Porter (Robert L.) Papers, 1928-1959

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Summary

Title:
Robert Langley Porter papers
Dates:
1928-1959
Creators:
Porter, R. Langley
Abstract:
Dr. Robert Langley Porter was a prominent San Francisco pediatrician and important figure in the history of UCSF, serving as a lecturer, Dean of the medical school, and driving force behind the creation of the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. Collection contains items relating to his work, life, and interests.
Extent:
2.709 Linear Feet 2 cartons, 1 oversize folder
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Robert Langley Porter papers, MSS 77-11. Archives and Special Collections, University of California, San Francisco.

Background

Scope and content:

Contains the autobiographical writings and poetry; personal correspondence; miscellaneous writings; speeches; dedications; lectures to students; and personal research in psychology of Dr. Robert Langley Porter. Collection also contains ephemeral materials related to nutrition and health including recipes, menus, formulas; newspaper clippings of public health initiatives; reprints of articles both published by Porter and other scholars. Large blue folder 18" x 12" with newspaper clippings, scrapbook of memorabilia, black graduation cap with red ribbon, a pocket of hair, unsure if human.

Biographical / historical:

R. Langley Porter was born in Montreal, Canada in 1870. He attended Pennsylvania Military Academy, then came to California obtaining a teaching post in chemistry in 1891 at Cooper Medical College. Intrigued by medicine, he enrolled as a medical student in the Cooper Medical College, graduating in 1896 and completed extensive postgraduate education. He traveled extensively in Europe and studied in London, becoming a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and studying pathology and pediatrics in Freiburg and Berlin.

Returning to San Francisco, he became one of the city's first pediatricians with a successful private practice. His interest in pediatrics prompted him to join the Stanford faculty in chargeof the Cooper Pediatric Clinic, where he began clinical teaching. In 1906, Porter served as City Physician for Communicable Diseases, and some credit him with averting an epidemic of plague following the earthquake by his efforts to rid the city of rats. He was responsible for obtaining city support for the first clinical laboratory at the county hospital. Poor health interrupted his career until he joined the University of California faculty in 1918, becoming a lecturer in pediatrics. In 1927 Dr. Porter was appointed the Dean of the UC School of Medicine by University President W. W. Campbell. He returned to Parnassus and initiated major reforms during the interwar period. During the Depression years, he presided over the state-funded construction of the Clinics Building and secured California Department of Mental Hygiene support for creation of the Langley Porter Clinic, later the LPPI. He retired from the deanship in 1940.

Acquisition information:
This collection was donated to the UCSF Archives and Special Collections by Mrs. Anne Porter Burmeister, daughter of Langley Porter, in 1977.
Arrangement:

The collection has been subdivided into subject files and six series:Newspaper clippings miscellany; Writings and publication files; Medical Teachings Lectures/Remarks; Working files/Research; Speeches/Dedications; and Correspondence.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Joelynn Lee
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-11-18 15:38:07 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Robert Langley Porter papers, MSS 77-11. Archives and Special Collections, University of California, San Francisco.

Location of this collection:
UCSF Library & CKM Archives and Special Collections, 530 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94143-0840, US