Biographical/historical information

The Bessie Dunn Miller Center was established in February 1945 in Charlottesville, Virginia by the Albemarle Home Demonstration Group as a memorial to the late Mrs. Miller, a cancer victim, who was very active in health work among the rural women. It was patterned after the clinics in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago, but differed as examinations were limited to well people only. It was the seventh clinic in the United States and the first to deal primarily with rural women. Demand for these types of clinics arose as a result of the all-out attack on the problem of cancer and development of annual or semi-annual examinations. Individuals at the Miller Center pledged to three examinations, with many who returned voluntarily for fourth and fifth, at six to twelve month intervals. The Center only performed exams; results and notes were sent to the patient's physician who carried out any additional studies or treatment. The Bessie Dunn Miller Center was a predecessor of the University of Virginia Cancer Center.

Scope and arrangement

The collection is comprised of two ledger books and a booklet. The ledgers are from 1945 to 1951 and 1952 to 1958. In them is list of examinations with date, name, date paid, and amount. A separate section is maintained for "negro" or "colored" patients. Loose papers have been left within the pages of the ledgers.

Administrative information

Custodial History

2005 May 9, (unprocessed) 2 ledgers and 1 booklet. Purchased from Palinurus Antiquarian Books (Jenkintown, PA).

Source of acquisition

Purchased from Palinurus Antiquarian Books (Jenkintown, PA)

Processing information

Processing revised by Ashley Williams, 2015

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration

Language of material

English

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