Public Health Department Records, 1940-2006

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Summary

Title:
Public Health Department records
Dates:
1940-2006
Creators:
Santa Clara County (Calif.) Public Health Dept.
Abstract:
This collection contains records and documents created by the Public Health Department from 1940 to 2006. The majority of the collection is statistical reports.
Extent:
22 archives boxes and 3 unboxed plaques
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Public Health Department records, 2007-001, 2007-004, and 2007-009, Santa Clara County Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The bulk of this collection consists of statistical data collected by the Public Health Department, including birth reports, death reports, morbidity reports, and published survey results, arranged first by type of report and then chronologically. Also included are general administrative files that illuminate some of the processes through which these reports are generated, as well as three plaques.

Biographical / historical:

Counties were first mandated to care for the county welfare by the state legislature in 1850. The Public Health Department, which has existed as a separate administrative unit from at least 1940, is responsible for assessing community health status, preventing diseas, injury, and premature death, promoting health practices, and collecting vital statistics. In 1993 the department was merged with the County hospital system to become part of the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System (SCVHHS.

Acquisition information:
This collection was transferred to the Archives by the Public Health Department in 2007.
Processing information:

This collection was in no particular order when accessioned. Most of the statistical reports were already housed in binders and needed only to be put in chronological order and boxed. The older reports from the 1940s were foldered for protection. However, the random administrative files had to be arranged loosely by function and chronology. Some folders needed replacing, but the originals were kept when possible. The plaques are unboxed.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged by type of report and then chronologically. There are separate series for publications and administrative files.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Archives staff.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Shoshana Francis
Date Prepared:
© 2007
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Shoshana Francis. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: June 5, 2007.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The Archives can claim physical ownership only for some collections. Users are responsible for securing permission of the copyright holder for publication or quotation.

Preferred citation:

Public Health Department records, 2007-001, 2007-004, and 2007-009, Santa Clara County Archives.

Location of this collection:
1875 Senter Road
San Jose, CA 95112, US
Contact:
(408) 755-7895
Archives@rec.sccgov.org
Website