The University of Texas Medical School at Houston was approved by Governor Preston Smith in 1969. Cheves Smythe, M.D. was appointed the first dean. The first class enrolled in 1970 but was divided among three cities; the first class to complete all its studies in Houston enrolled in 1971. Its John J. Freeman Building was completed in 1972 and the School joined the UT Health Science Center consortium in 1973. The Medical School building sustained serious flood damage in both 1976 and 2001; the damage by Tropical Storm Allison took three years to rebuild. It was renamed the John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School in 2015 following a gift from the John P. McGovern Foundation.
University of Texas Medical School records primarily consists of newsletters like Scoop, IATRO year books, annual reports, directories for consultation referrals, and other types of ephemera. The collection roughly dates from 1979 to 2011. The collection is in good condition and consists of 12 cubic feet (29 boxes). Finding aid is also available.
Find out more about visiting John P. McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center at The TMC Library and make an appointment to visit its special collections.
Submissions from 1995
Interview with Dr. Louis Faillace, Louis Fallace
Interview with Dr. Al Gunn, Albert E. Gunn