Guide to the Papers of Selma Dritz MSS.2009.04
Collection processing made possible by a 2016 National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) grant from the
National Archives (www.archives.gov/nhprc) in support of the project, "Evolution of San Francisco's Response to a Public Health
Crisis: Providing Access to New AIDS History Collections," an expansion of the AIDS History Project (AHP).
University of California, San Francisco Archives & Special Collections
2017
530 Parnassus Ave
Room 524
San Francisco, CA 94143-0840
libraryarchives@ucsf.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, San Francisco Archives & Special Collections
Title: Selma Dritz papers
source:
Dritz, Deborah
creator:
Dritz, Selma K., 1917-
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2009.04
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear Feet
(2 cartons)
Date (inclusive): 1965-2008
Abstract: Selma K. Dritz, MD, MPH, served as Assistant Director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Chief of the Division
of Occupational Health of the San Francisco Department of Public Health from 1967-1984. She played a seminal role in the early
years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the San Francisco Bay Area. Collection includes material predominantly related to HIV/AIDS,
including correspondence, research and educational materials, publications and clippings, and conference and lecture materials.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Selma Dritz papers, MSS 2009-04. Archives and Special Collections, University of California, San
Francisco.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. The UCSF Archives and Special Collections policy places access restrictions on material with
privacy issues for a specific time period from the date of creation. Restrictions are noted at the folder level. This collection
will be reviewed for sensitive content upon request. Contact the UCSF Archivist for information on access to restricted material.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Library and Center for Knowledge Management. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from material must be submitted in writing to the UCSF Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of
the Library and Center for Knowledge Management as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Separated Materials
Selected publications from the collection have been transferred to the AIDS History Book Collection of the UCSF Archives and
Special Collections. They have been individually cataloged and are available to researchers in the reading room.
Acquisition Information
The papers were given by Selma Dritz to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. San Francisco AIDS Foundation gave the material
to UCSF Archives and Special Collections. Collection was donated to UCSF by Deborah Dritz in 2009.
Additions
No future additions are expected.
Related Collections
The collection is part of the AIDS History Project. Learn more about the project and related collections by contacting the
UCSF Archivist or visiting www.library.ucsf.edu/archives/aids.
Processing Information
Processed by Kelsi Evans in 2017.
Biographical Information
Selma K. Dritz (1917-2008), MD, MPH, played a seminal role in the early years of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. As Assistant
Director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Chief of the Division of Occupational Health of the San Francisco
Department of Public Health, she tracked cases of HIV/AIDS and collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to help establish the etiology and epidemiology of the disease.
She worked to educate gay and straight people about AIDS recognition and prevention.
Dritz was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1917. She attended the University of Illinois (BS in Medicine, 1939; MD, 1941) and
the University of California, Berkeley (MPH, 1967). Dritz began her career in pediatrics but later shifted to public health,
joining the San Francisco Department of Public Health in 1967. From 1967-1984 she served as Assistant Director of the Bureau
of Communicable Disease Control and Chief of the Division of Occupational Health of the San Francisco Department of Public
Health. She became an expert in sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS and helped lead the department's efforts in related
prevention, policy, and research. She authored numerous publications and was a member of several professional organizations,
including the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, the California Medical Association, and
the San Francisco Medical Society. She served on the California State Task Force on AIDS and worked as a consultant to the
University of California, San Francisco Medical School. She died in 2008.
Scope and Contents
The collection predominantly relates to Dritz's work with HIV/AIDS, Kaposi sarcoma (KS), Pneumocystis pneumonia, and sexually
transmitted diseases in the San Francisco Bay Area. It includes material regarding research, education, prevention, and public
health policy, including correspondence, statistical data, clinical care and case study guidelines, publications and clippings,
and conference and lecture materials. Some photographs and slides are included. The bulk of the material is dated 1980-2000.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by subject-headed folders. Original folder arrangement and titles have been maintained with minimal
intervention by the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
AIDS (Disease) -- California -- San Francisco
Public health
Dritz, Deborah
carton 1, folder 1
Selma Dritz personal and biographical material
1965-2008
carton 1, folder 2
San Francisco AIDS Foundation Leadership Award
1988-1989
carton 1, folder 3
Oral history and AIDS History Project material
1983-2004
carton 1, folder 4
Randy Shilts correspondence and Glide Memorial Church funeral service
1977-2004
carton 1, folder 5
HIV/AIDS teaching file
1982-1997
carton 1, folders 6-7
Publications file
circa 1975-1985
Scope and Contents
Includes Selma Dritz article drafts, journal submission forms, reprints, and related correspondence.
carton 1, folders 8-11
Conferences, meetings, and lectures
circa 1975-2000
Scope and Contents
The majority of the material relates to events focused on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases that Selma Dritz spoke
at or attended. Includes programs and other printed material, Dritz handwritten lecture notes, related correspondence, and
Dritz departmental leave forms.
carton 1, folder 12
Correspondence
circa 1980-2000
carton 1, folder 13
Patient correspondence
1980-1983
Conditions Governing Access
Folder contains patient correspondence regarding AIDS and other health conditions. It is restricted in compliance with HIPAA
rules. Contact the UCSF Archivist for information on access to restricted files.
carton 1, folders 14-15
AIDS research and educational material
circa 1980-1995
Scope and Contents
Includes clinical care guidelines, case studies and reporting forms, education plans, and statistical information. Includes
material created by (among others) San Francisco City Clinic, San Francisco and US Departments of Health, and Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
carton 1, folder 16
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Screening Protocol and Resource and Referral Lists
1982
carton 1, folder 17
"Hildebrand Project / AIDS 11/98" 35mm slides
1983-1998
carton 1, folders 18-19
"SFDPH AIDS data" 35mm slides
1981-1984
Conditions Governing Access
Folder 19 contains photographs of patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and other health conditions. It is restricted in compliance
with HIPAA rules. Contact the UCSF Archivist for information on access to restricted files.
carton 1, folder 20
Sexually transmitted Hepatitis and gastrointestinal infections in gay population subject file
circa 1975-1985
carton 1, folders 21-22
"SFDPH Years / AIDS Years" scrapbook
circa 1980-2001
carton 1, folder 23
Community Consortium HIV Clinical Trials guides
1992, 1997
carton 1, folder 24
American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR) AIDS/HIV Treatment Directory
1993-07-29
carton 1, folder 25
International AIDS Society - USA course booklets and publications
1997-2000
carton 2, folders 1-12
AIDS-related clippings
circa 1980-2000
carton 2, folder 13
AIDS-related brochures and newsletters
1986-1991
carton 2, folder 14
AIDSFILE, San Francisco General Hospital newsletter
1986, 1994
carton 2, folder 15
San Francisco AIDS Foundation publications
circa 1985-1995
carton 2, folder 16
San Francisco Department of Public Health publications
1979-2001
carton 2, folder 17
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publications
1985, 1994
carton 2, folder 18
San Francisco Medicine, San Francisco Medical Society journal
1984-1987
carton 2, folder 19
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) volumes and supplements
1992-1997
