Contains the personal and professional papers of Wilburt Cornell Davison (1897-1972), pediatrician, chair of pediatrics, and first dean of Duke University School of Medicine (1927-1960). Types of materials include correspondence, subject files, memorabilia, scrapbooks, photographs, clippings, programs, budgets, reports, deeds, poems, manuscript materials, creative writings, genealogical materials, article reprints, diplomas, and certificates and invitations. Oversized diplomas and certificates have been separated from this collection. Major correspondents include George G. Allen, Atala Davison, Jay M. Arena, F. Vernon Altvater, Bessie Baker, William B. Bell, William Preston Few, Wiley D. Forbus, Frederic Moir Hanes, Elizabeth Hanes, Julian Deryl Hart, Sir William Osler, Talmage Peele, Wilder Penfield, Watson S. Rankin, Josiah Trent, and Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans. Major groups and associations in the collection include Alpha Omega Alpha, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, Lincoln Hospital, Rockefeller Foundation, and Society for Pediatric Research. Major subjects in this collection include pediatrics, medical education, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University faculty and students, Duke Hospital, and Private Diagnostic Clinic. Materials date from 1881 to 1972.
Contains a scrapbook and bound digital print copy of letters and articles between Dean Wilburt C. Davison and Sir William and Lady Grace Osler. The first page of this scrapbook bears the inscription: "Wilburt Cornell Davison from William Osler, in memory of Oxford, July 27, 1916". Also contains letters from the Oslers, to Dean Davison and from Grace Osler to Davison's wife, Atala Thayer Davison, and from Grace Osler's sister, Susan R. Chapin to Davison, as well as clippings, including articles either by or relating to Osler, the Oslers' obituaries, and a short manuscript by Davison, "Sir Williams Osler's story of his life." Materials date from 1913 to 1950.