Blue Ridge Sanatorium records, 1920/1984

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

Email: scpubserv@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 243-1776

Fax: (434) 924-4968

Web: library.virginia.edu/special-collections

Web: library.virginia.edu/special-collections/services/reference-request

Restrictions:

Some content in Box 8 and Box 9 is currently restricted. Materials found in Box 8: Folders 01-16, Box 8: Folders 19-24, and Box 9: Folders 01-10 are restricted for all users. These materials pertain to disaster drills conducted at Blue Ridge Hospital during the 1970s. Employees of Blue Ridge Hospital posed as mock patients during the drills and these records contain some personally identifiable information (PII). Disaster drill assessment materials also contain actual patient names and other information protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Note that the materials identified as "medical records" in these folders were created in the course of disaster drill exercises. They appear to describe fictional accounts of patient diagnosis and treatment; however, these materials remain restricted because they contain PII related to the individuals posing as patients during the drill, whose identities have not been fully confirmed.

Access Restricted - contains information protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Access Restricted.

Photographs including images of Sanatorium patients cannot be accessed by researchers.

Terms of access:

Some restrictions, including copyright restrictions, may apply.

Preferred citation:: Blue Ridge Sanatorium Records, MS-12, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, Historical Collections and Services, University of Virginia

Summary

Extent:: 6.25 Linear Feet
Language:: English
Preferred citation:: Blue Ridge Sanatorium Records, MS-12, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, Historical Collections and Services, University of Virginia

Background

Scope and content:

The Blue Ridge Sanatorium Records includes Annual Reports from 1921 to 1970, correspondence with the State Health Director, State Board of Health minutes from 1922 to 1972, staff conference minutes, nurse and intern records, and procedural manuals for the sanatorium. Project plans about the transfer of the facility to the University of Virginia in 1978, agendas and minutes from 1978 to 1981, budget plans from 1955 to 1984, and reports of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy are also included.

Note: This collection complements the American Lung Association of Virginia Collection, also held at the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library.

Additional sites of interest concerning the Blue Ridge Sanatorium https://www.uvafoundation.com/blue-ridge and https://exhibits.hsl.virginia.edu/alav/virginia/index.html

COPIES SENT TO CHARLES W. SCOTT, PIEDMONT SANATORIUM AND CECIL C. SMITH, CATAWBA SANATORIUM

CORRESPONDENCE WITH E. C. HARPER ON DEVELOPMENT OF COLLAPSE THERAPY TABLE

ENNION G. WILLIAMS, STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER

JOSEPH T. MASTIN, SECRETARY OF STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS TO WHOM THIS ANNUAL REPORT WAS SUBMITTED

FORREST W. PITTS; THOMAS V. SELLARS

FORREST W. PITTS; BYRON W. MARSHALL

FORREST W. PITTS, THOMAS V. SELLARS, MICHAEL CAMPILONGO; INFORMED CONSENT

FORREST W. PITTS, THOMAS V. SELLARS, BYRON W. MARSHALL

TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT TO BE PHASED OUT AT CATAWBA SANATORIUM; ALL NEW ADMISSIONS TO BE SENT TO BLUE RIDGE SANATORIUM.

CHARLES G. PEARSON

FRANK B. STAFFORD

FRANK B. STAFFORD, E. CATO DRASH

FRANK B. STAFFORD

FRANK B. STAFFORD, W. E. BROWN, VINCENT W. ARCHER, COLGATE W. DARDEN, JR.

W. E. BROWN, COLGATE W. DARDEN, JR., JOHN S. BATTLE

W. E. BROWN, COLGATE W. DARDEN, JR.

W. E. BROWN

W. E. BROWN, W. E. STAINBACK

W. E. BROWN

W. E. BROWN, I. C. RIGGIN, GEORGE C. PEERY, JOHN S. BATTLE, GUY R. HARRISON

W. E. BROWN, I. C. RIGGIN, SETH BURNLEY, W. DAN HAYDEN

W. E. BROWN, I. C. RIGGIN

W. E. BROWN, WARREN F. DRAPER, ABRAM P. STAPLES

W. E. BROWN

W. E. BROWN, H. T. VAN NOSTRAND, JR., JOHN GARLAND POLLARD

W. E. BROWN, H. T. MARSHALL, FRANCIS P. VENABLE; MARGARET CANTEY VENABLE LIBRARY FUND

W. E. BROWN

W. E. BROWN, ENNION G. WILLIAMS, F. W. KING, J. H. BRADFORD

W. E. BROWN, EDWIN A. ALDERMAN, E. LEE TRINKLE

W. E. BROWN, E. LEE TRINKLE, T. J. ROBIINSON

W. E. BROWN, WILLIAM F. SMITH,

W. E. BROWN, ENNION G. WILLIAMS

W. E. BROWN; JOHN R. SAUNDERS; MONROE COUNTY TUBERCULOSIS SANATORIUM

VAMIK D. VOLCAN

ROBERT HENDERSON, FORREST W. PITTS, THOMAS V. SELLARS

RICHARD J. BONNIE, VAMIK D. VOLKAN, JOHN ASHLEY

WALLER HUNT, MICHAEL K. MOORMAN, RICHARD MERRILL, NORMAN BURCH, J. I. LEVINE, NORMAN J. KNORR

P. BROWNING HOFFMAN, VAMIK D. VOLKAN, STUART ALLEN, LISA MARZO, RICHARD J. BONNIE

VAMIK D. VOLCAN, FRANK HEREFORD, MARY BROWN, CHARLES HAMNER, L. C. MANNING, J. HARRY MICHAEL

EDWARD SMITH, THOMAS V. SELLARS, J. I. LEVINE, ROBERT LAWHARNE

THOMAS V. SELLARS, FORREST W. PITTS, JOHN CRISER

P. BROWNING HOFFMAN; CURRICULUM VITAE OF LOREN ROTH; VAMIK D. VOLKAN, NORMAN J. KNORR, WILFORD W. SPRADLIN

ROBERT LAWHORNE, JUDITH HOFFMAN, FORREST W. PITTS, THOMAS V. SELLARS

THOMAS V. SELLARS, GEORGE MOORE, DAVID MOORE, FORREST W. PITTS, GENE CARPENTER, WILLIAM SHEPPE, JOHN HARLAN

THOMAS V. SELLARS, K. M. HEATWOLE, H. YATES

VAMIK D. VOLKAN, C. F. WINGO, EDWARD HOOK, MUNSEY WHEBY, CHARLES HESS

VANIK D. VOLKAN, THOMAS ALDRICH, ROBERT HENDERSON, DUDLEY ROCHESTER, W. APPERSON

ROBERT HENDERSON, VAMIK D. VOLKAN, EDWARD HOOK

HISTORY OF BLUE RIDGE SANATORIUM AND BLUE RIDGE HOSPITAL

K. M. HEATWOLE, ALICE OWENS, JOHN GARVER

JAMES S. KENNAN, JOHN MCCUTCHEON, FORREST W. PITTS, DENNIS SCOTT, A. T. BRUNS; PHOTOGRAPH OF DABNEY MINOR TRICE, FOUNDER OF MOORE'S BROOK SANITARIUM, INC.; OPIUM ORDER FORMS

E. W. WHITNEY, WALTER KLINGMAN,

DONALD B. TOWER

WALTER O. KLINGMAN

HARRIS HART, CHARLES SCOTT

FRANK B. STAFFORD, L. J. ROPER, STUART CRENSHAW, B. F. LOWRY

JOSEPH BARRETT, MRS. W. B. SPONG

FRANK B. STAFFORD, JEROME GOODMAN, ALBERT STEINER, J. F. GRAFF, MACK I. SHANHOLTZ, CHARLES G. PEARSON

CHARLES G. PEARSON, FRANK B. STAFFORD, ROBERT SMITH, W. L. DUNN, W. E. BROWN

GEORGE W. WRIGHT MEMORIAL PAVILION; W. E. BROWN, J. E. W. TIMBERMAN, E. G. WILLIAMS

CHARLES G. PEARSON, LOUISE RAY, MABEL MONTGOMERY, MACK I. SHANHOLTZ

FRANK B. STAFFORD, CHARLES CAKE, W. E. BROWN, E. C. HARPER

CHARLES G. PEARSON, CHESTER KEEFER, FRANK B. STAFFORD, GEORGE WHEELER, HUGH MORGAN

THOMAS V. SELLARS, EDWARD HOOK, RAY HUNT, DUDLEY ROCHESTER, WILLIAM HARTON, JAMES KENLEY

FORREST W. PITTS, T. C. KIM, KENNETH HEATWOLE, THOMAS V. SELLARS, HAROLD BERK, JOHN CRISER

FORREST W. PITTS, THOMAS V. SELLARS, JAMES KENLEY

FORREST W. PITTS, THOMAS V. SELLARS, MACK I. SHANHOLTZ

FORREST W. PITTS, MACK I. SHANHOLTZ

FORREST W. PITTS, THOMAS V. SELLARS, MACK I. SHANHOLTZ

FORREST W. PITTS, MACK I. SHANHOLTZ

RAYMOND S. BLACKMAN, MACK I. SHANHOLTZ

CHARLES G. PEARSON

FRANK B. STAFFORD

W. E. BROWN, I. C. RIGGIN

W. E. BROWN, ENNION G. WILLIAMS

BENJAMIN CULLEN, FORREST W. PITTS, MACK I. SHANHOLTZ, THOMAS V. SELLARS

FORREST W. PITTS, KENNETH M. HEATWOLE, LOIS MEUSCHKE, SALLY PERKINS, MYRA CLARK

FORREST W. PITTS, BRIDGET FLOOD

RAYMOND S. BLACKMAN, KENNETH M. HEATWOLE, FORREST W. PITTS

FORREST W. PITTS, WILLIAM APPERSON, KARL MENK, MYRA CLARK, MARY TUCKER

FORREST W. PITTS, KENNETH M. HEATWOLE, JAMES RITZ, JAMES KENLEY, RAYMOND S. BLACKMAN

FORREST W. PITTS, JAMES KENLEY, EDWARD SMITH

FORREST W. PITTS, JUDITH HOFFMAN

MACK I. SHANHOLTZ, LILLIAN PEYTON, FORREST W. PITTS

JOHN MCCUTCHEON, THOMAS V. SELLARS, WILLIAM HARTON, J. STUART BARRET, THOMAS V. SELLARS

JOHN RORER, JOHN MCCUTCHEON, THOMAS V. SELLARS

FRITZ E. DREIFUSS

This item consists of a scrapbook containing 21 photographs related to the Blue Ridge Sanatorium. Photographs include images of Sanatorium staff, patients, and facilities.

Biographical / historical:

Blue Ridge Sanatorium opened on April 26, 1920 just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. It was funded by a mill tax passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1918. 1/8 of the funds raised by this tax were designated for prevention and eradication of tuberculosis. The State Board of Health was charged with administration of these funds. Catawba Sanatorium had been operating for nearly ten years with a lengthy waiting list. Piedmont Sanatorium opened outside of Burkeville in 1918 for African Americans. The Charlottesville area welcomed Blue Ridge Sanatorium by donating $15,000.00 toward the purchase of land and construction, and by offering to supply free city water to the sanatorium for its first five years of operation. Proximity to the University of Virginia Hospital added to the attractiveness of the location.

The Addison, Strode, and Thomas pavilions were constructed in 1919 to house patients, with men assigned to the Strode pavilion, and women to the Addison pavilion. When children were added to the patient population in 1922, they lived in the Thomas Pavilion. Rooms in the pavilions were connected to long porches where patients sat during the day and slept at night. Fresh air was considered a vital element in the curative regimen, which also included rest, moderate exercise, and a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk and reduced animal protein. Early treatments also included the use of an Alpine lamp, a type of sun lamp believed to assist in the cure of tuberculosis. Patients organized the Cheer-Up Club to raise funds for needy patients, to purchase victrolas and records, and sponsor concerts for patients and staff.

Trinkle Infirmary was built in 1922. A chapel was added several years later, and the George W. Wright Memorial Pavilion was erected in 1927 with funds raised by the Grand Lodge of Masons of Virginia. A teacher joined the staff in 1923 to help resident children keep up in school. In 1937 an adult Rehabilitation School opened to help patients improve their economic circumstances upon release. To help with staffing, a training school for nurses was started in July of 1920 with one nurse in the first graduating class. In 1933, the training school for tuberculosis nurses established a formal affiliation with the Nurses Training School of the University of Virginia. The final graduating class of the Blue Ridge Nurses Training School held commencement exercises on May 24, 1962.

W. E. Brown oversaw much of the growth and changes at the sanatorium in his 23 year tenure as Superintendent from 1921 until 1944. During the years of the Great Depression, food was scarce and many people with symptoms of tuberculosis could not afford to apply for treatment. They waited until their cases were significantly advanced with less likelihood of a cure. The number of admissions of patients with advanced cases increased. At the same time over 1/3 of the patients discharged cited lack of ability to pay the $7.00 weekly fee as their reason for leaving, even when they were not considered cured. In 1932 the sanatorium purchased adjacent land which it used for farming and for establishment of a dairy herd to supply fresh milk to patients. In 1939 a new infirmary, the East Wing, was constructed with funds from a WPA grant to address the increase in advanced non-ambulatory cases.

World War II saw a drastic shortage in supplies and staff, as rationing reduced the quantity and quality of food products available, and the war created a shortage of nurses, orderlies and other trained workers. In 1943 an "Honor Camp" of penitentiary prisoners were put to work in the cafeteria. Screening for Selective Service resulted in identification of early cases of tuberculosis and more patients were admitted with less advanced cases. Interns from the University of Virginia entered into three month rotations at Blue Ridge, learning to perform "chest work" such as pneumothorax. This process involved using a needle to deliberately collapse the infected lung in order to give it time to heal and contain the lesion within. While diet and environment were never discounted as key aspects of treatment, surgical intervention became increasingly important. E. Cato Drash and other surgeons from the University of Virginia performed thoracic surgery on a growing number of patients. Frequently doctors and nurses diagnosed with tuberculosis came to Blue Ridge as patients and stayed on as employees.

In the early 1950s, new drugs were developed to assist in the cure of tuberculosis. These included isonicotinic acid hydrazide, streptomycin, para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) and isoniazid. There was a steady decline in the waiting list for the sanatorium as more people remained at home and received drug therapy from their family doctors. In 1954, for the first time in its history, the sanatorium had vacancies for women. The average age of admitted patients was higher than previously, presenting additional challenges in addressing the health needs of an older patient population. In 1965 African Americans were admitted to Blue Ridge for the first time upon the closing of Piedmont Tuberculosis Sanatorium. In 1970 various proposals to expand Blue Ridge Sanatorium programs beyond treatment of tuberculosis surfaced. These included the integration of alcoholics with trustee prisoners into a program of work and rehabilitation.

The construction of Interstate 64 in 1968 cut through the sanatorium property and the farmland across the highway was deeded to the city of Charlottesville, the future site of Piedmont Virginia Community College. In 1978, title to the Blue Ridge Sanatorium property was transferred to the University of Virginia and it was renamed Blue Ridge Hospital. Tuberculosis patients continued to receive treatment there, but additional University of Virginia medical center programs were also located on the site. These included obesity and diabetic clinics as well as the outpatient division of the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry. The University of Virginia LPN program relocated to Blue Ridge in 1979, and the Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy was also located there.

Acquisition information:

Joan Echtenkamp Klein, Assistant Director for Historical Collections and Services, acquired material from James S. Kennan, Administrator of Blue Ridge Hospital, in 1986.

Processing information:

Finding Aid by M. Alison White

Physical description:

7 linear ft. (15 boxes); correspondence, reports, minutes, administrative documents, and other archival material.

Collection