Collections

Wilhelm Delano Meriwether was the first African-American to graduate from the Duke University School of Medicine.

Contains the professional papers of Will Camp Sealy (1912-2001), chair of the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in the Department of Surgery at Duke University Medical Center (1950-1984). Materials include correspondence, reports, reprints, minutes, grant materials, speeches, notes, travel records, and committee materials. Major subjects include Duke University School of Medicine, arrhythmia, thoracic surgery, and cardiovascular surgical procedures. Materials date from 1938 to 1983.

Dr. William C. DeVries, MD (1943- ) is a cardiothoracic surgeon, known for the first transplant of a total artificial heart (TAH) using the Jarvik-7 model. DeVries completed his surgical residency at Duke, where he trained under Dr. David. C. Sabiston. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on August 20, 2019 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, DeVries discusses his education, work at the University of Utah School of Medicine with Dr. Willem Kolff on the artificial heart, his surgical residency at Duke, memories of Sabiston, and his career.

Dr. William C. Meyers, MD, dedicated his career to pioneering the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of core muscle injuries, formerly known as athletic pubalgia or sports hernia. He completed his residency and fellowship at Duke University subsequently serving 14 years as Chief for various divisions of surgery prior to leaving Duke. This collection contains 2 oral history interviews conducted on May 8, 1994 by Dr. James Gifford and February 27, 2019 by Dr. Justin Barr. In the 1994 interview, Meyers discusses the Gastrointestinal Research Lab. In the 2019 interview, which is part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project, Meyers reflects on his time as an undergraduate at Harvard and his early interest in journalism; experiences as a soccer player; medical school at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons; his residency at Duke; experiences with Sabiston; decision to stay at Duke after residency; experience as the program director of the residency program; Chace Lottich, the first female in Duke Surgery; preforming the first liver transplant at Duke and setting up the third liver transplant program in the country; preforming the first laparoscopic surgery at Duke; and leaving Duke for the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMASS Health System.

Dr. William Gallentine was an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and the Director of the Child Neurology Residency Program at Duke University. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on November 5, 2009 by Devyn Cosky and Chirag Vasavda. In this interview, Gallentine discusses the professional environment at Duke, balancing work and family, international medicine, and his decision to study pediatrics and pursue a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine.

William George Anlyan (1925-2016) came to Duke University School of Medicine for his residency in general and thoracic surgery (1949-1955). Afterwards, he joined the surgical staff led by Dr. Deryl Hart, becoming a full professor of surgery in 1961, and, from 1964 to 1969, was the third dean of the School of Medicine. Anlyan also served as vice president for health affairs (1969-1983) and chancellor for health affairs (1983-1989). From 1988 to 1993, Anlyan was the executive vice president and cencellor for health affairs before becoming chancellor of Duke University (1990-1995). This collection contains 9 oral history interviews conducted in 1978, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2004, and 2007. Interviews in the 1990s were conducted by Dr. James Gifford. Interviews conducted in the 2000s were conducted by Jessica Roseberry.

Contains papers and records pertaining to the professional career and administration of Duke University Medical Center under William George Anlyan (1925-2016). Anlyan came to Duke University School of Medicine for his residency in general and thoracic surgery (1949-1955). Afterwards, he joined the surgical staff led by Dr. Deryl Hart, becoming a full professor of surgery in 1961, and, from 1964 to 1969, was the third dean of the School of Medicine. Anlyan also served as vice president for health affairs (1969-1983) and chancellor for health affairs (1983-1989). From 1988 to 1993, Anlyan was the executive vice president and chancellor for health affairs before becoming chancellor of Duke University (1990-1995). Types of materials include subject files, chronological files, reports, budgets, plans, correspondence, memoranda, clippings, and photographs. Major correspondents include Wilburt Cornell Davison, Douglas M. Knight, E. Croft Long, Charles Frenzel, Joseph E. Markee, Barnes Woodhall, Terry Sanford, Philip Handler, Ruby Wilson, and Henry Rauch. Major subjects include hospital administration, health policy, construction financing, development, financial management, medical education, nursing education, community-institutional relations, parking facilities, and transportation. Major projects and leadership work include the Civitan Project, Private Sector Conference, The Duke Endowment, Duke University Medical Center, Duke Private Diagnostic Clinics, Duke University School of Medicine, Medical Center Board of Visitors, Highland Hospital (Asheville, North Carolina), National Library of Medicine, Association of American Medical Colleges, Veterans Administration, Watts Hospital (Durham, North Carolina), North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham, North Carolina), Sea Level Hospital (Sealevel, North Carolina) and merchant marine care, Durham Health Partners and City of Medicine, Institute of Medicine, North Carolina Medical Care Commission, and Whitehead Medical Research Institute. The materials in this collection date from 1930 to 2015.

William Henry Muller, Jr., attended Duke University School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins University and was the head of the Department of Surgery at the University of Virginia from 1954 to 1976. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on June 28, 2005 by Jessica Roseberry. In this interview, Muller discusses his background, education, medical career, and his recollections about student life during his time as a medical student at Duke.

Contains the personal and professional papers of William J. A. DeMaria (1923-1990), a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Community Health Sciences, as well as an associate director for medical education at Duke University Medical Center. He became the first director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in 1976. Types of materials include publications, news clippings, reports, correspondence, articles, papers, and handwritten notes pertaining to various topics regarding pediatrics and public health at Duke University Medical Center and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Materials range in date from 1951 to 1984.

William J. Donelan was the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Duke University Health System (DUHS) and vice chancellor for health affairs at Duke. This collection contains 3 oral history interviews conducted on November 11, 2003 and May 26, 2004 by Jessica Roseberry and March 10, 2020 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the 2003 interview, Donelan discusses his role in the administration of the Duke University Health System. In the 2004 interview, Donelan continues to discuss his role in the administration of the Duke University Health System. In the 2020 interview, Donelan discusses his early life, his educational background, his professional career path at Duke, the business administration side Duke's transformation into a premier academic hospital, his his relationship Sabiston, and Sabiston's legacy at Duke.

Contains the administrative records of the office of William J. Donelan, former Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs of the Duke University Health System. Types of materials include correspondence, budgets, reports, society and professional organization materials, surveys, committee materials, newspaper clippings, and appointment, promotion and tenure materials.

Dr. William J. Fulkerson Jr., MD, served as Executive Vice President for Duke University Health System (DUHS) and professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. Fulkerson's career started at Duke in 1983 as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine. While at Duke, he also served as Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of its pulmonary and critical care medicine area, Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs for DUHS. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on June 11, 2019 by Dr. Justin Barr as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, Fulkerson discusses his early life, education, coming to duke, working in the Department of Medicine, professional memories of Dr. David Sabiston, Duke Department of Surgery, treating Terry Sanford, and the origin of Duke's lung transplant program.

Dr. William L. London (1930-2014) was president of medical staff at Watts Hospital and Durham General Hospital (1973-1977), chair of Pediatrics at Watts (1968-1976), chair of Durham General Hospital (1976-1978), and a prominent member of the American Board of Pediatrics (1979-1999). This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on September 13, 2006 by Jessica Roseberry. In this interview, London discusses the integration of the Watts and Lincoln hospitals, the development of facilities at Durham Regional Hospital, and his personal responsibilities as the president of medical staff at Watts Hospital and Durham General Hospital. He also discusses his professional background, his work with the American Board of Pediatrics, and the history of pediatric care on the local, state, and national level.

Contains the personal and professional papers of William Longley (1928-1988), professor of anatomy at Duke University School of Medicine. Types of materials include correspondence, photographic materials, reprints, writings, manuscripts, drafts, clippings, printed materials, research notebooks, and grant materials. Major subjects include crystallography, focusing on the tobacco mosaic virus and insect flight muscle. Materials date from 1941 to 1987.

Contains the professional papers of William McNeal Nicholson (1905-1974), former professor, assistant dean of continuing medical education, and chief of the metabolism clinic at Duke University Hospital. Types of materials include correspondence, reports, publications, committee materials, and a manual. Major topics include Duke University hospitals and medical education. Major correspondents include Wilburt C. Davision. Materials range in date from 1949 to 1974.

William P. Wilson (1922-2018) was a Professor of Psychiatry and director of the electroencephalographic laboratories at Duke University Medical Center, as well as the founder and original program director of Duke's program for Christianity, medicine, and psychiatry. This collection contains 2 oral history interviews conducted at separate times. Interviews were conducted on January 13, 2010 and February 11, 2010 by Jessica Roseberry. In the January 13, 2010 interview, Wilson discusses his medical career and his memories of Duke's Department of Psychiatry from its early days through his retirement in 1984. In the February 11, 2010 interview, Wilson discusses the establishment of the program for Christianity, medicine, and psychiatry at Duke and the fifteen years he served as the program's head.

Contains the records of William P. Wilson from 1976 to 2007 including those from his professional work at Duke and his professional and personal life after his retirement from Duke. Types of materials include correspondence, manuscripts, itinerary for speaking engagements, outlines for lectures, research notes, brochures, pamphlets, photos, clippings and one CD pertaining to the work of Dr. Wilson especially in psychiatry and spiritual healing. Major topics include Duke University, psychiatry and Christianity.

Contains the papers and slides of Dr. William W. Johnston (1933-) who served as a physician and professor in the Duke University School of Medicine Department of Pathology and later chief of Cytopathology. Types of materials include slides, correspondence, depositions, and research papers. Major subjects include cytopathological diseases and conditions. The collection contains approximately 10,400 slides from approximately 1,100 unique cases. Reference index cards corresponding with the slides are also included in the collection. Materials in this collection range in date from 1964 to 1991.