1932, the university physician reported to the president of the university; after 1932 he reported to the chancellor. When the Division of Student Affairs was created on 1 July 1954, the Student Health Service became a part of that division, reporting to the dean (later the vice chancellor) of student affairs.
Individuals who served as University Physician include:
1919-1933 | Eric Alonzo Abernethy |
1933 | Foy Roberson, Interim |
1933-1940 | Walter Reece Berryhill |
1941-1959 | Edward McGowan Hedgpeth |
Those who have held the title Director of the Student Health Service are:
1959-1971 | Edward McGowan Hedgpeth |
1971-1981 | James Alexander Taylor |
1981-1998 | Judith R. Cowan |
July 1998-January 1999 | Dean L. Bresciani, Interim |
1999- | J. Robert Wirag |
Records include correspondence to and from the directors of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Student Health Service, as well as numerous reports and committee and staff meeting minutes. Files pertain to administrative matters, including space and budget needs, and to various health concerns and issues faced by the Student Health Service. Of particular interest are files relating to sanitary conditions on campus in the 1940s; women's health in the 1970s; the planning and implementation of medical reimbursement insurance for students; the role of testing, self-study, and assessment in counseling, vocational, and other student services during the 1940s-1970s. Student Health Service directors who figure prominently in these records include Edward M. Hedgpeth, James A. Taylor, and Judith R. Cowan.
Back to TopArrangement: Alphabetical by filename; individual files arranged chronologically.
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfers 20020718.1
Arrangement: as received
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfers 20070522.1
Arrangement: as received
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfers 20080801.1
Arrangement: as received
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfer 20090601.1
Arrangement: as received
Box 23-24
Box 23Box 24 |
James A. Taylor Student Health Service building renovation notebook, 1980-1998 |
Box 23Box 24 |
Student Health Service policies and procedures privacy officer, 2002 |
Box 23Box 24 |
Environment of Care manual, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
Box 23Box 24 |
Kirschman Report, 1994 |
Box 23Box 24 |
Disaster Committee, 1995-2001 |
Box 23Box 24 |
Annual report, 2002-2003, 2003-2004 |
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfer 20090615.1
Arrangement: as received
Box 24-26
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
Student Health Center Committee minutes, 2003-2004 |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
CME, 2003-2004 |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
Insurance/Medical Mutual Risk Management |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
UNC Hospital contracts/correspondence |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
Student Health Service orientations/Bookmarks |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
Nursing Department continuing education records, policies, procedures, 2002-2002 |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
Sports Medicine Institute materials |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
Sports Medicine background |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
UNC Physicians and Associates profession fee, 1993-1999 |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
Managing students with alcohol intoxication |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
After hours services discontinuation |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
Saturday A.M. discontinuation of clinics |
Box 24Box 25Box 26 |
Annual Meeting of Southern Colleges, hosted by Student Health Service, 2001 |
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfer 20100111.1
Arrangement: as received
Box 27 |
Infection Control Manual, 2001 |
Administration receptionist job procedures |
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Administrative Management Team minutes, 1999-2007 |
|
Box 31 |
Security guard position, 1999 |
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfer 20100330.1
Arrangement: as received
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfer 20100721.1
Arrangement: as received
Box 30 |
Environment of Care manual, 2007-2008 |
Environment of Care manual, 2008-2009 |
|
Box 31 |
Student Health Center Committee minutes, 2004-2005 |
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfer 20101216.2
Arrangement: as received
Box 31-32
Box 31Box 32 |
Annual reports, 1977-1991 |
Acquisitions Information: Records Transfer 20110527.1
Arrangement: as received
Box 32-33
Box 32Box 33 |
Environment of Care Workshops, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 |
Box 32Box 33 |
Environment of Care newsletter, volumes 1-4 |
Box 32Box 33 |
Emergency Management manual, 2008-2009, 2009-2010 |
Box 32Box 33 |
Fire Safety Management manual, 2008-2009, 2009-2010 |
Box 32Box 33 |
Hazardous Materials Management manual, 2008-2009, 2009-2010 |
Box 32Box 33 |
Medical Equipment Management manual, 2008-2009, 2009-2010 |
Box 32Box 33 |
Safety Management manual, 2008-2009, 2009-2020 |
Box 32Box 33 |
Security Management manual, 2008-2009, 2009-2010 |
Box 32Box 33 |
Utilities Management manual, 2008-2009, 2009-2010 |