Series I Sub-series 5: Dalkon Shields

Scope and content:

Production commenced on the Dalkon Shield intrauterine device in 1968 under the direction of inventors Hugh Davis, gynecologist, and Irwin Lerner, electrical engineer. In early 1970 Davis and Lerner looked for a pharmaceutical company to market their product more widely, and by June of that year, AHR agreed to purchase it.

The Dalkon Shield came in two sizes: standard, for women who had already had children (multiparous), and small, for women who had never had children (nulliparous). Shaped somewhat like a law enforcement officer's badge, hence its name, the Shield had five fingers protruding along each side, so that it also looked somewhat like a crab. Tied to its base was a three-inch length of synthetic polyfilament otherwise used for surgical sutures. In the case of the Shield, this filament, called the tail string, was principally designed for easy removal of the IUD.

The A.H. Robins Company began production and sales in early 1971. Domestic sales were suspended in June of 1974, although foreign sales continued until August 1975. By the time sales ceased altogether, 3,600,000 Dalkon Shields had been sold worldwide.

This sub-series of 7 boxes (2.9 linear feet) consists of packets of standard and small Dalkon Shields produced by the Dalkon Corporation and by A.H. Robins Co. In addition there are examples of boxes in which the packets were distributed; instruction sheets for physicians and patients; publicity material; rolls of the tail string material, loose shields, and various instruments. Finally, there is a videotape made by the Dalkon Corporation to demonstrate insertion and placement of the Dalkon Shield.

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Parent restrictions:

The Dalkon Shield Claimants Trust Collection was transferred to the University of Virginia Law Library by order of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in September 2000. Under that order, Series I through V are open for research with no restrictions. The Court imposed the following access restrictions for the materials in Series VI (the Trust's Central Records Library and Outside Counsel Files):

"5.01 Preservation of Claimants' Privacy. No Identifying Information, or any document or record within the Trust Materials containing Identifying information, relating to any Personal Injury Claimant --- or Other Claimant --- may be disclosed at any time, without written consent of the relevant Personal Injury Claimant or Other Claimant, or an Order by the Court allowing such disclosure."

The Court defined "Identifying Information" as the following:

"Identifying Information" means a person or entity's name, address, telephone number, facsimile number, email address, and any unique identifier including but not limited to a social security number, tax identification number, passport number, and military identification number."

Requests for material in Series VI should be made in advance to allow Special Collections staff time to determine whether it contains identifying information, and to allow for the redaction of such information before permitting access. Copying documents in Series VI may be restricted, and advance consideration of such requests is required.

Parent terms of access:

Multiple individuals and corporate bodies created the materials in the Dalkon Shield Claimants Trust collection and copyright status varies across the collection.

Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) held by the Dalkon Shield Claimants Trust (DSCT) were transferred to the University of Virginia in 2000 by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. Permission to publish or reproduce materials created by the DSCT must be secured from the University of Virginia.

Other materials may be protected by copyright and/or related rights. The University of Virginia is not authorized to grant permission to publish or reproduce these items.

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