Preliminary Inventory of the Robert Edward Dawson Papers, 1939-1998
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleRobert Edward Dawson Papers,
1939-1998
Creator
Dawson, Robert Edward, 1918-
Extent
46.1. Linear Feet
25,113 Items
Repository
25,113 Items
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University
Language
English.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is restricted.
In addition, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Robert Edward Dawson Papers, Rare Book,Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Robert Edward Dawson Papers were received by the Rare Book,Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a gift, 2000-2001.
Processing Information
Processed by Ann Langford; Shayla C. Nunnally; Kate Crassons; RuthE. Bryan
Completed June 5, 2000, January 23, 2001, and April 26, 2001
Additions minimally processed by Ann G. Langford
Last updated December 19, 2001
Encoded by Ruth E. Bryan; Ann G. Langford
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
This collection is unprocessed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
[top]
Biographical Note
African-American ophthalmologist and citizen of Durham (Durham Co.), N.C. Born on February 23,1918 in Rocky Mount, N.C., Dawson received his B.S. from Clark College inAtlanta, Ga., and his M.D. from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.
[top]Collection Overview
This collection documents Dawson's professional and civic life.Materials include scrapbooks; reports; subject files; memoranda; andcorrespondence, in particular from prominent Durhamites, such as Floyd B.McKissick, Sr., and James E. Shepard. The collection details Dawson's medicalpractices, teaching, and board memberships at Lincoln Community Health Center, Lincoln Hospital, and Durham County General Hospital. It also documentshis lengthy and high-level involvement with the following institutions andorganizations: Meharry Medical College, George W. Hubbard Hospital, the National Medical Society, the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness,the North Carolina Society for the Prevention ofBlindness, the Old North State Medical Society, North Carolina Central University, and the Mutual Savings & Loan Association. Thecollection also contains 35 color photographs and 48 negatives. Acquired aspart of the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African AmericanDocumentation. (1939-1998) (11,550 items) (19.00 lf) (acc#00-320)
The addition to the collection contains financial materials,correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings and magazine articles (8560items, 1946-1997), and photographs (300 items) that continue to documentDawson's medical career and his involvement in organizations in Durham, NorthCarolina, and nationally. In addition to the institutions, hospitals, medicalpractices, and civic groups that have been described in the first accession,this addition includes materials from Dawson's real estate ventures. Theseinclude owning apartments with the firms Dawson and Watts and then Dawson, Watts and Cleland (1970s) and buildingapartments with the firm Century Oaks, Ltd. (1977-1981). The majority ofthe 2 black-and-white and 297 color photographs appear to be of family. Onetintype is included of an unidentified woman wearing what may be a weddingdress (undated). (8860 items) (14.50 lf) (2001-73)
The addition to the collection (4703 items, dated 1946-1996 and n. d.,bulk date 1998-1994, 12.60 linear feet) includes subject files holding reports,memoranda, correspondence, and printed material, as well as many business andpersonal financial records. In addition, there are two color photographs.(01-153)
[top]
Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
- Dawson, Robert Edward, 1918-
- McKissick, Floyd B. (Floyd Bixler), 1922-
- Shepard, James Edward.
- Meharry Medical College.
- North Carolina Central University.
- National Medical Association (U.S.)
- National Society to Prevent Blindness.
- Dawson and Watts.
- Dawson, Watts and Cleland.
- Century Oaks, Ltd.
- African American physicians--North Carolina.
- Ophthalmologists.
- African Americans in the professions.
- African American universities and colleges.
- Hospitals--North Carolina.
- Savings and loan associations--North Carolina.
- Black-and-white photographs.
- Color photographs.
- Clippings.
- Negatives.
- Scrapbooks.
- Tintype
- John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African-American Documentation.
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Accession 2000-0320 | ||||||
| | Accession 2001-0073 | ||||||
 | | Accession 2001-0153 | ||||||
Preliminary Description of Unprocessed Collection
Accession 2000-0320
Some of the materials in this collection are not immediately
accessible, because they require further processing before use. Please contact
Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library to use this collection.
Attention: Collection needs further processing before use.
Reformat newsprint and coated fax paper in boxes 8-14; remove materials in
envelopes and rusty fasteners throughout; resleeve photographs in boxes 3, 8,
and 11; be aware of sensitive material in boxes 1, 9 and 14 (student grades)
and personal medical and financial information (throughout). Contact Technical
Services.
Attention: Collection is restricted. Patrons must sign a release
form regarding privacy rights. Contact Technical Services.
Box 1
Medical Records-Private Practice (
Lincoln Community Health Center,
1969- )
Lincoln Hospital departmental
records
Lincoln Hospital committee and
administrative records
Business records
Brochures/Publications (
National Medical
Association/Medical-related)
Proposal
Durham County Hospital Corporation
Affirmative Action Plan-December
1984
Personal correspondence
Clippings
Map
Meharry Medical School files
Dawson's children's school records
Box 2
Correspondence (
1979-1983)
Financial records
Personal medical information
Miscellaneous files
Map
Various Hospital Financial/ Staff Concerns
Meharry Medical College files (incl.
Bulletins)
Lincoln Community Health Center files
(Private Clinic Proposal)
Floyd B. McKissick writings
George W. Hubbard Hospital at Meharry
Medical College files
Other items in oversize folders.
Box 3
Meharry Medical College files
Board of Management of Alumni Association
files
Board of Trustees reports
George W. Hubbard Hospital files
Constitution and By-laws
Alumni Association Presidency, Committee, and
miscellaneous files
Correspondence
Lincoln Community Health Center
files
Photo with negatives (Meharry Class of
1943 Folder)
Articles of Incorporation of
Durham County Hospital Corporation (
June 21,
1971)
American Medical Association (House of
Delegates Handbook
1980)
National Medical Association Convention
(1979) files
Other items in oversize folders.
Box 4
National Medical Association (NMA)
files
Journals and Annual Reports
Insurance Program/ Committee
Board of Trustees
1975
Council of Scientific Assembly
Ophthalmology
Handbook for the Auxiliary to the NMA
House of Delegates (minutes)
Retirement Plan Trust
Management Committee
Project 75
Clippings
National Society for the Prevention of Blindness
files
North Carolina Society for the Prevention of
Blindness, Inc. files
Correspondence
American Cancer Society files (
1964- ; Annual
Reports)
Other items in oversize folders.
Box 5
National Medical Association (NMA) files
Board of Trustees
1973-1975
Time and Place Committee
E.E.N.T. Section
Constitution Committee
Awards Committee
Black Congress on Health andLaw
Financial Aid for Students
Letters/Correspondence
Task Force
Activities of the President
Planning and Development
National Society to Prevent Blindness
files
Other items in oversize folders.
Box 6
Old North State Medical Society
files
American Hospital Association
files
Meharry Medical College Trustees'
Manual
Scrapbooks
Other items in oversize folders.
Box 7
North Carolina College Health Service
(present-day
North Carolina Central University)
files
Lincoln Community Health Hospital files
Correspondence (incl.
James E. Shepard, founder of North
Carolina Central University)
Old North Medical Society
files
Durham County Hospital Corporation
files
Development Committee
Board of Trustees
Durham County General Hospital
files
Constitution and By-laws
Miscellaneous files
Other items in oversize folders.
Box 8
Speeches
News Articles of Interest
Correspondence
Meharry Medical College
National Medical Association
National Society to Prevent Blindness
American Medical Association
Box 9
Durham County Hospital
Corporation
National Medical Association
National Society to Prevent
Blindness
Meharry Medical College Fundraising
Campaign
Graduate degree problems in counseling at
North Carolina Central University,
1974
Some personal financial and biographical
information
National Medical Association, Continuing
Medical Education
Meharry Medical College and
George W. Hubbard Hospital
NCCU Board of Trustees
Other groups in which Dawson participated
Including the
Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain
Trust and the
State of North Carolina,
Department of Human Resources,
Medical Care Advisory Committee
Meharry Medical College alumni materials,
1967-1968
[One folder includes sensitive material-student grades]
Box 10
Rites of Passage (
S.A.G.E. Project) for African American
Males
NMA Black Caucus and
NCCU Nursing School,
1969
National Society for the Prevention of
Blindness
Durham County General Hospital
National Medical Association, including
the Blue Ribbon Task Force
Greensboro College
Examples of reminder/overdue bill letters
Meharry Medical College Board of
Trustees
Meharry Medical College Executive
Committee
Meharry Medical College Alumni
Association
Box 11
Durham County General Hospital
Meharry Medical College and
George W. Hubbard Hospital
North Carolina Central
University
National Medical Association
Mutual Savings and Loan
Association
[Building construction records]
North Carolina Central
University
[Financial materials from office, ca.
1980s}
[Loose professional correspondence,
ca. 1980s]
Photographs
Box 12
Old North State Medical
Society
NCNB Educational Loan and other account and Robert
Dawson, Jr. loan
National Conference on Trusteeship, Association of
Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
Washington Duke Ambassador's Club
Curriculum vitae
[
Arthur Boyd's case before the
NC Medical Examiner's Board,
1986]
Black Community Forum
Brown, Roland
Guardsmen, Inc., ca.
1960s
Lectures-Nursing Class, ca.
1960
[includes sensitive material: student grades]
Articles of Interest (Abstracts, etc.),
1956-1958 and
1980s-1990s
Oversize materials
Box 13
Miscellaneous items from boxes 1-3
Includes correspondence and clippings.
Box 14
Miscellaneous items from boxes 4-7
Includes clippings.
Accession 2001-0073
Some of the materials in this collection are not immediately
accessible, because they require further processing before use. Please contact
Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library to use this collection.
Attention: Needs further processing before use. See notes for
each box below. Contact Technical Services.
Attention: Collection is restricted and contains sensitive
information throughout. Users must sign release form regarding privacy rights.
Contact Technical Services.
Box 1
Remove rusty fasteners; remove envelope contents.
Medical/Professional Files
Gray, Willie
Grievance Committee
DCGH
American Board OPHTH
American Op. Contact Lens
Continuing Medical Education
Duke University
DCGH
Department of Health and Human Services
Duke University, Physician's AssociateProgram
Dr. John Merritt
Airline Schedules
Correspondence
(2 folders)
Memorabilia
Miscellaneous
Financial, Tax, and Property Records
(12 folders)
Box 2
Remove rusty fasteners; reformat newspaper clippings; remove
envelope contents.
Medical/Professional Files
Diseases, Glaucoma
Eye therapy
Dudley, Charles R.
John Hancock Vision Plan
John Joyner-
NMA
Vision Care
Vision Care Contracts,
Aetna Insurance
Cont. Med. Education
Arthur Boyd
Quiglas Milton, M.D.
Letters-pick up glasses
Charles E. McClinton, Ph.D.
Old North State Medical
National Society to PreventBlindness
Uzzle Motor Co.
Windowman
Computers Information
Carolina Motor Club
Blk Man
Marriott
Marriott's Club Marquis
Financial, Tax, Property Records
Amoco
The Gold Card
Mastercard-closed accounts
Insurance, Massachusetts Mutual Life
Union Insurance and Realty
NCNB
Credit Records
A. Bord
Thomas, Knight, Trent, King, andCompany
Humphrey Analyzer
Fidelity Investments
Dean Witter
Bobby 1987
Insurance
Financial Planning
Randall Miller Corporate
Medical Mutual
R.E. Dawson, M.D. P.A.
Perry, Dwight
Dawson-Perry
Tintype of unidentified woman in
[wedding dress], undated
[removed to oversize folder]
Box 3
Remove rusty fasteners; reformat newspaper clippings; remove
envelope contents.
Financial, Tax, and Property Records
Canon--Uni-copy
Watts, Cleland, and Dawson
IBM--typewriter material
Bank-
Mechanics and Farmers
Quarterly Report Copies,
1977January-December
Unemployment Taxes
1979
Tom Gilmore, Deputy Secretary, Department of Human
Resources
Income Tax (General)
Kehoe Plan
Contributions
Garrett, Sullivan, etc.
Mrs.
Mary C. Jones
Contracts - Equipment
Collection Tips
Chapel Hill, Carboro Project
Insurance and Finance
Association, Membership, and Committee
Records
Eye-Bank Association ofAmerica
EDSF, Standing Committee of Physician
Consultants
Assoc. Gov. Boards, Task Force
Alpha Omega Alpha
Association of
GoverningBoards
Better Health Foundation
Carolina Motor Club
Commission for the Blind
(correspondence)
Meharry Medical College Board of
Trustees
Addresses, Misc. Organizations
Medical/Professional Files
DCGH Directory
EDS Federal
[Opthalmology Seminar]
Employee Folder
AMA/
NMA joint liaison
Correspondence
Letters
1976
(3 folders)
Letters
1994
(2 folders)
Letters
1970-1971
Letters
1975
Employment of the Handicapped
Advertising Firms
Clark College
(3 folders)
Addresses
(2 folders)
Box 4
Remove rusty fasteners; reformat newspaper clippings;
resleeve photographs; remove envelope contents.
Speeches
Clippings
Personal and Professional Correspondence
Memoirs
Memorabilia
Scrapbook
Photographs
(6 folders)
National Medical Association, House of
Delegates Handbook
(4 folders)
Hubbard Hospital Survey,
1978
97th Annual Convention of the
Old North State Medical Society
Folder
Old North State Medical
Society
Finances and Investments
(4 folders)
Newsletters/Newspapers/Magazines/Clippings/Brochures
(6 folders)
Mauphin -
Meharry Medical College
Miscellaneous Computer Printout
Ruth Dudley - bills
Memorandums
Church programs for various events
Correspondence
Box 5
Reformat coated paper; remove rusty fasteners; remove envelope
contents.
Conventions
Black Americans and Higher Education
Durham Hospital-Laboratory Medicine
Addresses
Hospital Board Trustee Information
Papers
Ocular Bacteriology
Annual Report of the
National Medical Association,
1972-1973
Lincoln Community Health
Center
Health Themes of NMA to Secretary of
Health
University of North Carolina
Durham Ambulatory Services
License - N.C. Department of Revenue,
1978
Record of Laser Treatment,
1984
Planning Financial Service
Guardsman
Melanie Dawson
Educational - Youth Leadership Program
American Cancer Society,
1953-1963
N.C. Chapter of the American College of
Surgeons
North Carolina State Commission for the
Blind
Durham Chamber of Commerce-Community
Development Committee
Diabetic Retinopathy Study
District Court of Durham
Disability Insurance
Division of Disability Determination
Durham Chamber of Commerce
Mutual Savings and Loan Association -
Board of Trustees,
1975
Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Fee Ratios of
Sectors
Medicaid
Title XX
Fee Profile
Overpayments
Advisory Committee-Medical Assistance Program
Department of Social Services
(2 folders)
Letters Filed-A-N,
1982
Letters Typed
A-N,
1982
N-Z,
1982
Commemorative Gifts Committee
Taxes
Old -
1960s
1974
Income Tax - Business - Corp. - P.A.
1974-1975
1976-1977
Income Tax - Personal,
1978
Box 6
Reformat newspaper clippings; remove rusty fasteners.
Real Estate Associates Limited
V
Leave Records
Miscellaneous
Smith Barney Harris Upham
Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Family
W.B. Sanders Co.
Surgery History and Work-ups
Cataract Surgeries - Implants and
Extractions
Contact Lens
Disability Insurance
Hill, Deborah
Miscellaneous Office Bills
Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Personal Care
Plan
Alcon Laboratories
Ambulatory Surgical Center
Sashep Commission Report
Nursing
Joint Commission
Miscellaneous Finances
Employment - Fairweather
Meharry Medical College
(4 folders)
Academic Papers
National Medical Association, Inc.
(2 folders)
Newspapers
USAFSAM
Durham Community House, Inc.
Glaucoma
Duke Eye Center
Clark College
NC Medical Society
Durham County Hospital
National Society to Prevent
Blindness
Letters,
1977 July-December
(2 folders)
Letters,
1977 January-June
(2 folders)
Letters,
1978
(1 of 3 folders)
Box 7
Reformat newspaper clippings; remove rusty fasteners; remove
envelope contents.
Letters
1978
(cont. 2 folders)
Professional Organizations/Institutions
North Carolina CentralUniversity
Meharry Medical College
Greensboro College
Sigma Pi Phi
(2 folders)
The Human Betterment League of NorthCarolina
North Carolina Joint Council of HealthEducation
National Society to PreventBlindness
Old North State,
North Carolina MedicalSociety
National Medical Association
Durham County General
Medical/Professional Files
Medical Secretary's Forms Manual and
Magazine
State of North Carolina Department of DisabilityDetermination
Nursing Class
Medicare
Financial, Insurance, Tax, and Property
Files
[Checkbook records]
Medical Mutual Insurance
Medical Associates Inc.
North Carolina Department of Revenue
Medical Insurance Agency
A Physician's Guide to Gearing up for Retirement
(2 folders)
Dawson,
Watts, and Cleland,
1976
Dawson, Watts, and Cleland,
1971
Dawson and Watts,
1976
Dawson and Watts,
1977
Dawson, Watts, and Cleland,
1977
Century Oaks Contracts, Phase I,
1980 July
[Shelter Properties]
Printed Materials
Newspaper, Magazine, and Journal articles
(2 folders)
[Personal Interest]
Box 8
Reformat newspaper clippings; remove rusty fasteners; remove
envelope contents.
Professional Organizations/Institutions
NC Central University
(3 folders)
[Meharry Medical College]
(3 folders)
[Old North State]
[National MedicalAssociation]
Professional/Medical Files
(3 folders)
Financial, Tax, Insurance, and Property Files
(3 folders)
Printed Material
Newspaper, Magazine, and Journal articles
(5 folders)
Box 9
Reformat newspaper clippings; remove rusty fasteners; remove
envelope contents.
Financial, Tax, Property and Insurance
Files
Dawson, Watts, and Cleland,
1972-1975
(4 folders)
Dawson and Watts,
1971-1975
(5 folders)
Retirement Plan/Profit Sharing plan
(2 folders)
Professional Organizations/Institutions
National Medical Association
Medical/Professional Files
Commission for the Blind
(5 folders)
[Speeches]
Printed Material
Box 10
Remove contents from folders; remove rubber bands, rusty
fasteners.
Sigma Pi Phi
Finances
Warren Lockhart TV Sports
Alexander&Associates Realty, Inc.
(2 folders)
Beverage Industry
Tax Returns,
1970s
Greeting Cards
Box 11
Reformat newspaper clippings; remove contents from folders;
remove rubber bands, rusty fasteners.
[Miscellaneous/Loose Material]
(5 folders)
Box 12
Reformat newspaper clippings; remove contents from folders;
remove rusty fasteners.
Financial/Real Estate
[
Century Oaks, Ltd.],
1977-1981
(3 folders)
Blank income sheets for R. E. Dawson,
M.D.P.A.
[Loose material: newspaper clippings]
Oversize Folder 1
Tintype of unidentified woman in [wedding dress], undated
[from box 2]
1997 African-American
Heritage Calendar
Summary of expenses,
1973
Accession 2001-0153
Some of the materials in this collection are not immediately
accessible, because they require further processing before use. Please contact
Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library to use this collection.
Box 1
Contents of box 1:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Miscellaneous Information on Health Care
Payments
IRA
Box 2
Contents of box 2:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Banking Information including statements, investments,
and accounts
Insurance
Incorporation of Dawson's practice
Box 3
Contents of box 3:
Miscellaneous Banking Information
Insurance
Investments
Box 4
Contents of box 4:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Incorporation of Dawson's practice
Bills to Patients
Clark College
Letters typed and filed, A-M,
1981
Box 5
Contents of box 5:
Medicaid and Medicare
Box 6
Contents of box 6:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Medical Associations and Societies
Box 7
Contents of box 7:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes;
reformat newsprint.
One folder of legal-sized material removed to box 21.
Savings
Receipts
Box 8
Contents of box 8:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes,
reformat newsprint.
Subject Files: O-P
Box 9
Contents of box 9:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Subject Files: P-S
Box 10
Contents of box 10:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Subject Files: S-V
Box 11
Contents of box 11:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Subject Files: A
Box 12
Contents of box 12:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Contains rusty fasteners.
Subject Files: B-F
Box 13
Contents of box 13:
Subject Files
G-H
M
Medical Insurance
Medical Associations
Box 14
Contents of box 14:
Needs more processing: Resleeve photograph.
Subject Files: M
Box 15
Contents of box 15:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes,
reformat newsprint.
Insurance
Magazines and Journals
Masons
Multiple Miscellaneous Files
[possibly subject files]
Box 16
Contents of box 16:
Needs more processing: Resleeve photograph; remove material
from envelopes.
Harris Corporation
Greensboro College
Subject files: B-D
Box 17
Contents of box 17:
One folder of legal-sized material removed to box 21.
Subject Files: D, N, P
Box 18
Contents of box 18:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Subject Files: R-Z
NC health services
Magazines and journals
Box 19
Contents of box 19:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes.
Statements from Mechanics and Farmers Bank
Receipts
Box 20
Contents of box 20:
Needs more processing: Remove material from envelopes;
reformat newsprint.
Bank statements
Journals, Magazines, and Directories
Box 21
Contents of legal size box 21:
Magazines, Fliers, and Journals
Mutual Savings and Loans
[from box 7]
Paine Webber
[from box 17]
